This summer I was really looking forward to the opening of a new restaurant headed by the Tres Carnales - Daniel Braun, Chris Sills & Edgar Gutierrez. After Roast Coffeehouse + Wine Bar suddenly shut down at the end of 2013, the three business partners took the opportunity to seize the space in the Mercer Warehouse and open up Edmonton's newest Mexican sensation: Rostizado.

Rostizado - Suite 102, 10359 104 Street - Edmonton AB

During my trip to the Mayan Riviera in April I managed to learn a couple things in Spanish. One of the phrases was "pollo rostizado," as it was on the menu of every single snack bar on the resort. I figured out that rostizado meant "roasted," so you can imagine how excited I was when I learned about the name of the Tres Carnales' newest venture. Roasted meat, Mexican style. Yes! Ever since my return from Mexico I've been craving good Mexican food and this was the answer to my prayers. I've probably eaten my weight in guacamole and pico de gallo since coming home, so it was time to switch things up a little.

My boyfriend and I decided to drop by for dinner a couple days after opening. Just as I had expected, the restaurant was packed on a Friday evening at 5:30 PM. We managed to snag the last two seats facing the open kitchen and had some housemade bar snacks while perusing the menu. The little dish consisted of a spicy, tangy mix of chickpeas, yam chips, corn nuts and tortilla crisps. It was salty, crunchy and super addictive. I could eat it everyday.

Although not mentioned on the menu, we ordered a black coffee ($3.50) and we were surprised to get coffee with a Tres Carnales twist. The coffee had an addition of a housemade syrup with notes of cinnamon, cloves and orange, among other things. Definitely something unique to try. 

Between the two of us we decided to split the Rotisserie Platter for 2 ($55) which featured their rosti-pollo (chicken) and rosti-puerco (pork) with a side of rosti-papas (potatoes), tortillas and salsa verde. This platter was one glorious pile of meat. The roasted chicken was tender but the breast was a little drier than I would have liked. The clear winner on this platter for me was the pork, as it was juicy, tender, and well seasoned. The potatoes were roasted with the drippings from the meats, making them absolutely delicious. The spicy flavour kick, crisp skin and tender interior made these potatoes the perfect accompaniment. The meats combined well with the fresh kick of the salsa verde, but we wished more tortillas were provided on the platter given the amount of meat.

Worried that we wouldn't have enough food, we decided to order a side with our platter. It was a tough choice but we picked a half size of the Charred Cebollitas ($7): grilled spring onions marinated in soy sauce, salsa maggi, lime juice & black pepper. The description of the onions really stood out to me and the first bite into one confirmed that we had made the right decision. The charred outer skin gave these onions a great smoky flavour, but biting into the crisp, sweet flesh was the best part. The soy-based marinade really soaked into the onions and every bite was a juicy flavour explosion.

To finish off the night we had to get the made-to-order Churros Con Dulce de Leche ($8). When I was in Mexico I always slathered my churros with dulce de leche, so these ones had a lot to live up to! The churros at Rostizado came piping hot to our table, coated in cinnamon sugar and ready for dipping into the dulce de leche. The first bite was so satisfying! The crispy exterior gave way to a creamy, chewy centre, and the caramel flavours of the dulce de leche paired perfectly with this deep fried treat. I found some pieces to be heavily coated in sugar, but that was easily remedied with a light tap. I do wish the consistency of the dulce de leche was a little thicker, but only so that I could get way more coated onto my churro with each bite. Mmm.

Rostizado is definitely a hit here in Edmonton and a very welcome addition to the downtown dining scene. The space is modern, staff are friendly, and the food is fantastic. I really enjoyed the upbeat environment, but the dim dining room allows for intimacy as well. In terms of pricing, the rotisserie on the menu does run on the more expensive side of things but they offer some great sandwich options at a lower price point that feature the roasted meats. So what are you waiting for? Get on down to Rostizado, and quick. They don't take reservations!