La Cantina Mexican Grill

I’d like to say what the food is like here, but I never got served so I have no idea. I work in Yaletown and decided to give Mexican a try for lunch.
All outside tables were initially full so I sat inside. I was given a menu then for the next ½ hour I was ignored. The staff decided resetting the outdoor tables as they emptied was more important. Even the guy who seemed to own the place just ignored me.
Being a typical Canadian, I did not complain, but just stood up and left.
The service here is terrible bordering on rude. Avoid unless you don’t mind chasing the servers.

I just moved here from southern california and thought I’d give vancouver mexican food a try… looks like I picked the wrong restaurant to come to. I noticed Salsa Agave when I walked by, but the wait was too long. Now I can see why this place was so empty. I knew I was in trouble when I noticed that the salsa looked like something that came out of a can– not fresh and it was creamy. All I wanted was my comfort foods cheese enchiladas, refried beans, and rice. When I requested this the server looked at me like I was speaking another language. He said they don’t put the cheese inside the enchilada only on top. I didn’t want to argue with him so I ordered the la cantina enchiladas with beef. It took almost a half hour to receive my food and it wasn’t even hot! The cheese wasn’t even melted. There is no nice way of saying how bad this was. It looks like no effort was made into making this meal… I really don’t understand what took so long. The enchilada was just some thin meat sliced and thrown into a flour torilla with cheese on top and then a strange white cream sauce. I don’t know if this is tex mex or native american indian style or what, but that’s definitely not mexican. The rice was instant and the beans were from a can. Mexican food is so simple and fresh– this place really does not get it. I wasted $ 15 for a meal that I only ate a 3^rd of and I’m still hungry!!! Taco Bell is more mexican than this place. Don’t even waste your time coming here… pass on this one!!!

I really wanted to be able to give this place a better review. Scratch that. Before I’d ever entered, I wanted to give this place a lousy review; what business did La Cantina have opening up less than a block away from my beloved Salsa & Agave? But, once I was forced to eat there one Monday when I forgot that S&A is closed that night, I wanted to like it more.
The reason: the deLIGHTful service we received. I like the folks at S&A, but they’re a little spacey. I’ve enjoyed the numerous free desserts I’ve received there to make up for forgetfulness and absent guacamole, but I’d rather prompt service and guacamole if I had the choice.
So, our waitress at La Cantina was a charmer. But the food… only so-​so. The plusses — more veggie options than down the street, and I think slightly lower prices. But my sopes couldn’t compare to the scrumptious ones at S&A, and my father’s tacos weren’t anything to write home about. Most disappointing, the horchata and jamaica were both pretty bland. Too bad, because after wanting to hate it, I really wanted to like it!
That said, if you’re craving Mexican in Yaletown on a Monday, La Cantina will do you just fine. And at least the service will be great.

* Persian Mexican food? *
In the never ending quest for Mexican food in Vancouver I stopped in to try out La Cantina.
I have to say this place amuses me on several levels.
The very crowded Salsa & Agave (
) is just a few doors down. I suppose the owner of this spot, who I believe is Persian, must have seen the crowds and figured Mexican was a better idea than the pizza spot that was here before.
There is Spanish speaking staff, and I noticed that the bill had the order written in Spanish, so I’m assuming the kitchen is Spanish speaking as well.
The menu has the usual suspects like Taquitos, Queso Fundido, Tortas, etc. But then some very random additions like the Donair Platter served with rice, salad, pita bread, tzatziki and potato. Go figure!
I tried the tacos. A plate of 4 is $ 8. They had res (beef), pollo (chicken), chorizo (sausage), pastor (pork), and veggie. Sadly they didn’t have my favourite — lengua (tongue). I sampled the res and pastor.
The beef was a bit overcooked, and the pastor was decent. It came with fresh chopped onions, cilantro, lime, and a salsa.
It was basically just «ok.»
The pickings are pretty slim, but among those in Vancouver I still lean towards Don Guacamole:
Many people complain about the slow service there — but I have never had an issue at all and the quality of the meat on their tacos (particularly the beef) is much higher. They also have a nicer selection of salsas and other dishes as well. (Except they don’t offer donair!)
I do wonder why we can’t have really solid Latin places like most other North American cities have though? Not even just Texas or California. But even Chicago: www​.yelp​.com/​b​i​z​/​n​a​c​i​o​n​a​l​-​2​7​-​c​h​i​c​a​g​o​#​h​r​i​d​:​M​U​2​X​-​B​l​p​h​h​L​u​L​-​w​4​g​mzXUQ !!!

Dueling Mexican Chefs?
What we have here are two Mexican Cantinas, one down the street, at Salsa & Agave, and the other here, just 3 or 4 doors away and open today,
La Cantina. An attractive exterior but no awning yet.
Menus– similar, with the extra supplement of Donair.
Prices– similar.
Décor– slightly better at Cantina.
Service– perhaps slightly better at Cantina.
Food:
Salsas, although nicely presented, they both lack in character. Chips, average.
The Torta was similar, but a bit more spicy here.
The Rice, not as good.
The Beans, not as good.
The Cantina has put us in a predicament.
Only time will tell which is the better choice.
SO people, get down here and try it out and Unilocal !