La Cantina

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £15 (lunch)
   £15 (evening meal)
• House wine: £11.50 per bottle

• Hitlisted
• High point: Spot-on menu that delivers
• Low point: Not for those on a diet
• Food served: Mon–Thu noon–2.30pm, 5.30–10pm; Fri/Sat noon–10.30pm; Sun noon–10pm
• Open since: 2007
• Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Takeaway

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
– in the shops now or buy online.

When you enter La Cantina, the décor and ambiance leave you in little doubt that you're in a Mexican restaurant. The place is decked out in red and green, and pulses with salsa rhythms. Ranch-style furniture is laid out in rows and there are sombreros on the wall. And if that wasn't enough, the restaurant's desert-style motif cleverly replaces cactus plants with silhouetted forks. Yet, according to La Cantina's menu, there's more to Mexican food than just tortillas and chillis, which is certainly true of its extensive selection of dishes. Super-food salads, imaginative vegetarian meals and an enticing specials board certainly catch the eye, although the main offerings also promise much. For example, the beef nachos starter is thick with melted cheese, sour cream and salsa, right down the last crunch, and the king prawn picante is awash with heat and sweetness. In the mains section, the slow-cooked pork with pineapple and cinnamon is a delight, while the more conventional grilled hamburgers – served as a pair of 4oz'ers – are fresh, hand-made and belt-bustingly filling. Located in Leith's Commercial Quay, La Cantina may become a favourite for office parties but that shouldn't overshadow a thoughtful menu and delightfully prepared food.