Santiago’s Cantena Grill

Gross! This place is all over the map. We tried to go to lunch at Monica’s but it was closed so we ended up here. The menu had about 10 variations of the same thing: slow cooked beef with potatoes, peas, onions and carrots wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla with cold rice and hard beans. But on the specials board they had fried chicken, chicken fried chicken, chicken salad, burgers, and even lasagna??? The service was horrible and the only highlight of this meal was the price.

Well, I do love trying new places… even if though I find I will never go back. This was one of those.
My BF who was on vacation this week called and said «let’s explore Deep Ellum and find something different Let’s cruise down Main instead of Commerce and see what we’ve missed». He was attracted to the neon lights and the cute look of the patio on the roof. So, we park in the adjacent lot, paying $ 2.00, and toddle into this small tiny place.
Only one other table of two occupied at 1400 in the afternoon. Greeted by friendly, welcoming server. Order our drinks. 5 minutes go by, then 10, uh oh, now at 15 minutes, and no drinks. Observed our server was having a problem with the draft beer… all foam. He left our area and went to the front of the restaurant, which appeared to be the main bar area. Then, about 5 minutes later, another server comes from the front bar with our drinks. BF looked mystified at his first sip of beer… it wasn’t too cold… wrinkled brow, puzzled look. I took a sip of my Top Shelf Marg and surprisingly, it was pretty darn good and a nice tall glass. So, I forgave the long wait and perused the menu. (BTW, BF then ordered a bottled beer hoping it would be ice cold… better)
Looked at BF… this looks like a totally «burrito» place, and said «you know how I absolutely hate burritos». Everything on the menu is «wrapped in a flour tortilla». YUK !!! He suggested I «get over it» and try something new. After all, he had paid the $ 2 parking fee and was not going to leave without eating. (Love him… cheapskate !!!)) Heavy sigh. Glanced at the daily special board and spotted the crispy taco dinner with rice and beans. Maybe there is something to salvage here?
Finally, after about another 10 minutes, friendly server returns for our order. I vacillated between the tamale dinner or the crispy taco dinner. He suggested the tacos, saying «they are really fresh». Huh? Isn’t everything supposed to be fresh? BF ordered the #1 lunch special… a «(despicable) burrito with shrimp, fried catfish, bacon, cheese».
Amazingly, food came out quick. Immediate impression… imagine yourself at Taco Bell, with waiter service and Top Shelf Margaritas. This perfectly describes the meal. Taco Bell beef tacos, rice and beans. Enough said… however, the saving grace? They were only $ 4.77, so I suppose I got what I paid for. And, again, the Marg was enjoyable @ $ 6.50. BF graded his (gross in my opinion) «burrito» a 6 out of 10. Again, another Taco Bell experience. (Can you surmise by now that I don’t like burritos?) Oh, also ordered soft corn tortillas & butter. Not delivered until the entrees came, and by the time I buttered and folded them, they were hard and dry… not edible. Soft sob here, as I love my soft tortillas, salt, butter and salsa. (Chips were too thick, salsa has a bunch of real heat !!)
I would guess this is a place for regulars to come and imbibe. Drinks are cheap ($ 2.00 drafts, $ 2.50 bottles, $ 6.50 top shelf margs) and after a few, who cares about the mediocre food to absorb all the alcohol.
Service was «kind», very friendly, but disjointed and confused.
I can only assume why this place has never been reviewed… no discerning foodie has probably ever chosen to go here because they knew something we didn’t. Only us inexperienced way far North Dallas folks who don’t know any better gave this place a try.
Truly, don’t intend to be unkind. The food and experience was not offensive or totally objectionable. Just so very very ordinary, and maybe slightly even less than that. NOTE — it was CHEAP and was only one meal out of a whole lifetime, and a separate (very small) chapter in my autobiography to follow one day. I’m sure their intentions are good.