El Rey Mezcal Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

My recent visit to El Rey Mezcal in Kensington Market left me with mixed feelings. While the service and atmosphere were outstanding, I found the pricing to be steep, especially when compared to other restaurants in the area. Furthermore, the tacos, touted as a highlight of the menu, did not live up to my expectations.

Let's start with the positives. The service at El Rey Mezcal was exceptional. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were quick to offer recommendations and made sure we felt welcomed throughout our visit. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also delightful, with a trendy and vibrant ambiance that created a pleasant dining environment.

Unfortunately, I found the pricing at El Rey Mezcal to be quite high, especially considering the options available in the surrounding Kensington Market area. The menu prices were significantly higher compared to other establishments offering similar Mexican cuisine. While I understand that quality comes at a cost, I couldn't help but feel that the prices were disproportionate to the overall dining experience.

One of the main disappointments of my visit was the tacos. While I had high expectations given the restaurant's reputation, the tacos fell short of delivering an exceptional experience. The flavors were decent, but they lacked the wow factor that I've come to expect from a truly outstanding taco. The fillings lacked the depth and authenticity I had hoped for, leaving me underwhelmed. Considering the emphasis on tacos in El Rey Mezcal's menu, I expected them to be the standout feature, but unfortunately, they didn't live up to the hype.

Despite these drawbacks, I must emphasize that El Rey Mezcal does have its merits. The carefully crafted drink selection, particularly the mezcal cocktails, deserves commendation. The bar staff demonstrated their expertise in mixology, creating unique and flavorful concoctions that showcased the rich and smoky flavors of mezcal. If you're a fan of mezcal, exploring the drink menu at El Rey Mezcal is a must.

In conclusion, while El Rey Mezcal has its strengths in terms of service and atmosphere, I cannot overlook the high pricing and the underwhelming tacos. If you're seeking a trendy and vibrant place to enjoy mezcal-based drinks, El Rey Mezcal might be worth a visit. However, for a truly satisfying and budget-friendly taco experience, there are other options within Kensington Market that might better suit your preferences and...

We arrived at almost 7pm sharp. No line up, just 4 of us. One small table that could fit 4 (remember this small table). Moustache gentleman told us 40 minutes, it seemed reasonable as we waited 10 minutes around the patio so we can figure how to kill 40 or so minutes. He say 3 people at the open table for 4 people(from earlier). We left and came back about 8:45 and all the same patrons still there. It was at this point people started lining up, and the moustache gentleman once again took their name, and their number and then pointed his phone in their face asking if the info is correct (Just as he had some with us and I confirmed). He did this for 3 other people. It had now finally been an hour and 10 minutes total. I asked him, how much longer, so we can go elsewhere if longer. He said 5 minutes. Ok, so we continued waiting beside the entrance. He then sat 4 people at the small 4 person table, then another 4 and then another 3. These people were the same people that had their info taken just 20 minutes ago. Moustache man was completely ignoring our group of 4. Blatant disrespect. After asking once again, if he’s going to be able to sit us next, he finally finds a small 4 person table and sits us. 1.5 hour wait, out of which we waited by the front most of the time, and we were very clearly ignored (because he made eye contact with us several times). None of the staff seemed like they wanted to be there. It was as if it was terrible slave labour. Now, service ignored: Food was ok, definitely not bad, but WAY overpriced for what it was. 3 tacos for $15 in Kensington!?? Give me a break. Drink were also overpriced. Would not recommend, as you would literally miss nothing and can get better tacos, faster service for better price on nicer areas and patios...

The restaurant has a few tables inside to the left from the entrance and bar seating along the bar counter and the wall in the main area. Pretty cozy space-wise but didn’t feel crowded when I went. The music is at a volume where you do have to project your voice.

I had a reservation and when I was seated, I was told by the server that I had the table for only 1h 30min. Found that a bit odd because the usual is around 2 hours so felt a bit rushed and limited.

Their mezcal is nice and smoky and they serve it with sliced cucumbers and some spiced salt.

I had the Hands in the Garden cocktail as well which had a nice pandan flavour but was too sweet for my taste.

Their guacamole and tortilla chips was good. The chips had a nice flavour and were crispy. The guacamole has crispy onions, radish, and pico de gallo. It’s a nice snack if you just want something to nibble on while drinking and can tide you over if you’re not too hungry.

Also had their Tres Leches cake. This one took around 20 minutes or so to come, which was unfortunate considering the 1h 30m limit at our table that we were given. I don’t imagine them doing much on this cake aside from plating it when it’s ordered (it’s completely cold). It was anyway pretty good and was moist. Had some nuts and berries on top so it had some crunchy texture and berries to give it some variation in taste.

All in all, the experience was decent. I wouldn’t mind returning if I’m craving any of the mezcal and wouldn’t mind trying their other food. I can’t say I had an extraordinary experience compared to most other places...