Cantina is not the typical taco, quesadilla and burritos Mexican place. However, my past experiences have been chalk and cheese. How will it fare this time? Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Trying Mexican dishes not tacos, quesadillas, burritos and taquitos
Dinner with mates and dates
Guacamole lovers
Ambience & Décor
Set in the heart of London's West End, Cantina’s classy décor was befitting of the area. Minimalist, two-tone interior with complementing dark cherry-coloured furniture. This modern contemporary look was commonplace in upmarket eateries. For a weekend brunch, I was expecting more people, and as such the ambience was reserved and a tad too quiet.
Service
Service was immaculate with special thanks to Erika. Her table-side assembly skills for the guacamole starter was on point. Erika was attentive, proactive and bubbly for the entire meal, clearly indicative of some good training.
Food
Cantina Laredo’s culinary ethos is traditional Mexican with a contemporary twist. The dish with the razzmatazz is the Guacamole en Molcajete (left). Avocado, warm corn tortilla chips, prepared at the table with a selection of salsa molcajetes (mild, medium and hot salsa) that packs a punch. The secret Cantina seasoning elevates the dish. Fantastic flavours and generous portion.
Of the three starters ordered, the Taco de Pato con Mole (right) was the most noteworthy. Confit duck with a Nutella mole (sauce), corn tortilla and plums. Duck and plums are a timeless classic, with the Nutella sauce giving a sweet glaze. The different flavours and textures worked. I wanted more duck and Nutella. The disintegration of the taco was evident upon arrival, so rapid consumption was required.
The Tostadas de Cangrejo (left) had minced crab, pico de gallo, crisp tortillas with chipotle mayo. The mini mountain of crab was appreciated. The crab meat tasted fresh and the vibrancy from the pico de gallo combated the overpowering kick from the chipotle. All flavours were well balanced and none of it diminished the natural flavours of the crab.
Lack of appetite meant I ordered another Entrada and an Acompañamientos. The Chicarrón de Calamar (right) is fried baby squid, sunset salsa and thyme. The well seasoned squid was cooked perfectly and encased in a light, flaky batter. The zesty lemon, vibrant salsa and fresh squid all work but I wished there was more heat and spice running through this dish.
The Acompañamientos of Esquites (left) was a big surprise. The grilled sweetcorn with mayo, sour cream, queso fresco and chile piquin was the best way to enjoy corn. The fusion of sour cream, mayo and chile piquin gave this creamy accompaniment chilli heat, savoury tones and sweetness. The queso fresco (similar to feta) gave the dish the much-needed saltiness. Balanced flavours working in perfect harmony.
Cantina’s food is better than the hum-drum, but I feel some of the dishes lack the ‘wow factor for the price. Given the limited selection it still came to £40+ per head. The service requires special mention and the classy décor makes it fitting for all occasions. Based on today’s dining experience, Cantina gets a B rating.
Photos of Cantina Laredo and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: B
Final comment: Bored of the hum-drum Mexican? Try Cantina to change it up.
Hashtags: #B #Mexican #LeicesterSquare #Expensive #CantinaLaredo #GreatService #BrilliantDécor #Guacamole #Molcajete #Avocado #Corn #Tortilla #Salsa #CantinaSeasoning #Taco #Nutella #ChocolateSauce #Plums #DuckConfit #Duck #Meat #Tostada #Crab #PicodeGallo #Chipotle #ChipotleMayo #Prawns #Squid #FriedSquid #Chicarron #Calamari #Thyme #Lemon #Sweetcorn #GrillledCorn #Mayonnaise #SourCream #Quesadilla #ChilePiquin #Chilli #AllOccasions #Brunch #Casual #CatchUp #Cocktails #Contemporary #Dates #Elegance #FineDining #Drinks #Modern #Quirky #Seafood #SpicedCorn #Tempura #Authentic
Comments