Cantina Laredo bills itself as “modern Mexican,” and with its upscale atmosphere and signature sauces made by executive chef Edgar Diaz, it certainly achieves this description. The Hallandale Beach location is now offering half off combination fajitas for two every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

One of Cantina Laredo’s staples is their guacamole, which is always made fresh at the table. This did not disappoint. There’s nothing like squeezed lime and avocado mixed together.

Cantina created a list of craft margaritas for Cinco de Mayo, and they had one for every palate, from the sweet tooth to the lover of tradition. My favorite ended up being the plain old La Favorita, a classic margarita on the rocks made with fresh orange juice and a cool Grand Marnier lime boat float.

The food at Cantina looked like works of art, and I hated ruining the beauty of the dish by sticking my fork in it. The tamales were a perfect example of this.

Two seasoned beef tamales brought out every color in the rainbow, as well as every taste bud in my mouth. The roasted chorizo corn and tomatillo sauce brought a much-needed burst of flavor to this popular Mexican dish.

A must-try tapa on the menu is the ahi tuna tacos, which had a refreshing addition of jicama ginger slaw and a garnish of chipotle aioli. Gluten-free diners, never fear: it’s safe for you to have this dish.

.
Although I love Mexican food, for some reason I had never tried fajitas until this day. I decided to break my old pattern of eating enchiladas and have some skirt steak.

The fajitas came out smoking hot, and the steak was incredibly tender and seasoned well. Onions and green bell peppers lay under it like a delicious pillow. Although I would have liked to have a little more seasoning in my sides of Mexican rice and ranchero beans, they complimented the overall dish.

With all this Mexican food, I wondered what Cantina’s take on an American dessert would taste like. The Mexican apple pie, sizzling in Mexican brandy butter and topped with cinnamon ice cream, offered a welcome flair to this classic sweet treat.

Cantina Laredo in Hallandale Beach is open Monday through Thursday from noon-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon-11 p.m., and Sunday from noon-9 p.m.

Visit their website, Facebook and Twitter.

 Olivia Feldman is a contributor for The South Florida Sage. Her favorite foods are anything that involves pasta and her mom’s cooking. When she’s not eating and drinking her way through South Florida, you can find her going to concerts, planning her next travel destination, and hosting her biweekly music show, “Back in Our Minds,” on Jolt Radio. You also can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @oliviafelds

The South Florida Sage – Follow on Instagram | Like on Facebook | Tweet on Twitter

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary tasting at Cantina Laredo.