Cantina Laredo: 6851 S. Gaylord St., Centennial, 303-795-0339,
The look: Large, clean, prefab design in the new Streets of SouthGlenn development. Big bar area, central VIP meeting room, scores of booths and tables. Spacious patio area out front.
On the menu: Fresh, precisely tailored Ameri-Mex cuisine. Many dishes, like the enchilada “Veracruz” and the tableside guacamole, have been practiced and perfected at Cantina Laredo’s many other locations (the chain spans 12 states, the U.K. and the United Arab Emirates), and they are safe bets. Among the staffers in the kitchen: the well-seasoned and thoroughly capable Sean Huggard, vet of Black Pearl in Denver.
The vibe: At dinnertime, loud and boisterous, with a vigorous and energetic bar crowd. Lunch is more restrained, pleasant for meetings. Servers are well-rehearsed and work hard.
When to visit: Best time is twilight, so long as you can score a seat on the patio, where the breezes are cool and the sound level is a bit lower.Tucker Shaw
