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La Cocina de Oro is unique in the small Sierra Nevada mountain town of Downieville, CA - population 300 - in that it's the only restaurant in western Sierra County that offers mainstream Mexican-style dining. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's late afternoon on Thursday, September 12, 2024 and I've arrived at La Cosina de Oro, located on Main St. in Downieville, CA to enjoy an early dinner. You can enjoy your meal in the dining room, the beautiful patio overlooking the Yuba River, or in front, with a view of Main Street. I chose to enjoy my meal in front.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll be greeted by staff and invited to place your order. The restaurant operates on what I call the "tacqueria format," in that you place your order from the overhead menu, pay for it at the counter, and seat yourself at any available seating of your choice. Should you feel "tipsy," there is a tip jar on the counter. When your order is ready, it will be brought to your table with a smile. The overhead menu lists the most common items the restaurant serves, and the two-page printed menu goes into more detail and offers many other choices.
Photo: The overhead menu lists the most popular choices the restaurant has to offer. Complimentary chips and salsa are NOT included with your meal... The restaurant seems focused on fresh, local produce with an organic slant, as most produce is sourced from two local vendors. Note the menu posts "we can make any order vegetarian or vegan."
Photo: The dining room is clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated, and makes for an inviting place to relax and enjoy a good meal. The door in the center of the photo leads to the amazing outdoor patio.
Photo: The stunning outdoor patio is on a deck, overlooking the Yuba River which flows next to the restaurant. The view is absolutely amazing! On this warm afternoon, the umbrellas and many trees provided welcome shade for comfortable dining, and it was relaxing to hear the rushing river in the background. As nice as the patio was, I chose to sit outside and enjoy the view of Main Street.
Photo: The door to kitchen was open, so from the dining room, I caught a view of the chef in action.
Photo: I chose to sit outside on the front porch and enjoy the amazing afternoon with a view of Main Street. Downieville is unique in California as open alcohol is allowed on the street, without the small fences you'll normally see. Like Las Vegas, Memphis, New Orleans and a few other cities in the U.S., in Downieville you can wander Main and Commercial Streets while you enjoy your beer, or sit outside on the sidewalk without being fenced in. Oh my goodness... the cold Pacifico beer in a frosted glass tasted delicious outside, on this warm Thursday afternoon!
Photo: Meet my hostess, Donna, who seemed truly surprised that I took her photo, as she delivered my lunch to me with a smile.
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I'm ready to enjoy my fine lunch at La Cosina de Oro, located in Downieville, CA. Great Gold Country Dining!
Photo: I went with a "Taco Plate," with two tacos, rice and beans. My choice of meat was carne asada, but I could have enjoyed carnitas, chicken, or shrimp for a modest extra charge. When I placed my order, I was asked if I preferred mild or spicy - I assume for the salsa - and the "Mexican" in me chose spicy. Since the restaurant states their mission is to bring "fresh, organic produce," I could have enjoyed a side salad rather than a helping of rice and beans. Each taco began with two lightly toasted medium size corn tortillas, and included a modest helping or marinated, shredded carne asada. Stacked on the meat was fresh salsa cruda, a generous helping of diced cabbage along with shredded Mexican cheese. A couple slices of lime and a slice of radish added a nice touch and great flavor. The beans were simple chili beans, sprinkled with a modest helping of cotija cheese, mostly for presentation. The chili beans had a good flavor, with a little bit of spice, but they tasted exactly like canned chili beans you purchase at your local supermarket. I was expecting refried beans, and being served simple chili beans, I re-read the menu, and it simply listed "beans." The rice was good, but it was very bland, with very little flavor, and unlike most rice served at Mexican restaurants, it lacked any onions or peppers. No hot sauce was offered, or displayed on the counter, as a generous helping of Choula Mexican Hot Sauce would have worked wonders to boost the flavor of the rice up a notch or two. Ditto with the beans and the tacos. The tacos were definitely good, held together well and all ingredients worked well together. But... where was the flavor and the spice? These tacos reminded me of the "Americanized" tacos that you're served at national restaurant chains... not the tacos you'd expect from a "mom and pop" restaurant in a small mountain town. Alright, I totally get it that La Cocina de Oro caters to the mild taste of locals and tourists, and that their mission is to provide fresh, organic food, with locally sourced ingredients. They cater their food to what is preferred by their core customers, which makes good business sense. I guess I simply don't fit into their game plan, as I prefer authentic Mexican cuisine over bland, Mexican influenced food, like you'd find at any national restaurant change. Probably 95% of Mexican restaurants offer complimentary chips and salsa, but that didn't happen here. Looking at the menu, a small order of chips and salsa will set you back $5.00, and large order costs a couple dollars more. I was truly disappointed, but I like to look on the bright side and the Pacifico beer was cold, and the frosted glass was heavenly on this warm afternoon in mid-September. Another small nit to pick is the restaurant only accepts cash, but there is a friendly ATM across the street. However, that could cost you a couple of dollars if the ATM is foreign to you. It wasn't an issue for me, but I thought in 2024 that all established, sit-down restaurants in California accepted credit cards.
Photo: Thanks to the two fresh corn tortillas, each taco held together well, and made for a good lunch. The carne asada was on the bland side, but the salsa and shredded cabbage was fresh and crisp. If you're looking for authentic Mexican cuisine, you'll be truly disappointed, but if you're interested in Mexican influenced food, served with your average American in mind, you'll love La Cocina de Oro, located in Downieville, CA. La Cocina de Oro Copyright(c) 2024 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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