Uncle Julio's Hacienda aims to make you forget that you're eating in a restaurant. Instead, the owners try to transport you to the sprawling abode of a wealthy Mexican rancher. Personal touches include "family" portraits on the walls, trophy heads from Uncle Julio's hunting expeditions scattered about the dining room and hutches stocked with hand-painted earthenware pots and platters. You can even watch as Julio's "family" makes homemade tortillas from scratch. The menu is upscale Mexican. There's a full selection of standard items -- tacos, flautas, enchiladas, etc. -- but the restaurant also offers quail, frog legs, an extensive seafood selection and daily specials that might include duck tamales or king crab legs. A full-service bar with plenty of seating offers 23 different kinds of tequila.

Uncle Julio's is a local favorite, and a great jumping off point for a night on the town, as it is right next to all of the hot Weed St. spots. (Circus, Crobar, Biology Bar, Glow, Hogs and Honeys.)