Restaurant bar
Unclaimed profileLITA
Walnut Creek, CA · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The beverage program at LITA leans tropical and Caribbean, with a cocktail list that names its spirits and commits to the theme. The Mangonada Margarita, Isle de Tigre, and St. Croix Crystal Milk Punch are all built from specific brands and fresh ingredients, and the Coco-naut finishes with a Lemon Hart 151 float and a fire show. Wine covers sparkling through port, beer runs from draft lager to bottled sour, and the non-alcoholic cocktails are given the same detailed treatment as the rest.
- What should I order?
- Start with the St. Croix Crystal Milk Punch, a milk-clarified mix of Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Smith & Cross Rum, Denizen rums, Batavia Arrack, pineapple, citrus, green tea, and spices. The Mangonada Margarita is another strong choice, with Jarana Blanco Tequila, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, mango, lime, chamoy, and a chili-lime salt rim.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want a cocktail list with named spirits and a clear tropical point of view will find plenty here. The non-alcoholic options are detailed enough for anyone skipping alcohol, and the beer and wine lists give non-cocktail drinkers real choices rather than afterthoughts.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour includes cocktails such as the Sol Guavanada, Sol Paloma, Espres-Sol Martini, and Guara-Lita. Sol Thursdays late-night happy hour features Leon y Sol craft cocktails for a later visit.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail list is built around a Caribbean-Latin and Miami-influenced theme, with drinks like the St. Croix Crystal Milk Punch and the Coco-naut that specify multiple branded spirits and unusual ingredients. The non-alcoholic list gets comparable attention, with four named cocktails and a non-alcoholic beer.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A full craft cocktail section with six named signatures, branded spirits, and a tropical Caribbean theme. The list includes a milk-clarified punch, a margarita with a popsicle garnish, and a fire-show drink. Happy hour and late-night offerings extend the program beyond the main menu.
Menu strengths
- — Named cocktails specify branded spirits such as Jarana Tequila, Smith & Cross Rum, Hennessy V.S., and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao.
- — The tropical and Caribbean through-line is consistent across signatures like the Mangonada Margarita, Isle de Tigre, and St. Croix Crystal Milk Punch.
- — Happy hour and Sol Thursdays late-night happy hour add separate cocktail selections.
Standout selections
- — St. Croix Crystal Milk Punch: Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Smith & Cross Rum, Denizen 5yr and 8yr Rums, Batavia Arrack, pineapple, citrus, Billie Holiday Green Tea, and spices, milk clarified.
- — Mangonada Margarita: Jarana Blanco Tequila, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, mango, lime, chamoy, chili-lime salt rim, and a mango-chamoy popsicle.
- — Isle de Tigre: Jarana Reposado Tequila, Smith & Cross Rum, Liquid Alchemist Orgeat, Giffard Creme de Banane, Angostura and Peychaud's Bitters, pineapple, and lime.
Wine
A wine-by-the-glass and bottle section that spans sparkling, white, rose, red, and port. The list names international and domestic producers including Moet & Chandon, Chandon, Mionetto, Daou, and Capensis.
Menu strengths
- — The list covers five wine styles: sparkling, white, rose, red, and port.
- — Producers include Moet & Chandon, Chandon, Mionetto, Daou, and Capensis.
- — Red wine is used in the Sangria LITA, tying the wine list to the cocktail program.
Standout selections
- — Brut Champagne, Moet & Chandon, Epernay, France, listed in a 187ml format.
- — 2024 Pinot Noir, Salem Wine Co., Willamette Valley, OR.
Beer
Beer selections include draft and bottled options, with a light lager, a black lager, rotational IPAs, Red Stripe, and a sour ale. A non-alcoholic beer from Estrella is also listed. The range covers crisp, dark, hoppy, and sour styles.
Menu strengths
- — The list includes draft and bottled options across lager, IPA, and sour styles.
- — A non-alcoholic beer from Estrella, Galicia, Spain, is listed.
- — Specific named selections include Tannery Bend Light Lager, Xingu Black Lager, and Alvarado Street Howzit Punch Sour.
Standout selections
- — Light Lager, Tannery Bend, Napa, CA, a draft selection.
- — Howzit Punch Sour, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA, a bottled sour ale.
Nonalcoholic
Four non-alcoholic cocktails are listed: Garden Fizz, Agave Heat, Jamaican Forktail, and Tost Sangria. The drinks use Seedlip Garden 108, cucumber shrub, fassionola, ginger beer, and serrano pepper. A non-alcoholic beer from Estrella is also available.
Menu strengths
- — Four named non-alcoholic cocktails cover a range of flavors, including a Seedlip-based drink, a shrub drink, a fassionola drink, and a wine alternative.
- — Ingredients include Seedlip Garden 108, cucumber shrub, serrano pepper, fassionola, and ginger beer.
- — A non-alcoholic beer from Estrella is listed alongside the cocktails.
Standout selections
- — Garden Fizz: Seedlip Garden 108, pineapple, lime, agave, and serrano pepper; non-alcoholic.
- — Agave Heat: orange, lime, cucumber shrub, agave, and serrano pepper; non-alcoholic.
- — Jamaican Forktail: pineapple, lime, honey, fassionola, and ginger beer; non-alcoholic.
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