Cantina Laredo

201 West 3rd St. Austin, TX 78701 (512) 542-9670

Sun-Thu: 11am-10pm Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm

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Cantina Laredo at 3rd and Colorado did not get off to the smoothest of starts when it opened several years ago. But that’s not uncommon in the restaurant business. It’s all about what have you done for me lately, and Cantina, from it’s table side guacamole to its riveting Carnitas, is all about smooth at this point.

It starts with service and the table side guacamole is indicative of that.The avocados are diced and blended with cilantro, jalapenos, red onions, tomatoes and limes and then seasoned with white pepper and garlic. It’s the Mexican equivalent of a Greek restaurant serving flaming Saganaki: fun to watch and very tasty. Cantina Laredo’s other appetizers are also good. Try the Quesadillas al Carbon (I like mine with beef) and the Ensalada de Cilantro y Pollo. This is a refreshing dish with light and piquant taste notes.

As noted earlier the entrees are thoughtfully prepared and one worth mentioning is the Carnitas. I was not a big fan of these when Cantina opened but has this dish improved immensely. These are wonderfully seasoned pork shanks with a hint of crispiness and killer flavors. Likewise for the Chile Relleno. I love the Poblano pepper, the Oaxaca cheese and the zippy ranchera sauce. Another fun dish is the Asada y Enchilada with a beautiful grilled steak with onions and a chimichurri sauce. Muy delisioso!

And if you are a shrimp lover, try the Enchiladas Camarones. For me what makes this dish is the plump and succulent shrimp and the sour cream poblano sauce. Delightful flavors. I also really enjoy the Enchiladas de Avocado with a hint of artichoke along with spinach and tomatillo sauce.

If you have room, the Postres at Cantina are worth a bite. Try the Mexican Apple Pie and the new Mango Tres Leches. Now this is dessert.

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