Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen

Rancho Cucamonga has taquerias covered. What the city historically lacked was the other register of Mexican cooking — plated, composed, dressed up — and Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen occupies exactly that space on the Monet Ave row at Victoria Gardens.

The room and the pricing say date night, and the neighbors agree: Fleming's and Gyu-Kaku sit on the same short stretch, which makes this corner of the mall the city's densest concentration of sit-down dinner decisions. Luna is the pick when you want Mexican flavors with tablecloth pacing.

We'll flag the obvious: this is not where you go for a five-dollar al pastor fix, and it isn't pretending to be. Judge it as occasion Mexican — a category the city needed — and it makes a strong case for itself.