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True to its name, Pequeña is indeed very small: Its wooden interior looks like a Mexican-themed gingerbread house. Diners sit at one of the ten tables and eat their seviche and enchiladas under colored Christmas lights and flowers, perhaps wondering if they have taken on the appearance of religious figurines in a venerated señora's living room shrine. The food is standard south-of-the-border comfort fare—quesadillas made with Oaxacan string cheese, tacos topped with a smoky chipotle salsa—but it substitutes a fresher, lighter taste with a twist of lime for the usual Mexican cheese-heavy stupor. Particularly good are the fish tacos, available sautéed or fried, perfectly complemented by a tart margarita. The avocado black bean salad and the chicken tortilla soup make good starters. Unlike many restaurants in the neighborhood, Pequeña is open past 11 p.m., which makes it an ideal post-BAM stop. — Emily Witt

Sat.—Sun., 10 a.m.—4 p.m.

Lunch Special
Mon.—Fri., noon—5 p.m., $7-$9

Black bean and sweet plantain quesadilla, $13; fried fish tacos with chipotle mayo, $13; avocado black bean salad, $8