Our visit to this restaurant was not one we planned. We had a booking somewhere else which we abandoned due to poor service and went to Sanook Eatery but they didn’t have a table for us so we went to Cantina & Craft as it was the nearest and next best thing.
SERVICE
On arrival at Cantina we were greeted by such a cheerful waiter. The manger then came and explained that they didn’t have a table for us either; however we were welcome to sit at the bar while she confirmed another booking. Within two minutes she was back and had a table for us.
Our very charming and friendly waiter immediately came and took our drinks order and his service continued to be outstanding throughout the evening.
After sitting down I realized that it was a Mexican themed restaurant. Suddenly the staff’s uniform, the Mexican hats worn by some of the patrons, and the décor made sense. The restaurant had a great vibe with a delightful ambiance and patrons deep in conversation. I had to keep reminding myself of where I was though because I kept seeing chefs in Sanook uniform as well as other staff members from there which was a bit confusing.
Pic by: Cantina and Craft
My husband then mentioned that the two restaurants were under the same management and that if I couldn’t find anything that tickled my fancy on the Cantina & Craft menu I could order from the Sanook menu. I found that to be a great way to capitalize on the gap in the market t and the close proximity of the two restaurants.
Pic By: Cantina and Craft
It would however serve them well to re-look the sitting arrangements as the tables are too close together and as a result it becomes very noisy that you struggle to hear the person next to you. Even the wait staff struggled to get to some tables with the food because of the limited space between tables.
THE FOOD
Our drinks arrived on time. I had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon while my husband enjoyed a glass of original house frozen margarita to kick off the night. The restaurant has a wide variety of drinks from tequila, wine, cocktail, craft beers and ciders. Milkshakes also make an appearance on the menu.
We had a starter of smoked chicken wings meant to be served with smoked chilli hot sauce or sweet chilli mayo and sweet potato shavings. However our wings were accompanied by onion rings and there was no explanation about the deviation from the menu. Despite that hiccup, the starter was enjoyable.The wings were juicy and tender and I could taste the smokiness of the sauce and the wings.
Smoked chicken wings
For mains I ordered a Mexican stand off burger with a salad. What a tasty burger! The burger patty was tender, well-seasoned and complimented by the queso fresco guacamole, salsa and coriander.
Mexican stand off burger with salad
My husband had the Mexican steak which is strips of beef fillet served with grilled pepper and avo, refried beans on a taco topped with chimichuri sauce. This was an awesome dish and he particularly enjoyed the refried beans. He was so happy with his dish that he didn’t even want to have dessert, lest he spoil his main course experience. It felt like Mexico on a plate, he said.
WHY VISIT THEM
They offer authentic traditional Mexican food including quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, burritos and nachos, offering the customer plenty to choose from. If you are looking for variety and delicious food in East London, this is the place. And you definitely feel like a valued customer. Well done to Cantina and Craft for providing such a wholesome dining experience.
Location: Beacon Bay Crossing, Bonza Bay Road, Beacon Bay, East London