REVIEW: CANTINA LAREDO

 If you haven’t heard of Cantina Laredo then you either haven’t been on the internet for the last two weeks or have no interest in what is happening in London. This place has been on every website, in every newsletter and on every blog. Not one to rush straight in, I decided to let the dust settle before seeing what all the fuss was about.

Located in Covent Garden, the US based chain is next door to Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant, a tough competitor for the tourist market. The menu offers a range of Mexican dishes including the most popular dishes, fajitas and burritos to the lesser well know Cascabel an Naranja. The Top Shelf Guacamole is a must,although not as naughty as you may think it doesn’t actually contain any top shelf spirits! Or maybe that was just me?

The Guacamole £6.95, made at your table with fresh ingredients is served with nachos and dips. I have noticed some complaints about the price but there is more than enough for two people so well worth it. Washed down with a selection of Mexican cervezas, larger to you and me, the Guacamole is a perfect starter. We were greedy and ordered the Ceviche £8.95 as well, a seafood salad marinated in lime juice and spices. The salad had a great flavour, just the right amount of spices which really complemented the fresh seafood and again there was enough for two.

The menu is enormous and with all of those choices I couldn’t decided what to order. The boy played it safe opting for Enchiladas £9.95 but silly me went for the Oaxaca Camarones con Tocino £17.95, Tiger prawns filled with oaxaca cheese. The meals were served with rice and roasted vegetables, I am not sure how Mexican roasted vegetables are but they tasted good. The tiger prawns filled with cheese and wrapped in bacon did not. The prawns just didn’t fit with the cheese and bacon and the combination of the flavours and textures didn’t work.

With the mains out of the way we dived into a desert. The Mexican Apple pie £5.95 served on a sizzling skillet with Mexican brandy butter and vanilla ice cream was a treat! Like the Guacamole the desert is prepared at your table and it was the highlight of the meal. I am told the secret is in the apples, the pie is made with Granny Smiths, not Bramleys, as they are tart not sweet which means even with the brandy butter the desert isn’t overly sweet.

Would I go back? If I am entirely honest I am not sure I would.

http://www.cantinalaredo.co.uk/

Cantina Laredo, Unit 22 St. Martin’s Courtyard, Upper St. Martin’s Lane, London, WC2H 9DL

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NEWS: PROUD KITCHEN TO OPEN IN CAMDEN

Camden seems to be finally getting it's fair share of good restaurants. The York and Albany, Shaka Zulu - if it ever opens, Gilgamesh and now Proud Group are throwing themselves into the mix. Proud Kitchen launches in September and will be housed in the grade II listed Horse Hospital along side Proud Galleries.

Open from 8am to 10pm the kitchen will have a laid back New York vibe and food will be a relaxed affair. The menu designed by Michelin-trained Head Chef Finlay Logan, will focus on small tapas style dishes rather than large mains. Keep an eye out for other projects from the Proud Group including the eagerly awaited Proud Hotels and Proud New York.

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BUSABA EATHAI - THE SECRETS OUT

On occasions I have walked past Busaba Eathai on Wardour Street, looked at the queue and wondered just what all the fuss was about. One Thursday as I sat in the cafe over the road I thought it was about time I found out.

It was early evening (no queue=result!!), the perfect time to slip in before the crowds arrive. The first thing that struck me was the selection of people eating. From young trendy fashion workers to suited and booted business men, Busaba Eathai attracts them all.

The tables are communal and the atmosphere is constantly buzzing even during the less busy times. The friendly staff make it easy for first timers by going through the menu and offering recommendations.

The food ranges from traditional Thai dishes such as Pad Thai and Tom Yam to the restaurants own take on Thai cuisine. I decided on the Sam Tam (£6.20), green papaya salad, with dried shrimp and cherry tomatoes. And for main I choose Sen Chan Pad Thai (£8.80), a twist on traditional pad thai with green mango and crab meat, our waiter Nicholas assured me this was a good choice.

My sister went for the Gohn Tohd Prawns (£5.30), served with chilli dip followed by the Dolly Pad Mee (£7.40), dolly noodles with prawns, fishcake, cherry tomato, choi sum and chilli. We were both very impressed to see brown rice on the menu, something which even now in London restaurants is quite a rarity.

Deciding to keep with the Thai theme we ordered two Chang beers. Food is served fast and our side dishes arrived not long after the drinks. Oh Som Tam how I have missed you! Just the right amount, the papaya was crunchy but juicy and the hot and sour sauce mixed to perfection. The succulent Gohn Tohd prawns served in bread crumbs sealed the deal and I was now beginning to understand just what the fuss was about.

The mains were served up and they did not disappoint, even with the high expectations set by the delicious side dishes. My Sen Chan Pad Thai was something else, so fresh it tasted like it had just come from a street stall in Bangkok. One of my favourite things about Thai cooking is its lack of greasiness, but some restaurants can't seem to get it right. It made such a refreshing change to be able to actually taste the different flavours and the addition of the crab meat and mango really complemented the texture and taste, that's it I was sold!

We struggled to finish the generous portions and had wanted to try one of the Cha teas but couldn’t fit anything else in. My sister equally impressed suggested a mutual pact that would see us return next month.

Busaba EaThai is one of the best Thai restaurants in London for both food and value, it‘s hard to believe just how cheap the food is. The menu is refreshed every six months to keep people coming back. I for one am sure I will be back and certainly won’t be leaving it six months.

The company has already expanded from its original Wardour Street site and now has four other sites in the city with a new one opening soon on Old Street. I am sure it will be a big hit with the Shoreditch fashionistas, in fact I am convinced this one is going to grow and grow!

Busaba Eathai, 106-110 Wardour Street, W1F 0TR, 020 7255 8686

Busaba Eathai

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