If you're driven to seek out and sample new restaurants the minute they open the doors like I am, you're probably asking yourself - "what the heck took her so long with this review"?

They opened those doors over a year ago after all, and I was very motivated by the fact that this was the latest East Bay outpost from the folks behind À Côté, as well as their catchy tagline - Rumba al Sur means southbound journey.

Truth is, this was not my first visit but rather my third.

And another truth is, if you rush into enough restaurants sooner or later you will experience what it means to witness them "working out the kinks". But here's the deal. Although I'm no longer a little girl, I'm still fearful of my grandmother's advice - "if you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all".

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you don't see a restaurant review here on Gather365, it doesn't mean I haven't been there - it means I don't have anything nice to say.

You're reading this now, so trust me when I say they have gone WAY beyond working out the kinks. I had an inkling that third time's the charm when I spotted fried green tomatoes on the menu - nothing gets a Southern girl's attention faster. Although stacked with juicy bay shrimp, avocado and jalapenos en escabeche, I'm pretty sure it would get most people's attention.

Add that to a perfectly crafted margarita, some of the best house-made chips, guacamole and salsa I've ever tasted and this visit is off to a great start! An entree of Achiote pork for two with coconut rice, black beans and grilled pineapple salsa + impeccable service = muy bueno all the way around.

Here comes the best part - dining at that huge communal table next to folks from where else but North Carolina? Just plain meant to be I reckon.