As an establishment you have to decide: are we going to be a
full-service restaurant or casual walk-in? Once you start taking reservations
and proceed to warn patrons about the 15-minute grace period and two hour
seating limit, you’ve slated yourself into the full-service category. It also
means you need to spring the extra minimum wage hours to hire a host or
hostess.
Upon arriving at La Carnita, we awkwardly waited at the empty
hostess stand. After two food runners passed us with no acknowledgement and a
line of other diners started forming, my husband approached the bartender to
inquire about a host, only to be told that they have one and to just go back
and wait.
A waitress passes dangerously close to us, takes one look
and decides to walk back the other way. Finally, after a few minutes, someone who
must work downstairs at Good Fortune (he’s in a tropical shirt while La Carnita
staff swathed in black) stops and greets us. He’s cheerful and advises that
they all “share” in the job – oh poor delusional soul, you most certainly do
not. That same waitress that avoided the
line in the first place, suddenly approaches and offers to show us to our table
if the other guy tells her where to seat us. Take a deep breath, stay calm…
From there the service improved, the waitress that seated us
quickly took our drink orders and provided good suggestions. The Peach Don’t
Kill My Vibe ($13) she liked was rather refreshing filled with fruity flavours that
hid all hints of alcohol. Whereas, the Spring It On ($13) we chose ourselves
had none of the promised St. Germain or cucumber - it’s really best classified
as gin with simple syrup.
Yet, when I wanted another cocktail and stopped one of the
runners, I was informed he couldn’t take the order and would go find someone
else. After five minutes and no follow-up, I decided to skip the second drink, our
food would be finished soon anyways.
Having ordered practically all the tacos, their fish ones reign
supreme. The best was the grilled fish tostada ($9.95) which starred a thick
slice of perfectly cooked Arctic char; it was still jewel-tone in the centre.
The light smokiness from the grill went well with the sweet corn salsa and hint
of Diablo's Fuego hot sauce in the background. But, it’s messy. The crispy
tostada has no chance of holding up against the heavy fish – consider replacing
it with a regular tortilla wrap instead.
The In Cod We Trust ($5.79) combines the typical deep fried
battered fish with crunchy red cabbage and green apple slaw. There’s plenty of
flavours thanks to the lime crema and “Voltron” sauce (a spicy soy drizzle). Sure,
fried fish tacos are practically a staple item at every family restaurant in
Toronto, but La Carnita does them well.
Although it was included in the menu description, I wasn’t
expecting the coconut milk used in the tostada
de ceviche ($7.95). Hence, at first bite was thrown off by the sour cream
taste and consistency of the ceviche.
In hindsight, it wasn’t terrible, incorporating plenty of cubed tuna and bits
of tomato and cucumber. It just didn’t look appetizing and if it weren’t for
the crispy shell, the mixture would be way too soft.
I’d go back for the pollo
frito ($5.79), a thick crispy chicken tender smothered in a nutty sweet mole, hot sauce, crispy green cabbage,
and refreshing pico de gallo. It was
way better than the carne asada
($6.79) which despite having great flavours, I still couldn’t get over the odd
soft texture of the meat (too much powdered tenderizer perhaps?)
The daily special ($5.25) wasn’t any better. That evening
featuring pulled pork with mango salsa. The spicy salsa was delicious, but even
with all the flavours couldn’t save the terribly dry pork.
If you craving meat, I’d go for the ancho BBQ wings ($15.95), the crispy edges smothered in a poblano
lime barbeque sauce that’s thick and flavourful, almost like mole. With seven to an order, there’s
also plenty to go around.
By the end, I wasn’t sure whether to stay for a slice of the
Sweet Jesus ice cream cake or just grab something on the way home. Our waitress
was awfully friendly and the food came at a respectable pace. Yet again, we did
have less than half an hour left to the strict two-hour seating limit. In the
end, we decided to leave while things were still good.
On the way out, sure
enough, another line had formed by the hostess stand. Poor patrons, where’s the
delusional guy in the tropical shirt when you need him?
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 130 Eglinton Avenue East
Address: 130 Eglinton Avenue East
Website: http://www.lacarnita.com/
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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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