Early Bird: Mexico Restaurant y Barra

Among offerings at Mexico’s bar: Jump on a Horse. Be aware: Drinks will set you back about $11 a piece and they go down awfully fast. On the flip side, the food is reasonably priced for the neighborhood, around $14 for an entree, so the check tends to balance itself out.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Waiter Luis Vasquez juggles plates at Mexico, a recently opened West Hollywood restaurant.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Entrees at Mexico include wood-fired duck taquitos.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Mexico, painted in pink with bright accents such as a turquoise door, has two patios that face Sunset Blvd.: one on the ground floor and one just above it.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

The verdolaga, cilantro, tomato and tortilla salad with cotija vinaigrette.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Owner Larry Nicola describes the atmosphere at Mexico as “Acapulco poolside” and says he wanted to make it feel like a backyard in Mexico.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Roasted Rauge Chicken at Mexico, a new Mexican restaurant in West Hollywood.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

With Mexico’s homey mismatched furniture, the ambiance at Mexico could be described as “spruced-up spring break.”  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Cocktails, from left: Cadillac Eldorado, Jump on a Horse, Ruby and Silverado.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

The two-story restaurant has been open for about a month-and-a-half and has carved out a niche for itself as a destination for birthday parties and other celebrations.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Looking up? A ceiling lamp adds a unique accent to West Hollywood restaurant Mexico.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Shabby chic, with bright, contrasting colors, is the decorating theme, though the restaurant often is more chic than shabby.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Diners catch the sun and a view of Santa Monica Blvd. on one of Mexico’s two patios.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)