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| - I definitely love the vibe in here. The hip hop music, the dim lighting, the neon sign, the graffiti, the concrete walls, the light fixtures, the wood detailing, and the pop of colours from the chairs - It's a beautifully designed and well thought out space that perfectly reflects what La Carnita is about.
The food menu is small, but well rounded. I made sure to try as many dishes as I could on my first visit.
To start I had the Avocado Mango Salad, which was disappointingly small, but so delicious. It was followed by the Mexican Sweet Corn, which was absolutely amazing! The crema, cheese and chili powder take grilled corn to a new level. I highly recommend this dish. On a separate occasion had the Tortilla Chips with the Chipotle (Chicken Liver) Pate for dipping. The chips were fresh and seasoned well with ancho chili powder, and the Pate had great flavour. My only complaint is the chip to dip ratio. There was way too many chips and not much dip. I think you get more bang for your buck if you order the Tortilla Chips with all three sides for dipping instead of just the one.
For tacos, I tried all six on the menu. The Tostada de Lengua is beef tongue served on a tostada (crispy tortilla) and although it was psychologically hard for me to eat (eek tongue!), it was actually pretty good. The fish taco, In Cod We Trust, had a great balance of flavours and textures. The Crispy Avocado & Frijoles was full and meaty despite the lack of any actual meat. The Red and Green Chorizo, was made with homemade chorizo that was tender and flavourful. The chicken taco, Pollo Frito, and the steak taco, Carne Asada, weren't as good as the above mentioned tacos, but were still definitely yummy in their own right.
For dessert I had the Lime Pie Paleta (popsicle). It was the perfect combination of sour, salty and sweet. It's a great palette cleanser and the perfect way to end a meal.
La Carnita does not take reservations so be prepared to have to wait for a table during peak times especially if you're part of a large group. Thankfully you can leave you're phone number and hit up one of the many bars along College St. in the meantime. The wait is definitely worth it!
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