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La Cantina Streatery: Osgoode’s Charming Heaven of Mexican Food
La Cantina Streatery: Osgoode’s Charming Heaven of Mexican Food
by Tina Xia
Located in the heart of Osgoode on Main Street, lies the charming hidden gem of La Cantina Streatery, an independently-owned outdoor eatery. La Cantina focuses on providing quality Mexican food in a relaxed and chill atmosphere with non-pretentious service to all. From the freshly prepared and flavourful specialities to the low and fair prices of menu items, it’ll quickly become clear to you why this restaurant does so well. On their menu, you can expect to find everything from beef tacos, burritos, and pork quesadillas to nachos loaded with either meat or chimichurri and warm, seasoned, tortilla chips, all of which is served to the sound of contagiously upbeat Latin music.
The eatery takes pride in creating all their food from scratch. La Cantina is home to two large gardens where the team grows as much as possible for use in their food. This includes tomatoes, cilantro, parsley, jalapeno peppers, cucumbers, and other staples of Latin dishes.
The eatery is also deeply focused on connecting with the culture surrounding their community; they don’t start and end as a provider of food. After lockdown, they hope to host many community events such as cooking courses, Latin dance nights, and more. The restaurant is even known for employing many local residents, especially young kids who look to the service window as their very first job.
One of La Cantina's garden beds where herbs and vegetables are grown.
Tacos!
For a high school student in the summer, a visit to La Cantina is the perfect excuse for a short road trip and a day out in the small towns of Osgoode, Kars, North Gower and Manotick. In these quaint communities surrounding the eatery, you can spend the day shopping, fishing, exploring marinas and beaches, biking, or just passing the time in the park. Grab some lunch at La Cantina, find a picnic spot nearby, and go exploring for the day! Experience an idyllic summer afternoon, while discovering foods and supporting the local scene.
La Cantina is a 30-minute drive from downtown, and 20 minutes from Bayshore with little traffic. A bike path starts at the Ottawa airport and ends directly in front of La Cantina.
Churros dipped in dulce de leche sauce. Yum!
Please don't lick the screen!
Instead, check out the map to find out where you can enjoy this delicious treat!
We were able to contact Scot Miller, the independent owner of La Cantina Streatery for an interview. We talked a little about how everything began, the effects of COVID-19 on business, the culture surrounding the eatery, and much more.
Tell us a little about how you got started with La Cantina Streatery and what your journey as an independent business owner has been like so far.
“I have previously worked for many large properties as a chef throughout Ottawa, and although there have been some great experiences in my career, I have never been a corporate yes-man and often find that quality lacks and the culinary art is lost within the corporate model. After about ten years in the industry, I knew I needed to create my own brand and operate how I believed while delivering a product I was 100% proud to put my name and face on.
It has been a work in progress throughout my career finding the right fit and gaining the knowledge needed to find my niche; I ran two restaurants in the past as well as a catering company that focused on weddings. My past businesses did well but they were not me. In contrast, everything about La Cantina feels right: I am happy at work, my passion is back 100%, and I am always working to improve the La Cantina brand while being able to chat with my clientele/friends and help in the community when I can. And of course, to eat some of my very favourite cuisine that is bursting with fresh flavours!”
La Cantina's mural, inspired by American Gothic.
How have you and your business adapted when it came to the pandemic and the changes it brought about?
“La Cantina was and still is extremely fortunate that our original design is specific to take out only. We do have a large patio, although no indoor seating. The main adaptations we needed to make for COVID-19 involved removing seating and blocking off the patio, marking off 2-meter social distancing spacing, signage for masks and social distancing, providing sanitizer and managing the crowds on busier nights.
We have been extremely busy throughout the pandemic as we have a small footprint with limited fridge space and storage, so we have been working on ways to increase production and find extra storage space. The biggest change we’ve made involved the handling of our clients vs. the city of Ottawa Bylaw services. The biggest adjustment we have had to make is in handling our clients vs. the city of Ottawa Bylaw services. We have been fined $1000+ about a month ago, and a week ago, Bylaw Services removed one of our signs only from a post containing seven different signs for local business. That being said, we feel very fortunate that we are still busy in the current situation as many other businesses in the food and beverage industry are hurting badly.”
Anything else you want to tell us about yourself or La Cantina Streatery?
“A list of what I love most about what I am doing now... I love arriving to open in the mornings between 7-8 am as the sun is coming up but there is still dew on the patio, and traditionally listening to my reggae music playlist while preparing the bulk of food for the day/evening and setting up the patio, checking and watering the garden and saying hi to the few locals out for a morning walk. I cherish these few hours before it all begins.
I am immensely proud that I can help employ others and especially some young local kids at the service window, which for most, is their first job. I love being able to give them that first step and helping them learn along the way. La Cantina's small and amazing kitchen team has fun at work and are friends beyond our profession. That, combined with the rest of our team at the window, makes me love the team aspect and the family feel of it all.
Thank you, Karen, Sarah, Tricia, Josh, Sophie, Noah and all who have worked with and helped at the Cantina!
La Cantina provides very good quality food made fresh in-house daily. Our food is full of flavour and healthy, at a very fair price, with great service in a fun, enjoyable, and relaxed atmosphere. La Cantina provides all the above out of a small 120 square foot building with limited equipment and storage on the side of a road in Osgoode, On. A town of 2500 residents and surrounded by many other great small communities nearby. That makes me proud.”
For a taste of authentic and delicious Mexican food this summer, stop by La Cantina Streatery located at 5474 Osgoode Main St. in Osgoode, Ontario and give yourself a new, exciting and delicious experience. They are currently open for take-out. Be sure to check out La Cantina on Instagram (@lacantinaosgoode) and on Facebook (@LaCantinaOsgoode) for more information.
Most photos courtesy of Scot Miller
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