La Cantina

Critic´s Review

• Food: 4 / 5
• Service: 4 / 5
• Decor: 4.5 / 5

-By Swati Sucharita

Hyderabad's only Mexican fine-dining restaurant did a makeover recently, in both menu and ambience. The interiors are warm and earthy, beginning with the cactus garden outside, and the wooden ceiling, stone floors, tile-topped tables, colourful Mayan-themed wall pieces, tapestries and table linen inside. There is a poolside al fresco seating too, with a snooker table, and a juke box. The mood at Cantina, especially on Saturday evenings, with a live band, is festive. The bar is a highlight at Cantina, and the sangrias, flavoured margaritas, mojitos, martinis and tequilas are a hit. For starters, there is a bowl of crisp Nachos, served with fresh salsa and sour cream dips, on the house! Vegetarians can also order Guacamole, that creamy Mexican relish which looks deceptively light, for all the calories it packs! Chicken Chipotle, Prawns Picante, Tamarind Prawn and Fish Panuchos (a rare, under-stated Yucatan classic, consisting of grilled fish, with a crunchy onion topping, served on pan fried corn tortilla chips) are all excellent starters. The crumb-fried Chicken Chipotle is crisp outside, and tender inside, with the Chipotle chilli (from which it gets its name) marinade giving it a sharp edge, and served with a yummy cumin-mayo-cilantro dip is especially popular. For the main courses, try Chicken Tacos and Vegetable Quesadillas. For desserts, you just can't miss Tres Leches, sinfully soft butter sponge cake, in a sea of double cream, praline and condensed milk.