LA ROCA Neighbourhood.... Downtown Address........ 155 Smith St Phone........ 204-615-9605 Entrées........... $ 16- $ 22
Two tables over, a server ceremoniously slides two brimming shotglasses across the table’ s surface and begins describing the flavour profile of an aged tequila. Nearby, a circle of jerseyed Jets fans crowds closer to their table to“ ooh” and“ ah” over the racks of tacos jostling for space.
La Roca is serious about having fun.
The slick downtown spot launched almost a year ago with a concept to serve the light, fresh, and flavourful food of coastal Mexico to our prairie city. Everything from the menu to the lounge-like interior veers away from Tex-Mex kitsch toward the authentic contemporary. The drink menu, for instance, lists forceful margaritas( yes on the powerfully kicky salt rim, no on sugary slush) with flavours like cucumber jalapeño, and more than 40 varieties of tequila selected to show of a variety of blanco, aged, and rested sips. If you want to let loose, the bar seems to be saying, do it right.
This goes for dinner as well, a collection of fun food invigorated with splashes of lime and spice. Salted tortilla chips come with the table, and are perfect for scooping tender cubes of shrimp ceviche from its glass vessel. They also make an ideal dipper for the bubbling pool of queso fundido, tangy and spicy from slivers of jalapeño and crumbled chorizo sausage. ciao! reviews
Surroundings are casual chic, and service offers a blend of professionalism and camaraderie that makes devouring a taco feel almost elegant. Served in trios tucked into metal taco holders, these fresh hand-held bites are menu highlights. Eight varieties range from traditional carnitas to healthy grilled fish tucked into flour tortillas or lettuce wraps. A delicious vegetarian option gives crunch to creamy avocado with a fried panko breading.
Accompanying sides are equally rewarding. Pozole soup, an authentic Mexican stew, is a hearty blend of veggies in a savoury broth rich with shreds of chicken. Potato-like pillows of hominy, made from white corn, enrich the bowl. A fun play on a classic, Mexican Caesar salad adds some heat, spiking the dressing with chipotle, adding deep fried slices of jalapeño, and swapping bacon for chorizo.
A small selection of mains have recently been added to the menu, offering options for large appetites. Smoky, charred carne asada is complemented by a swizzle of creamy avocado sauce. A colourful fish dish, with a changing featured fillet, packs a zesty punch under a lime-heavy salsa verde with colourful pico de gallo.
Dark rustic decor keeps the dining room looking chic, while pops of colour— including a wall of vibrant artwork and patterned banquettes— give the 170 seat space some coziness.
So do street food inspired desserts like crispy churros and a banana choco chimi( a deep fried Mars bar, banana, and tortilla concoction). Just close your eyes and think of Mexico.
La Roca is open Tue-Wed 4 pmlate, Thu-Fri 11:30 am-late, and Sat 4 pm-late.
CAFE CARLO Neighbourhood..... Corydon Address......... 243 Lilac St Phone........ 204-477-5544 Entrées........... $ 29- $ 36
Avid eaters are always on the look out for the ever-elusive perfect neighbourhood restaurant, the kind of place with stellar food, an intimate, comfortable setting, and service that easily leads to customers developing a“ usual”. This trifecta is difficult to achieve, but when a restaurant gets it right, it is a recipe for success.
Cafe Carlo offers the proof: this cozy bistro has been tucked in its Lilac Street location since 1989. With some signatures iron clad on the menu and other dishes pushing the boundaries with bold ingredients and global preparations, the kitchen continues to dish out the city’ s favourite plates.
Long before tapas became the trendiest way to eat, Cafe Carlo offered a selection of small plates to share. This collection of shareables reads like a roadmap around the world, from PEI mussels to spring rolls, to falafel.
Standout plates incorporate ingredients making waves in the contemporary food scene, like spectacular fried chicken, golden coating fried to a crisp crack, which is accented by a kimchi sauce that cuts through the indulgent meal with tangy zip.
Beef nachos shake off bar food connotations with the incorporation of juicy roasted mushrooms and a fine shaving of preserved egg yolks, the chef-favoured condiment adding a salty punch. Proving that bacon isn’ t going to be disappearing from menus anytime soon, here the
ciao! / apr / may / two thousand seventeen 31