Appearances can be Deceiving, but in the Best Way Possible

Walking in to Round Corner Cantina, you are greeted to a few tall tables, a long wooden bar partitioning the dining area from the wall of spirits, and a bounty of natural light from the many windows, but that’s really it.  No fanciful decoration, aside from some exposed brick and artful lamps, which could have meant that I’m in for a typical if lackadaisical experience.  But my friend Camila and I are here for brunch, which of course shouldn’t be done without effort, else why even be open on a Sunday morning?

Needless to say from the heading, we turned the corner and were seated in the complete opposite of a setting to what we walked in on; it was unexpected, delighting, and definitely enhanced our experience as we enjoyed a friendly and satisfying brunch.  Moral of the story?  Don’t judge a book by its cover (or a restaurant from its entrance).  And as you’ll see with how events played out, I’m glad we didn’t.

Atmosphere

If you’ve gotten this far, you’ll probably want to know how different the change in setting was from walking in to sitting down.  It really was a 180-degree change, going from a bright and simple bar scene to a dark, intimate, and fancifully decorated cove lit only through stringed lights and residual sunlight from the entrance.  As a brunch location it really is unique, with most places I’ve experienced wanting the complete opposite in terms of atmosphere in order to keep a light and playful tone to brunch experiences.

I won’t go as far as to say that I preferred this atmosphere to something lighter and more open.  If anything, I thought it was refreshing and interesting to eat in as dark a setting as one where you just wake up in your bed with only a lamp’s worth of light.  But I certainly did enjoy the culmination of everything, from the soft Latin and pop music to the jungle like surroundings, and how it all provided an unconventional setting for brunch.

Service

I have less to say about the hospitality of Round Corner, but nothing particularly negative.  Really everything met my expectations about service from an establishment of this caliber, with prompt and courteous service as the driving force of my impression here.  As I continue to say, this is never a bad thing, just something to note that this is the standard, not the exception, when I review a restaurant.

Quality

I’ll begin this section with a very simple summary: the food is essentially bar food with some minor twists and enhancements.  Now I’m someone who loves bar food, and have frequently made really good reviews of dive bars and the like.  The only reason I mention it here is that the menu for brunch was essentially a bar food menu’s take on brunch, which meant a lot of carbs and grease.  I didn’t think it was a big negative, and as in my comments on atmosphere, the difference was more a refreshing change from traditional brunch than a large negative.  Of course, just be aware if choosing to have brunch here that your options are rather limiting if looking for something healthy to eat.

I still thought everything tasted good and was made with pretty quality ingredients.  I began with the Carne Asada Fries and a glass of mimosa; the presentation of the fries wasn’t great but the flavors were all there and the chucks of potatoes versus actual fries added a unique texture to was are essentially loaded fries.  I then moved on to the brisket hash which improved on the presentation slightly and the flavors were still consistent, but on a second visit, I would avoid only due to the over-abundance of potatoes that day.  And what better way to end the experience than with Mexican churros with a maple syrup sauce and a warm cup of coffee.  Again, presentation wasn’t all there but the warmth and freshness of both the drink and dessert was in full force.

Overall it was a unique and flavorful brunch that tapered off in the display category.  Nothing to necessarily hold against Cantina, only to note as a difference from the usual.

Value

A very affordable brunch in my opinion, and one that’s very filling.  I think the combination of unique setting and tasty food for the price really sets this place apart in some aspects, but there are definitely areas of improvement.

Rating

7.3/10

Translation

An unexpected surprise for sure, with the combination of culinary and atmospheric offerings really elevating what a place like this can afford to do for brunch!  I’m interested in coming back for their lunch or dinner menu and drinks and to see how the mood changes with the time.

Camila’s Take

Best part of the experience?

I think there’s two.  First, walking in to the restaurant I thought it was charming but small.  However, the server told us there was a larger dining room in the back.  Surprise!  The surprise got better when we walked into the dining room because it was so nicely decorated.  There’s a whole theme in the restaurant that transports you outside of the Pittsburgh you know.  The second-best experience was the servers.  While not experts in their craft, they were polite and kind, which I loved!

What needs the most improvement?

There needs to be an emphasis not just on the type of cuisine but what the restaurant is known for.  What are the specialities?  What are some go to food and drink recommendations?

What kind of place is this (who would you bring here, for what purpose, etc.)?

This is a fun place to take your friends, grab a drink, or get some food.  It’s not meant to be super cheap but it is affordable if you want to go somewhere nice without paying an arm and a leg!

Describe your meal for us.

We began with the carne asada fries because it was Saturday and I had to treat myself!  They were covered in a queso sauce, with bits of pork and diced tomatoes, and overall very flavorful!  It made me think of a version of papas bravas but with a Mexican twist.  Then I got beef tacos, which were juicy and filling!  When I mean juice, I mean it; the juice was all over my hands, but I suppose that’s better than them being too dry.  We then ordered some churros, a dessert that I’m somewhat picky about being Spanish myself.  However, these churros were out of this world!  The coffee we ended with too blew me away.  It was coffee that was brewed with care; they put cinnamon sticks in the machine to brew and voila!  Some of the best coffee in Pittsburgh and of all places at a Mexican restaurant!

Camila is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh who hopes to learn as much as she can in the business school.  Once she graduates, Camila wants to work in the nonprofit sector to make this world a better place…one delicious meal at a time of course!

Round Corner Cantina is a lovely little Mexican restaurant situated in Lawrenceville.  Serving lunch, brunch and dinner, in addition to late night drinks, they have a wonderfully twisted menu that plays on classic Mexicana dishes but with heavy American influences.  You can check out their website here: http://www.roundcornercantina.com/menu/