El Catrin

Name: El Catrin
Address: 18 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5A 3C4
Telephone: (416) 203-2121
Price range: CAN$31 to CAN$50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

5204 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Mexican

Top tags:

Reservations are booked for indoors only. Seating time will be limited to two hours maximum.

Please note, during the Distillery Winter Village November 17th to December 31st, there are limited reservations available. Please call 1-416-203-2121 or email us at reservation@thedistillery.ca for any further inquiries or questions.

Located in the Distillery District, El Catrin pairs an ambitious, wide-ranging, tapas-style menu with Canada's largest mezcal and tequila collection. El Catrin has built its reputation as one of the most celebrated restaurants in Toronto by offering transportive dining experiences, serving traditional and modern Mexican cuisine in a lively and award-winning atmosphere.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 65 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Mexican
Hours of Operation
Mon–Wed, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Thu 11:30 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–12:00 am
Phone number
(416) 203-2121
Website
http://www.elcatrin.ca/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Please contact directly.
Private party contact
inquiries@thedistillery.ca : (416) 203-2363

Location
18 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Neighbourhood
Distillery District
Cross Street
Parliament & Mill Street
Parking Details
At the Distillery District, parking lots are accessible from Parliament and Cherry St. Nominal parking fee.At local municipal lots: 65 Trinity Street | 44 Parliament Street
Public Transit
- 65A Parliament Bus stop at Front St. - (walk one block South to Mill St.)- 504 King East Streetcar at the Distillery Loop- From Union Station: Walk 7 minutes North on Bay Street to King Street; board the 504 King East Streetcar and ride it to the Distillery Loop.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

What 5,204 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Toronto
Mexican

5,204 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined today
overall3food3service3ambience3
The food was decent but very expensive, perhaps because of location. Not worth the price for the amount of food served. Better Mexican restaurants close by.
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HJ
HeatherJ
New York Area
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall3food4service4ambience4
It’s a fun bustling atmosphere and the food is tasty, but honestly it’s a bit tired inside. The floors, walls and bathrooms are showing a lot of wear. At 5:30 pm the bathrooms were already quite dirty with wet counters and full waste baskets. The plating of the food showed no flair. Service was very quick and friendly.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
2.0
8 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall2food1service3ambience3
Chips were bland. Guacamole is fresh, but needed salt and lime. Mahi mahi ceviche needed salt and fish ground instead of cut which made it taste like cat food. Flautus were so crispy and chicken was sweet. We all left feeling bloated from the GMOs and oil used. Not as good as it used to be
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The ambiance was bustling but intimate. The food was amazing from the fresh guacamole to the tacos and Margaritas! An experience worth the cost, will be returning in the future with friends.
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T
Tina
Naples
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience5
Marg flights were delicious! Our server did a good job with recommending food and drinks.
Is this helpful?
N
Nicole
Toronto
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
Good food, tasty drinks and very cool atmosphere. Was a little disappointed with the Birria tacos. Was expecting it made the normal way
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DF
DFFF
Toronto
5 reviews
vip
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
Bad representation of mexican food not authentic and overpriced, servers not overly aware
Is this helpful?
s
shubhi
Toronto
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
All good!food was good and seating was good. Ambiance is romantic
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S
Song
Toronto
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
Ok food but incredibly overpriced. $30 for 3 eggs is just too much. Won’t be back.
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D
Dana
Toronto
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The service was exceptional. I haven’t received that level of service in recent memory. The food was tasty. We shared all dishes and had some to take home because portion sizes were respectable.
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NH
NadaH
Toronto
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
Excellent food.friendly staff.lively ambience Recommended for a group gathering
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SD
SharonD
Toronto
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent guacamole - made at the table and a generous portion for 4. Great margaritas and mojitos. Server was very friendly and attentive
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BB
BrendaB
Toronto
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have dined here 2-3 times a year over the past few years and have always enjoyed the experience. Yesterday’s lunch was exceptional, great service and food.
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RN
RN4babies
Toronto
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome food, drinks and service. Will def be back!
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LP
LindaP
Toronto
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall2food4service1ambience3
The service was very poor. Our waitress went awol several times and when she did come to the table she wouldn’t give us even a minute to talk so things kept getting missed and we had to keep asking other restaurant staff to bring us things because we couldn’t see our waitress. It was frustrating and to top it all off your hostess told us to leave our table at 7:15 pm while we were still eating dessert. What kind of restaurant tells you to leave at a certain time when you are a paying customer still eating your dinner? It was very upsetting and although the atmosphere and food were good we will never return minor recommend your restaurant. So disappointed
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was our first time eating at the restaurant. The food was excellent and Carol our waitress was fantastic. An amazing ambiance meets us at the door. Definitely will be returning soon.
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JP
JoshuaP
Toronto
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience3
The menu is super limited. None of the regular Mexican dishes. Just tacos and plates of food that dont sound good. Last time I mixed and matched my tacos this time they said they don't allow that.
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JO
JOJO2017
San Antonio
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
We sat on the patio. It was a lovely sunny day and we sat for a couple hours enjoying the day with a couple pitchers of margaritas that were pretty much perfect. We ordered guac at the table- perfect! Table side salsa- not great, almost creamy- did not enjoy that at all. We ordered four different kinds of tacos- fish were delicious, pastor were dry and lacked flavor, birria were outstanding and finally the potato tacos- not memorable, nothing bad just not memorable. Michelle was an excellent server. She was funny and got us everything we needed and even though she was busy she still has time to chat. There was a very nice guy helping bring out food and he was very nice and helpful. I have to say that the hostess, however was not friendly or welcoming- that is her job. She really needs to work on smiling and greeting people. She didn’t say anything when we left either. Just watched us walk out. That’s just dumb- thank people for coming or tell them to have a nice afternoon. That’s just basic hospitality. Overall a pretty much perfect day. Thank you.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall4food2service5ambience4
No refleja nuestra gastronomía mexicana, no deberían poner reggaetón para nada es tipico de México. Las bebidas.som deliciosas, el servicio es bueno y rápido. Recomiendo las tostadas de pulpo son deliciosas
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KV
KurtisV
Toronto
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall1food2service3ambience3
I had not been to El Catrin since before the pandemic and was reminded why during this visit. I effectively paid $211 for salsa, 8 small tacos, 4 drinks and 2 desserts - that is not a valuable meal. Worse, the Pastor tacos, typically my favourite when I eat mexican, lacked flavour; the octopus had no flavour whatsoever. I would not return until pricing reflects more value and the kitchen's attention to detail improves. That said, the lamb was good.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Love this restaurant! Food is amazing and always a great atmosphere!
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TS
TimS
Ottawa
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always great food here! Chips and salsa and guacamole are fantastic as they make the guacamole at our table. We had baja and spicy pork tacos as our meal with churros for dessert! Fantastic!
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L
Lucy
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
The vibe is amazing. My fav spot in the Distillery by far!
Is this helpful?
N
Nathalie
Toronto
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Loved the Ambience and the food was awesome, fresh and good quality. A bit expensive.
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NK
NatashaK
Toronto
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service exceeded my expectations, first time visiting. Will be back for sure.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
great service, great food, overall amazing experience. definitely will come again!
Is this helpful?
DE
DuyguE
Vancouver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The margarita flight is a must try! And the Baja tacos were great as always…
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JR
JeffR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We sat by the fire & enjoyed a variety of tasty tacos. And I would recommend that watermelon appetizer
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J
Jill
Toronto
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
menu had a good variety with an extra brunch menu; server was very helpful in making recommendations. One server took away our unfinished app from our table by mistake but it was promptly replaced with a new one. Quesadillas were pricy for what they were but they were tasty.
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M
Marie
Toronto
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food, beautiful, vibrant atmosphere, and lots of vegetarian options.
Is this helpful?
JB
JaniceB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
El Catrin is such a cool restaurant with a fantastic menu of food and beverages. The staff are so friendly and helpful. The guac is fantastic and freshly made to order. Every dish we tried was packed with flavour. I want to go back soon and take other friends who haven't yet experienced it. Such a gem! Janice
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Pittsburgh
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
The experience and atmosphere were wonderful. The service was also tremendous and we really enjoyed the drinks. The only negative was that the food was average. The guac and salsa were delicious but the tacos were mediocre with little flavor. Overall great experience and would go back and try different menu items.
Is this helpful?
RS
RickyS
St. Louis
90 reviews
vip
5.0
90 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a fantastic dinner! Came on the day of the dead, the staff were dressed appropriately for the event, and was able to get a table at the bar for a quickly. Mehal made some excellent recommendations for trying various tequila and Mezcal. Would highly recommend the Birria tacos and the salsa is made fresh table side for you! For my first trip to downtown Toronto, this restaurant was absolutely fantastic. Will definitely be back the next time I travel abroad.
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LC
LucianaC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was amazing! Excellent food, the drinks are awesome!
Is this helpful?
SG
SorayaG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food, the service and the ambience is amazing. I have been there 3 times, I love this place
Is this helpful?
A
Auroraresident
Toronto
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing. Best Mexican food in the city. Great selection of tequila
Is this helpful?
T
Theodore
Detroit
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service, and our meals were exceptional. The ambiance and decor made it even nicer
Is this helpful?
HN
HelgaN
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
It's a very nice area ... But the prices have gone up on everything.
Is this helpful?
AR
AnnR
Toronto
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
Our server was fantastic but unfortunately the vegetarian options were disappointing. The only choice for tacos was sweet potato and they were deep-fried, with no other toppings on them (bland and not very healthy). My wife has a lot of dietary restrictions and she was sick after our meal. We also had a pitcher of margaritas and for $95, we were hoping for something more authentic and with less ice. The hot sauces were excellent (loved the charred habanero), but not great value for money, unfortunately. We were hoping to return during the holidays but have decided to go elsewhere instead.
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JR
JessReanne1
Toronto
6 reviews
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall2food5service1ambience5
Service was horrible from the moment we walked through the door. Had a reservation booked weeks in advance, yet the host didn’t seem to know where we were sitting and left us standing at the door for nearly five minutes with zero communication or explanation. Just to be brought into the restaurant and then asked to pick a table. Once we were seated, our server was horrendous. Made zero attempt to connect with us, or strike up conversation, was sloppy/careless when pouring drinks, or bringing items - splitting/dropping items and not seeming to care or apologize when done. She was also dropping and spilling on the other tables/guests surrounding us with the same lack of care. Although the food was fantastic, there are many great Mexican restaurants in Toronto - Will not be returning!
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Contactless payment available

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

El Catrin is rated 4.5 stars by 5204 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 65 times today

18 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4

Additional information

Cross Street
Parliament & Mill Street
Neighbourhood
Distillery District
Hours of Operation
Mon–Wed, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Thu 11:30 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–12:00 am
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
At the Distillery District, parking lots are accessible from Parliament and Cherry St. Nominal parking fee.At local municipal lots: 65 Trinity Street | 44 Parliament Street
Public Transit
- 65A Parliament Bus stop at Front St. - (walk one block South to Mill St.)- 504 King East Streetcar at the Distillery Loop- From Union Station: Walk 7 minutes North on Bay Street to King Street; board the 504 King East Streetcar and ride it to the Distillery Loop.
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.elcatrin.ca/
Phone number
(416) 203-2121
Private party facilities
Please contact directly.
Private party contact
inquiries@thedistillery.ca : (416) 203-2363

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

El Catrin

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Menu

What 5,204 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising

Screening

FAQs

How is El Catrin restaurant rated?

Is El Catrin currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day