Come for a drink. Stay for the food.

Round Corner Cantina

After another LONG week of work, a couple of us decided to have a few drinks at Lawrenceville’s Round Corner Cantina.  After a few drinks and the best chips, salsa, and refried black beans that we have had in Pittsburgh, we decided to stay for dinner.  By 7pm on Friday night, this place was PACKED!  Seating is first come, first served, so be prepared to swing some elbows to get a space.  The three of us were cozied up to the bar, but with tasty drinks in our hands, we didn’t care much.  There is also a big room with 4-top tables in the back and a large back patio that I imagine is just lovely in the warmer months. They have a long list of tasty cocktails and lots of good beer on tap. A few of the drinks that the folks I was with tried and liked very much:

                Carnation: vodka, ginger beer, cranberry, and lime

                Dark & Stormy: rum, ginger beer, and lime (this was the favorite)

Dinner was as good as the drinks.  This was by far the best Mexican I have had since moving here.  It is nowhere near your greasy, run of the mill Mexican restaurant.  Everything was fresh and simple- yet really, really tasty!  They had a good handful of veggie options on the menu, with more than just beans!

Papas Gratinadas: sweet potato, chipotle, and queso Chihuahua

Tacos De Seitan: seitan, avocado salsa, onion, radish, cilantro

They were both great dishes.  The papas tasted like a really supped up scalloped potatoes and surprisingly were may favorite part of the meal.  They were hearty and warm on a cold night.  The tacos were super fresh and light.  I never pass up an opportunity  to order seitan and this place did it well.  The proportions of everything in the taco were just right- fresh radishes, cilantro and onions covered in an avocado salsa with the cubes of seitan.  Nothing not to like with this dish.

Overall, this place was a homerun.  It was the perfect Friday night destination.  The first time I was in this place was a few weeks ago when I was waiting for a table at Picollo Forno and I am glad we found it. This is for sure a place I will frequent.

Round Corner Cantina’s Final Grade: A

roundcornercantina.com