Cantine Mexican Kitchen

Much like the wildly popular Rosa Mexicana Restaurant in New York City, Cantine puts a modern spin on what we expect Mexican food should be. They serve up the classics like burritos, tacos, guacamole and margaritas, but they raise the bar considerably by using imagination, locally sourced ingredients and sophisticated cooking techniques, conjuring up exciting flavors and combinations. Take a recent evening’s offering: Fin and Feather Tacos, which included one duck breast taco with wild mushrooms topped with goat cheese crema and one taco of Ahi tuna, avocado and a smoky chipotle sauce. There is also a knock-out dish called Tabasco Clams and Shrimp over Black Rice. Their Avocado Gazpacho Soup is just about perfect, as are the Pumpkin Seed (pepita) Crusted Tilapia and the Black Pepper Rubbed Beef Tenderloin Ancho-Honey Barbeque.This gourmet Mexican fare is served with flare by polished, knowledgeable servers. Amazingly, while Cantine achieves ever higher levels of culinary success, it also provides a family-friendly environment by offering simple fun dishes that kids would enjoy, including nachos and quesadillas, at family-friendly prices.Care and consideration are what make the difference at Cantine Mexican Kitchen. Even the bartender is more of a mixologist, taking pride in sourcing local herbs to infuse into his cocktails.- Hillary Davis