Acapulco Restaurant   

You never know what you're going to get when you try a Mexican restaurant as far from Mexico as Boston, but you may find yourself blurting out "Arriba!" when you discover this dining alcove, sitting inconspicuously on a quieter section of Center Street in Jamaica Plain. The walls are decked with sombreros, serapes and vibrant murals and live mariachi musicians provide a quaint soundtrack to your meal on weekend nights. Many in and beyond the neighborhood claim Acapulco a regular haunt, so it's not unusual to find a wait on any given weeknight. But Luis Flores and Luis Flores Jr., owner and son, are most accommodating while you wait. Be sure to start with the house sangria. The fruit steeps in it for six days. Enough said. Sadly, there's no liquor license here, so you'll have to go elsewhere if fishbowl-esque margaritas are what you're looking for. The main aquatic element here is the seafood, and it's not easy to find Mexican fish dishes in these parts. Start with flavorful ceviche, marinated in lime juice and tomato sauce. Move on to cilantro soup with clams, shrimp and poblano chiles, which is best paired with an entree of picante de mariscos -- shrimp, snow crab, scallops and squid cooked in white wine, cilantro and chipotle. Other favorites include queso asado, a bowl brimming with melted Mexico cheese studded with chunks of chorizo and served with warm, soft tortillas. Carnitas in chipotle sauce are a plate with grilled pork pieces juiced up with a delectable orange kick. Your food may take a while to arrive, but that's only because Ana, the owner's wife, gives meticulous attention and a personal touch to each and every dish that leaves the kitchen.