Baton Rouge received its newest restaurant this past weekend.

Luna Cocina, located at 3109 Perkins Road, hosted its grand opening on Friday, Nov. 15 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Its aesthetically pleasing exterior design catches anyone’s eye when driving near the Perkins Road overpass. Walking into the restaurant, customers are greeted with hostesses and servers in striped uniforms, matching the chic and modern design of the restaurant. 

The restaurant is open Sunday to Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Downstairs holds the dining area with a bar and margarita machine. Upstairs is the main bar and lounge where guests can stay as long as 2 a.m. to drink and catch up with friends. 

The menu was not released to the public prior to the grand opening, so any expectation of meals would be just a guess. Every table starts off with chips and salsa like any classic Mexican restaurant, and other appetizers include traditional dishes like nachos to unique dishes like caviar queso. The small menu incorporated American dishes such as burgers, making the restaurant have a Tex-Mex feel, while at a seaside resort.

My meal started off with chips, salsa and an order of traditional queso. The salsa had a sweet, marinara taste, with the tomato overpowering any sort of spice; however the queso tasted palatable, meeting my expectations. 

For my main course, I shared the nacho appetizer and paired it with a tequila shrimp taco. Since the nachos are an appetizer, it made the perfect shared dish. For $14, the nachos should have been more extravagant. They were topped with cheese, beans, guacamole and jalapenos, yet tasted as if it were still missing an ingredient. 

The tequila taco shrimp was my favorite of the night. On the first bite, it tasted as if I entered a beach. The combination of the sweet mango, savory grilled shrimp and a specialty sauce, was perfect. For only $6, the taco met my expectations and I would definitely get two the next time I visit Luna Cocina.