Cabo Cantina starts a liquid Friday

Let's get this straight. I would never go to this place if it was not so close to work. After being open for a measly few months, it already has the smell of a 20-year-old fraternity house. But, given the fact that there are only three bars within easy walking distance and one of them is the pretentious Bandera that attracts an older, but much more desperate crowd, I end up at Cabo a few times per month. Often I brave the young, scantily dressed crowd, end up holding two beers at a time, and laugh as my male co-workers' eyes wander. Yesterday I even ate there. I was in a mood for a risk.

The lowdown: It's just cheap Mexican without the quality that you can get so many other places in L.A. Nothing was bad, but nothing was tremendously good. I split the steak fajitas. The salads are huge and look good as well. If it's not 2-4-1 happy hour, the beers are a little expensive: $5 for a Corona Light. The best part is that you get to sit outside under a decor that at least let's you pretend you're in the tropics instead of a 2-minute walk from your next meeting. This, of course, is with the caveat that you see your co-workers walk by as they go much more innocent places for lunch.

Cabo is on Wilshire, just west of Barrington. At night you'll see the nuttiness from blocks away. And, yes, you can valet park your limo (and people do).