Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican

Ask me about one type pf cuisine I love and my response will be Mexican. I am not sure what it is with Mexican cuisine. The spices, the flavor combination, the peppers, the guacamole, the chips...

I am always looking for a Mexican restaurant in Miami that will deliver the right notes as this city has a very hard time identifying good Mexican until I visited Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican. We went with Paul on a week day to The Village of Gulfstream as I heard good things about Cantina Laredo. The entire experience was spotless. As we walked in, the hostess sat us down and within a few minutes our food was on the table. The place is big and the ambiance perfect. You know I care about lighting in restaurants and this place got it right. Also, the acoustics of the place were pleasant, something most restaurants don't get it right either. I hate when you go out for dinner and the music is blasting but Cantina Laredo got the music at the right tone.

If you like tequila cocktails, you will be in good hands here as they make delicious concoctions. The drinks are big, something you would appreciate if you are a drinker like me. We ordered the "Delicioso" made with fresh watermelon, Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Barenjager Honey Liquer, agave nectar, lemon and lime juices and cilantro. At $9 a pop, the Deliciouso is a sweet deal. Paul had the  "Pineapple Infused Rita" which was pineapple infused Avion Reposado Tequila, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liquer and fresh lemon juice ($11.50).

We started with the hongos tacos of grilled portabello mushrooms in balsamic glaze with goat cheese, roasted red pepper and queso fresco ($13.29 at dinner and $10.29 at lunch). I really enjoyed the texture of the black beans and the rice was superb. I never tried micro cilantro before and it added the perfect taste to the dish.

Paul had the torta de costillas that consisted on a griddle baked sandwich with slow-roasted short rib, apple-jicama slaw, jalapeños and black beans ($13.79 available at dinner and lunch). The apple-jicama slaw was very subtle leaving the richness of the slow-roasted short rib intact. I took a bite and Paul had to take it away from me, it was that good.

We both shared the costillas con fajita, ribs basted in Jose Cuervo Tequila barbecue sauce with beef and chicken fajitas ($19.99 and available at dinner only). The guacamole was creamy to perfect and the salsa not overpowering at all which is hard to find a chef hitting all the right notes, from guacamole, to salsa and marinating the meats.

Cantina Laredo is located in Palm Beach Gardens at 4635 PGA Boulevard, 561-622-1223 and in Hallandale at The Village of Gulfstream, 501 Silks Run, 954-457-7662.  For more information, visit www.cantinalaredo.com.

By Miami Food Blogger, Grace Della