Loca Restaurant in North Tyneside

This restaurant doesn’t exist in Whitley bay anymore.. trip advisor needs updating or something. I just phoned up and booked a table but arrived to a non existent restaurant (the place I spoke to was in South Shields)

Paid £13 for a hot dog, sounded nice on the menu but what i got was pretty basic. There was one member of staff serving the entire bar and when i asked why she said her manager was busy next door. Great management, one person doing a 2 person job :-(

After a while wandering around Whitley looking for a place to eat with a full menu available rather than just Sunday dinners, we found Loca near the bottom of South Parade. I had been wanting to call in for a while & happily they had a wide variety on food on offer. Entering the building we were impressed with the decor & ambience of the venue. It was fairly quiet but the latino was at a good volume to create a vibe. We sat in a window seat & the waitress came over quickly to brief us on the menu as it was our first visit. We ordered the vegan loca burger & the vegetable/halloumi enchiladas. They do offer a vegan hot dog as well as vegetarian version of each main Mexican dish which is good to see. It would be nice if there were a couple more veggie tapas options but there were enough to make up the Sugar Skull Deal which looked great value.When the burger arrived I was a little underwhelmed by the appearance of it to be honest, as the Moving Mountains patty is fairly thin, but it tasted great which is obviously the main thing. The burger comes with nachos, salsa, vegan cheese & onion rings as well as chips & slaw on the side. I also got to try the enchiladas which was very nice too. The only negatives I'd say was the mains were slightly overpriced and the wait for the food was quite long considering it was quiet. But it was most definitely a positive trip & I'd recommend it. I intend to return to give the Sugar Skull Deal & 2-4-1 cocktails a go!

arrived early and greeted by friendly staff. ordered food and drinks and honestly no longer than 5 minutes after ordering our food arrived. ordered tacos, quesadilla meatballs and nachos. was strangest food ever! first we ate 2 of the 4 sections of the quesadilla and it was freezing cold with one slither of chicken and one jalepeno in each. i was confused so tried the tacos which were also cold. asked waitress who laughed and took them both back to kitchen. she came back and avdised the tacos were meant to be cold but the quesadilla has been put in microwave. they gave the remaining 2 pecies microwaved to oblivion (normal place would make fresh) i asked if everything was microwaved and she said yes! at least she was honest. nachos were ok but didnt try meatballs after seeing they were still pink....a large table of 12 were ordering after us and i walked by the open kitchen and not one thing was on the grills or being cooked! my advise would be to never eat here. both of us were ill and thats after we stopped eating once we found it all microwaved. why have an open kitchen when chefs clearly arent cooking? place was empty other than us and large table! staff at first were great but after we complained they avoided us. such as hame used ot be great food but sadly we wont go back much better places to eat! owners need to train staff to deal with complaints and train chefs to cook or at least close off the kitchen so cant see the lack of activity! service wasnt bad until we complained and have a feeling the expericned staff were letting the newer ones do the brunt of the work.

I consider myself a lover of Mexican food and was not disappointed, one of the best burritos I've had! The decor is very well done and the service was good. They also had a live band on at the time of my visit which was top notch acoustic music which was well placed in the setting. Definitely will be coming here again! The only thing I would change is the availability of hot sauce, they have one type which was medium spice, sometimes a little more of a kick from hot sauce is well placed so a range of sauces would have been ideal.

Recently ate here, we were the only people in the restaurant, die to the time of year this was not a concern, however it should of been a sign! The food was terrible, cold and not as stated on the menu (things missing and extremely spicy when shouldn't be at all). A terrible experience and a complete waste of good money.

Three of us went. One dish was enjoyed by my wife. The tacos and burritos which were had by my son and myself were served cold as if right out of the fridge. They were taken back and heated in the microwave and not nice at all. The place wasn’t very busy either so this could not be used as an excuse. This was the first and last visit. Would not recommend.

We went for one of my friend’s birthdays and we couldn’t fault anything! We ordered 7 dishes and they were all really tasty and decent sized portions. The service was good and we were impressed with the decor and vibe. Thanks guys!

A Christmas night out should be one of the best of the year so avoid Loca if that's what you're after.We were one of 3 parties plus a few couples and had pre-ordered and paid deposits so they knew we were coming.7:30 arrival, starters came after 8. Mains came 2 HOURS LATER at 9:30 and some of our party weren't served until 10pm.Food was less than impressive and portions were not generous. Quite bland and uninspired. Two waitresses working their socks off were lovely but clearly run off their feet and kitchen service just could not handle the volume. Our party organiser spoke to the man in charge (maybe a manager, he represented the business anyway whoever he was) who could not have cared less and was openly rude to her. No apology or offer to put things right says a lot about how this place is run. Even the atmosphere was flat and no amount of loud Christmas music is a substiute for a welcoming buzzing restaurant which this clearly wasn't.The management obviously didn't learn from similar reviews and customer experiences last year but were happy to attempt to take the money even so. Not good business practice especially with a wealth of competition just a short walk away in any direction from this, one of the shabbiest streets in Whitley Bay.This attitude coupled with the really poor service and mediocre food won't be a problem in future as we all know there are so many other good places to eat at the coast which are far better quality and value than Loca. First and last time we will be going here. Same for our friends and families too unfortunately. Enjoy a good night out somewhere else.

We discovered this lovely place courtesy of an Itison voucher and well pleased we did. We had the day of the dead sharing platter which was absolutely delicious, especially the lamb chops and the chicken. We don't like chicken wings so we asked if we could have a double portion of ribs which was no problem, the place itself is bright and cheerful and spotlessly clean and the staff great. I could not recommend it more highly and we will certainly be back and wish them every success in the future.

We had the most amazing tapas food , the food was the most amazing tapas we have ate and believe me we have tried alot , service was prompt our server was friendly. Can't recommend this place enough.

we had a great night out great burgers, great cocktails ,great service ,beautifully decorated very stylish ,a standout place to visit thanks for a fantastic evening

Lovely little find after knowing about the restaurant for a while and just not actually going.

Booked a meal with voucher with cocktails included. Service excellent by the 2 waitress, cocktails very good had 2 4 1 on before 7 and after 9. Was one of the best burgers we've had would love to return when back in the area would definitely recommend.

The food was good but let down by the fact there was only one waitress on. After being showed to our table we waited 15 minutes before she came back. She did her best but was just way too busy.

Visited on Thursday 5th September at 6pm. There were already several tables occupied which is always a good sign. The waitress was lovely and managed to keep every table happy whilst we were there. We ordered a couple of drinks and some tapas to share. Brisket chilli tacos, short ribs with jerk glaze, belly pork, halloumi skewers, and smoked chicken wings with scotch bonnet and mango glaze. When the food arrived it looked amazing and for the most part it was, the brisket chilli was only lukewarm but still tasty. Personally when we return I will not order the chicken wings again as the skin was not to my taste, I expected them to be crispy but the skin was all floppy which is not how I like my wings done. Plenty more things to choose from on the menu though.

I received a voucher for 5 tapas and 2 cocktails as a gift and we went on Sunday 25 August. The selection on the offer was slightly limited but my husband and I decided that 5 might not be enough and ordered a couple more. Big mistake!! The portions are enormous and the food was superb. The staff were so friendly and even better the cocktails were amazing!! The only bad thing was that it was so quiet in there. I cant wait to go back though

Decided to visit Loca with my daughter on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

Git an itison voucher for here and went for lunch. Greeted by a very friendly waiter and fantastic service throughout. Browingvthe menu there is so much to choose from. Also good selection of drinks available. I could not help but dance to the latin tunes playing felt like I was abroad on holiday. Food was amazing. We ate every last scrap. It was so delicious cannot fault it one bit. We will definitely be back.

Visited this restaurant with friends. The lady that took our order and looked after was was very attentive and helpful. Having not been before she explained the menu to us and we opted for the 4 skulls deal for £20.00. This was great value for money and also included a drink. The food was very nice, will definitely return.

We came on a Sunday.. The place was so quiet.. Only two tables in..

We frequented Loca on a few occasions, the 2 for 1 cocktails being the initial draw. We decided that rather than go back into town we would try the food offer there. Each dish has a ‘skull’ value. Starters are 1 skull and depending on the main generally 2 or 3 skulls. The offer is a total of 4 skulls with 2 drinks for £20 (a £2.50 supplement on Friday and Saturday). The portions are ample for 2 people to have a 2 skull meal each not want to entertain the pudding menu!

Came for the 2 for £8.95 cocktail deal the previous day and found the drinks and staff really nice.

Cannot fault the food or the value for money in any way shape or form. Unfortunately the speed of service was somewhat lacking. Seemed to only be 2 servers on for entire restaurant floor but had 3/4 staff behind the bar. Wouldn't put us off going again. Maybe we just timed it wrong or they had a couple of sickies..who knows.

I just wanted to take the time to thank the staff at LOCA Whitley Bay . Myself and 30 friends went along to celebrate my husband's birthday . The tapas type buffet was amazing everyone else thought so too .!!!

We visited Loca when-working in the area and staying in the hotel upstairs we enjoyed it so much we went back the 2nd night.I would class it as more of a tapas rather than a Mexican restaurant it was 4 tapas dishes and 2 drinks for £20 and portions was decent as well

Bought a living social voucher for 5 tapas and 2 drinks.

Newcastle doesn’t have an authentic Mexican restaurant so the 4 of us were excited to try Loca, particularly after reading other Trip Advisor reviews.

First visit. We had Tapas but they also do burgers etc. Took a while for food to arrive but we had picked a very busy Friday. When food came it was worth the wait. They also do a deal for food and a drink for £20 for 2. The staff were very efficient and pleasant. Can’t wait to go back.

About 28 of us visited here on Saturday afternoon for a "refined" hen do. The cocktail deal was great. We had pina colada - wow the best. The 4 skull menu deal for £20 was great but the extra £2.50 weekend supplement was a bit much. Food quality was good. Due to the large numbers the service was naturally a bit chaotic so maybe a bit planning was in order. For example taking all the starter orders first then the mains. May have helped in the kitchen to. Never the less a good time was had by all and the £50+ tip would have been highly appreciated i'm sure

After having a meal at Davantis in Whitley Bay (the original one… not the Whitley Lodge one) we decided to have a stroll up South Parade to see what else was open. Omg what an eyeopener – Whitley Bay is dead! I knew they shut down Deep & 42nd Street ages ago… but seriously the place was empty! As we were walking up the ‘main’ street my mate kept asking me if we were going the right way & if I was sure there was anything open on this street!

All I can say is they provided a fab service! Food was good! Setting was excellent! After being let down by noir these guys pulled out all the stops! Would recommend them anytime

The food took an hour to arrive, starters were nice but really small. We were all starving and desperate for our mains but it took ages again. To make it worse the main courses were all terrible, really fatty meat, bland, the quacamole seemed like it was just bottle not homemade. Cocktails were nice but the bar had ran out of some ingredients so some of the cocktails on the menu were not available. They had no prosecco either. The atmosphere wasn't what I expected, the live music wasn't great really slow songs all a bit miserable, the staff weren't friendly, we had to ask repeatedly for water and cutlery, overall a bit flat. Wanted to like this place, the decor is great and the menu sounded good but unfortunately it was disappointing and I won't be back.

Went with three friends Saturday afternoon.

We really enjoyed our visit to Loca last Mothers’ Day.

My husband had the surf ‘n’ turf - the steak was excellently cooked. I had the chicken burger and the burger was stuffed with chicken. The fries that came with the food were very tasty. Always have good food when we visit and staff are always polite and friendly.

Only ever had the Fajitas here when me and my partner are on a Slimming World kick. We've been three or four times. Nice ambiance, relaxed and welcoming. They do have live music at times. I generally avoid live music but once we were there and the entertainment played a purely acoustic set which was actually quite nice.

We went to Loca as part of a much awaited Christmas night out. Our table was booked for 7.30am. When we arrived, we were immediately told that service would be slow as they were training new staff! To be fair, a few of our party were running late so it wasn’t too much of a problem.

I would like to thank all the staff at Loca for making my birthday party one to remember. I visited with a large group of friends and had the private dining room. Although the restaurant was very busy last night we had an amazing cocktail making experience. The food was lovely and although busy the staff made sure we all made cocktails and timed the food well. Great music and dancing until closing time. Thank you!

We have been to loca before and have always enjoyed the food and cocktails. There were 8 of us on our Christmas get together. Unfortunately the service was worse than poor tonight. It took forever to bring us food and drinks , and quite a few of our orders came with missing ingredients. The staff were apologetic, but our evening was ruined because we felt we had to constantly ask the staff , for food , drinks , things that were missing etc . Very disappointing.

Tapas menu was really good, only negative would be the Halloumi wraps. They were pretty poor in comparion to the rest of the dishes, but that did not spoil things. Offer on cocktails 2 for £8 at teh bar and a meal deal including free drinks. All in all a good place to visit and we will difinetly go back.

Food was ok but nothing special, we could rustle up better in the house. didn’t look like the pictures online, portion size was poor. Service wasn’t great, told we had to wait a while for a cocktail because there was a cocktail making class on at the bar “not really my problem”. Fajitas came out, looked great, opened the tortilla pot and no tortillas to be found. Ordered a corona, asked if I’d like lime so said yes please, corona arrived without lime! Odd! Silly mistakes in service that shouldn’t be happening so probably won’t be back......shame

Had a decent meal here. Was reasonably busy but it was Friday. The food ranged from the so so to the excellent. But often the way with tapas.

Last minute choice but struck lucky!

I have heard good things and bad things about the place so wasn't expecting it to be great.. However it has a decent atmosphere and the staff are very friendly.. As for the food it was nice.. Not fantastic.. But nice.. I would go back

Food was nice, and fair portions. However, for a large make your own fajitas only got 4 very tiny wraps and had to eat the rest with a knife and fork, not really the same as eating fajitas! Service was ok

We really enjoyed their cocktails, the music was also a big yes!!! A general warm and friendly atmosphere. Really hope to be back soon!

After having a quick drink at the newly refurbished Dome we thought we’d try Loca as well all like Mexican food.

Fell across the restaurant on a walk in Whitley Bay and was pleasantly surprised . It is a tapas restaurant with a great choice of dishes , very well cooked and presented .

I went for lunch today with my sister, excited to try this relatively new mexican restaurant. When we arrived we were greeted by no one and then after picking up my own menu we were told to take a seat where ever as the place only had one other table of 4 in! After 25 minutes of waiting for the waitress to take our drinks order I decided to go over to the bar to order myself, there I was informed she was on her own (why do you only have 1 member of staff on a saturday day??), 10 minutes later still no sign of drinks, we only ordered 2 cokes a jug of water, tired and thirsty we decided to leave. Waste of our time, needs to massively improve on customer service. Will not be returning.

Myself and my partner visited Loca on a Thursday evening. We love Mexican food and unfortunately we were disappointed. The service was extremely slow, it took 25 minutes for the lady to take our drinks order. A further 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive. There was only two other tables in the restaurant so I’m not sure why it took so long. Food arrived and to be honest was flavourless, we picked tapas and none of the four were enjoyable. A relatively new place so hopefully just an off day but unfortunately I won’t be back.

I'm a big fan of Mexican restaurants and had been looking forward to coming here for a while. In all honesty, it was a mixed experience; disappointing for me but other diners found it ok. To be specific around the venue, service and food... It's a good looking place inside, but lacked a little of the energy you typically feel in a Mexican restaurant (for balance, we were there early evening). Our waitress was very friendly and helpful, although perhaps lacked familiarity with the menu. There is a standard deal running daily, the Sugar Skull Offer: order dishes totalling four skulls and get two drinks, all for £20 (e.g., burrito main, two small starters and two bottles of beer = £20). However, there was a rather bizarre 'offer' on the day we visited (Thursday) which made this unavailable: tacos, burritos and enchiladas were half price, but couldn't be taken as part of the sugar skull deal. So, the same burrito, two small starters and two bottles of beer would cost over £25!? In terms of the food itself, a real mixed bag. Some dishes were great (e.g., squid starter, tiger prawns, burritos, halloumi kebabs) and others were really bad. Two in particular, which we ended up sending back (this never happens!)... the mushroom and black bean enchilada had no black beans at all, huge chunks of undercooked white onion and very few mushrooms, and there was no salsa or sauce to the dish which made it unpleasantly dry (flour tortilla, filled with mushrooms, kidney and butter beans, a little melted cheese on top, served over dry rice). Second, the white fish tacos; these were served open, with a small pile of the fish mixture on each, the tacos were cold and doughy, there was no colour (no salad or salsa) and the fish mixture itself was unbelievably bland. Another disappointment (bad luck I guess, more than a fault), on the day we visited the milkshake machine was broken meaning there were no mocktails our daughter could have (she doesn't drink the soda types yet). All in all, it was inconsistent and a bit of a let-down, despite being a good looking restaurant with a lot of promise. Try it yourself though, as the reviews are mixed and we might have hit a bad day. Or, go to Newcastle and visit Las Iguanas (never thought I'd put a chain above an independent restaurant!)

We went to Loca as a group of six after a recommendation from a friend.

Member of staff was great but food not good at all today. We went for a meat sharer. Food came and we had to send it back as it was all cold. Halloumi skewers werent too good either with little flavour. My daughter had a burger from the kids menu thay was served a bit less than pink which we didnt notice until she was a way through it. When the Meat platter was returned it was hot but unfortunately the meat was disappointing. Real shame as the restaurant is nice inside and the lady who served us was helpful and pleasant.

Staff great , food average. We ordered a fair amount of food, however, it was very hitty missy. Seasoned fries were very poor for £3 - just some matchstick chips - not much seasoning.

My friends and I went to Loca for an early dinner on a Saturday. Overall we had a good time- staff were friendly and atmosphere was good, especially when the live music started up.

We thought we'd try it out as we've heard good things. We ordered the tapas deal for 22.50 which included 2 drinks and 4 tapas. The sweet potato bravas was a bit bland and slightly undercooked, needs more spice and depth to the sauce. The pork was nice but again a little bland. The halloumi skewer was not good, two slabs of cheese on one skewer with lots of pepper between two people doesn't go very far. The prawns were just not acceptable to be honest, 3 teeny prawns hidden under a pile of lettuce that seemed to be coated in malt vinegar? We were expecting something different.

We visited this bar/restaurant because I’d seen a post on Facebook about a band performing. On arrival, 3 people behind the bar, only 1 serving. We waited ages to get served. The girl behind the bar was making cocktails and looked as if she was resenting every minute of it. Once we were eventually served, we sat down and listened to some incredible guitar music from the duo. We would definitely come back here the food looked great the entertainment was excellent just a shame the staff are so miserable

We love this fantastic vibrant friendly welcoming restaurant the staff are wonderful and the atmosphere is fab !! First time I’ve experienced Latin American food which was a treat! We tend to opt for the tapas for a lovely little taste of multiple yummy treats also each Tuesday and Wednesday they offer a fab all tapas for only £3 each offer which is great value! The two for the price of one cocktail menu is pretty fabulous too ! Plenty of free roadside parking which is also handy lovely restaurant!

Lots of good Italian and Indian restaurants nearby - but this is a great choice if you're looking for something a bit different.First class and friendly service and excellent food.(The wine was superb !!!) Really impressed. Will be returning. .

Visited here with my husband on a busy Saturday night after seeing lots of good reviews.

We've been to Loca a few times now and its been consistently good quality and value. It great to have a restaurant like this in Whitley Bay as something a bit different. Sugar skull deal is good value. The kids love the hotdogs and 'mocktails'. Good cocktails for grown ups too!

Venue is well designed and comfortable inside, very good brand. Staff were ok, no problems. Enjoyed the experience. Food, I went for the Sunday lunch, huge serving, tasty and a nice cut of beef.

Cheeky night out for tea with the kids

We went last night as a group of four.. The staff were very nice indeed as is the decor.. But the food and cocktails were very poor.

Waitresses were miserable amd rude. Starters - nachos were more like a cheap bag of tortilla crisps with guacamole paste from a bottle with conjealed cheese.

Been a few times, friendly and attentive staff. Food tastes great, lots of it, authentic Mexican

The food was great although the service was incredibly slow. The skull drinks/food offer is great value for money and it allowed us to try more dishes then we normally would. There was live entertainment which was brilliant and really added to the experience.

Went on Saturday night as a large group and had the private room. The decor is cheery and bright, the table is massive which meant that it was difficult to talk to anyone across from you. Service was excellent, the young man was lovely, helpful and pleasant. Prices are very reasonable and the choices are good although there could be more veggie options. The food came all together and here we differed; my steak was really fatty but the sauce was nice, most loved their food but it wasn’t very hot, I appreciate it’s difficult to get all the food out at once but lukewarm food is not good. The atmosphere is lively and the music was salsa, which was great for a group of women on a Saturday, however, the live music came on at 9 and the guy was terrific - if it was a romantic/intimate place. The Ed Sheeran’ style of music kind of killed the mood, like I say he was great but it’s more of a party place and a bit of dancing was more in order.

Had a lovely meal here with friends last night! The tapas were lovely especially the plantain banana curry. I had prawn skewers and they were delicious. The staff were so helpful and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble. Would definitely recommend.

My family and I ate here today and could not be more impressed. I had the Sugarskull offer of £20 where I chose four of the small plate tapas items. The mussels and chorizo were absolutely delectable. I also had the nachos, the mini tacos and the halloumi small plates which were all lovely. I always over order tapas, so there was more than enough to be shared with everyone as the portions were generous.

This was the first time that we had visited here and we're not disappointed.

Ate as a group of 5 this evening, only down side was choosing what to go with as the menu is amazing. All of us thoroughly enjoyed starters and main courses. Will certainly return soon. Waiter was great too. Thank you

10 of us visited Loca on New years Eve including 4 children . I had called the day before to check if I could get plain chicken for my son with no spices and did not give a name so was surprised that they had made special arrangements when i ordered, to have plain chicken for him.

Went with two friends - shared nachos for starters and I had chimichanga for main - all were really delicious and served quickly by really friendly staff. (Cocktails were extremely enjoyable too!) - evening got even better when the band Los Capitanes came on - they were awesome and really made the night memorable. Planning on going back next week with family - all in all a really good night

I have eaten there in the past. Sunday lunch which was amazing. This time very disappointing. Food less.not well cooked. They apologised but nothing else. Bill came and they applied a staff discount of around 20%. The waitress didn't even mention it. Most of the food was left. Maybe I should have sent it all back? ?? Won't revisit . mainly for the lack of interest. ..

We ordered a lot of different tapas and mains between us and really enjoyed ourselves. Tasty food with lots of options service was quite slow because it was busy but they were all very good and polite.

Selection of food fantastic and credit to the chef for quality of food provided. Topped off by the service of the staff being very friendly. Evening topped off by having live music played out which made us have to stop later than anticipated for further drinks.

Birthday celebration at locas , started with great margarita then went for burger and fries southamerican style with nachos bacon and brisket mmmm really good . Great service from staff tried beer called mahou , nice beer from Madrid maybe a bhama or something from Mexico like don equiuses would be more in style but hey it was all good , and we will be back soon. Before it goes downhill

Wow 2nd time at Loca on sat 4th Nov & everything was just as good as what made me want to return - fantastic, flavoursome food cooked to perfection, great decor & atmosphere, lovely friendly & attentive staff & to top it all off, superb value!!!! We had the jumbo prawns & salt/pepper calamari to start followed by the lamb chops & lamb shank for mains & can highly recommend all 4 dishes. This place is an absolute jewel in the new Whitley Bay food scene & I’ve already booked to go on two separate occasions with other friends!! Well done guys!!

Really good food, great staff and wonderful atmosphere! Well designed restaurant with great decor. Loved it!

Beautifully decorated, food really good and the staff friendly and helpful. A great asset to Whitley Bay. The meal deal - £20 for 4 tapas dishes or 2 mains with 2 free drinks - was really good. Chicken fajitas were especially tasty. My youngest son asked if we could go back every week......

Fantastic vibrant bar/restaurant with beautiful decor with excellent atmosphere and fantastic friendly helpful staff great variety of yummy cocktails super reasonable too at two for£8 ! live singer was really good can’t beat a bit of live music for me ! This place is just what Whitley Bay needs a lovely little injection of life and vibrancy thank you

Wow what a night service fantastic staff superb buffet was lush so much for the money we paid could not eat it all took loads home to have a drink with the drink prices are fare will defo be back would like to thank all the staff for there hard work

second time i have been to loca. did not disappoint! we were a party of six & all had a lovely time. staff were very friendly, food was delicious-what more could you ask for?

Visited on a Tuesday after seeing the Facebook promotion for cheap tapas! The bar is awesome - amazing decor & great value cocktails for 2-4-£8 before 7pm & after 9pm.

Fantastic food only £20.00 for 4 small plates or 2 large with a glass of wine Excellent food good wine staff lovely couldn't ask for more also great surroundings. Good Luke for the future

A fantastic experience for all of us, 9 in total with ages ranging from 7, 20's, 30's, 50's, 60's & 80's. Great atmosphere and contemporary funky decor with a few dashes of classic and ethnic. Food was excellent, very good portion sizes, brilliant service. Just a fun experience and definitely recommended.

A longed for night out with some girlfriends to catch up on life. We were looking forward to some Latin American food all day! When we got there it seemed lovely, great venue, lovely smiling staff, shown straight to our table. Excellent band on later too. But that is where it ends for me really. Me and a friend ordered the cod dish and the other ordered the steak. We decided to have nachos to nibble while we were waiting. took well over half an hour - for a plate of nachos. Then when we asked about our main course that had taken ages, one of the waiters came over to tell us that there was only one cod left (clearly hadn't even started cooking it yet!) so I opted for the chicken dish instead and asked for sweet potatoes as a side. He said that after disappointing us we could have a drink each on the house - but didn't take an order for that. He did however, grab the hand of my colleague and checked whether she had a wedding ring on it! Maybe funny, maybe not. He later came over and kissed her on the head! Unwanted attention, unwanted touching, not funny. Still no food, still no 'free' drink. When the food did eventually arrive, to my horror I had a huge chicken, cut in half on a huge plate plonked in front of me and a bowl of plain rice. we laughed at first and then decided it wasn't funny. Noone had mentioned to me that it was only a chicken (basically looked like a cook in the bag from Asda), and that I might need something else with it (and that it was huge!!). It was dry, there was no 'sauce' as such (just like the rub on the skin that you'd get in a cook in the bag from Asda..hmm...some kind of pattern here) and the rice was plain and dry. I had one spoonful of rice - didn't get the sweet potatoes. For £16 a total disaster. To the other extreme, my friend's 'steak dish' was a few little slices on a plate with some salad stuff. Looked more like a tapas dish than a main course. The cod was apparently lovely. Needless to say I couldn't finish the massive whole dry chicken and thought about getting a bag of chips on the way home. The touchy waiter came over and harassed my friend again and the bill came and included the 'free' drinks on it!! Don't think I'll be going back.

Tapas was OK everything seemed very salty but the main was OK, decent value overall. May give it another try in the future.

I visited Loca on a wet Tuesday evening and it brightened up the day for sure.

Visited Friday 21st and can't wait to go back.

Visited here with 4 others after hearing lots of great things and we weren't disappointed!

My wife and I have been here on several occasions and it gets better every time. The atmosphere is great, even on those quiet nights, and service is bang on. The new menu is unbelievable value with 2 mains (which includes steak) and 2 drinks for £20. Last night I had the lamb shank curry which was honestly one of the best meals I've had in a long time; the meat fell off the bone and there was loads of it too. My wife had a deep fried burrito which she said was superb. This is a welcome addition to Whitley bay which will definately be my new local!

Went to Loca with a friend on Saturday evening & absolutely loved it!!! What an amazing job they've done with this place!!! The decor is fab & the atmosphere second to none. Loved the live music from a couple of really talented guys & the food was delicious, well-presented & the portion size was good. The staff were really friendly & despite being run off their feet as the place was heaving, they couldn't do enough to ensure we were enjoying our evening. We were late arriving (not a problem) & it did take a while to get our table but they did explain they'd had several staffing issues & offered freebies as compensation even though we didn't complain. That's good customer service in my book!! Can't recommend this place highly enough & cant wait to return - a real gem in Whitley's restaurant/bar scene & I wish them all the very best for the future!!

£20 for a pint of San Miguel and 4 tapas ( king prawns, Cod croquets, Squid and Ribs ) excellent quality and service. 👍 Recommend to anyone

Went to Loca on Bank Holiday Sunday with friends who had been before. I was a bit sceptical about going back to South Parade however, what a wonderful surprise we had! Music was fabulous, food was super and the cocktails were amazing! The decor is fitting for a Latin American restaurant/bar and the toilets are pristine, again, the decor in the ladies is fabulous. I would recommend this place hands down and can't wait to go back next weekend, to introduce other to it! A gem shines out of South Parade!

My wife and I visited with our friends and four children between us for an early evening dinner. First impression was that the restaurant has been done out very impressively. We started with the early evening cocktail offer which were very good but took a while to arrive with the restaurant virtually empty so would wonder what would happen if it was busy.

We really enjoyed our visit to Loca today. The cocktails were lovely, a great deal at 2 for £8. We ordered food and it came out in good time and in the main, was lovely. We ordered 4 tapas dishes to share (prawns, patatas bravas, empanadas and meatballs) which were all beautiful. We ordered the nachos too, they were the only disappointing thing of the day, a little bland and nowhere near as tasty as the other food. The service was superb, bar staff and waiting staff made us feel very welcome, were always at hand and made the whole experience very enjoyable. We will definitely be back

Excellent ambience, friendly staff and fresh tasty food. Great decor, menu and cocktails, would defo eat/drink here again!!!