Cantina Laredo calls itself a place for "gourmet" Mexican food and rightfully so. It completely lives up to that billing. With most entrées hovering between $10 and $14, plus a vast menu filled with seafood, chicken, beef, steak, pork, and much more, it's downright impossible to not fall hard in love with this restaurant. The awesome quality is obvious from your first bite. It reminds me in many ways of that which you would find at Rosa Mexicana down in Mary Brickell Village. But no point in driving 40 minutes South when Cantina Laredo matches RM's level of excellence, stride for stride, including the table-side preparation of your fresh guacamole. Delicious! If you're able to find space for dessert, which I usually am incapable of doing, I earnestly recommend the mouth-watering Mexican Apple Pie. It's a decadent and memorable way to finish your meal, infused with a brandy butter and topped with ice cream. Right up there with III Forks as the best eatery inside the Village at Gulfstream. Major kudos for Cantina Laredo. Truly outstanding food in a well-appointed, classic-looking dining room.

- Written by Alex Grayson
February 1, 2011