Cantina

I came here soon after it opened. I was visiting family in the area, and we decided to check this place out. BIG MISTAKE.
I know this place just opened and they were probably still getting the hang of things, but how do you screw up Mexican food? You really had to have a couple of drinks just for the food to become edible (btw, drinks are super cheap and the only decent thing in this place).
I’ll be really surprised if this place lasts.

I really wish this place was good and I hope it can turn things around. I am a native Texan who craves Mexican food and Tex-​Mex to an extreme degree. I also love late-​night food. The prospect of good, late-​night mexican right on Ellewood was fantastic.
After my first experience at Cantina last night, however, I was very letdown.
First, the positives. (1) Drink prices are good. Good beer selection at good prices — mostly 3 dollars or less. The margarita selection looked respectable and the reviews on a couple margaritas were fine. (2) The outdoor setting is nice. Good patio with live music. Space is limited because the outdoor music tent takes up about 25% of the outdoor space but what is there is nice.
Now, the negatives.
(1) The food. From top to bottom, this is food that would be lucky to be called «thoroughly mediocre». I have only experienced a few of the dishes so maybe there are some hidden gems. That said, I ordered what the waitress recommended — a quesadilla — and it was as plain and uneventful as one could make a quesadilla.
Instead of doing a few classic dishes well (and maybe adding a few creative twists), the menu here seems to try and cover all the bases of tacos, burritos, and quesadillas without actually figuring out what they are trying to do well. For instance, the steak quesadilla comes prepared with an asian soy glaze — it seems like they would want to cover their bases with a good basic quesadilla before trying a fusion version.
The tacos came in an awkward green tortilla that looked like it had come out of a plastic bag and almost certainly had not been made fresh. Fresh made tortillas aren’t always available but it seems like using something that didn’t resemble a spinach wrap would be a better decision.
Finally, the chips and «salsa» were frankly bad. The chips were bad convenience store quality chips. Instead of salsa they serve a small plastic container of «pico de gallo» — in reality, the pico was basically just diced tomato — it had absolutely no flavor. Pico could be nice in addition to a more traditional, liquid salsa but as a substitute it just makes for a mess — salsa is easy for dipping and sharing — pico requires effort to match with each chip.
If this place does not improve its food — I cannot see it surviving a year — it may do a bit of good patio business but the restaurant will live and die based upon the quality of its food when winter arrives and after the novelty of the new space wares off. At its current level, I can’t imagine anyone being drawn by the food.
(2) Second negative: bathroom. There is a single unisex bathroom. The line was consistently a lengthy wait, even though most of the inside tables were empty and the crowd not at full capacity.
I really hope this place gets it together, figures out that they have a great chance to do good food and draw people to a great location. If they do not, however, I cannot imagine them surviving with the current menu and quality of food. They should figure out a few dishes they actually do really well, focus on those dishes, and don’t assume that the location or patio will keep the business thriving (past restaurants in the location demonstrate otherwise).
Here’s hoping that the next experience at Cantina is much better than the first.