Introducing: La Libre, a Yucatán-themed grill tucked behind Playa Hacienda
Introducing: La Libre, a Yucatán-themed grill tucked behind Playa Hacienda
Name: La Libre
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
Contact Info: 14 Dupont St. (behind Playa Hacienda), 647-352-6030, playacabana.ca, @PlayaCabana
Owner: Dave Sidhu, who owns all three Playa locations—Cabana, Hacienda and Cantina—as well as Korean-themed taqueria Barrio Coreano
Chefs: Executive chef Dave Sidhu and chef de cuisine Guillermo Escalante
The Food: The food at La Libre is inspired by Yucatán cuisine, which is known for its spicy, smoky and slightly tropical flavours. Almost everything is cooked over charcoal, including huachinango tikinxic, a traditional red-snapper dish smoked in banana leaves, and cecina, a type of salt-cured steak that’s dried in the sun for an hour before it hits the grill. Ceviche is marinated in sour-orange juice instead of the usual lemon or lime.
The Drinks: Margaritas and other citrusy, tequila-based cocktails, which are served in plastic cups (or by the pitcher).
The Place: Like Big Crow, the backyard barbecue behind nearby diner Rose and Sons, the former Hacienda back patio has been transformed into an entirely separate outdoor restaurant, with its own kitchen, bar and beachy, laid-back vibe. A retractable awning makes the space habitable in all kinds of weather.
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- Follow the pathway to the right of <strong>Playa Hacienda</strong> to access the side entrance to <strong>La Libre</strong>
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- The patio is decorated with distressed wooden benches painted in tropical hues
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- A fully retractable awning makes the restaurant hospitable, even in inclement weather
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- La Libre was inspired by the Yucatan region of Mexico, which has its own distinct culture and cuisine
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- Most of the menu is cooked over charcoal
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- Seafood "chorizo," made with a mix of lobster, scallop and crab, is sliced and grilled to order ($18)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- These tacos are stuffed with <em>cecina,</em> a type of sun-dried, salt-cured steak (2 for $10)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- <em>Huachinango tikinxic,</em> a traditional Yucatan red-snapper dish, is made by smoking the fish in banana leaves. It's served in tortillas with sour orange and garlic sauce (2 for $10)
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- The drinks list focuses on tequila-based cocktails
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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- The El Librador is a blend of tequila, grapefruit juice, soda and mezcal ($9)
- (Image: Gizelle Lau)
- Introducing: La Libre
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Name: La Libre
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
Contact Info: 14 Dupont St. (behind Playa Hacienda), 647-352-6030, playacabana.ca, @PlayaCabana
Owner: Dave Sidhu, who owns all three Playa locations—Cabana, Hacienda and Cantina—as well as Korean-themed taqueria Barrio Coreano
Chefs: Executive chef Dave Sidhu and chef de cuisine Guillermo Escalante
The Food: The food at La Libre is inspired by Yucatán cuisine, which is known for its spicy, smoky and slightly tropical flavours. Almost everything is cooked over charcoal, including huachinango tikinxic, a traditional red-snapper dish smoked in banana leaves, and cecina, a type of salt-cured steak that's dried in the sun for an hour before it hits the grill. Ceviche is marinated in sour-orange juice instead of the usual lemon or lime.
The Drinks: Margaritas and other citrusy, tequila-based cocktails, which are served in plastic cups (or by the pitcher).
The Place: Like Big Crow, the backyard barbecue behind nearby diner Rose and Sons, the former Hacienda back patio has been transformed into an entirely separate outdoor restaurant, with its own kitchen, bar and beachy, laid-back vibe. A retractable awning makes the space habitable in all kinds of weather.
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Went there last night for the first time – great patio vibes and atmosphere.. Ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and noticed that a single margarita was $10 – a pitcher which holds 4.5 drinks was $60. Not to sure how they came up with that pricing but $15 profit on a pitcher is steep. Food was alright – server didn’t seem excited to be there.