Reviews!

Hi! You will find here reviews about Ahora taken from newspapers and other medias. Please feel free to submit your own appreciation of our restaurant! We will put it here with the others!

A taste of the world in 2004

Of all the new joints xpress reviewed, these were standout

" [...] Ahora (307 Dalhousie Street)
While not the most authentic of Mexican restaurants, Ahora is hands-down the most non-gringo version Ottawa has to offer. If you want muy bueno edibles, the try the anafres (fried beans and onions served in a clay pot) or any of the delcioso salsas from the salsa bar. The food is ideal Mexican comfort food in a vibrant, casual atmosphere [...] "

Review taken from the "Ottawa Express"

Le Mexique abordable

Ahora, c'est tout le soleil du Mexique condensé dans un sous-sol de la rue Dalhousie. Et ça brille!

" Pas évident de rendre un sous-sol attrayant et lumineux. Pourtant ici, des tons primaires et vifs de jaune, rouge et bleu créent tout de suite vie et entrain. Si le look fait vaguement cafétéria, avec des tables sans nappes, le sourrire de notre hôte, pour sa part, respire le même soleil que les murs. On commande au comptoir, mais on vient ensuite nous servir à la table.

D'abord, en entrée, une bolée d'anafres, une purée de fèves noires légèrement gratinées, servie dans un réchaud de terre cuite. On y trempe des chips de maïs comme on trempe le fromage dans la fondue suisse. Rien d'épatant, mais c'est sympa et convivial.

Nous poursuivons avec, pour Leah, un burrito de pollo, savoureuse tortilla farcie de poulet grillé, fromage, salsa gringa, fèves noires et guacamole. Copieux sans être lourd. La carne asada que j'attaque se compose de morceaux de boeuf légèrement assaisonné, servis avec deux tortillas de maïs que l'on farcit à la manière des fajitas. L'ensemble est goûteux, surtout rehaussé d'un trait de limette et de l'un ou l'autre des nombreux condiments qui sont offerts au bar à salsa. Les deux plats sont accompagnés d'un choix de fèves, de riz ou d'une salade. Cette dernière, un frais mélange de romaine, avocat, tomate et oignon est tout à fait réjouissante.

Enfin, repues mais gourmandes, nous repartons avec des churros, éclairs fourrés de chocolat, frit et nappés de dulce de leche (sorte de lait condensé sucré), et quelques gros biscuits sablés, fourrés eux aussi de dulce de leche et roulés dans la noix de coco. Une savoureuse dose de sucre!

Peut-être pas l'endroit où l'on a envie d'étirer la soirée dans un tête-à-tête langoureux, mais assurément une formule gagnante pour qui veut manger une cuisine mexicaine authentique, honnête, et à très bon prix. Le montant d'un gros repas pour deux montera à 30$ avant bière, taxes et pourboire.

Christine Moisan "

Review taken from the "Voir" newspaper

Superior Mexican in the basement

" If you breathe in and turn sideways, the staircase almost allows for two-way traffic. It's framed with pictures of the edible possibilities below. At the foot of the stairs is a cluttered room of 40 seats.

The walls are carrot-topped, blue and red beneath. The tables are bare orange Arborite. Hand-painted words — of Mexican culinary tourism — wainscot the room: "enchiladas," "quesadillas," "tacos," "salsa," "margarita."

Last Friday night there was considerable traffic up and down that colourful staircase. It was a quieter place at a late, mid-week lunch.

Strings of red, green, and yellow chili pepper lights brighten the basement windows. Draped above the salsa bar are plastic garlands in colours of the Mexican flag. Framed ads for beer — El Sol, Dos Equis — hang on the walls. Ahora's not what you'd call a romantic joint, but it's got cheerful written all over it. On a busy night, find a table, mark it with a coat, and then join the queue at the counter at the rear. There are laminated menus — a limited number — passed from hand to hand along the line. There is the blackboard menu too, above the cash and open kitchen. Once your order is received, you are directed to the salsa bar where plastic chemist cups can be filled with pickled peppers, onions, sour cream, chunky tomato salsa, sprigs of fresh coriander and sauces of varying colour and intensities. Return to your table and your meal is delivered.

We are framed on three sides by Spanish-speaking diners. To the north of us they parlent Français. The blonde waitress speaks both of those languages fluently. She tells us (in English) that our wait will be another five minutes. The chef needs to grill some more chicken. The salsa has run out. She's chopping up fresh cilantro, filling the sour cream, slicing fruit for the sangria, delivering orders. The mise-en-place has run low and she's racing to replace it. And still, miraculously, she smiles, managing the crowd with efficiency and grace, switching nimbly from language to language as she delivers plates of enchiladas and quesadillas to these orange tables. The room has taken on the air of a basement communitv centre.

This is not haute Mexican, nor is it terribly complex — no dark moles of crushed pumpkin seeds, chilies and chocolate. Ahora serves simple, fast, fresh and flavourful Mexican food, not to be confused in any way with the gloppy, over-cheesed "Tex-Mex" cuisine.

If you start with corn chips and gua-camole, you may find the green mound very fresh, and smooth, but wish for more salt, more fire. Add some of the pale green salsa picante and witness the shock value it contributes to whatever it touches. The burrito grande, for instance, its flour tortilla filled with smoky strips of beef, black beans, lettuce, guacamole, onion, sour cream and salsa: pour on the spiced-up tomatillo sauce and you've got a wrap with major wow. The salad that comes alongside is simple but very fresh — romaine, onion, avocado, tomato in a lime dressing. Mexican-style rice and pinto beans finish off the plate. Most of the meals are available in corn tortillas, warmly exuding the smell of cornmeal.

For dessert, there are churros, fried strips of dough, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and served with chocolate sauce, or dulce de leche, or both. "

Anne DesBrisay is author of Capital Dining