Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda, the third location of the trendy taqueria
Name: Playa Cabana Hacienda
Neighbourhood: The Annex
Contact Info: 14 Dupont St., 647-352-6030, www.playacabana.ca/
Owner/Executive Chef: Dave Sidhu, who also runs the original Playa Cabana down the street and Playa Cabana Cantina in the Junction
The Place: A two-story space crammed with Americana, including neon signs, classic movie posters and an old-school gas pump. The upstairs patio seats 85.
The Food: The menu is shorter and more snack-based than the other Playa locations, sticking to tacos, tostadas and small bites (“bocaitos”) like mahi-mahi ceviche and guacamole.
The Drinks: Tequila cocktails, including a house margarita with GTA-made Tromba Blanco, lime juice and Cointreau.
The Numbers:
• $500,000 to renovate the former Vittorio’s space
• $2,300 for the most expensive tequila on the menu, the Gran Patrón Reserva
• 55 different kinds of tequila
• 8 illuminated signs sourced from Boston, Detroit and Route 66
223368 Owner and executive chef Dave Sidhu outside Playa Cabana Hacienda at Dupont and Avenue Road (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-13/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223361 (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-06/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223358 (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-04/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223355 Old-school neon signs and other miscellaneous Americana (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-02/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223360 Coloured marquee lights above the bar (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-05/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223357 An ancient gas pump doubles as decor (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-03/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223362 (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-07/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223354 Fun fact #1: some of the light fixtures were salvaged from a shipwreck (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-01/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223363 Fun fact #2: the tabletops used to be floorboards in Gordon Lightfoot’s cottage (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-08/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223364 (Image: Cara Habayeb) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-09/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Cara Habayeb)
223365 Flor de Calabaza con Queso: seared Oaxan cheese topped with zucchini blossom–corn sofrito ($6) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-10/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
223367 Longosta Asada: tostada with lobster roe guacamole, lobster-infused chimichurri, shredded lobster and a tempura-battered lobster claw ($9) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-12/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
223371 Pastor Ahumado: smoked pork taco with pineapple-radish salsa ($6) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-intro/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-intro 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
223369 Arrachera: steak with peanut salsa and prickly pear ($6) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-14/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
223370 Fried horchata fritters in rompope, a Mexican version of eggnog with more rum than nog ($8) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda Introducing: Playa Cabana Hacienda https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurants/slide/playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-15/ playa-cabana-hacienda-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)