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A new upscale Mexican restaurant has officially open downtown.
La Cantina is a new high-end project from the owners of T&T Tacos and Tortas (on Rachel and Clark Streets), Alberto Rivera and Monica Wakeman. The restaurant is now open at 2022 Stanley Street, in the space near De Maisonneuve Boulevard once occupied by La Campaninna, which closed in December, 2018 after a 33-year run.
While La Cantina is currently up-and-running for dinner service, Rivera says the restaurant will begin lunch service next Wednesday, Sept. 4.
La Cantina’s menu, headed up by chef Jonathan Jimenez, is centred around upscale twists on many of T&T’s classics: tostadas (deep-fried tortillas topped with vegetables, meat, and other goods), tortas (sandwiches made with crusty bread rolls), and tacos. Among other noteworthy dishes, Rivera is excited to be serving tacos with octopus and bacon, duck confit, and pork shank.
La Cantina is also serving a range of innovative cocktails, like rum horchata, Mexican caesars (known as sangritas), and gin lemonade.
After five years of success since T&T’s opening in June, 2014, Rivera said he was ready to venture into upscale Mexican cuisine with La Cantina. Frustrated by the way that many Montreal restaurants treat Mexican culture, he hopes the new spot will provide a much-needed taste of authenticity in the downtown core.
“Especially in Montreal, every single Mexican restaurant that opens is so tacky, and tries to prostitute the culture, sombreros everywhere,” he explains. “I wanted to make something that represents Mexico, but in another way.”
To this end, all decor in the 115-seater restaurant is sourced from Mexico, as are many of the ingredients used on the menu.
STATUS — La Cantina will open for full service on Wednesday, September 4 at 2022 Stanley Street. The restaurant will be open every day from Monday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- La Cantina [Official]
- T & T Tacos and Tortas Now Open in the Plateau [EMTL]