I went to terlingua just to drive the trails inside big bend national park and discovered La Kiva. it was a perfect experince, My first time there we had a kickin live band with great food and drinks. the second time the food was just as good and the music was still rockin. even though I live 600 miles away I am going too make the trip again.

La Kiva is a BAR in the desert of West Texas. Much like the people, it has adapted due to demand but still maintains its orginial character that enables it to survive in the middle of nowhere. Its a BAR, a cool, quirky BAR that has food. Like most BARs, you'll find people drinking and having a good time, and not a lot of children's birthday parties. And like character in general, not all of it is for everyone. La Kiva is a great place. For drinks, novelty, dark. If that happens to be your thing.

We came to La Kiva on my son's birthday, hoping to have good barbeque in a fun atmosphere since we'd never eaten in a cave. What a disappointment! We arrived on Friday night at 715pm, and were told by the hostess that they were out of BBQ chicken, ribs, and the grilled pork chops. At that point, the place was about half empty. Ten minutes later she came by to take our order since our waitress was nowhere in sight. When I mentioned that it was my son's birthday, and did they have any desserts, she said they had run out of that, too. At that point we had no silverware or water, so she brought us four sets of silverware (we are a family of six), and told us that we had to get our own water from the dispenser at the bar. About ten minutes later our waitress finally came by, and promptly left when we told her that we'd already ordered. While we waited for our food we were "treated" to a view of a large table of college students drinking beer and putting forks, cigarettes, and other objects in their ears and up their noses.
Our food was awful. My "pound" of brisket was three slices of hard, dry meat with lots of gristle, accompanied with a hard, cold tortilla, OK cole slaw, and tasteless beans. I had planned to share it with my six and eight year olds, and when I asked for two extra plates, our waitress walked away without responding. I got up, chased her down, and asked her again, and she replied that it would be an extra $6 for two empty plates, and did I still want them? I told her to forget it. My other two kids had ordered the kids plate of fish sticks (5 small frozen ones) with a handful of greasy fries for $5/each, and they came on the cheap white paper plates that people use for crafts, so I was able to separate them and use them for my kids meals. My daughter didn't finish her slice of brisket and told me that she was still hungry, but I could eat her meat since it was too hard and dry. My husband had a "16 oz" T bone that looked more like 10oz....his was also tough and gristly. We never saw our waitress after she dumped off our meals, so my husband found her at the bar, asked for our bill, and paid it right then and there. We left La Kiva still hungry, so we ate appetizers and dessert at Starlight Theater. We will not be coming back.
If you primarily want to drink alcohol and have a little overpriced food, I suppose La Kiva would be OK...especially if you eat after a few drinks when your taste buds are dulled.

I read the word "ambience" in the previous review and thought I might just clarify this for anyone expecting linen tablecloth and fine dining. This place is chock full of local charm and characters, had great food and $1.50 margaritas (between 5 and 6 PM). Be there when doors open at 5.
Sure beats eating institutional food in an instutional setting like the restaurant in the Park.
We spent 3 nights at Chisos Mining Co (loved it) and you can walk to restaurant from hotel (1/4 mile). Those margaritas are strong!!!