LA REV — Restaurant in Toronto

This photo says it all.

Our experience here was, frankly, awful, and I don’t say that lightly.

The food was inexcusable.

We were served dishes that were clearly old: watery, oxidized guacamole, an empanada that was still frozen in the middle and fell apart the moment we picked it up, and mains that were completely under-seasoned and forgettable. Even the cocktails were an embarrassment. The margarita contained simple syrup and triple sec (I got something else because it was a fast bar Marg) and the Paloma didn’t include any grapefruit juice at all (Fresca???). We had to ask whether there was alcohol in the drinks because they tasted completely watered down.

The service was just as disappointing.

There were three young women behind a very small bar, chatting and gossiping the entire time. No one asked us what we'd like to order, I had to prompt that with them after 10 mins while sitting at the bar right in front of them. I watched several guests approach the bar to ask for drinks or basic items. Throughout the evening this was the tone. The woman in the red shirt continued to fix her appearance in the mirror and carry on conversations with the other girls instead of helping/ doing her job properly. One guest even said to them frustrated, “I wasn’t sure what kind of establishment this was... do we order at the bar or wait to be served?” because no one was tending to the floor. This happened 5 times total, just while we were sitting there.

I’ve worked in hospitality for years, both in high-end and casual settings, as a bartender and server. This was one of the most unprofessional and disengaged operations I’ve seen. Two of the staff were more helpful when asked directly, but the overall attitude was indifferent and unwelcoming.

This was our first, and definitely our last, time here.

Between the poor food quality, the badly made drinks, and the careless service, there is nothing about this experience I could recommend. Truly disappointing.

Avoid it.

Update:

The establishments response is argumentative and lacks taking full accountability.

Regarding the people coming up to the bar, these were not people from an event at the back, these were people from the front of the establishment — normal patrons. Fresca is not authentic I'm the slightest lol. Simple syrup is sugar water so it doesn't matter how "fresh it is", because it's not agave. The two tequila choices are terrible, especially for what's supposed to be an authentic Mexican bar; where's the pride? The replacement guac was an improvement but still subpar, and the rest of the food — including the empanada, was not acknowledged in your response to me. Finally, the service was horrific. I understand enough Spanish and have been in the industry long enough to know what bad service is, as well as general gossip. You do not need three women behind a tiny bar that gets ice out of a travel cooler, you need one behind the bar making drinks and the other two working the floor, greet guests, and servicing them within the first 5 mins because they are the face of your business.

I stand by my original post when I say...

We ordered it for takeout because well covid. It was AMAZING, I wish I had a picture to post however we ate it too quickly. Definitely going back for the Pezole. I can’t wait till they open up because I want to enjoy it fresh hot out of the kitchen, could only imagine that it is even more magnificent. It’s hard to find an authentic restaurant that isn’t a Canadian version of Mexican food. Oh and the green sauce that came with the tacos; I could eat on anything. The food had a fresh taste, while still having the heat; it was the perfect balance. The corn was amazing, authentic, the lime again provided the perfect balance to the dish. I’m waiting for Pezole Thursday, I can’t wait; too bad it’s still 5 days away. I can’t wait to tell a friend of mine that grew up in Mexico as she will love this place. Will DEFINITELY to come back for the live music and enjoy the food and drinks. We were going to wait until we could come have the full experience with sit down dining but we were glad that we came for the takeout version first because it was just amazing, glad we didn’t wait. Also the lady at the front counter (I assume from other reviews was the owner) and she is the nicest, most polite and friendly person I’ve dealt with in a restaurant in the long time. I hope she is our waitress when we come back for sit...

If you LOVE Mexican food and great prices, then Le Rev is your new GO TO place in the junction. Don't be fooled by its appearance. It definitely has a "dont judge a book by its cover" kinda vibe. Think classic dive bar so dont get your hope's up over the decor. However, if your lucky you'll catch a live band playing sultry blues music.

The staff are quick, super friendly and very informative. So don't feel like you have to know much about Mexican cuisine or drinks to have a good experience. My 1st time there I ordered the guac and chips $8 which are extremely addictive and to drink I had a tequila based drink called "peace piece" $8.

On a separate occasion, my friend and I stopped by there for dinner and drinks but couldn't decided what to eat, so we ended up sharing the Camarones dinner (10 pcs of fairly lrg shrimp, with rice and salad) $20 and Sopes 3pcs. Needless to say we were both pretty stuffed.

If you're feeling pretty adventurous I'd recommend trying the Pollo con mole :)

I am gluten and dairy sensitivity, and if you're like me, you know that finding places to eat can be somewhat challenging. So let your server know when you're ready to order and they'll make sure to suggest some awesome dishes! Overall, I had a great time and I'm looking forward to trying something else...