Amaranto serves an authentic selection of Mexican street food staples centered on high-quality corn tortillas. The kitchen focuses on traditional techniques to prepare protein-rich fillings like al pastor, carnitas, and barbacoa that prioritize depth of flavor over unnecessary complexity. Each taco arrives garnished with fresh cilantro, white onion, and house-made salsas that balance acidity with heat. The interior space reflects a functional and straightforward approach to casual dining, emphasizing speed and accessibility for those seeking genuine culinary craftsmanship. Diners encounter a menu that celebrates the versatility of regional Mexican ingredients while maintaining a focus on core preparations. Every element on the plate functions to provide a direct expression of classic culinary heritage without extraneous flair. This establishment offers a concise journey through essential flavor profiles rooted firmly in Mexican tradition.
Amaranto is widely celebrated as an authentic Mexican gem in the heart of NDG, drawing praise for its vibrant atmosphere and consistently high-quality, homemade dishes. The birria tacos, served with a rich dipping broth, frequently emerge as the standout favorite, complemented by delicious margaritas, fresh guacamole, and flavorful salsas. While the vast majority of patrons laud the friendly, welcoming service and the welcoming decor, a few visitors have noted that the restaurant can get quite busy, making reservations advisable, and others have expressed mixed opinions regarding portion sizes and pricing. Despite some minor challenges with the entrance door or occasional service delays during peak hours, the overall consensus is that the restaurant offers a genuinely special dining experience that keeps guests returning.
Loved them on Monkland & my husband & I made a special trip to them on St. Laurent. Very nice restaurant, great staff, so friendly & welcoming. & the food was DELICIOUS. Truly authentic homemade Mexican food. We were served chips & salsa verde & a regular homemade salsa that was the best Ive ever had. We ordered the chicken tacos & it was sooo good! You can tell that ingredients are fresh, & it is made on the spot. The owner told us about the last Thursday of each month they have flamenco dancers to feel free to come by & check it out. That made us feel special & it sounds like fun. HIGHLY RECCOMMEND, will definitely return.
May 1, 2024
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The food was good, a bit small compared to other authentic Mexican restaurants we usually frequent. The service was good but the only 2 servers were slammed on a sat night. The restaurant itself is a bit small & so their menu but the overall experience was good. The seasoning was perfect.
Run by a delightful couple from Mexico City, the food is high quality, authentic, & well proportioned - 4 tortillas & you're full! Excellent service, good price point & a nice diversity. The only good Mexican & it's not TexMex thankfully! Also do takeout but not their specialty. Reliably good & always welcoming...regularly take friends fom out of town & never had a bad experience in more the many years we've been going. Highly recommend!
I would definitely recommend trying this place out simply because the food was phenomenal. The tacos with sausage = pure heaven. We're talking authentic mexican food here. The service was pretty good & there's even a section where you can buy some of their ingredients like hot sauces & etc. They didn't have alcohol, but they make up for it by having amazing specialty drinks. The decor wasn't super beautiful, but do not let that fool you. It's a great place. I will definitely come back here.
First of all I must say that I almost never write reviews of any kind. But after reading some of the comments & ratings for Amaranto on this website, I felt compelled to do Amaranto some justice. I find it hard to believe that somebody would wait 2.5 to 3 hours for their meal to be served. I think those reviewers are either grossly exaggerating or they are simply not telling the whole story. My experience was that of a fair time for meals to be served, great authentic mexican dishes & a professional & friendly service. You have to take into account that this is a small family-run restaurant. Owners do most of the work & I think they do it to the best of their abilities. Do they have the fastest service in town? Probably not, but there are some ways to get around this: you can order in advance, order for take out or simply enjoy an entrée while waiting for the main course (I´ve heard that their guacamole is one of the best, in town). The place is small, 4 to 5 tables but I think it is safe to say that in this case the size of the restaurant is inversely proportional to the taste & authenticity of the dishes. I haven't really tried other mexican joints in Montreal, but as a mexican myself, I can say without any hesitation, that the dishes are as authentic & tasteful as can be, outside of Mexico. I tried the Sopa de Aguacate (Avocado soup), Tacos de Pastor, Tacos de Carnitas, Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus tea), Agua de Chía (very refreshing kind of lemonade) & they were all very well prepared, delicious & brought to our table in a timely manner. The menu is rather small, but what they offer is made at the moment (even their chips & salsas, which by the way are also excellent), which gives it even more taste & freshness (both of these elements are essential to mexican cuisine). It is true that they have an open kitchen & the smell of food might find it´s way to your clothes, but I wouldn't say this is overwhelming. Besides, many food joints in Mexico have open kitchens. We mexicans like to see what's going on with the food we're about to be served!! They also play authentic mexican folk music at Amaranto making it so much more enjoyable!!
So, in a nutshell, take the poor reviews with a grain of salt, give Amaranto a try & not only will you not regret it, I´m pretty sure you'll keep coming for more. If TASTY & AUTHENTIC mexican food is what you're looking for with a good & friendly service, then go to Amaranto.
