Head to the Texas Embassy Cantina for some hearty Tex-Mex food in a relaxed setting.

The Venue
Just a short walk from Trafalgar Square, the Texas Embassy Cantina is in a handy location for a long meal following some city centre sightseeing or with the aim of fuelling a few hours at the nearby National Gallery. The huge ground floor room can seat quite a few people - mainly at wooden tables in the centre, though a comfortable booth-style seating area is also available near the bar. The high ceilings, exposed brickwork, and ceiling strewn with colourful lights give the venue a relaxed and airy feel.

The Atmosphere
With the traditional music adding atmosphere yet remaining at a low enough level as to not impede conversation, the room fills with the buzz of contented customers chatting over their food as others enjoy drinks at the open plan bar. Service is happy, friendly and efficient.

The Food
Upon arrival each table is presented with a complimentary plate of crispy corn tortillas. Served with a fresh, piquant and very tasty tomato salsa, the first round is on the house and each additional one is £2.75. For those who aren’t watching their waistline the flautas (£7.55) are a delicious (if rather rich) choice of starter. These chicken and cheese tortillas are deep fried and presented with a homemade guacamole. That old favourite chilli con carne (£4.95) is surprisingly fresh and tender with a hint of spice that complements the cheese topping. Soft tortillas are included to mop up any leftovers.

While the starters are pretty big, the mains are huge, typically Texan-sized portions. Luckily (considering the size of the portions) asking for a doggy bag isn’t frowned upon here and may even be recommended. Tres Amigos (£11.25) are three chicken, beef and black bean tacos which can be ordered either soft or crispy. The chicken is succulent and spicy, while the beef is less impressive but perfectly agreeable nonetheless. Although the black bean taco is quite heavy, the chopped onion mixed into it offers welcome refreshment. The dish is served with rice and a large pile of full-flavoured refried beans that are much better than the usual canned example. The rib platter (£16.50) is heaven for carnivores – a double whammy of baby back ribs and barbecue sauce offered with sweetcorn and a choice of fries, mash, or salad. Whilst the sweetcorn unfortunately doesn’t taste very fresh, the rib sauce has a deliciously sweet and smoky flavour.

Sadly the desserts are disappointing, the sizzling apple pie (£5.50) being far too floury, and tasting seriously undercooked, with an apple centre that seemed to have absorbed the flavour of the pastry and bland vanilla ice cream. Although the fresh, tart flavours of the key lime pie (£4.95) offer a welcome contrast to such heavy starters and mains, the dessert as a whole is underwhelming, and the pastry suffers from having the same floury taste as the apple pie.

The Drink
The house Spanish Pleno Blanco Bodegas 2006 (£12.50 a bottle and £3.50 a glass) is a perfectly agreeable, easy-drinking white that provides a good balance to the spicy food. The rest of the wine list is reasonably priced with the most expensive bottle costing a mere £21. A selection of Texan-inspired cocktails – margaritas are their specialty – start from £5.75 and the usual Mexican and American beers (from £3.50) are also available, along with a long list of around 25 to 30 types of tequila.

The Last Word
Texas Embassy Cantina is friendly restaurant in a good location where the portions will satisfy even the hungriest Tex-Mex fan.

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