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Banana Cantina

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Andariega
Andariega
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
3
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Editor Pick

Banana Cantina

  • May 1, 2008
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Andariega from Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico
Banana Cantina

This was a first for us. We had never eaten at the Banana Cantina but we had heard good things about it. We went up not knowing what to expect. Downstairs, at Choco Banana, things are very casual with a banana motif. Not so upstairs, where low lighting, rich colors and nice furniture dominate.

We sat at a corner table overlooking the street. Outside things were hopping, making for an interesting view. Inside it was pretty busy too, with a mixture of tourists and expats but no nationals as far as we could tell. Joshua was our waiter. We knew him from other places around town. This was a good beginning.

The menu had a nice assortment of interesting dishes. Things like chopped jicama and avocado salad, poblano vichyssoise, Brie and papaya quesadillas, and avocado enchiladas. I guess I would call it nouveau Mexican. The prices were about average for the area with main courses running from 70 pesos for the chicken tacos to 190 pesos for the coconut shrimp.

Joshua didn't miss a beat; our ashtray was kept clean; our glasses were never empty. He delivered our dinners with a smile and a nod. Linda had the Caesar salad and of course we all tasted it. It was the best one I have tried in years. Unfortunately, it was very small. Sails had the slow roasted achiote pork sandwich. It was pretty good and pretty big. It was supposed to come with carrot and jicama slaw but instead was served with the strangest and most bland pickled onions I have ever eaten. I ordered the mushroom bruschetta and had no complaints. It was drizzled with what I believe was a balsamic vinegar reduction. Pretty tasty.

We were fat, happy and ready to go. We asked for the bill...and nothing. We tried again. Nothing. It took us twenty-five minutes to get the check. We paid and left. That one little, but long, glitch aside, I felt the service was great, the food good, the salad exceptional, the setting comfortable and the view entertaining. I’m sure I will eat here again.

Sails said, "Great Caesar salad, everything else was pretty good too. I even got to nap waiting for the bill"

sample menu
Sashimi Tuna............80 pesos/US$7.60
served with jicama slaw
Romaine and Apple Salad............75 pesos/US$7.10
served with goat cheese empanadas
Garlic Soup............65 pesos/US$6.20
with a crouton and a poached egg
Prawn Clubhouse............120 pesos/US$11.40
with bacon, roasted red pepper and chipotle mayonnaise
Chile Relleno............80 pesos/US$7.60
served with macho banana

Banana Cantina is open mid October through May, Wednesday through Sunday, from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions - Banana Cantina is on the corner of Pulpito and Amapas. From the southwest corner (the beach is west) of the parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas head south along Olas Altas for five blocks, turn right on Pulpito, go one block. The restaurant is on the right, on the second floor.

From journal Up With Romantic Dining

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