A Mexican Oasis in the Heart of Toronto
La Mexicana
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| La Mexcana |
3337 Bathurst
Toronto
416-783-9452 838 Yonge St.
Toronto
416-934-0712
Hours: Both locations
Sun-Thurs: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
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by Pamela Bloom
For those of us who can't afford to escape this freezing Canadian winter with a trip to sunny Mexico, a night out at La Mexicana might be the next best thing. This Mexican oasis is a perfect play to warm up with your amigos while enjoying all the best that Mexican cuisine has to offer.
My friend Jennie and I went there for dinner on a particularly frigid night, and upon entering we ere both struck by the warmth of La Mexicnana's owner and chef, Lucero Won, and her lovely resturant. Decorated in rich earth tones, an abundance of fresh flowers, cactuses, and pottery, this "spic and span" clean eatery made it easy for us to forget about the icy winds outside.
We started with complimentary nacho chips and salsa, both of which are made fresh on site. The chips were surprisingly light and crisp, while the salsa was just the way I like it, spicy and not too chunky. A milder salsa is also available, on the house for those who can't handle their cilantro.
La Mexicana's Guacamole is among the best I've ever had. It's made with the usualy avocados, and the unusal tomatillo sauce; it's the sauce that makes the guacamole sweet and delicious. Wong also claims that her Guacamole is less fattening than most. Bonus!
For appetizer, Jennie had Sinchronisada, a grilled tortilla sandwich, with your choice of chicken, beef or cheese, served with Pico de Gallo (tomatoes and guacamole). She said it was like "a grilled cheese sandwich, with a twist." She meant it in a good way
I had sopa de Frijol Negro, a spicy black bean sou. It wasn't as spircy as I thought it would be, but it was delicious just the same, with a rich flavor and creamy texture.
For my main course I had the Camarones a la Tropicana. It was the first time I had ever tried Mexican seafood. I'm glad I strayed away from my usual choice of burritos. The shrimp were sauted with onions and peppers in a light coconut tomato sauce. The shrimp were lump and juicy, and the coconut sauce gave them a unique and extraordinary taste.
Both of the entrees came with refried beans, served in a freshly baked tortilla cup, rice and salad with homemade tarragon dressing.
For her entree, Jennie chose the Barejena a la Mexicana, a baked eggplant dish. The eggplant is layered with tomato sauce, and three kinds of cheese (mozzeralla, chedder, and monteray jack), and is served in a herb tomato broth. It's a surprishingly light dish considering all of the cheese, with a tangy yet subtle flavor.
For dessert, Jennie and I made up for all of the calories we saved on the "not as fattening" guacamole by sharing two desserts; Flan Caramel and Fried Ice Cream. The flan was sweet, but not too rich, and it was served with fresh whipped cream. The ice cream was breaded with graham crumbs, cornflakes, and cinnamon. It was crispy and sweet, covered with chocolate chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Yum!
So, whole it may not be Mexico, La Mexicana is a great place to come in from the cold and forget about the weather outside for a few incredible hours. Dinner for two with alcohol and tip, approx. $45
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