It takes a lot of guts to set up shop in one of the most iconic districts in the country. Covent Garden is known across the globe for its historic market and its ability to never let you be anywhere more than ten foot away from a pub. So with all that competition, how does a tapas-style Mexican restaurant like Cantina Laredo manage to stand out?
The Venue & Atmosphere
Cantina Laredo boasts a strong colour scheme by matching pinks with wooden yellows, juxtaposing the minimalist furnishings of wooden tables and black leather sofas sat next to floor-to-ceiling windows.. The large bar greeted us on our way in, boasting dozens of bottles of tempting tequila across its shelves - well, tempting if you didn't have work in the morning.
With its delicious food, comfortable seating (both inside and outdoors), and relaxed atmosphere it is a perfect venue for date night, all while leaning towards an older demographic. The front of house staff made all guests feel more than welcome, from the incredibly knowledgeable waiter convincing us to choose the best dishes, to their persistently kind and affable nature. Its a small feature often over-looked in Central London, but here it felt like we were popping into our local restaurant.
Its bold colour scheme is contrasted within the same room as it settles for calmer browns and blues.
The Food & Drink
You have two ways to tackle food here: the classic starter-main-dessert fare, or order a selection of smaller dishes to share, much like a tapas bar. Being the terminally hungry kind of guys that would rather order the whole menu, we opted for the latter.
First we ordered the Guacamole en Molcajete (£8.50), which comes with salsa and corn tortilla chips and is made at the table to add a pinch of theatrics to the night. With the fresh avocado acting as an absolute delight on the palate and the ability to add as much spice as you want, the guacamole becomes a must-order. This was accompanied by Tostadas de Cangrejo (£6.50), crab, pico de gallo and chipotle mayonnaise served on tortillas – smooth, delicious, and crisp – and Yellowtail Tiradito (£10), a tasty yet acquired dish.
The three plates were the ideal appetiser, but the quest to silence our perpetually rumbling bellies needed to continue, and the venue was happy to oblige. Next came the Brochetas de Arrachera (£8.90), skirt steak skewers with sweet Mexican soy and chile de arbol that were delightfully tangy and tender enough to fall off the skewers. We also opted for two sets of tacos: Pork Belly (£9.90) with salsa verde, coriander and onion salsa, and tiger prawns (£11.20) with poblano, bacon and guajillo salsa. Both were delicious, though the pork belly emitted audible and probably embarrassing noises from me. Finally, we ended on Fajitas de Pollo (£17.50), grilled chicken with rice, black beans, and all the sauces. Constructing these ourselves was more of an exercise in how much irresistible guacamole we could cram into one faijita, but it was all worth it. We were finally full – and it was thanks to a series of delectable Mexican dishes that never seemed to miss a beat.
To wash it all down we had the refreshing Watermelon margaritas (£9.50) first, followed by the waiter-recommended Avocado Passion Fruit margarita (£9.50). The former would be the perfect accompanying drink while enjoying some alfresco dining, while the latter will always force me to question why more places aren’t using avocados in drinks.
Very rarely am I filled up on tapas but very rarely have I tasted Mexican like this.
Summary
So how did Cantina Laredo stand out in the bustling, iconic streets of Covent Garden? Simply by offering delicious food, refreshing Mexican cocktails and a truly friendly atmosphere cultivated by their passionate front-of-house staff, it becomes more than just a tourist trap restaurant. By successfully pulling this off, they've managed to create your favourite local restaurant in one of the busiest parts of the capital.
