Marinitas - San Anselmo

After a nice 4 mile hike to Cataract Falls in Marin, I was hoping for a decent Mexican restaurant. I had low expectations since this is Marin, but I was wrong! Marinitas is the best Mexican Restaurant I’ve been to in 8 months. And far better than any in San Francisco as far as atmosphere, food and service. Marinitas is no hole in the wall and that was great! The interior is beautiful and clean. Lots of Mexican art. The chips and guacamole was excellent. They make their own chips and guacamole. They clearly changed the oil they used to make the chips as it did not taste rancid from old oil. The guacamole was so delicious. They made it fresh and had nice big chunks of avocado. The Chicken Enchilada’s were the best I’ve ever had. Perfect in fact. They come baked in a nice ceramic bowl with lots of cheese and a tasty sauce. Enchiladas were invented by the Mayans so it was nice eating an ancient food taken seriously by this restaurant. I also had a Miraval Rose Prosecco recommended by our waitress who didn’t mind that asked for 2 additional baskets of tortilla chips. The Rose was one of the best I’ve had and I a picky about Prosecco, Champagne, and Sparkling Wines! The glass was filled to the top which most places do not do. The service was excellent. I just wish that the restaurant had a sign that brought attention to it as it was just across the main area for food and shopping on a busy street. The last excellent Mexican Restaurant I’ve been to was in Sacramento, downtown called Zacalo Restaurant Midtown. It’s sad that San Francisco which has a 25% Latino population has very few good restaurants outside the Mission, and none that are beautiful and clean as Marinitas.

Great margaritas! Great happy hour. Crudo appetizer we had didn't seem fresh. I think it used to be a better restaurant.

A great ambience and extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff!

Good atmosphere, good service, good margaritas.Food is good but just that...Kid-friendliness: No one seems to mind our crazy kids! Lots of room to roam

Service was very good, very attentive. Ordered the Carnitas Dinner Plate. Big basket of warm, light, crispy and delicious tortilla chips. The verde/roja salsas were flavorful and delicious. The atmosphere is nice, very high ceilings, dark, lots of finished wood. This would be a great place to take a date. The carnitas is served on a bed of black beans and served with onion and cotija cheese on top. The quality of the ingredients is very good. My only gripe with the meal is the carnitas should have been seasoned better, it was on the bland side. The service really stood out. I will definitely come back here, though I would try something different on the menu. Highly recommend Marinitas.Vegetarian options: The menu had many vegetarian options