Blue Plate Taco

Take a trip to Baja for lunch or dinner at the Shore Hotel's Blue Plate Taco. Sit on the patio overlooking the Pacific or saddle up to the bar for fresh fruit cocktails, tacos and seafood. If you're expecting fish tacos and beer on ice, think again. The third project from Jennifer Morton brings elevated Mexican food to the same beachside cool atmosphere as her Blue Plate on Montana and Blue Plate Oysterette, also steps from the beach on Ocean Avenue. Aguas frescas combine a choice of fresh fruit mixed with tequila, rum or vodka, while seafood options include a sashimi swordfish mole made with grapefruit-chocolate-walnut and a tortilla-less salmon "chilaquiles" made with salmon belly, ground masa and paprika-yellow chile crema. Stick with tacos—try lobster or brisket (both $3.50) made with handmade tortillas, and booze on cocktails—nothing says staycation like a (spiced) piña colada and tequila mixed with anything—while you soak in the sunny atmosphere.