Jim K.
Yelp
Cantina Tequila is one of the most unique dining and drinking establishments we have ever visited. We were not surprised at CT's ambiance, as being avid Yelp review readers, we knew what to expect. However, photos don't always tell the full and accurate story. It was hard to believe this used to be a Skinny Fats.
We sat at the bar and grabbed a couple of their specialty cocktails. My wife had the Purepecha, similar to a Pina Colada. It was nicely garnished and had a great flavor. I had the Negroni, a liqueur I rarely see on a menu. With a touch of tequila also in it, I really liked it.
In reading CT's Yelp reviews, many people commented about the outstanding service they experienced. We did, too, from our bartender, "Dom". Besides being friendly, she explained anything and everything we felt we needed to know. This is the mark of expert management. Kudos to the people in charge!
Foodwise, we started with guacamole, salsa, and chips. The guac was exceptional. My wife isn't a big fan of onions, and unfortunately, there were several long onion pieces on the top of the guac. It just made it a little difficult for her to eat. We had a red and green salsa, with red being just a shade too spicy and green just fine. Maybe if I had been drinking beer, the red sauce would be my first choice.
Our entrees were top-notch! My wife's fish tacos were crispy and quite tasty. She never eats refried beans and rice, but surprisingly, this time, she did, stating how good they both were. I had the chicken tinga burrito. To say that it was big is an understatement. I enjoyed it but I wish it would have had some more onions or tomatoes in it, I didn't notice the house cheese blend that was in it, but it was full of chicken tinga with a slight smoky taste to it that I really liked. I wish I had it smothered in queso, but it did have a sour cream drizzle on top.
My wife tried one more cocktail, a guava margarita. It was so good I ordered a regular margarita. After not receiving my drink, I mentioned it to Dom. She had gotten busy taking care of the service bar that she had forgotten my drink. She was very apologetic and pleasantly surprised us by comping my cocktail. We were impressed!
We like that the bar area is for eating and drinking and not playing video poker. We received extraordinary service overall, with our food coming out quickly. As mentioned, the decor is amazing. In the bar area, there is a unique piece of wall art consisting of two lowrider model cars running into each other.
I have to say the prices are very reasonable. Match that with great service and food, and we'll be back! After all, we need to discover the decor in the dining room!