The space isn't fancy, more diner-like, but the aromas coming from the kitchen are incredible…read more Watching generous plates pass by only made ordering harder. By the time we decided, I was fully hungry and ready to dig in. Luckily, both the drinks and food arrived quickly. The mixed ceviche ($18.95) combines shrimp and fish tossed with peppers, onion, and cilantro, served alongside avocado and plantain chips. The acidity is well balanced, so it's not overly citrusy. That said, I would've liked more fish, as the shrimp dominates the dish. If you're dining with a group, the yucca mixta ($21.50), typically a main, works perfectly as a shared starter. The fried cheese is reminiscent of mozzarella sticks, but better, with a higher cheese-to-batter ratio. The crispy yucca is addictive, especially dipped into the onion sauce, which adds a refreshing tang. Even the avocado salad was a hit and was as a great way to finish off the plantain chips from the ceviche. Ordering a Cajun shrimp stir fry ($25.95) at a Nicaraguan restaurant felt strange, but it worked. The dish blends a lightly spiced teriyaki sauce with creamy avocado, giving it a unique, almost Nikkei-style twist. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked, and the rice soaked up the sauce without becoming too salty. There's even a surprising hint of wok hay that could rival some Cantonese spots. The churrasco ($32.95) is ideal for a solo diner. The beef tenderloin tips were grilled to a perfect medium rare. While the meat itself is fairly mild, the thick chimichurri adds plenty of flavour. Paired with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a generous serving of vegetables, it's a well-balanced plate. Whatever you do, don't skip dessert. La Bella's flan Napolitano ($7.95) is fantastic, with a custard that's firm enough to hold its shape yet still smooth and creamy. The caramel is light and fluid, adding sweetness without becoming sticky. Flan fans you better fly over to try this. The three milk cake ($8.50) is equally impressive. It's fully soaked, rich, and indulgent without crossing into overly sweet territory. I genuinely couldn't decide which dessert I preferred. Both are worth ordering. As mentioned, reservations are highly recommended. Despite how busy it gets, the small team runs the dining room with impressive efficiency, making sure guests are well taken care of.

Have you ever found a restaurant that was so good that you were afraid to tell people about it in…read morecase it got so popular you'd never find a table next time you went? This is such a restaurant. But for the greater good, and because it totally deserves to be hyped up, I'm gonna share this gem with you! Granted, I have only been here once and I had never had Nicaraguan food before but everything this restaurant served up from drinks to appetizers to mains to dessert was unbelievable. It may look like nothing special on paper and even look understated on the plate but once it's in your mouth your tastebuds are in for a ride! Let me explain a bit more...the "tacos" look like a sundae collided with a salad on the plate but when you break it up and try it the crunch and the sweet and the sour just works like magic! I ordered the Churrasco but swapped out the mashed potato with rice and beans - how the Nicaraguans eat it I was told - and boy was I glad I listened! I have never downed so much rice and beans so quickly in my life; normally I avoid them so that's testament to how tasty it was. 3 out of all 3 of the desserts were delicious but the standout favourite among my party was surprisingly the cheesecake, so don't knock it till you try it. The atmosphere is lively and colourful, and the service was great too! That's it; I think I've shared enough - you're welcome

All around excellent restaurant! Had a 5pm reservation. Was seated promptly upon arrival. Great…read moreambiance with great music selection of 90's RnB. Started with drinks and apps. We had the Wray and Things, Spicy Pineapple Margarita, corn bread and firecracker shrimp. Everything was excellent! For Large plates, ordered the Jerk Chicken, Friend Chicken, Braised Beef, Macaroni Pie and Okra. Everything was delicious! A must try if you can get a reservation. Look forward to coming back if I'm ever in Toronto.

Went to Conejo Negro to celebrate a friend's birthday with a group of six. The patio had a great…read morevibe, and the staff singing Happy Birthday and getting the whole room involved was a really nice touch. The food was also delicious. The jerk chicken was flavorful and well-seasoned, the curried lamb was rich and tender, and the firecracker shrimp had a great kick. The blackened fish of the day was nicely seasoned, while the pineapple and beet salad and grilled okra rounded out the meal with fresh flavors. Unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by one server, Matthew. He was condescending when one of our friends had difficulty reading the menu by telling her to practice reading it. He was also unnecessarily rude when we were trying to divide the bill - my friend asked to add all the wines she drank to her bill and he insisted on splitting it evenly four ways even though some of us didn't order drinks. Lastly, when using the payment machine, he was saying we didn't have etiquette and kept saying 'left side', 'right side' and that he's not a tripod. It was so confusing and uncalled for. He left a bad taste in our mouth. It's disappointing the food and atmosphere were enjoyable, but good hospitality especially with an automatic gratuity of 20% matters just as much. Giving it a one star as there are many restaurants in Toronto that offer delicious food with great customer service.

Wow. The food was incredible. So happy I came with some friends so we could try multiple dishes and…read morenot be stuffed. We ordered a few tapas- yuca frita con mojo Cubano (so good, mojo was on point...that delicious garlicky sauce), bon bon de Pollo (flavorful, juicy chicken), maduros fritos congris (can you really go wrong with crunchy plantains and rice and beans?) and queso de cabra (house made goat cheese with garlic confit?!?! What?! YUM!). As entrees we ordered the ropa vieja, sandwich cubano, maravilla vegetal and lechon asado. Literally every single dish had plenty of flavor till the last biteful. It wasn't very busy but there's been a lot of caution with the coronavirus. I hope this restaurant is usually more busy because the restaurant was very good. We ordered mojitos and it came with plenty of fresh mint, very refreshing. We left talking about how good the food was!

Mambo Lounge takes part in Summerlicious so I had to give them a try!…read more Summerlicious dinner here is $33. I ordered: Appetizer: Ensalada Tropical - this Salad was fresh and bigger than I expected, I enjoyed it overall. I just wish there was more mango balsamic dressing, it was a bit dry. Entree: Pescado Salteado - I absolutely LOVE the way the fish was prepared, it was crispy yet still juicy. The rice it was served with was supposed to be coconut rice but it tasted like normal plain rice to me. Desert: Havana Club Creme Brûlée - this was delicious, it was the perfect amount of sweet and creamy. My friends ordered: Ensalada de Espinaca Soup of The Day Pollo Rancho Luna Pato el Vino Blanco Cuban Coconut Flan Overall this place has a nice vibe, and the music is great. They also have a patio at the back. I would recommend going no later than 8pm as they do sell out of the steak (which I originally wanted) and some of the desserts. I would definitely return if I'm in the area.

The best Colombian food I've ever eaten…read more big portions Lots of parking spots available I'm glad to see that there are no more pot holes in the parking lot I'm glad that the parking lot is finally cleared and fres paved I will definitely return

Amazing Colombian food in big portions, quick and friendly service, and nice casual atmosphere…read more Although technically an appetizer, the Patacon Relleno Vegetariano (stuffed green plantain with black beans, salad, avocado slices) could stand as a meal on its own - very hearty and filling. The texture of the crunchy green plantain slices went really well with the soft avocado, salad, and beans mixture inside, with a delicious sauce. The Ensalada (salad) came in a very large portion and consisted of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and avocado. Sancocho de Pescado (traditional & hearty Colombian soup made of fish, root vegetables, and tubers - including cassava / yuca, potatoes, plantains, corn on the cob; seasoned with cumin and cilantro) had a very flavourful soup broth that tasted like comfort food. It was served with rice, toasted arepa, and avocado. It had a good amount of meaty fish and various types of root vegetables that had been cooked really well (so they were all soft) and absorbed the rich flavour from the soup broth. Arroz con Camarones (seasoned rice with shrimps, vegetables, salad, green plantains) was my favourite - very flavourful rice with lots of big, tender shrimps.

Food was good, recommend any snapper entree!! Bit of a wait time, but the nice staff made up for itread more

This place is a hidden gem! They've been around for 8 years and it was my first time visiting here…read more Came all the way from Mississauga to Brampton just to visit here and did not regret the travel. I ordered the jerk chicken tacos and the jamiacan style fried chicken which came with macaroni and fries (you got to choose fries or rice). The server, Gabby, was really nice and recognized they got my order wrong initially and took it back right away to fix it. The tacos were absolutely delicious and was my favourite part! The chicken was cooked to perfection and all the flavours came together really nice. The jamiacan style fried chicken was also really good as well. Overall, I really enjoyed eating here and would definitely be coming back if I'm nearby.

Paella anyone? I bet you haven't heard that in a while. And…read morehonestly, who knew it was such a Portuguese thing too? We all know Spain made it famous, but Portugal? INSANE. Back to why I do this. I'm endlessly curious about food, people, and the magic that happens when great meals meet good music. Friendships just seem to evolve naturally around a table. And thank you, E, for another incredible photo -- your choices are always perfect. Mercado on St. Clair is a hidden gem. What was once beside my mom's flower shop downtown has now found a home in a slightly more industrial setting on Caledonia -- and somehow, it works perfectly. Cozy seating inside, a great covered patio outside, and that village-style European restaurant vibe you hope to stumble across. First off, the waiter was phenomenal. He walked us through the menu, explained everything perfectly, and genuinely elevated the whole experience. The menu is massive -- meat, seafood, everything you could want -- but we came for the paella. We were told it takes time because they make it the proper way. Not overly crispy, just authentic, rich, and layered with flavour. Worth every minute of the wait. To start, we had the gambas / shrimp in a rich red garlic and herb sauce plus extra toasted bread for dipping, per our waiter's recommendation. Absolute rockstar move. The other appetizer was a delicious beef stew served over crunchy rustic bread. Simple, hearty, and top notch. Now... drum roll please. This may have been the best paella I've ever had. Okay okay, maybe somewhere along the coast in Spain I've had one fresher... but this was absolutely off the charts. Zero fishy smell. Just beautiful saffron-infused rice with that perfect slight crisp, loaded with mussels, clams, octopus, calamari, shrimp, and more. Built for two people to share and completely unforgettable. A few glasses of house white later and bam - there was absolutely no chance I was going back to work. And dessert? I kept telling myself: "No dessert, Frank. No dessert." But there's a rule in life ; if you see crème brûlée on a menu, you order it. This wasn't exactly crème brûlée, but a cheesecake-inspired version of it. Two spoons, four bites, and thank you very much. Favourite meal of the year so far. Completely blown away by this place. Mercatto -- go now. Go fast.

I was there for my birthday and this place didn't disappoint, even on a Monday…read more The atmosphere was calming and refreshing with an upbeat fun whimsical garden. Service was friendly and prompt. The food was delicious. We were a party of thee and ordered a plater that served us well. All ate from the Beira Mar platter and all meats and seafood were cooked well to order. Fantastic place for a night out or a get together with other friends family or special occasion.

One of the best jerk chickens I had with proper Spice factor and very juicy. Great customer…read moreservice staff.

I started of with the jerk chicken meal which I found to be very tasty. That was the end of my…read moregood experience. Since then I have been disappointed twice. I ordered the chicken soup twice and have been disappointed twice as there was no chicken in the soup on both occasions. Also the coleslaw was sour (spoilt) when I ordered the jerk chicken and rice. Sadly, I don't think I will be supporting the establishment in the future.

Came in on a Saturday with a reso for 2. Pretty busy so I suggest having one…read more Food: Doubles were great. Oxtail was really nice and tender and super flavourfull. The Cajun shrimp was such a worth addition as well. The coleslaw was nice to cut through the fattiness The Alfredo was good as well although I wish the jerk chicken was juicier - they used breast meat here Side note: the ginger beer the carry is amazing and goes sooo well with the oxtail Service: I don't usually write much here but the service was so good. Jodi (Sp?) really makes you feel like he truly cares about what you have to say. Super friendly and will sit with you as you speak - he was doing this to the table beside us and I thought they were regulars. Turns out he just treats every table like a Vip. Big ups. Ambiance: Nice but not upscale or stuffy. Has a lot of character. Can be a bit loud. Allegedly music on Saturday evening but that night, the musician didn't show up.

The food was so delicious here! The true star though was our server, Jodie, who really made our…read moreentire experience so memorable. He was extremely attentive to our table, was so pleasant to chat with and recommended really great food options. The shrimp add-on to the braised oxtail bowl was recommended by Jodie and we're so glad we did it. My personal favourite was the doubles here. We went for the spiciest level and it was amazing. Vibes are really fun and sometimes there is live music in the venue. We will definitely be going back!!!