Mtl F.
Yelp
Who doesn't love the fresh flavours of Mexican cuisine? For just a little money you can enjoy a great meal with explosive flavours and if you're lucky enough, have a group of people to throw back a few tequila shots with. ¡Arriba! ¡Abajo! ¡Al centro! ....y pa'dentro!
With so many taco places having opened up recently, it took a while to try the latest contender in the game - T&T. So on a cold Friday night, after an abnormally long week, we headed over for some mexican grub and strong drinks.
First Impressions. Greeted upon entry by a very charismatic gentleman and seated promptly. The decor (or lack thereof) had a cafeteria feel to it with wooden tables and benches. Our waitress was very friendly and patient. Upon being seated she handed us the concise menu which was part tacos, part tortas and informed the table that the specials for that night were homemade guacamole with tortillas and tortilla soup.
Drinks. The menu was listed in shorthand on a chalkboard.
PALOMA - tequila paired with grapefruit san pellegrino soda, was the perfect blend of bitter and sweet with just the right amount of kick. The tequila was not overpowering, which made for an enjoyable and refreshing drink.
LIMONADA - gin paired with lemonade san pellegrino soda, was light and refreshing. Ensuing feelings of a destination much warmer than Montreal.
TEQUILA - 2 for $5 shots. Enough said.
Food.
Homemade Salsa Trio - Habanero, avocado and spicy salsa. The habanero salsa, described as the spiciest, which if you're going to be a Mexican restaurant should be FIRE HOT, was unfortunately, underwhelming in terms of heat. The other 2 options were standard.
Pescado Taco - Fish of the day (tilapia), was breaded, deep-fried, served with a chipotle mayonnaise and a cabbage salad. The fish had a moist interior with a crunchy exterior, however was not the freshest tasting. The chipotle mayonnaise was the star here.
Cochonitas Taco - Marinated pulled pork, pickled red onions and jalapeno. The pork was tender and flavourful which paired perfectly with the acidity and freshness of the pickled onions and jalapenos. Unfortunately, there was a lack of spice. The kick from the jalapeno was still found to be lacking heat, even after adding the habanero sauce.
Pastor Taco - Grilled marinated pork, grilled pineapple, fresh onion and coriander. This was the worst tasting taco of the bunch. The pork was overcooked, tasteless and the dried-out pineapple provided little sweetness nor freshness. Not recommended.
After tackling the first side of the menu being Tacos, we couldn't help feel a little disappointed. Yes, the tortillas were homemade and delicious but what went in them was far from unique and in need of some much desired flavour. Nevertheless, the portion size (4 tacos/order) was reasonable for the price.
Tortas. Described as Mexican style sandwiches were by far the more exciting and flavourful part of T&T. Milanesa Torta- The Mexican equivalent of an Italian veal cutlet panino. Breaded beef filet served with lettuce tomato and aioli, was the perfect sobering sandwich (1 tequila, 2 tequila..). The homemade bread, courtesy Boulangerie et Pâtisserie Mexicaine Patricia (thanks to our waitress Cecilia for the 411) was probably the most savory, crisp yet soft piece of bread we have sunk our teeth into. The bread was a perfect vessel to absorb the cutlet's oil and the juice of the tomato without becoming soggy or breaking apart - YUM!
Dessert.
With only one option on the menu and costing only $2.50, how can one say no to churros?! In a world where watery filter coffee can cost you $3.50, having three perfectly fried churros with your choice of dipping sauce (chocolate, dulce de leche, strawberry or all three if you wish) makes T&T a hero in our eyes. Served warm, on a wooden cutting board, 3 finger sized churros are drizzled with your choice of sauce(s). Although we did appreciate the beauty of having the drizzle on our boards, we would have much rather had our sauce on the side so we could dip our churros.
Final Thoughts.
If you are going to go to T&T, please focus on the Torta section and don't even think about leaving without sampling the delectable churros! The laidback vibe, simplistic menu which features some star items and strong drinks, make this moderately priced hangout well suited to start your night before heading out to the many surrounding bars.