- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Playa Cabana
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
111 Dupont StToronto, ON M5R 1V4
Neighbourhood: The Annex
(416) 929-3911
- Hours:
Mon 5 pm - 11 pm
Tue-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
33 reviews for Playa Cabana
33 reviews in English
-
Review from Pouneh R.
Toronto, ON
3/23/2012
Seriously, THE best Mexican restaurant ever! I just love this little restaurant so much that I cant get enough of it. I even took my parents there once and between the three of us we had 3 pitchers of Margaritas! yup, its THAT good!
Make sure you make a reservation though, the place is pretty small, and always packed no matter what night of the week it is. Its pretty loud in there too, so don't expect a romantic date night there. but its a MUST try restaurant, the food is just amazing, they've done a pretty good job with the decor too. I cant wait to try the patio.
For the trying-so-hard-to-stay-in-shape-calorie-counter FOOD lovers, try their bean salad. Its soooooooo yummy and filling but really healthy and low in cal! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
VIBE
This feels more like a Cuban little hideaway off a side road than it does on Dupont and Davenport. Clandestine is putting it mildly. You can almost doubt yourself that you're going the wrong way here. Note: walking from Dupont will be a shorter walk than walking from St. George station. Both can be done.
That said, you could immediately feel the warmth and coziness of Playa (from herein called PC). I know this place is busy, so I called to make a reservation and even then we had to wait for their brand new back patio. It was definitely worth it! Note: this was at 9 p.m. on a Monday night on a holiday weekend so if you're coming here on a weekend come very early.
The bartenders were nice (and not bad to look at) but they know how to make a mean margarita. Also, they have MOJITO PITCHERS. That said, it wasn't as strong as I expected.
Back to the back patio: it's very cute! They've got outside heat lamps and trees that make it very intimate and the ideal second date place (good Mexican food deserves to be reserved for date deux or trois). They can also accommodate groups as well and have high tops. It works!
Service was good.
WE ATE
Oh, we ate! The guac has lots of flavour with lime and a bit of a spicy kick. It definitely filled us up while we were waiting for our tacos.
First choice were the fish tacos and they sold out. So we moved onto the chicken tacos and the steak tostadas. I did feel there was a bit of a charred taste to both the tacos and tostadas but otherwise, the taste was ALL there.
Everything had plenty of accoutrements (including more guac, bestill our heart).
My favourite dish was the steak tostadas. It comes with this orange rice; I'm not sure what exactly is in the rice but all I know is that I wanted more and more.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
A busy restaurant that lets you talk until it's closing down is a good restaurant in my books. It's nice to have a quality Mexican restaurant that's intimate and doesn't feel like it's in Toronto. Don't stop. Get it. Get it. -
Review from Tanya O.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2012
Went last night for my birthday dinner with my fiance. The service was slow-going for a while as we were not seen for 10 minutes after being seated. I had to let the hostess know, and she told us the name of the fellow who was to be our server and that she would go get him.
Oddly it was not the person she had mentioned who ended up greeting us, but I'm thankful for that because we watched the other guy throughout his shift and he didn't seem incredibly knowledgeable or attentive. Our server was quick, friendly, and professional! (Ask for Raoul if you're there!)
We got the chips and salsa to start which was great. I didn't find the chips oily at all, and the salsa was delicious. Each of us got the burrito (his veggie, mine steak) and we loved them. They're massive though, and shareable if you don't feel like taking home a doggie-bag! I had to pack mine up.
My margarita was also great.
My side of guacamole had an avocado pit in the ramekin, which took up quite a bit of it. I didn't want to make a fuss though but I found it extremely peculiar that they would miss that detail. The side of guac was $2.50 and was very small.
The churros weren't all that good, tough and chewy with melty whipped cream on them. I kind of couldn't believe that I preferred the churros at Tortilla Flats to these ones.
We sat on the back patio which is a great ambiance and is nice and enclosed. Definitely sit out here if you can! And make a reservation, they filled up quickly. I would not recommend this place for large groups.
Overall a good experience with the food being the best part. -
Review from Soul K.
5/20/2012
I'm a native Californian, so when deciding to take my fiancee, a Toronto resident, for Mexican food, I thought that I would have to aggressively contain my expectations given that most of my Canadian friends complain about the dearth of good Mexican food here. I was surprised by how delicious the food was but I was dismayed by some aspects of the service.
First, despite the fact that the restaurant was not remotely busy, we were not approached by a server for at least ten minutes after being seated. In fact, the hostess had to ask another server to see us because our intended one just kind of fu*ked off and attended to maintaining his bizarre Caucasian-Last-Samurai-topknot-bro-on-a-spiritual- granola-journey haircut. Thanks, guy.
Our replacement server, Raul, kept the party going and did the damn thing and did so promptly and politely. Commendations to Raul. The food was to our liking, although it does kind of feel like you're paying for the restaurant's comforts when you can get the same caliber food at a truck in Los Angeles for a fraction of the cost. Despite the omitted fifth star, I would urge folks in Toronto desperate for a quality Mexican food experience to try this place out. DEFINITELY make reservations first. There is no harm in doing so and it struck me as the sort of place that is frequently busy, as it was tonight. -
Review from Kenny T.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am breaking with the crowd a bit - but bear with me. This is a 3.5 (a strong one...and worth trying...but still not top rated)
Food is really good, really fresh and authentic. Definitely a step up from the Mexican places in T.O. that I have tried in the past. I loved the guacamole and the spicy chicken mole was unbelievable. We waited a few weeks to get a dinner reservation and in the end decided to try for brunch instead. I would love to go back for dinner, but they do book in advance. And we are fun and all, but don't normally have margaritas at brunch, so will have to take the word of other reviews about how amazing they are.
The crowd was neighbourhood and foodie visitors to the neighbourhood - nice and friendly vibe - crammed in like sardines so that helps!
So why 3.5?
1. the space is awkward / tables are too big and place does not seem that clean to me. They could fit way more people in if they changed the entry and got better tables...
2. there was grit in our fish taco, so much that my bf thought he had broken his tooth
3. Our service was VERY SLOW - not cool for brunch!
We will be back, because I need to try the Margarita and I am a guac addict...and we live a few blocks away... -
Review from Sarah B.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2012
Yes, yes, yes.
I came here on a Friday night with reservations for two (Tip: make reservations! I tried to come once before this without one and the wait was insane). It has a casual, relaxing and fun vibe to it. The washed-out wooden accents give the place that beach house feel that the restaurant is named after. We had the best seat right at the front of the restaurant with open windows looking out to the street. Awesome.
They really do appreciate food presentation here. Near the back half of the restaurant they had all the seafood sitting on ice! Lobster, crab, oysters. This ice tray of deliciousness was positioned near the guy that likely prepares it and some other dishes. It made me want to order the seafood, so good on them.
I ordered a margarita made with Tromba tequila. Very tasty. It was the perfect balance of sweet, sour and tequila. And you could actually taste the tequila.
We shared the guac and chips. Their chips are so good! Fresh and crunchy like they should be. For my main I ordered the Tacos de Pescado (Baja style). Also excellent. If you're getting an appetizer to share I would recommend getting these tacos without the beans and rice. They were very filling on their own. They had this light but creamy coleslaw mix on top of the battered fish which was a nice contrast to the deep-fried-ness of the fish.
Including ours, all the meals I saw served around us looked very fresh and well presented. The food has definitely lived up to the hype, in presentation and taste.
Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and made good recommendations. The only downside to the evening was the time it took for our appetizer and food to be served: longer than normal. I also wish their sipping tequila wasn't $14 minimum an ounce, I passed on it this time. It's expensive because it's excellent quality, so I understand. The cheaper tequilas were ones you shoot and they had a huge selection. I will have to explore their tequila menu more next time I'm here!
All in all, excellent food, fun vibe, good service, but a long wait on the food. Make reservations! -
Review from Brian K.
4/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Excellent Mexican, and probably very authentic (but what do I know?).
This place was surprisingly busy on a Monday night, but we managed to snag a table for four without issue. The seating is TIGHT though; expect to be rammed against the seat behind you.
Chips and guac are excellent, though I didn't care for the wings.
While the tacos al pastor were good, I think they were trumped by my partner's tacos de chori-queso. I mean, sausage and cheese? Yes please.
That said, the burritos knock the tacos out of the park. In terms of value there's no comparison (burrito the size of my fat head), but the sauces they layer on top are phenomenal. I started diverting chips meant for the guacamole into the remnants of my dish.
Ordering to go is a hassle-free process, and they were prompt and punctual with the food. Given how tight the resto is take-out will be a viable option for us, despite the warm vibe of the place. -
Review from Niki A.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2012
We arrived without a reservation (foolish in hindsight) but they were able to accommodate us with minimal wait and it was totally worth it. I have been searching high and low for a decent Mole in Toronto and this place absolutely blew me away!
Can't wait to return :) -
Review from Rj P.
3/6/2012
Toronto's Mexican-food renaissance is in full swing! You heard it here first.
Somehow managed to snag a table without reservation on a Friday night (tip: make a reservation, this was a fluke) and found the reservation bustling with a fun, energetic crowd. This restaurant is small - so the vibe of the place is good when a nice crowd is there having fun.
I proceeded to eat what is probably the best Mexican food I have had outside of Mexico or SoCal. Ceviche, salsa, chips, baja tacos, flautas - all were perfectly prepared and exploding with taste. Service was quick and friendly, the meal was comfortable and enjoyable.
There have been a few recent additions to Toronto's Mexican food scene along with some established reliables - Playa Cabana is a welcomed addition to the family. The quality of Mexican food has really gone up over the last few years - the renaissance is in full swing, lets hope it continues.
I can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. This is my new favourite restaurant. -
Review from Kris B.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Having heard nothing but great things, and with my foodie boyfriend in town for only one more night, I knew this was our best bet for a date night. We called several times earlier in the day, but couldn't get through. After booking a reservation elsewhere, I called one last time. I was told they had 48 requests for reservations overnight and a table was unlikely. They sensed my disappointment and offered to wait list us and call if something came up. An hour later they called with availability for 2. Yesss!
We arrived early and ordered a margarita while we waited for our table. The hostess recommended the Amber Margarita, it was a great choice If your looking to stick to the classics, not too sweet. One was enough.
Now seated and keeping with our preference of asking waiters for recommendations, we ordered Guacamole Fresca and Ceviche of the Day (Marlin) as apps and Ancho Braised Brisket Tacos for him and Chile Rellenos for me.
Our eyes were exceedingly bigger than our bellies. Next time we will share an entrée, or skip the apps altogether, but wanting to explore the menu as much as possible, we ordered and took a doggie bag for the next days lunch.
The guacamole was good... fresh, flavorful and not too garlicky. The medium heat was more like mild, next time I'll give the hot a try.
The ceviche was a little disappointing. Coming off a trip to San Francisco where I had excellent ceviche at Fresca for the first time, my standards were maybe a bit high. The blend was fresh and citrusy, with a great kick of heat. I would have preferred if the fish was more tender and not chopped into the same small cubes as everything else in the mix. Also, it might be because I got my tortilla fill on the guac, but I would have preferred the ceviche was served with plantain chips for variation.
The tacos were some of the best I've had. Smokey and tender meat filled the flaky, soft shells. Served with their delicious seasoned rice, crema and salsa, it was the perfect Mexican meal. At least until we tried the oaxacan cheese stuffed rellenos. Breaded, fried, and placed on top of creamy tomato sauce, it was mouthwatering. With the rice, guac and salsa at its side, it was the perfect mix of flavours and textures. The only problem with this entree is that it made me regret ordering the apps because I could only have a few bites before feeling completely stuffed.
I cannot wait to go back, intentionally order less, so I can fully enjoy my entire meal while it's hot and fresh. Service was good. The vibe is casual and cool, mixed with authentic Mexican decor. -
Review from Margs L.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2012
I love Mexican food. I love all of it. Give me tortilla chips and some salsa and I am a happy lady. But there is so much more to Playa Cabana than just chips and salsa. Thanks for opening this resto so close to where I live!
What I wanted to mention first is that I don't think it's fair to judge this restaurant when you were there with a group of 26. This restaurant does not fit 26 people. If you were there once you would realize that very simple fact. I wouldn't go here with more than 6 people (unless the patio area gives them more space in the summer). It's not fair to score them down solely based on being a difficult group for any restaurant. With 26 people, you would have issues at any resto.
We ordered the cerviche, chips and salsa to start. The chips were nice and crispy, the salsa was very fresh and nicely spiced and the cerviche was amazing.
I had the tostadas as my main meal with carrnitas. The dish was simple, fresh and not overloaded with many other toppings which would have hidden the flavours. Very delicious.
I also tried their higher end margarita and it was awesome and authentic. Sometimes margaritas are made too sweet but this one was very good and refreshing.
I will definitely be back here many times to try out all the other things on the menu and as suggested here, the Mexican cola. Can't wait to go back and can't wait to check out the patio in the summer. You cannot go wrong with some mojitos on a patio. -
Review from Dani L.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2012
I will say this about the restaurant. It far and away has some of the best mexican in all of Toronto (not as good as Grand Electric though).
The reason I am giving this place a one star is because it also has some of the worst service/management in Toronto.
I have tried going to this place twice now. The first was for a birthday party. Our group made a reservation for 12 people two weeks in advance. On the night of the party, we showed up and they only had spots for 4 people, and we had to wait over 1 hour before they crammed 12 of us into a spot for 8 people. I wondered why they would even take a reservation for such a large group if they knew they could not honour.
Despite this long wait, I decided to return again for dinner. I made a reservation for 2 for 8:30 on a Saturday night two days in advance. When we showed up, there was no hostess at the front, and I had to approach the bar and ask when we would be seated. For the next 30 minutes, I was given various responses from the waiters and staff saying "I have no clue when a table will be ready for you". The owner then came up to me and I asked him what is the point of taking reservations if they can never honour them. I told the owner I would post this fact on Yelp, at which point he yelled at me to "F*** Off". The hostess apologized to me for this, and within 5 minutes we were seated. Once seated the owner continue to mouth off to me from the kitchen for threatening to post a bad review on yelp. At this point we simply walked out of the restaurant. -
Review from Ian C.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2012
Unfortunately I wasn't really impressed*. Got the ceviche and the subtle flavors and texture of fish was totally overwhelmed by spicy salsa flavors. Fish tacos were okay but there was something weirdly McDonalds about them... I tasted thousand island Mac sauce and the batter reminded me of filet o fish! The braised beef enchilada was the highlight.
I will say, despite the food, we enjoyed our meal here. Service was great and it has a nice busy local restaurant ambiance. I'd come back for apps and drinks!
* I say all of this as someone who isn't a huge fan of Mexican food. All I know is I like El Trompo in Kensington more! -
Review from Maddie R.
1/27/2012
Had a great time dining here- the service was attentive, the food was delicious, and the ambiance was lively.
We shared all of our plates. In my opinion, the highlights were the massive burritos (ordered the breaded chicken one) and the pork tacos.
The food took ages to arrive, so for some this may be an issue, but we were quite happy with our chips with (amazing) salsa and pitchers of margaritas!
Ordered the churros for dessert and found them to be a bit heavy/ overdone.
Apparently there is a great patio in the summer. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something fun and casual. I look forward to returning! -
Review from Mel L.
12/17/2011
I'm a big fan of Milagro as it was formerly the only real Mexican food I had access to, so I'm really happy Playa Cabana has opened up. The menu is divided up into appetizers, tacos, burritos, and house specials, that includes entrees that don't fit into the other categories, such as huevos rancheros, tostadas, and carne asada.
The guacamole and nachos reminded me of Milagro, but with the option to add spice to it. Honestly though, I like Milagro's guac better, first because they give you a larger portion and second, at Playa Cabana I couldn't taste the other flavours in the guac too much, possibly because we ordered it spicy. The nachos were awesome though, and still warm from the oven (or more likely, the fryer).
We also ordered the chorizo sausage which was smothered in the best tasting sauce I've ever had. The whole table was dipping their nachos in the sauce after the chorizo was done. The sausage itself was pretty lean, and I'm a fan of fatty meat, but for a lean sausage, it was pretty good.
The taco dishes come with three small tacos each for about $12. If you're hungry, get the rice and beans on the side for another $2. The corn tortillas the tacos are made with is fresh and delicious, and the filling (I got skirt steak and chorizo) is okay. They did not disappoint me but did not stand out either.
The burrito dishes are huge portions, so it feels much more satisfying to eat than the tacos. The sauces on the burrito really made it good, and better than the tacos in my opinion.
For dessert I had a spicy mole gelato that was absolutely delicious. It was rich and chocolatey with a tiny kick of spice at the end.
To drink, try the agave margarita. It has orange and lime juice and no sugar, just agave nectar. In my opinion, Playa Cabana's margaritas are perfectly made. They also have Jarritos pop and Mexican pop made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup - you actually CAN taste a difference!!
I highly recommend making a reservation here. The place is small, and was rammed the entire night. I can't wait until summer when the patio is open - you will definitely find me there, sipping margaritas. -
Review from E K.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
Tonight was the first time we tried this restaurant. We got there around 6:30 pm and the place was already packed. The girl (hostess) was so super nice and did all she could to get us a table as we had no reservations and the place is really small. The food was really impressive, fresh and delicious. We ordered the Guaca Fresca, Homemade Chips And Fresh Salsa as appetizers, and our mains were Spicy Mole (Enmoladas) with Chicken and the Rib Eye Carne Asada. Soooooo good we didn't leave anything left on our plates. This place is a must try.
-
Review from Doctor W.
ON
2/24/2012
Food was TERRIFIC -- overworked staff attentive and pleasant -- BUT I definitely would NOT recommend for groups. We had a group of 26, and had made reservations several days in advance, with the CLEAR UNDERSTANDING that there would be separate checks.
Came the night of the dinner -- and the place was not ready for us until more than a half-hour after the reservation time. This left 20-some people standing around, getting in each other's way and blocking the exit.
Then the seating was so CROWDED that the expected mode of getting drinks -- going up to the bar and paying for them separately from the meal -- was not possible. It was difficult even for the servers to get around.
Eventually, some people finished and wanted to leave but found that their attempt to pay was REFUSED -- on the grounds that there was to be a GROUP check. No Way!! Even if the organizer had WANTED to keep track of who was drinking what -- it was not POSSIBLE in those crowded conditions. The manager kept arguing with her and apparently was not willing to believe that a pretty young woman would NOT accede to his wishes about a group check but INSISTED THAT HE HONOR THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT-- which had been in writing on email..
By that time, some were inclined to 'walk the check' as a legal lesson about what happens to restauranteurs who refuse payment -- but cooler heads prevailed because nobody wanted to cause a problem for the long-suffering group organizer. Individual checks were finally produced.
Reviewing the evening, I conclude that the restaurant should NOT have accepted a reservation for a group of that size. There was not the space. -
Review from Linds B.
2/28/2012
Oh lord. What can I say about Playa Cabana? How do you solve a problem like Playa Cabana? At first visit, I would have given Playa Cabana a solid 5 star review. Given the BS they put me through for the second visit, I'm going to bring that down to a 3 star rating. If I could do 2.5 stars, I would.
My first visit to Playa Cabana was glorious - tasty and sooo much fun! Went with a group of girls for a birthday and we had a blast. Awesome tacos, extraordinary margaritas (amber agave, yummmm), energy, atmosphere and fun. We loved it! I immediately started making plans to come back with a larger group.
Went all out for the 2nd visit! Party of 26. Worked with the management over the course of a few weeks to set up a prix fixe menu for our party. I was super excited about this dinner, but unfortunately, the management (Evan) screwed up pretty much everything. Evan made our reservation for the wrong time, so 26 people stood around for half an hour in the entrance. On the day of the dinner, mere hours before, Evan decided to change the pricing on the prix fixe menu, as well as the overall terms of the prix fixe!! Agreed to separate cheques over email, took it back day of the event. Basically, he agreed to everything up front, over email, in writing, then changed every single last term day of the event. Argued every little thing with me, at length - argued for 20 minutes over $1.22 per person! Seriously not cool! I don't like being messed with, and I don't need all the BS. It was sooo shady, really total crap!!
That said, even with all this garbage going on, the truth is that every last one of my 25 guests agreed that the food was incredible, the margaritas were amazing, and they would all come back in a heartbeat. Everyone had a great time, everyone loved the place. So basically, there you go. Go to Playa Cabana, you will love it. Just don't take 26 people with you, and don't try and organize a prixfixe menu, and and be sure to double check your reservation time. Do not rely on the management for anything, they have no idea what they are doing. Just go and have a good time. Drink lots of tequila and you won't notice how poor the management is. This is still the best Mexican food I've found in Toronto, and I'm from California. :)
Enjoy! Just don't say I didn't warn you. :) And don't forget - amber agave margaritas. Yum yum yum. :) -
Review from Raman B.
Toronto, ON
10/31/2011
For a Saturday night dinner, I was looking for something interesteing to eat, rather then the usual Bar/American food found in Liberty Village.
I started going through the usual paces, what to eat, what to eat...
Thai...been there done that...too many times.
Sushi...its getting cold..i want something warm and tasty
Mexican! - I loooove Mexican, from the burrito boys, the big fat, to the sit downs, its all good in this belly.
So mexican it is.
We usually hit up Milagro on Queen, but I thought its time for a change.
After reading the reviews we hit up Playa Cabana and I'm glad we did.
Awesome little restaurant.
The place:
Nice and cozy
Service:
Quick and attentive
Food:
Wicked! Everything was fresh and flavorful.
For starters we got the Ceviche - it was haddock that night - so tasty
My entree was the Surf and Turf burrito - with steak and shrimp. covered in some tomato and green sauce. soooo good
My gf got the Short Rib/Brisket tacos..they had fried taco shells - sooo tasty.
Things I wanted to try but couldn't:
-Fresh guacamole - they allow you to choose your spice level.
-every burrito and taco available on the menu
and all of this was much more affordable then Milagro.
I will definitely return. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Woohoo! As good as it gets, indeed! Seriously the best Mexican food I've had since moving to Toronto, hands down. At Playa Cabana, you're not going to find greasy cheese-soaked Tex-Mex garbage. This, folks, is the real deal -- and I say that as someone who was raised in Southern California, and spent time living just a short drive from the Baja border.
Husband and I strolled in one evening and were lucky to get a table. We split the ceviche, which was fresh and spicy. The enchiladas I ordered as a main were stuffed with super tender chicken and zingy red and green sauces. Also a huge plus: they have Mexican Coke! (Not the yayo kind, the drinkable kind in glass bottles and not sweetened with real sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup).
I wish I'd saved room for dessert! Playa Cabana has a great boozy menu, a good selection of tequilas, and the people that work there are awesome. The only downside is that the place is super small, so the next time I go I'll try to make reservations. But it's not going to be long 'till I go back. Playa Cabana is seriously delicioso! -
Review from Chad M.
10/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Russell Peters once said "There are no Mexicans in Canada. You should see how messed up our lawns are."
I think he should have replaced "lawns" with "Mexican restaurants."
I spent a few years in San Diego, so blah blah blah, yeah, whatever. This place is truly amazing. It's expensive, but totally worth it, and a GREAT place to take a date. Don't take her here TOO much, because she'll likely get fat.
I should probably quit before I say something offensive.
Seriously, check this place out. I had a chicken burrito that was smothered in some really delectable orange sauce. It's authentic and upscale. You'll like it! -
Review from The Vong Choice I.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
This cute beach shack tucked away in a quaint Dupont/ Davenport neighbourhood peaked my curiosity. I have driven by it a few times and it always looked busy so it was definitely on my hit list to try. It was a Saturday night on one of our snow falls in Toronto. It was awful outdoor weather for both driving and walking as people forget how to drive in snow and the flakes are blowing everywhere so it's hard to look up. I finally stumble into the intimacy of Playa Cabana only to find a very busy and bustling restaurant with all tables full, a line up of folks crowding in the small entranceway and a waiting list that only has openings in about an hour and a half.
We luckily get seated only after waiting 15 minutes!
We start with the house made guacamole which is delicious and freshly prepared. It is reminiscent of my favourite guac in the city from Chimichangas (now closed) and the owner may know a thing or two as Dave was the former co-owner there.
I also want to try the cerviche which is pickerel. It comes packed with a good kick and is a big appetizer meant for sharing!
The vegetarian burrito and it was a humungous portion but so delicious, my friend was able to polish it without issue. I ordered the baja fish tacos which came grilled
They are one of the best fish tacos I've had and I ate at another trendy mexican resto earlier that week so it's a bold statement! For more heat - we were given 2 house made hot sauces: the habanero salsa- WOAH - this gives you a big kick of heat but it creeps up on you. The other one was the roasted chile arboles salsa - which gives you some good heat and is just right for me.
Hasta luego! -
Review from Lauren W.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2011
This place is small, we were here on a Sunday night and it was packed, which made me think good things. The menu is quite large with a good variety of different tacos, burritos, and enchiladas to order from.
We ordered guac and nachos to start. The nachos wee SO oily I could barely eat them. And the guac tasted store bought even though they said they made it. We were squeezing limes from our diet cokes into the guac for more flavour... it didn't help.
Fish taco's were mediocre as was the veggie burrito (which comes smothered in sauce.) Oh and the Churros (dessert) were overly deep fried if that makes any sense, and in a gross sauce.
I ordered a glass of water that came with white flakes floating in it, and upon requesting a bottle of water I was told they did not have any. Only a giant bottle of Perrier.
Would probably not return or recommend. This is not really authentic tasting Mexican, more like tex-mex Americanized Mexican food. -
Review from Jared W.
2/2/2012
I am a Los Angeles native and have taken a dozen surf trips down south to Mexico, so needless to say I am a Mexican food enthusiast. In a place far away from where one would think to find good Mexican food, we hit gold with Playa Cabana.
Though Playa Cabana didn't remind me of the Echo Park food trucks in LA or the Ensenada fish tacos of Baja, it was pretty damn amazing.
I went with a group of good friends from Toronto, and proceeded to drink some amazing margaritas and eat great food.
Our server was really nice, and the bartender/manager Graham was really great and accommodating. He welcomed us and really helped us out with everything all night. He also gave us a back story to the restaurant, the tequila they sell and blessed us with a free shot of great tequila. You could really feel and taste the passion they had for the food and service.
We started off with the ceviche, braised beef crispy tacos and the fish tacos. The ceviche was great if you enjoy spice, and the braised beef crispy tacos were just about heavenly. The fish tacos seemed to be my favorite dish, although everything I ate there was AMAZING.
We proceeded to have the chicken burrito and shrimp tacos, which were both excellent. If you like spice, you can request the Habañero salsa or the roasted chíle arboles salsa for an extra kick and great flavor.
This place is really busy and well worth the wait. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! -
Review from Josh A.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2011
No Chimichangas here.
Nice restaurant in an offbeat location on Dupont. Easy to get to if you get off at St George subway and just walk straight up Bedford for 5 minutes to Dupont. Its basically right there. Small little place which gets larger with the amazing patio on the outside. We started out on the patio but unfortunately the rain took us inside to a very hip locale with bar seating in the middle of the restaurant. Not sure what it was but there was lots of groups of young women at the restaurant this night.
Service was quick and had waters to our table super quick. Unfortunately two of the three waters had remnents of left over food items in them. Getting past this the night only got better. The food was fantastic.
We started with the Guacamole/chips. Loved the baked tortillia chips. The Guac was tasty also.
I ordered a burrito which was beyond huge. Filled with chicken, rice, black beans and all sorts of other goodness was super tasty and super rich. Desert? After you just served that oversized piece of goodness? Don't think so. Overall a super spot and fairly reasonablly priced food. Drinks were slighly pricey but where aren't they these days.
I definately recommend.
Josh -
Review from Good T.
Toronto, ON
10/13/2011
4.5 stars = 5 stars for food+4 stars for restaurant space and lay out
Super small restaurant with super big flavors (sorta like the 8 year olds on X Factor/Britain's Got Talent belting out those tunes!)
Went there with some older folks (who were a bit put off by the high decibel levels) on a Thursday night: it was packed! I thought it was a great place to get good booze and will come back with similarly aged people for a more fun experience (basically for more alcohol).
The guac was amazing: not too heavy and very fresh. The surf and turf burritto could've fed an entire mexican village! It was very well done but I would've preferred the orange sauce on the side instead of submerging the burrito in it. I prefer my dishes spicy so I asked for their spicy salsa and our server got me two kinds of spicy salsa. I absolutely loved them both! So folks ask for the spicy salsa. The churros were great as well: doughy, cinnamony,creamy!
The service was a tad slow but given the rush, totally understandable. Our waitress was great:patient with the menu, attentive with the water and funny.
p.s. Always make reservations; it fills up pretty quick. -
Review from N L.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2012
Positive: My salad was a generous portion, and was good though not at all as described. The corn was also delicious, but a total rip off. The service, once seated, was pleasant and fast and dealt with multiple visa/debit/cash with no problem. The decor is pretty ugly, but it's not too noticeable.
Cons: This was extremely over priced for extremely greasy food. Everyone else's orders were small and way too oily.
Terrible experience with the reservations people as well.
There are so many other better Mexican restaurants in Toronto. I just would never bother going back. -
Review from Nav K.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2012
Some of the best Mexican food I have had in the city! The staff shuts down for two weeks in Jan and visits Mexico to absorb the cutlure and stay up to date with the recipes. Their guacamole is bar none and it is reasonably priced. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. Can't wait to sit in their patio in the summer.
-
Review from Kevin B.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012
I had almost resigned myself to the fact that Toronto was devoid of terrific, almost authentic Mexican cuisine. Sure, Milagro has a couple decent dishes but overall it's underwhelming. There are some good burrito spots (Bandidos being the best) but for pure sit-down Mexican the landscape was bare - until Playa Cabana came into my life. I have ordered almost every item on the menu and every one was so good that I can't pick a favorite. So good. Just go. But don't touch my tacos.
-
Review from K M.
Toronto, ON
8/4/2011
We had been looking for a good Mexican restaurant for quite a while when we turned the corner to see Playa Cabana. We were fortunate enough to be there on the opening weekend and were treated like family. The owner spent time with us explaining his vision and sharing his stories.
We have been back several times and the chorizo never disappoints! Good service. Fun atmosphere. Tables a little tight but adds to the fun. -
Review from Zainab K.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2012
om nom nom. ok disclaimer not everything is equally good
but i'm just going to highlight stuff that struck out to me the most
great ambience, a little loud, open late, great service. TOO DIE FOR BRAISED BEEF TACOS (they look and taste very mexican), above average fish tacos.
they have mexican cola which is great, decent desserts, super fresh and super cheap salsa and chips(3$ woot) -
Review from A S.
Toronto, ON
6/11/2011
This is a tiny little Mexican restaurant that opened three weeks ago. Nestled in the Annex's residential area, this place serves up what looks like some pretty authentic Mexican dishes. The food was good in a wholesome and filling way. I had a chorizo appetizer and a burrito that has an egg on it. The burrito entree was huge and impossible to finish. My companion had the seafood special (served with rice which we agreed to be far better than the burrito...that should say a lot as the burrito was splendid). The menu is several pages long and there are plentiful options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
The margaritas, especially the ones made with agave nectar, were delicious.
Those agave margarita pitchers are really quite smashing. The nectar makes the margarita slightly sweeter without being overwhelmingly saccharine.
All in all, a cute little place with great food and amazing margarita pitchers. -
Review from Michael G.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2011
Going to this restaurant, we did not know what to expect. We had read a bad review in the National Post, so our expectations were quite low. We were expecting simple tex-mex food (which we do like - even if it is just nachos and enchiladas).
However, we were completely surprised by the depth of flavour in all the dishes and their salsas! We had the fiesta nachos, chicken salad, and fish (halibut) tacos. Everything was just spectacular! Subtle flavours are present in each dish that are pleasantly surprising as each bite offers something different.
The staff was very nice and the service was great - but really, the food is what makes this place special. I can't wait to go back!
