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| - Xola Mexican Food would be a great cosy place to take a first date. It promises Mexican food unlike any other Mex restaurant I've ever been in - quasi fine cuisine..ish. The small setting is endearing and totally enjoyable.
And while the service was excellent, and the menu promised good, fresh ingredients...
No salsa or chips to get you started on the house as is usual in the places I've been. Instead, for $10.50 or so, when we ordered the Guacamole as an appetizer, it was excellent and enough for both of us. As good as avocados can be. Not special.
I ordered the Duck. I received a very small serving roast duck taken off the bone in a small bowl, several small wraps, a 1/2 ramekin of chopped fruit for the wrap, a 1/2 ramekin of sour cream. That's it. No potatoes. No rice. No salad. Messy. It was OK. Not interesting. Cost over $22.00.
My girlfriend ordered braised Lamb. Same thing. It was a tiny portion, stewed and served in a small bowl, with several small wraps, 1/2 ramekin of black beans. That's it. No potatoes. No rice. No salad. It was just OK. The duck was better. Cost over $18.00.
Add 1 beer and 1 excellent Margarita to that, and the bill was $80.
To add insult to injury, because the service was good, a tip had to be added which brought it up to $90.
Moral to this story - Xola is not even close to worth it. You won't find what you're used to or expect to. If you're open to novelty, you'll be disappointed by what you're served and what you're not.
For the best mexican, its worth the trip to Cielito Lindo in Pickering - the very best. And we could have eaten twice for what I paid.
If you want duck or lamb, better to hit Chinatown or Greek Town respectively.
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