Cantina Louie — Restaurant in Matthews

There are so many moving parts to this review so I'll try to break it down: this was my first time going to Cantina Louie. My parents really like it and since we were going for an early Mothers Day (we went on Thursday May 11th) we went there because my mother loves it. First we got seated right away and our waiter Aaron gave us chips and salsa and took drink orders. My husband asked for the queso cheese dip as well. We received our drinks and my parents got their margaritas. We asked about the queso dip again and Aaron said he would check on it. We waited... and waited until we asked him again and then we saw him put the order in. Did he forget the first time? I don't know because when we did finally get it a few mins later another wait person brought another one to us then took it back when she saw we already had one so there was a snafu there but it worked out. The queso dip was very good as was the salsa albeit a bit of a spicy kick. My mother and I ordered the Chimichanga and it was huge! Stuffed full of chicken, very flavorful! It comes with refried beans and a side salad. The refried beans were pulverized black beans not the mashed pinto beans that I like. The side salad was a mix of greens not shredded iceberg, there was no guacamole or sour cream so that was a bit disappointing. But my biggest issue was my husband's meal. He ordered the 3 tacos with chicken. He ordered the corn tortillas because he likes a hard taco vs the flour tortilla which is soft. When he got his tacos they were on, what looked like, a flour tortilla. When I asked our waiter why he didn't get the hard corn tortilla he said we had to ask for it to be hard. Being it was our first time there we didn't realize you had to specify hard tortilla, we automatically thought a corn tortilla meant the taco would be hard. Our waiter asked if we wanted them to make him new hard tacos but since it already took 30 mins for us to get our meal, my husband refused and used some tortilla chips instead. Then the manager came to our table and while she was super nice and let us know we can turn any dish into a salad or hard taco that didn't really help for this time. Overall, the food was really good and the staff is super nice and we will probably be back... now that we know...

I really have struggled to leave this review since we dined yesterday (1/30/23) in the early evening, because the wait staff were super kind and gracious to us for the mistakes with our food (the cooks forgot to add chicken to my husband's plate as he ordered). But I have been compelled to share something, and I want to highlight the service first.

And for the record, I'd like to actually rate this right now at a 3.5...but I can't do the .5 point of course! Hopefully, in the future, I can raise this to a solid 5!

First, off, again, the service was fantastic. We could not have asked for better service. The server we had was super kind and very helpful, and the manager was amazingly kind. She even adjusted our bill due to food mishaps.

So, with that, this is where I get a bit critical.

The food, while quite tasty in seasoning, was quite over-seasoned with salt. Also, my dish - which had chicken breast, was a bit rubbery (meaning it was overcooked) and it had cheese on it when I asked for all cheese/dairy to be removed due to my food sensitivities. The cooks, again, were not cognizant of this. However, it must be noted that there are those people out there with dietary restrictions and food sensitivities, like my husband and I have, we need to already be careful of what we order and how much we eat off our plates.

My biggest encouragement is to perhaps encourage the cooks to be lighter on the salt put into food (if that can be controlled at all) and to also be more mindful of the orders on tickets so they catch anything that states to remove ALL cheese and dairy, not just some. Some people out there have far greater situations than I do and actually have an allergy. So when a customer asks for something to be removed, it would be great if the cooks could really be mindful of this and honor it for the sake of respecting customers' health.

Again, the server we had and the manager was amazing. Thank you both so much! We will try y'all out again down the road and see how things go that...

I had the pleasure of dining at Cantina Louie, and I can confidently say it exceeded every expectation. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the hostess, Americkis, whose warm smile and genuine hospitality instantly made me feel like a valued guest. She set the tone for what turned out to be an exceptional evening.

I chose to sit at the bar, and that decision made the experience even better. Aria, the bartender, was outstanding — professional, personable, and incredibly attentive. She has that rare ability to make you feel like a regular, even if it’s your first time there. Her drink recommendations were spot-on, and she clearly takes pride in her craft.

The atmosphere at Cantina Louie is inviting yet stylish — a perfect blend of traditional Mexican charm and modern comfort. The lighting, music, and décor create a lively energy without ever feeling overwhelming, making it just as ideal for a casual meal as it is for a night out.

And then there’s the food — simply phenomenal. The complimentary chips were fresh and warm, with salsa that struck a perfect balance of spice and flavor. For my entrée, I had the carne asada, and it was tender, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to perfection. The rice was light and flavorful, and the beans had a rich, satisfying taste that tied the whole plate together. Every bite felt like it was made with care and attention to detail.

What impressed me most was the consistency of excellence — from the first greeting to the final sip of my drink, Cantina Louie delivered on every level. It’s rare to find a place where both the food and the service are equally outstanding, but this restaurant pulls it off effortlessly.

If you’re looking for a spot with exceptional food, friendly and attentive staff, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer, Cantina Louie is it. I’ll definitely be returning, and I can’t recommend it...