Margaritas make the world go round

The long, hot summer days in London bring everyone out of hibernation, but what’s the perfect thing to eat when the city is so sun drenched?

Cantina Laredo in St Martin’s Courtyard, Covent Garden is the perfect solution to the relentless heat. A fresh take on Mexican cuisine, all of the dishes are light and delicious, with a wide array of sharing plates and nibbles. The Ginsberg family, who own Cantina Laredo, have teamed up with chef Robert De la Parra, and the result is heavenly.

To start with, there are eight different guacamoles to choose from. From the classic (of course), to the con Chile Habareno (super spicy!) with roasted yellow Habarenos, roasted shallots and garlic, each guac is innovative and tasty. The guacamole de Queso Azul has sour cream, blue cheese and roasted jalapenos, and the guacamole de pina is made with apples, sweet onion, coriander, serranos, pineapple and pomegranate seeds. The best part is that they are made tableside with fresh ingredients, so you can tailor your guac to exactly how you want it.

The entradas (small dishes) and brochetas (medium sized dishes) are perfect for sharing. Try the seabass ceviche with avocado and cucumber in lime salsa, or the camarones rebozados — tiger prawn tempura with chilli and lime. The brochetas de arrachera — Skirt steak skewers with sweet Mexican soy and chilli de árbo are a must, and the tacos are all so good we had to order one of each. The rib eye with 28-day aged ribeye steak and marinated onions and the hongo portobello with tempura mushrooms and grilled sweetcorn were our favourites.

The platos fuertes (large dishes) are great for lone dining or sharing. The enchiladas rojas, filled with chicken, potato, red onion, courgettes and sweet potato with salsa roja are our favourite, or try the enchiladas de chile poblano for veggies, with poblano peppers, sweetcorn and potato.

 

The food alone would have us rushing back again and again, but Cantina Laredo also has 30 different kinds of 100% blue agave tequilas and a range of Mezcals. The 10 different margaritas are all worth a try, but the one in a melon, with El Jimador Blanco, Cointreau, fresh watermelon and lime is one of our favourites. Incredibly light and refreshing, it’s great for a balmy summer’s evening.

Now it’s no secret that we love a bottomless brunch here at Love Hospitality, so it was to our absolute delight to learn that Cantina Laredo does bottomless not only at the weekend, but also on a Friday from midday until 10:30! The menu offers free flowing magaritas, wine, beer or prosecco for £25, as long as food to the value of £25 is ordered with it.  We can’t forget the desserts either, which are spectacular. The churros served with chilli chocolate and strawberry cream are perfect, and the pay de manzana con helado de canela — Mexican spiced apple tart with cinnamon ice cream and agave vanilla butter is impressive as well as delicious. Served in a hot plate with the butter poured over the tart, it sizzles as you eat.

The staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful, taking time to explain the menu. They were also very attentive in topping up drinks and clearing the table. Take advantage of the heat and get down to Cantina Laredo for some relaxed fun and out of this world food, before the sun disappears again.