If you've grown up in Saskatoon or been here even just a little then you've most likely experienced Amigos Cantina just off Broadway, and if for some reason you haven't...well, shame on you! Luckily for me I have the pleasure of escaping on over to Amigos quite often, for you see I live across the street, something I surely lucked out on.
Amigos is what I call the place to be in this rather closed minded city, it has a great location in the middle of the city, awesome Tex Mex food, (to which I'll elaborate in more detail further down) and a kick ass music scene where up and coming artists come to play here often. You see what Amigos has captured in my little home town is what I call "the hardest thing to do in the hospitality world" and that is be an established restaurant that serves great food while also being an established bar where people of all ages come to enjoy great music. Sound like I'm giving them too much praise? Think about it, go ahead, try and think of another venue in this city that can give you both ALL the time. Hard isn't it? Well let me help you some, there isn't any, none, nada, zilch. Amigos is the one and only in this city that can offer you both ALL the time. Earls can give you food but rarely any music, Lydia's and Louis' can give you music but crap for food all the while Bailey's pretends to do both. Amigos stands alone and they do it well. I realize this may sound over the top, but for anyone who's tried to do both and has failed, will certainly tell you it's a lot harder than it looks. What tends to make things difficult is peoples perceptions, they either see you as "my favorite date spot" like Sushiro or " I go there for dessert" like Calories or "I go there for drinks" like the Yard, etc... But how often do you hear anyone say "lets go to Amigos tonight for dinner, drinks and then stay for Black Mountain", often is what I say and that's what sets them apart. Just thought I would point this out right off the bat, for me this is the best part about Amigos, their versatility. Now on to the food and such.
When it comes to great Tex Mex fare, Amigos is second to none, they continually dole out exceptional simple food on a very consistent basis. My girl and I have been weekly lunchers for almost 2 years now and we have never been disappointed. What stands out for me on the menu is their exceptional veggie burger, never dry, full flavor and great treat. I tend to get it with a side casa salad with sun dried tomato dressing, another quality item. This salad by the way is by far my fav in the city, the dressing alone brings my mouth to sheer salivation. They also have a wonderful cumin dressing that stands out in my mind, something my girl tends to get. When it comes to the Mex side of things, the crab Chimichanqua stands high, nice and crisp with a tasty jalapeno cream sauce poured on top. I also tend to gravitate towards the Lila Mole Fajita, (again the Mole sauce being the one that brings me back, it has a subtle chocolate and nutty quality that I surely recommend) and the chicken enchilada, layered with cottage cheese, spinach and fresh chicken. The black bean burrito also stands out for me, as well as the Quesadilla, both crowd favorites that continue to surround me while I eat my meal. When it comes to specials, nothing compares to the Almond chicken fingers, crisp, lightly breaded and a nice treat. Now the menu is great and there are even more items I could go knee deep into describing but hey where would the surprise be for ya, I say check it out and enjoy for yourself.
As for the service and the layout of the place, both come friendly and simple. There's a bar, a rather large dining room, a private room, a patio and a room with a pool table, yet again another example of how versatile they are. The servers are friendly and always attentive, they've all been there some time so getting to know their names is not uncommon. You can tell there's a great family dynamic involved, you can immediately sense a staff that enjoys coming to work which is often a quick sign you've entered into an establishment that shines. The decor is nice, black almost everywhere, some art strewn about with great sun lights overhead. The bar could use a touch up but that's nothing to sweat about, and I tend to believe that this little bit of wear and tear has added to the nostalgia that is Amigos, it's what makes it real. There's an edge and a simplicity to the place, you get a sense that there's been a tonne of stories written within the walls to which you can't help but wonder upon. The bathrooms (the men's for me personally) up until recently told you many stories as to their years of parties, graffiti and vomit stains, surely something in my mind to brag about, it means you've become something more that just Amigos Cantina, you've become a staple, a brand in the city and getting to that point means you've done something right.
In conclusion I've danced, eaten, read, relaxed, done shot after shot, and much much more at Amigos and I hope to continue for quite some time. Whether you're a fresh faced 19 year old looking to get your whistle wet or you're a wise old vet whose aching for a good meal and a simple tune, Amigos has your number, believe you me, you will not be disappointed.
later.
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