Cantina Laredo

The most amazing Mexican restaurant in the UK, and we have tried a few!!! The food was mouth watering, the cocktails punchy and the service was above and beyond. Will be hard to ever eat at anywhere else on our London visits now!
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Rachel and Andy
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Had dinner there last night with my social group. From the time I made the booking until the time we left it was a fantastic experience.

Ryan & Shaun were very professional in booking our Christmas Dinner & ensuring our time at Cantina Laredo was most enjoyable.

The service was wonderful & being a New Yorker living in London that is saying something. The food & drinks are amazing. Fresh guacamole made at your table...scrummy mains and desserts that sizzle. If you love Mexican food & want to have it in a great venue get down to Cantina Laredo in Covent Garden.

It gets 2 big thumbs up from me & my group.
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T.A.
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 05, 2010

This was school-dinner Mexican, and not even a good school dinner. As an American in London, I never have high expectations when eating Mexican food here, but this place really was the worst that I've had.

The service was way too chatty, and he seemed more concerned with rattling off all of their upselling bullet points than in actually listening to what we wanted to order. When he repeated back my order with chicken instead of beef, I corrected him, to which he quickly replied "Yeah". Of course, it came out as chicken anyway, and when I said it wasn't what I ordered, he said "I'm sure you mentioned chicken." When, in our long conversation about animal rights? I had only said 4 words to him, and one of them was beef...

There was absolutely no flavour in the food whatsoever, and when I asked for hot sauce, the waiter seemed shocked and said he could "go in back to get me some". It's a Mexican restaurant - it's hardly like I asked for soy sauce...

As we were in a hurry to get somewhere, I told him I didn't have time for him to replace the meal. There were no apologies for getting it wrong, and certainly no removing it from the bill (and they still charged an automatic 12.5% service).

When we had finished our meals and our drinks, we sat there for a good 10 minutes while all the waiters talked to each other about 2 feet behind us, and despite several looks, they didn't get the hint that we might want something.

Certainly won't be returning, and it's little wonder - with places like this serving "gourmet Mexican" that the UK isn't fond of Mexican cooking.
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2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Friday, November 26, 2010

Firstly, the service. It's very 'friendly', a little pushy and intrusive for my liking, but definitely a more American style than you'll find in most central London restaurants.

Our waiter made a point of telling us the Margaritas are all freshly made, so we ordered two. At £9.50 for a standard one, these were expensive compared to most places in London. They were frozen, they were large, but sadly they were bland. I like my Margarita to have a kick, and this one was a rather flaccid version.

And this set the tone for the meal. My Carnitas (braised pork shanks with a chipotle-wine sauce) were decidedly lifeless and came with some equally flavourless rice and plain vegetables. My partner's chicken tacos, served with the same accompaniments as my dish, was also disappointingly lacking in flavour.

Some complimentary tortilla chips came with two deliciously spicy sauces, but these were the tastiest things we ate all night.

And then came dessert. We ordered the two house specialities (again, recommended by our waiter). Apple pie and chocolate brownie, both served with vanilla ice cream and Mexican brandy butter ... on a sizzlingly hot skillet. This is something I've never tried before, and never will again! The brownie was delicious, but this is basically a dessert that punishes you for being such a glutton by burning your lips every time you take a mouthful. It was painful!

All in all, apart from the burnt lips, it was an inoffensive experience and the food, like the decor, was dull. With several good Mexican places around Covent Garden, I'll be giving this one a miss in future.
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Gareth
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 5
Sunday, November 07, 2010

I came across this restaurant on a Friday night. Excellent customer service, great atmosphere. The margarita was huge and its taste delightful. Let's not talk about the main meal...to die for...I would have licked the plate if I could. Dessert was sizzling at the table and absolutely very tasty. I will definitely go back again and I highly recommend it.
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Massimo
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 30, 2010

This is by far the best Mexican food I've had in London. Nothing really compares. If you're looking for real authentic Mexican food, then this is the place to go!!

I really wouldn't go anywhere else for Mexican in London. Enjoy!
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Sibel
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Food is good, value reasonable, service prescribed, atmosphere bland BUT watch out for the service charge, They will add 12.5% to your bill and then when paying by card request a gratuity in addition. Please make sure that you complain about this - loudly if you eat there. Given the amount of local choice I'd suggest you don't bother, Pacifico just up Long Acre is a whole lot better an experience
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2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Friday, September 10, 2010

Best Mexican food I have had outside of Mexico.

We traveled to Mexico a year ago and stayed in Tulum and had the freshest tastiest food I have ever had and have always been disappointed going to other Mexican places. We have been to Wahaca, Tortilla and Santo and this place by far had fresher tastier food.

Best meal I have ever had in London.

The service was fantastic, I don't eat dairy and asked to have no cream on a dish I ordered and they brought out a different sauce on the side which was a personal favourite from one the staff members, they offered to change the sauce if I didn't like it but I loved it!
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Zoe
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, September 05, 2010

After travelling over 100 miles to try this restaurant, we were not disappointed, in fact totally the opposite, we were very impressed by the cleanliness of all areas, the friendliness and the excellent service of all of the staff. Now to the food, each course complimented the previouse one with a variaty and piquancy of tastes and the coffee rounded the meal of to perfection (for the non drinker me) as to the margaritas well what can I say? except it was not so easy getting the other 3 back to the train station in an upright position. In the famous words of Arnie "we'll be back".
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Rae, Ipswich
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Excellent. We were in a hurry to eat before the theatre and the staff could not have been more helpful. The food was excellent and the prices reasonable. Would definitely eat there again.
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9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, August 10, 2010