Much to the delight of Toronto’s taco fans, Mas Playas, the Mexican restaurant mini empire that includes Playa Cabana in the Annex, Cantina in the Junction and Hacienda on Dupont, continued its expansion during the pandemic with the opening of Bar Esquina late last year.
Located in the Yonge and Eglinton area, Bar Esquina delivers the quality Mexican fare and cool cocktails the restaurant group has become known for. The food menu features snackable starters like fresh snapper ceviche, hearty burritos with Oaxacan cheese and soft or crispy tacos with fillings like juicy slow-roasted pork or ancho-braised beef short rib.
It’s worth saving room for a slice of spongy vanilla tres leches or churros sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon for dessert.
“We worked with a great local design firm on this project, Ancerl Studio, who sat with Dave Sidhu [Playa Cabana’s owner] and really took his vision to life,” says Sandra Axelsson, of sales, catering and events for Mas Playas. “The space is a very open concept layout, full of light and loaded with natural materials,” she says.
With dining rooms closed when Bar Esquina first opened its doors, Axelsson says it felt like they were running a commissary kitchen in the early days of the restaurant’s launch.
“It has been an eye-opening experience for most of us,” Axelsson says. “We are blessed that the Yonge and Eglinton community has welcomed us so warmly and allowed us to feed the many taco lovers that live and work in the area.
8 Eglinton Ave. E.
