The Bottom Line
Velvet Cantina Mexican restaurant is heavy on ambiance without compromising on the food. Service is friendly and efficient, and the fresh-lime margaritas can be made to taste. The Cantina is a tasty addition to the Mission district, and to San Francisco's list of Mexican restaurants.
See also Best Margaritas in San Francisco
- Great margaritas, fresh lime juice
- Clubby, cozy ambiance
- Good guacamole, nachos and enchiladas
- Convenient Mission location
- Quiet and comfortable in the early evening
- More crowds on weekends
- Second dining room not quite as atmospheric as the bar room
Description
3349 23rd St. (between Mission and Valencia)
Telephone: (415) 648-4142-
- BART Station: 24th Street
- Muni Station: Church & 24th Street
- Muni Bus Routes
- #14 Mission
- #26 Valencia
- #48 24th Street
- #49 Mission
- #67 Valencia
- Trip Planners
Guide Review - Velvet Cantina Mexican Restaurant
Sacrilegious though it may be to utter these words in San Francisco, one thing I miss from my time in Los Angeles is the family-style, clubby Mexican restaurant -- like Lucy’s and El Cholo in Hollywood. There is no dearth of exceptional taquerias or Mexican cuisine in S.F. But there aren’t quite enough places like Tommy’s and Tia Margarita where you can get a built-to-spec margarita and sink into the darkness of a booth with a juicy enchilada.
Velvet Cantina in the Mission comes close to that ambiance, with a menu that's a cut above standard family fare. The interior is perfectly dim and red -- cozy on an early week night, boisterous on the weekend. The Cantina has two dining areas, the coziest being near the bar with huge booths and a view toward the bartender who knows how to mix.
I love my margaritas on the sour side. It wouldn’t seem that difficult a request, but my idea of sour is obviously much more tart than most people can tolerate. Great bartenders take pity and give me pure lime juice and simple syrup on the side. The bartender at Velvet Cantina did one better and actually mixed the sweet/sour ratio perfectly, with fresh lime juice and just a touch of sweetness.
The guacamole was creamy with a touch of spices. Enchiladas – chicken and avocado-cactus – were flavorful without all of the requisite grease. Nachos are loaded with beans and guacamole, and an option to add chorizo or beef. If that’s not enough to sop up the tequila, Velvet Cantina has s’mores made with tortillas for dessert (S’mores Nachos), a tempting but admittedly daunting prospect after a meal this big. Next time.
2007 - Prices, items and events are subject to change. Always check with venue directly for information and updates.
