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| - It was a friend's birthday, so we took off to La Carnita so that we could celebrate with small, sociable bites, a good selection of drinks, and an active atmosphere.
Our group of ~10-15 spent the evening at the 106 John St. location. On the first floor, you'll find their full bar, the kitchen, and plenty of seating. The somewhat dark and sultry vibe/decor continues as you make your way to the second floor, where you'll find further group seating. They seal the deal on the ambiance with their tasteful music selection. Maybe don't bring your aunty here, because she might not get down with "Nice for What", but you'll appreciate some good old hip hop & R&B.
I started the food off with some Mexican street corn. This was my first experience with the treat, so take my opinion with a grain of salt... and then maybe shake a couple of those grains on the corn. I'm mostly kidding. The appetizer was overall quite nice. The árbol & ancho chili powder gave a mild spice that was balanced by the crema and queso añejo (aged Mexican cheese). I had just expected a little more zing. The sight of a corn on the cob bathed in creamy sauce and vibrant spices must have gotten my hopes up.
Thankfully, when the tacos came, my posh hopes were satisfied. Two of my highlights were In Cod We Trust, and the Carne Asada. In Cod We Trust had much more of a bright flavour and felt lighter on the stomach, whereas the Carne Asada was built to stop you in your tracks with beautifully tender beef steak, the right amount of sweetness, and a spice match made in heaven. I'd suggest that you have a look at each taco's ingredients, find what pairings you think you'd like, then trust your gut. Not everyone will LOVE all of their tacos, but they've got something for everyone.
Lastly, I've got to give a shout-out to their staff. As I mentioned, we came for a birthday party, and frankly, we were loud and rambunctious from start to finish. That notwithstanding, the waiters were patient with us, handled our... exuberance, and got our various unorganized orders mostly right. Big fan of this location!
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