I don't mind the obviously trying-too-hard decor; find a single happening place in Phoenix/Scottsdale and try to tell me it's NOT a reasonable facsimile of NY or LA. The prices are incredibly high, though. You're looking at an Olive and Ivy experience for Mary Elaine's prices.
That said, the food is really wonderful. The fried plantains with black bean sauce is something you will try to cram down even though you're beyond full. We had the butterfish for an entree and it was unsurprisingly delicious and the most popular of the entrees. Try the sides, they're very good.
The mojitos were also quite good. And, there's a HUGE difference between their standard mojito and the 12 year. Spring the extra few bucks for it.
The patio is nice, but it's overlooking unglamorous construction and a small, unlit path between SMoCA and the Mondrian.
The design elements of the restaurant are very mismatched, from the whimsical umbrellas to the roosters everywhere, some whites were plainly mismatched, and... oh, yeah. This used to be a Doubletree. That explains the ho hum architecture.