Perched on the edge of a lit, outdoor swimming pool, Loca can be found at the Dubai Marine Resort. Midweek, it  was easy to park and even easier to find. If you are going at the weekend or on a prime night, I would recommend taking a cab, as parking in this hotspot can be challenging at times.
 
Being in a ‘texmex’ restaurant, albeit more upmarket than most, it was compulsory to order Jalapenos Locas (rolled with crushed tortillas and filled with Oaxaca cheese) as a starter.   The cheese was tasty and oozed out of every mouthful, it was hard not to order another round of these delectable morsels. My husband chose Cerviche de Pescado (Salmon in fresh lime & orange juice, served with mango, papaya, tomatoes, red onion and cilantro). Zingy, original and intriguing, it certainly passed the taste test. It, rather sadly, became the topic of conversation, where we continued to guess ingredients in the dressing and salad, as we had forgotten the description from the menu! (For the record, we were BOTH right! J ). As the portions were quite generous, at this point I was quite full, but being a true trooper, I ploughed through the rest of the meal...

For the main event, my darling husband and I ordered Enchiladas de Mariscos (crab meat, rock shrimp, hammour, pico de gallo with Oaxaca cheese), and A La Parilla (Beef Tenderloin with baked new potatoes, grilled zucchini, asparagus, squash and pepper sauce). The rare steak that I ordered, actually arrived rare-despite my numerous attempts across different restaurants in Dubai! This bode well for the rest of the meal, as the meat and vegetables were tender and tasty. My fork did stray, however, onto my spouse’s plate at one point, to dutifully investigate his choice. WOW. Who knew that enchiladas could be so light and creamy? Yum.
 

As we enjoyed another drink and allowed the ‘full feeling’ to subside before dessert, we took in the scene around us. Groups of friends chilled at tables, ordered and chatted. My nosey husband was taken by the table next to us, as a waiter prepared and crushed a guacamole in a mortar and pester, ingredient by ingredient. Indicative of a sports bar, Loca has flat screen tv’s displayed on red brick walls with football playing. However, more interestingly for the non-sporty types, there were other flat screen’s that played music videos too!
 

Dessert finally arrived: Helado Frito (ice-cream with cinnamon sugar and chocolate sauce) and Caramel Flan (no description needed). Although there was not much to choose from for the typical sweet tooth, dessert was lovely, as was evident from the clean plates that were taken back to the kitchen.We were regaled with tales of yonder, when Loca was around 20 years ago and used to be a favourite location for expats. I can see how they will potentially earn back their popular status, with a late night bar and excellent location. With other bars and clubs within walking distance, it is a good choice for a night out.  

 

Service was quick, food was delicious and the vibe in this funky bar was relaxed, perfect for a night out with friends. We were struck by the knowledgeable, conscientious staff, who hovered at a comfortable distance. A unique selling point has to be the beer tables, where guests can buy a keg of draught and pull pints to their hearts content. Ideal for a group of lads or ladettes who love beer!