El Catrin Destileria — Restaurant in Toronto

I was a little apprehensive about this place, given there are some negative reviews. But the fact that this place is packed on a Monday night speaks volumes. Aside from the expansive and cosy patio they have here, the interior of the restaurant is simply gorgeous - Giant tequila/liquor wall at the bar area, colorful decor, edgy wall art, rustic wood tables, to the Mexican wrestling mask in black lighting - all give a very fun and energetic vibe. It is very clear you will have a fun time here.

Of course, good decor means little if the food is not up to snuff. Me and my dining companions had a tasting of various dishes. We were started off with some guacamole and chips, with the avocado smashed at table side. It came with a variety of sauces from mild to hot, and also some crickets in a mild chili oil. The guac was very fresh and tasty, and it was neat to try the crickets which are very rich in protein.

The Atun Ahi tuna ceviche - with watermelon, Yucateco mignonette, lime and chives, was light and refreshing. It went well with some chips as well and got the appeitite going.

The Esquites were surprisingly good - made with charred corn off the cob, epazote, chiptole aioli and lime. Even though it's in a shot glass, it is a warm dish, and the flavour of the freshly grilled corn with the aioli was amazing! I would say this is a must-get.

Sopes de Tinga - pulled chicken chipotle with tomato stew, black bean puree, lettuce, crema fresca, queso cotija on corn flour masa. This was delicious as well and well worth trying.

Pescado Nayarit - Grilled beeline snapper that is marinated in chile ancho, served whole and de-boned. Came with corn tortila, avocado and salsa martajada. A great dish if you feel like having some fish tacos.

Pollo Almendrado - Chicken supreme in almond sauce, fried plantains, chayote squash, sauteed zucchini. This was my favorite dish of the night. The chicken was prepared perfectly and was moist and tender. It had a nice crispiy skin, and the almond sauce was really delicious with it. Everybody at the table loved it and I would put this on the must-get list as well.

For dessert, we had some churros - they were pretty large, and yet very light and airy which are perfect. Easily the best churros I have ever had. We also had the Xocolatl (Mexican mousse, candied confir papaya and almond brittle). Surprisingly the Xocolatl was our least favorite item of the evening, as we were expecting something sweet at the end but it was not that sweet at all.

Throughout the night we also had various drinks and they were all quite delicous. We split a pitcher of their margheritas and all drinks were made strong and definitely worth getting.

Even though some reviewers have noted that this place is "pricey", I really don't think it is considering the location and the environment. I thought items such as the tacos and the chicken mole were pretty on par with most restaurants that are not located in touristy areas.

Overall, we enjoyed our night at El Catrin immensely. The food, the welcoming service and the vibe here definitely took my mind off a stressful day, and I would not hesitate to recommend El Catrin to anyone.

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Had a great experience at El Catrin! The staff was incredibly courteous and accommodating, contributing to an overall enjoyable atmosphere. The restaurant's interior is aesthetically pleasing, providing the perfect ambiance for a date night. Despite the spacious setting and the big crowd, the noise level remained at an acceptable level which I appreciated since I hate being drowned out.

Navigating to the entrance proved a tad challenging since the main door lacked the restaurant's name. However, we eventually found our way in. To kick off our meal, we opted for the highly recommended guacamole. Skepticism quickly gave way to delight as the dish surpassed expectations. The chips boasted a satisfying crunch and thickness, complemented by the freshness of the guacamole. The addition of lemon and lime elevated the flavor, and the portion size was ample for two.

Trying the Octopus tostadas, we were impressed by the well-seasoned and perfectly cooked octopus. However, the portion size left us wanting more, especially considering the price. We finished both pieces in one bite and for twenty dollars, we thought it was a bit ridiculous. Moving on to the birria tacos for our main course, we were pleased with the juicy and generously filled tacos. The flavorful broth added another layer of enjoyment, though the pricing reflected the upscale location and ambiance as for only 3 tacos it is 24 dollars and for 4 it is 32.

The Horchata proved to be a refreshing delight, expertly spiced, and accompanied by a classic Jarrito. For dessert, the Tres Leches cake was a highlight, featuring a perfect and flavourful balance of sponge cake and milk. The only drawback was the fact that I could tell they used Gay Lea as the whipped topping since that’s what I use LOL, which, at the given price of 14 bucks left room for improvement since making your own topping isn’t that tedious.

While we enjoyed most dishes, the churros were a letdown. Priced at $17 for four pieces, the churros' texture was off, lacking the desired chewiness and tenderness, bordering on crispiness akin to a cereal. The accompanying sauces also failed to impress.

In conclusion, El Catrin is worth revisiting for its vibrant atmosphere and overall delicious fare. Some dishes may be hit or miss, and the pricing reflects the upscale setting. Consider it for special occasions if you're mindful...

This was my first and last time at this restaurant. Although the atmosphere is nice here, there are much better places to eat and spend your money. The food was subpar and overpriced for the quality.

I had the short ribs. The tiny tortillas that were served to construct your own meal were very greasy, corn-based with no flavour, and tasted awful. The ribs themselves were a shame. While the meat was tender, the flavour was terrible and there was a huge chunk of fat on them. So I tried to add bits of green onion with my meat to my constructed tortillas but they cooked the green onions whole (root and all). They were very difficult to cut up or rip. The white sections I could cut but the greens, forget about it (I even tried to use my teeth). The manager later tried to suggest that they could have given me a steak knife to cut them. Really!? I should have to ask for a steak knife to cut my onions? They should have cut them before cooking. Not that the onions that I ate whole in my tortilla, or meat on it's own for that matter, made much difference to improve the awful taste of the meal though. I told the waitress I didn't want anything with hot spice yet they served two hot peppers with the meal. Thankfully those were whole so I didn't eat them. Perhaps the restaurant figures if they give hot peppers to people, it'll dull their taste buds so they won't taste how awful the rest of the meal is.

What little meat I ate (because I was so hungry) eventually made my stomach turn.

My friend had the Fish Tacos and while she found they tasted good, one of the tacos was missing the filling.

To make up for not liking the food, the manager provided us with churros. They were very tasty but really sugary.

Overall this place was not worth the money or the upset stomach I have today.

Oh and the idea that everything is shareable on their menu is ridiculous. That's just an excuse for not organizing your kitchen so that the food comes out on time for each person. Not that it was an issue for us that night because there were only two of us, but that was their spiel when first arriving to the table regarding the food being shareable. (i.e. Don't expect your dish to arrive at...