Introducing: El Catrin, the Distillery District’s new Mexican restaurant
Introducing: El Catrin, the Distillery District’s new Mexican restaurant
Name: El Catrin Destileria
Neighbourhood: Distillery District
Contact info: 18 Tank House Ln., 416-203-2121, elcatrin.ca, @elcatrinca
Owners: John Berman, Mathew Rosenblatt and partners
Chef: Olivier Le Calvez, who moved to Toronto from Mexico City a month ago
The Place: The former Boiler House space has been given a mod-goth makeover with heavy black chandelier-style light fixtures, wall-mounted glow-in-the-dark skulls and a kaleidoscopic floor-to-ceiling mural by Mexican street artist Oscar Flores. Tables on the 190-seat enclosed patio are arranged around a fire pit.
The Food: Tacos, burritos and tostadas, served tapas-style, plus starters like Serrano-spiced guacamole and watermelon-tuna ceviche. Heavier dishes include 24 hour–braised pork brisket and mole-braised short ribs.
The Drinks: Spanish, Portuguese and South American wines, sipping tequilas and cocktails like the Pepino Diablo, a mix of tequila, muddled cucumber and Serrano peppers and agave nectar.
The Numbers:
• $200 for a shot of Clase Azul Ultra Extra Anejo, a premium tequila that’s cellared for five years in sherry oak barrels
• 6 weeks for Mexican artist Oscar Flores to complete the skull-covered mural on the restaurant’s back wall
• 4 different margaritas on the cocktail list, each available by the glass and pitcher
• 1 candle-festooned, Baja-style altar by the bathrooms
• 1 spirit available: tequila
Read More
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- The former Boiler House space was given a gothic-style makeover with heavy black light fixtures, a floor-to-ceiling mural and lots and lots of skulls
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- From above: the main-floor private dining room, decorated with glow-in-the-dark skulls by Mexican street artist Oscar Flores
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- A private dining room on the second floor landing
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Oscar Flores took six weeks to paint the floor-to-ceiling wall mural
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The enclosed patio seats 190 and has a central fire pit
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The patio bar
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Serrano-spiced guacamole ($6)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- A classic mojito ($8/glass, $32/pitcher)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Tuna-watermelon ceviche with habanero mignonette ($8)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Cactus salad with onion, tomato, cilantro, radish and tequila-lemon vinaigrette ($8)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The Pepino Diablo cocktail (translation: Cucumber Devil) combines tequila with muddled cucumber, Serrano peppers and agave nectar, and is rimmed with Tajín, a tangy, chili-based Mexican seasoning powder
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Foie gras tostada with mezcal-mango syrup, poblano and red onion relish ($9/person)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The Mayahuel cocktail (translation: Goddess of Alcohol) with tequila, Jägermiester, agave nectar, lemon juice and ginger beer ($12)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Shaved pork taco with pineapple, cilantro and chopped onion ($14)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- A lime margarita sweetened with agave nectar ($10 glass/$42 pitcher)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The Fuego Sandia cocktail (translation: Watermelon Fire) with tequila, St. Germaine, watermelon juice and lemon
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Black mole–braised short ribs with sweet potato purée ($14)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The Zarzamore cocktail combines mezcal with orange liqueur, muddled blackberries and cilantro ($10)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- Sugar- and cinnamon-dusted churros with a trio of dipping sauces (chocolate, caramel and strawberry) ($6)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- A coconut cocktail made with coffee-infused tequila, Amarula, coconut water and lemon ($11)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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- The patio by night
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: El Catrin
- Introducing: El Catrin
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![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/el-catrin-toronto-restaurants/&title=Introducing: El Catrin, the Distillery District’s new Mexican restaurant&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/el-catrin-toronto-restaurant-intro-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_224981" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Image: Gizelle Lau)[/caption]
Name: El Catrin Destileria
Neighbourhood: Distillery District
Contact info: 18 Tank House Ln., 416-203-2121, elcatrin.ca, @elcatrinca
Owners: John Berman, Mathew Rosenblatt and partners
Chef: Olivier Le Calvez, who moved to Toronto from Mexico City a month ago
The Place: The former Boiler House space has been given a mod-goth makeover with heavy black chandelier-style light fixtures, wall-mounted glow-in-the-dark skulls and a kaleidoscopic floor-to-ceiling mural by Mexican street artist Oscar Flores. Tables on the 190-seat enclosed patio are arranged around a fire pit.
The Food: Tacos, burritos and tostadas, served tapas-style, plus starters like Serrano-spiced guacamole and watermelon-tuna ceviche. Heavier dishes include 24 hour–braised pork brisket and mole-braised short ribs.
The Drinks: Spanish, Portuguese and South American wines, sipping tequilas and cocktails like the Pepino Diablo, a mix of tequila, muddled cucumber and Serrano peppers and agave nectar.
The Numbers:
• $200 for a shot of Clase Azul Ultra Extra Anejo, a premium tequila that’s cellared for five years in sherry oak barrels
• 6 weeks for Mexican artist Oscar Flores to complete the skull-covered mural on the restaurant’s back wall
• 4 different margaritas on the cocktail list, each available by the glass and pitcher
• 1 candle-festooned, Baja-style altar by the bathrooms
• 1 spirit available: tequila
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By far, the best Mexican restaurant in town for now. Great venue, patio, ambience, food, chef and décor. Definitely a must.
had a great meal there last night with my daughter before heading to Soulpepper. fantastic food, service and great atmosphere! i haven’t been this excited about a restaurant in a while! we ate pescatarian and had plenty of choices!
Went to el- Katrine in the Distillery, Ambience was great , great and great , Food bad , bad bad meat was dried out , very small portions , service could be better, will go again for the ambience and drinks only , hope the service improves