Taqueria La Nacion: Viva el retro chic photo: Joseph Yarmush

The tables by the door feel perkier thanks to the ample light from the window. There's more of a loungey, shadowy feel in back, where a large TV is surrounded by low chairs upholstered with a retro white, red and blue squared pattern. I think I had pants like that as a kid. ("I can't believe you admitted that," my so-much-younger sister said. Her date smiled.)

La Nacion feels like a family-run joint, but wait - all the staff are roughly the same 20-something age. What gives? Turns out the owners are three amigos who met while living in a downtown apartment building, two Mexicans and a Québécois. All the tenants would gather in each other's apartments, cook together, gab, and ponder the future. They dubbed the building "La Nacion," and when the three brave men decided to open a public space for the meeting of minds and stomachs, they hired their mates. "Of course we had to call the restaurant La Nacion," one owner said as he told us the tale.

After we ordered our brightly coloured margaritas, along came fresh hot tortilla chips and red and green salsas - the latter a bit salty, neither too fiery. I'd seen the Michelada on the menu too late - beer livened up with dashes of salsa and lime. Before you make the same sort of face the sib did at the idea, think of Caesars. This is a similar concept, but much tastier. I'll be back to try theirs.

It's a taco-heavy menu, with good reason. All tacos are served on small corn tortillas handmade on the premises - I love these guys for insisting on that small but oh-so-important touch of quality, for understanding and respecting the foundation of all things taco.

We choose toppings of cheese with nopales, i.e., prickly pear cactus leaves, and the emblematic al pastor, which is marinated pork. We upgraded our order of spicy chicken tacos to a platter to try a soup and rice and beans. The tortilla soup was a nice, light broth, with crisp tortilla bits and cheese; the rice was a bit generic, but the black beans firm and salty.

Of the tacos - all good - the nopales stood out for their healthy sprinkling of coriander leaves and generous melt of slightly rank-tasting cheese.

Our waitress had also recommended steak and cheese tacos, but we felt we should try another format. Enter the sincronizada. Two flour tortillas are "synchronized," one atop the other, to form a round sandwich filled with hot cheese and soft rib steak. Mmm. The table's fave.

La Nacion has an all-you-can-eat deal for groups of 15 or more: $12.50 plus tax gets you a smorg of appetizers and mains, after which you can request more of your favourites. Sounds like a good deal, easy for the kitchen, and lets you sit back and enjoy the game.

Taqueria La Nacion
1850 Ste-Catherine W.; 514-931-2956
Dinner for two, not including tax or tip: $15-$25

 
 

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50-50     Some things I loved, some things I didn't like. I'm putting this restaurant in the "let's try again before making an opinion" category. First off, the ambiance is a million times better than at Carlos and Pepe or Three Amigos (*shudders*). There is ample space between the tables, the decor is both cheerful & lounge-ish, yet not overstuffed. There is a big screen tv in the bag to watch soccer, and some armchairs where a trio of young musicians started some lovely jazzy-gyspy music as we finished our dinner (impromptu jam session? Artists paid by the resto?). The music which played before they came on, though, jarred with the context: it was modern, loud techno-ish. There were 2 spicy salsas on the table (green, red) with some tortillas. My friend and I ordered cheese and chicken versions of the same dish (with red salsa), though there was an error with my order, and I ended up with chicken too (had to send it back, being vegetarian). The waitress appeared more annoyed than apologetic about this. The extra guacamole, though offered in a tiny portion, was to _die_ for. Oh my, the lovely mix of tomatoes, avocados and onions was so delicious, I could have eaten a bucket of it! The main dish itself was _much_ too spicy for me and my friend, though the accompanying rice and beans were pretty good. Maybe next time I can ask them to tone down the spice for a wimpy customer like me? I had a really yummy drink, a Hidalgo (orange juice, lime, rum I think...) which was very refreshing. The waitress kindly suggested a non-alcoholic bottle of sangria for my (pregnant) friend, who really loved the taste and ordered a second. So all in all, I'm unsure yet about this restaurant. I loved the decor, space, guacamole and cocktail, but didn't enjoy the fiery main dish. The waitress alternated between helpful & indifferent/resentful. The too loud modern music jarred with the setting yet the trio of musicians later on was great. I'll have to try it again, I guess!
Geneviève Hunt	{1 vote}	August 17th, 2006
From a Mexican to whom it may concern     I arrived in Montreal some 15 years ago, and have tried every mexican restaurant in this city. I had forgotten the tastes ive encountered here. There are a couple of decent mexican restaurants around Jean-Talon, but the downtown scene is ridiculous. That guy that says that a mostly taco menu is too monotonous most like 3 Amigos for their kebabs or their pizza. Come on. Its insulting for us mexicans when people think that enchiladas should be like 3 amigos's. The first and only time I went there I took one bite from my enchiladas and lost my appetite. And the drinks taste like water, only in a big colorful cup. No wonder there are never any mexicans eating at 3 Amigos, only gringos that dont care what they are being served as long as it looks like a fiesta. There are always mexicans at la nacion, because nobody does tacos like La Nacion. Its like stepping into any Taqueria in Jalisco, Mexico. The smells, the sounds of the people, the music, its like traveling back home. They even have Trompo of Pastor (spicy pork). Nobody in this city has the Pastor on a rotating machine, only them. All the salsas and tortillas are homemade, you can taste it. They even have different Mexican sodas I had forgotten existed. Even Sidral (apple soda). And the prices are the most reasonable of any mexican place downtown. They have the best and cheapest enchiladas, and always are coming up with new specials. Ive watched the world cup there, but also the uefa champions cup, the mexican soccer league, nhl, nfl. Its a great way to go to Mexico and save on the plane ticket.
Luis Garcia	{50 votes}	July 8th, 2006
Not By A Longshot!!!     For my money, and in the downtown area, there is no Mexican food that comes near to equalling the quality offered by Three Amigos. True, the atmosphere leaves much to be desired - as it is constantly overflowing with people at all hours and the noise level is wicked and hardly relaxing, which I detest. That being said, the quality of their fish and beef in particular is far and away incomparable. Try the yummy, succulent beef fajitas or salmon prepared with mango. You will become a true convert, as I have. The menu is vast and over the years I've sampled many, many different dishes, including the numerous chicken and vegetarian ones, always accompanied by friends, always delighted with their dishes, and always anxious to return for more sampling. A menu, by contrast, of " 100 ways to do tacos" is of little attraction or interest to those who know food.
Joyce Ostroff	{22 votes}	July 7th, 2006
Continued Disappointment     from below Our dinners arrive. Despite the fact that you mark your order on the menu with a pen at La Nacion, my friend's order is incorrect. Yes, after the pork, chicken, spicy conversation, she is given two tortillas sandwiched with cheese. We have no place settings, but I have shrewdly held onto my soup spoon. My friend orders me to eat. With mock excitement she says, "I can't wait to see what they bring out next!" After a moderate wait, her dinner arrives. We ask for cutlery. The waitress grabs one of two sets from a nearby counter and gives it to my friend. I stand up and take the other set for myself. Although my friend's meal is an error correction and surely delivered to the table ASAP, the food is lukewarm. Another waitress passes by and I ask for more salsa, making sure to request the salsa verde in addition to the one we were given earlier. The waitress returns with four bowls of salsa on her tray, two large and two small. We are, of course, given the smaller portions. I have 8 years experience waiting on tables and a good understanding of how difficult the job can be. I always try to be friendly with servers, patient with mistakes, and tip well regardless of what happens. What my friend and I experienced, I think, was complete indifference on the part of the waitstaff. The restaurant did not seem very busy. I've been there before, so I wasn't expecting a fine-dining experience or anything. We tried to communicate with them in English and French (neither of us speaks Spanish very well), but they didn't seem very concerned with anything we had to say. Maybe they're used to dealing with rude customers, or they're over-worked and under-payed. I really don't know, but I probably won't be going back any time soon.
Jason Hendrickson		July 14th, 2007
Disappointment     I've been a fan of this place since moving to Montréal fall 2006. I go there about twice a month. Two weeks ago I had a friend in town who wanted Mexican, so La Nacion was the place to go. The result was one of my worst restaurant experiences ever. -My friend wanted to order a syncronizada combo, one spicy pork, one spicy chicken. First the waitress tells us there is no spicy pork, but there is pork. We're confused, but I figure they've run out of the spicy marinated pork. My friend asks if there is some sort of spicy sauce that can be added. The waitress answers no. Hmmm...no spicy sauce of any kind in a Mexican restaurant? My friend gives in and orders the porc syncronizadas but asks if one could be chicken instead. The waitress says no. Apparently it would be too difficult for the cook to ladle chicken into one tortilla and pork into the other. To drink, I ordered horchata, my friend ordered water. After waiting over five minutes, I am told that they are out of horchata. My friend is given a CLOUDY glass of water. Nevertheless, I ask for water. Our soup is delivered. We had asked for chipotle soup, but are given the same thing I get when I ask for tortilla soup. We have no silverware. Our waitress is bussing a table nearby so I ask for spoons. She says okay, then picks up her tray, walks over to another customer's table and starts bussing theirs. Our soup grows cold. I go to the back of the restaurant, find the waitress who delivered our soup and asked for spoons. She says okay. I sit down, and watch this waitress do everything but get spoons. Another waitress passes and I ask her for spoons--oh and some chips because we haven't been given any. Eventually we are given spoons, then chips and one salsa (usually I get two, everyone else seems to have two), and finally I get a glass of clear water. We give my friend's glass a stir to see if it has cleared. Nope.
Jason Hendrickson		July 14th, 2007
Taqueria La Nacion     Three Amigos, Carlos and Pepe`s, and other simlar mexican restaurants in Montreal do tend to focus on decoration more than authentic cooking. However Taqueria La Nacion sounds like the place to have genuine mexican dishes. Their menu offers a variety of foods for all tastes at a very reasonable cost. Its Ste-Catherine location will surely help raise clientele and although there is competition in the area everyone loves to try new places. I for one will definitely give Taqueria La Nacion a try!
Sophie Verville	{2 votes}	July 19th, 2006
Finally a decent Tex Mex Place in Montreal     Lets be honest , there are alot of Tex-Mex eateries in the city that offer us nothing but Garbage. Its getting so bad its not even worth making at trip anymore considering there are so many other types of cusines the city has to offer. However I have to give credit to La Nacion for providing a renewed faith in Tex-Mex food. I have been to La Nacion a handfull of times and frankly there isn't anything really bad on the menu , it seems to be all good. My only complaint is it takes such a long time to get the food from placing the order to into my teeth. My only other complaint is their menu selection is sort of like ordering sushi where patrons are offered a pencil and then forced to write their selection, nonetheless the staff is helpfull if you dont understand the items. Despite these two irritants the detour is show worth the wait. Their Tortillas with the nice salsa are just fabulous and free. More importantly the prices are unbelievbly inexpensive & worth the trip whether alone or with a bunch of friends, or a cheap date :)
Kamlesh Patel	{3 votes}	July 14th, 2006
Attention Please!!     Most of what is said in this articles is true.. the food, the place, the vive.. Definitely the best in town for a Mexican place. But, your attention please!! the author of the article has forgotten to talk about the fourth owner of La Nacion! Ana Maria Gomez! A Colombian girl who gives the feminine touch to the place, who's charisma, good taste and trained palate in the kitchens of the D.F and Bogotá brings to La Nation a fresh and sophisticated flavour to home cooking!! Don't forget, to the Cesar what belongs to the Cesar.. In this case Cesarina, who with out a doubt is the soul of La Nation!!
Gloria Calderon	{8 votes}	July 11th, 2006
Did Someone Say Tacos?     I like Mexican food, especially tacos, so when I read this week's food article I was glad to hear that there was a spot in Downtown Montreal that serves good Mexican food at a reasonable price. There are way too few Mexican resto in our city's core and most of the ones that are there are sub-par at best. I've eaten at Carlos and Pepe's which was ok and I haven't yet eaten at Three Amigos but I will eventually. However, in the meantime, La Nacion seems to be a good choice. Although there was no mention of tacos with ground beef, the steak and cheese tacos and the sincronizada both sounded tasty. I hope that these menu items are available in platters because I'd like to try the soup and beans. This sounds like a decent place to check out (as far as salsa is concerned, I'd only eat the red 'cause the green doesn't sound/look right to me).
Basil James	{5 votes}	July 8th, 2006
Business first and decor limited!     THis was a really cool story on how the three friends started out the busines. Only thing I have to say here is , that is is nice to have a place that is clean and comfortable, but you don't want your customers to stay long. The whole profit is made when they come in eat and leave. Then other customers can get a table and also eat. if you have them using up your tables and watching TV on the big screan you are going to sell less meals.
Maria Cecillia Silva	{5 votes}	July 8th, 2006
Sweet....     Move over Carlos and Pepe and 3 Amigos, we got a new player in town. Hand-made tortillas for the tacos signal a commitment to quality that one can only equate with love for authenticity in cusine. Other bonus points go for making the joint a lot more intimate and inviting than the brash and noisy environments of other Mexican restos + that incredibly sweet group-meal deal will have me campaigning for Taqueria La Nacion to be the gathering place for any big laid-back business meetings or more personal celebratory affairs!
Mark St Pierre	{5 votes}	July 8th, 2006
Areeba! Areeba!!     I love Mexican and I always want to find out where in Montreal you can get these items. I've done the 3 Amigos, Casa de Mateo, La Fiesta and Mesa 14, and recently , I've been in search for more restaurants of this type. This place must be pretty new, cause I've never heard of it, or seen it around. I think I'm going to have to check this place out soon, since the food sounds different and pretty cool. It's not the generic type of Mexican food we're accustomed to. I will definately have to see this place in action.
Meghna Patel	{4 votes}	July 7th, 2006
Will go for the food and drinks     Reading your article made my mouth water thinking of all the spices in food and all the margaritas I can sample. Numbers work against new restaurants starting up for the first time in this city. But the genesis of La Nacion seems to suggest the passion that these enterpreneurs have which is a key in success of many. I for one, will support them this summer for I have a date to impress a lady with a taste for Mexican cuisine but with a passionate hatred for soccer! I guess we will go after the World Cup!
Daudi Saidi	{6 votes}	July 7th, 2006
Long live the Taco     Taqueria La Naicon must be a labour of love for the owners and as a lover of Tacos and all things Mexican I feel I have offer all of my support for an establishment that takes the time and consideration to make there own taco shells. This shows not only attention to detail but a real love of food and a respect of the authentic way things should be done. I am on my way there now to celebrate the worlds finest fast food the humble yet great Taco.
Sam Heath	{7 votes}	July 7th, 2006
Tacos, tacos, tacos!     Strange that the Hour only did review on this restaurant recently considering that this restaurant has been around for almost a year, if not more. Anyway, that's beside the point. I have been meaning to go to La Nacion for some time now especially since it's right across the street from my usual downtown Mexican eatery. However, compared to places like 3 Amigos and Carlos & Pepe's, this place seems to have a more authentic look (and according to the review, more authentic-tasting food). I am definitely curious about the Michelada and I am eager to try that sincronizada. That, and an all-you-can-eat deal for groups of 15 or more sounds like a great Saturday afternoon lunch with friends.
Angelo Baaco	{6 votes}	July 7th, 2006
Can't wait to try it out!     I have walked by this place soo many times! I have always been curious if the place was worth going to. It's hard to tell from the outside if this is a real Mexican restaurant or a 3 Amigos type disaster. And honestly, one of the major reasons why I have never ventured in because of the area the restaurant is in. There is something about that end of St-Catherines that just screams dirty. Not to mention that it seem to be a business graveyard down there -- something opens and 6 months later it is boarded up. Now that I have Maeve's trusted opinion on the place I will wait no longer! I plan on taking sister who is a resident of Mexico and her Mexican boyfriend there to test the authenticity of the food!
Kara Hughes	{9 votes}	July 7th, 2006
La Nacion!     I actually went to Taqueria La Nacion a few weeks ago on a whim. I was walking down St. Catherines and noticed it, felt hungry and went in and am now gratefull that I did. We went during the World Cup and actually got to catch some of the recaps of the games on several of their big screens. It was a lively atmosphere with people cheering on, even though the games had played earlier in the day. The thing that did impress me the most was the service. The people were SO nice and friendly and accomodating. The person that I was with had been to an authenthic Mexican restaurant in Mexico no less, a few weeks earlier and asked the people at la Nacion if they had a specific dish. They didn't have it on the menu, but since they knew exactly what it was, they agreed to make it for him anyway! If that isn't service, I don't know what is. The whole meal we were trying to figure out if all the people were related to each other. We couldn't tell, but it definetely felt like a family. Even more, the food a La Nacion is pretty great. It is more authentic than the stuff that you would get at 3 Amigos or Carlos and Pepes. Some of the stuff is really spicy so beware. As a tip, don't chew gum right after because it feels like it ignites your mouth. This is a great place, with friendly services, reasonable prices and a fun vibe. Do yourself a favor and check it out when you get a chance!
Reena Tabing	{5 votes}	July 6th, 2006
~Feast or famine~     Oh, who's kidding who here? The majority of downtown Mexican spots would make the Taco Bell Chihuahua laugh and he knows something of cheap cuisine. This city has got some great Mexican restaurants but you won't find many of them in the downtown core. Commercial quasi-Mexican cuisine designed to snag the tourists sure but actual make your mouth water genuine spicy goodness? Forget it. Taqueria La Nacion is possibly one of the few places downtown that I'd recommend to people looking for a good rich Mexican fix. I'vev eaten there a few times and the service is steady and friendly and the ambiance is relaxed and homey. The food is, well, just that damn good. I don't care what you order there because you won't be let down. There's much better in the city but in the downtown core this is one of your few good choices.
Pedro Eggers	{12 votes}	July 6th, 2006
Not the regular tex mex....     this place sounds great, and not too expensive. i am a regular at carlos and pepes and enjoy their tex mex junk food but this place sounds like a notch above that and a little more authentic. i admire these young entrepeneurs for taking pride in the food they serve up....i will definetley give the place a try, i have always wanted to try tortilla soup and their's sounds like it would be done well. hopefully they have a good dacquiri....:-)
Livleen Rehal	{9 votes}	July 6th, 2006
(((My Two Cents))) - Taqueria La Nacion Should Do Great     After reading this article, I see myself going with more than 15 people to Taqueria La Nacion in the very near future. A place that actually offers an all you can eat Mexican buffet is surely at the top of my list. Not only that, but the place itself sounds very chill. There are a myriad of Mexican restaurants in Montreal but in general they are all the same. They're all a little fancy and attempt to recreate a Mexican-like environment. However, Taqueria La Nacion sounds really chill. Go with some friends in a place under the sun, eat some delicious Mexican food while watching the soccer game. Honestly, great prices and an awesome environment; you cannot ask for too much more!
Zachary Masoud	{4 votes}	July 6th, 2006
Taqueria Si!     La Nacion seems to cater to people like me trying to find a restaurant that is pretty affordable in the downtown core without sacrificing the quality of the the food. Places such as Three Amigos and Carlos & Pepes, ideal to let the good time roll, just don't hack it with their food. The abundance of the Tex-Mex crap in the city is not only scary but it gives Mexican food a bad wrap. I like places that take a certain specialty and run away with it. If Taqueria La Nacion specializes in tacos then tacos I say we eat! I am only worried that a place la taqueria La Nacion will face great competition so it will have to fight hard to survive. I personally love Maria Bonita and El Sombrero but I will give La Nacion a try to find a place to go downtown.
Ronny Pangia	{7 votes}	July 6th, 2006
Viva Mexico     I love Mexican food and am always on the lookout for an authentic restaurant. This place sounds pretty authentic and not too pretentious. I like the sound of a homey atmosphere with homemade tortillas. With such an array of tacos where do I begin. All of them sound great but I guess I will start with the steak and cheese. Can't wait to try this place out, it definitely will be a treat. I like that all you can eat deal, now I just have to wrangle up 14 friends to get it.
Ryan Lobo		July 31st, 2006
A Friend From Long Ago...     I never went to the restaurent but I personally know one of the owners, and if he dose it like he allways did well IT IS the best mexican food on St. Catherine. I wish you and the rest of the gang a super success and for shure that if I am in Montreal in the next few months I know where I'll be eating. I like it extra spicy !!!
Jesse Roberge	{1 vote}	July 24th, 2006

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