Review: Cantina 18
“Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I’m talking about a little place called…” Cantina 18..
Name that movie!?
In the movie, the place is called Aspen but I instinctively flock to my favorite mexican restaurant where the beer flows like, well, beer, and you should instinctively flock to the chip bowl that is placed at your table upon your arrival at Cantina 18! I must share my latest experience with you that started out with the fresh, southwest classic: guacamole and chips.
Avacado is one of my favorite fruits and with all of its’ fat soluble vitamins mixed with southwestern flavors to become guacamole, I couldn’t resist dunking into it with the endless chips at Cantina 18. The chips here are probably my favorite because they were really salty. They balance the spicy complimentary salsa or creamy guac. I have to be honest, my mood for mexican got us here but my favorite “go-to” menu option won me over once I got my gauc and tortilla fix. It’s high in anti-inflammatory Omega 3′s AND Protein AND Vitamin D AND since this is not Jeopoardy, I will tell you the answer is Salmon!
Salmon is one of my favorite menu options when I dine out because I have yet to perfect cooking it at home. I have tried but will continue to try to get that crispy edge with a tender, flaky inside. Anyhow, Salmon boasts my favorite nutrients and well when you have “favorite nutrients”, you know that nutrition is the right career field!
Adobo Glazed Salmon
Adobe Glazed Salmon at Cantina 18 is served on top of a jalepeno grit cake, which was soft and sweet inside with a little kick from the pepper. The cake’s crispy edge was salty so it combined perfectly in texture and taste with the creamy inside. Corn and tomato relish adorned the plate and salty spinach soaked up the juice underneath the salmon.
If Salmon is not your thing, which I cannot understand, the menu is impressive with variety, health, and flavor taken into consideration for sure. If you need that mexican fix, I would try the ChimiChanga
chimichanga chimichanga chimichanga ...O'le!
Don’t let the picture fool you either, this thing is HUGE! It is filled with juicy chicken, chorizo, cheese, rice, jalepeno, and avacado. Cantina 18 also has a fantastic skinny margarita, beer and wine flow like beer or wine, a brunch/lunch menu, and some healthy or not so healthy dishes covered in cheese…
What is your favorite “mexican” style dish?
