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The Cantina
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
9 reviews for The Cantina
The Cantina, according to the sign on its door, claims itself "a great Mexican place". The food may not have been the best Mexican I've had (nor the most authentic), but it was very decent. Free chips and salsa. My friends and I shared an order of guacamole (very good), after which I had the chicken fajitas. The chicken wasn't particularly great, but it was fine and the portion was huge (I ate way too much and wasn't even close to finishing). They also have a pretty good beer selection, both on tap and bottled.
The place is really big, and has an outdoor patio (although it was too cold for us to take advantage of it). The interior isn't particularly special: just looks like any American restaurant... Good and efficient service.
My only gripe: the prices... not outrageous but a little on the high end for this type of food ($17 for my fajitas only!). But then again, this is Aspen, so I should just suck it up. And my boss paid for my meal, so who am I to complain.
UPDATE: I went back for lunch, and it was great! The prices are definitely cheaper (around $10) for essentially the same food as for dinner. I had the chile verde chicken burrito: very yummy (and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually like burritos).
The food is definitely not worth the price - but the Hornitos Margaritas were mighty fine! If you are trying to stay within a reasonable budget for dinner, I would recommend the taco salad with steak. It was actually pretty yummy, and it was a large amount of food for $15.
Adequate if you're hungry and want something safe. Kind of a college-y /beach town atmosphere, vigorously casual. It's Aspen, so it's overpriced. I did have a good vegetable tower for the main course and that was a pretty decent vegetarian meal. Had the gazpacho soup as the appetizer, also good. It's average food at an above-average price. Suit yourself. We walked in because it was open and there were people there, which is more than I could say for most of the restaurants in Aspen during lunch hour.
This review is for the margaritas. We have never eaten here, but usually start a fun evening out at The Cantina. Their happy hour specials are good, and the tequila menu is broad. They have some very creative margs, and my favorite -- La Paloma Blanca, tequila and Squirt grapefruit soda.
Last time we were here, we saw Kelly Rippa at the corner table by the window. We can never leave Aspen without bumping into a star, but they are always down to earth in this mountain town.
I went with a huge group of friends and we were all pretty disappointed. Our per person average was about $60 and none of us even left with a buzz...I think that says it all. I know it's Aspen and everything's overpriced but COME ON, this was just ridiculous! We were a party of at least 30 and made it easy for our servers- pitchers of margs, shared apps, one check, cash only, EASY. My mouth was watering as I read about the wild salmon seared and roasted with pumpkin seeds, a cream sauce, and sweet potato fries. Yeah- give this hungry camper some food! What I got was definitely NOT wild salmon, no cream sauce (more of a tomato sauce) and the sweet potato fries were sad slivers (4, count 'em- 4 slivers) of hard sp's. Sigh. To add insult to injury, I must have had 5 margs from the pitcher and didn't even feel the slightest bit tipsy. I used to wait tables and get a stick up my ass when servers auction plates off and that happened here. Maybe I'm an anal little bitch but I just do not like this place- pisses me off when folks sell shoddy products to people, tourists or not. Take some pride in your food for God's sake. And hire decent waitstaff.
However...
Going to the liquor store and picking up a few cans of "Sparks" malt liquor, then watching the 4th of July fireworks in the park with those high-class Aspen folk...priceless!
Both drink and food was yummy. we saw fire works after. It was a great time!
OK probably sums this place up. It looks great, but the food is very average. As one other reviewer noted - drinks are not cheap. I had a margarita which cost as much as my entree ! There are lots of places to eat in Aspen - we're unlikely to go back here given the multitude of other options.
Margaritas were a bit too sweet and a little pricey. The large, one step up from house marg was $17, but contributed a buzzzzz. The carnitas were the perfect mix of spicy, greasy, meaty goodness, and a large portion (too much for me to finish). We will be back.
We waited out a pouring rain storm during dinner. I had the duck. Not the best choice. The margarita was good. I especially liked that it was close walking distance from our hotel lodge.