Cantera

Reviews

• Chris D.

  star star star star star 11 October 2026

  So, we had the original goal of NOT eating Mexican food- after all, we had just spent more than a week trekking through Arizona and New Mexico, and what could Durango, Colorado offer us?
  
  Plenty, it turns out. After strolling down the main drag, we saw an amazing looking place- Cantera. It looked beautiful. We had to try it. And the inside was everything we hoped for; it truly is a gorgeous restaurant inside.
  
  But what about the food? AMAZING. Our best Mexican meal to date; okay, so we kind of cheated and had the queso fundido with chorizo to start with, but after that we had the enchiladas with mole sauce (SO GOOD), the birria (melt in your mouth good- never had this before!), and the piece de resistance, an amazing Chile en nogada, which perfectly balanced the sweet, the savory, and just a touch of the heat.
  
  In addition, the service was impeccable and friendly, and there was absolutely nothing to complain about. I can't recommend this place more highly.
  
  In addition, if you love tequila (aka, if you are human) they have an amazing tequila menu; not feeling too adventurous, we stuck to the heradua anejo which is always good. In retrospect, probably should have had one of the more interesting tequilas we don't get to try very often.
  
  Desert- flan was excellent, and we had another dish with cartelized bananas etc. that was also very good.
  
  TLDR- Go here. Drink tequila. Enjoy great food in a beautiful setting with spectacular blown glass and art. You deserve it.

• Lisa T.

  star star star star star 11 October 2026

  Wow! What a find! We were in Durango for a week with friends and their daughter asked us to stop by Cantera and check it out because she went to high school with the owner. We ordered the queso appetizer and shared the steak taco plate. Absolutely delicious. The attention to detail was phenomenal. From the decor to the beer glasses to the service. We highly recommend you try it. We're actually going back tomorrow before we head back to Tucson. And ask for Chelsea's section...she's AWESOME!!
  
  Okay, our second trip to Cantera was just as awesome. We decided to have the queso again but added chorizo and shared it for dinner so we could try a dessert. Our friend had the enchiladas with the creamy cilantro sauce and loved them. For dessert our friends got the flan and said it was the best they'd ever had. We had the banana crepes which were delicious. You can't miss with this place! The prices are reasonable, the food is terrific and the interior is decorated so beautifully. Something for all the senses.

• Liz B.

  star star star star star 11 October 2026

  If I had more stars I would give them. I can't believe the new menu, so incredibly good!
  
  I had the Camarones Culichi. Which was 7 succulent shrimps in a cream roasted poblano chili sauce and rice on the side. This sauce was outstanding, I've never had anything like it. I could probably dip cardboard in this sauce and enjoy it. I couldn't get enough, I tossed my rice in stirred it up and ate it with a spoon.
  
  My Boyfriend ordered the Tacos Caramelo. Which was 3 traditional crispy tacos on a bubbly cast iron plate of melted cheese. It also had some roasted onions and a green chili salsa. The cheese was a simply brilliant twist to a taco plate. You can pick up your taco spoon bubbly cheese over it top with salsa and onions it was amazing. I totally stole more then one bite of my Boyfriends dinner. He was super impressed with his meal.
  
  We both agreed this was the best Mexican meal we have ever had in Durango. The service was good, and as always the decor is cool. If you like Mexican eat here, if you haven't seen the new menu, come and try Cantera again.

• Jeremy C.

  star star star star star 8 October 2026

  This place has really made some changes. I have been back a few times and each time I was impressed. The quality of food is really impressive, the flavor, the textures, the amounts you are given all are great here. I think I might have just had a bad first experience when I wrote my first review here. They might have changed some staff also, I don't know. What I do know is that this could possibly be the go-to place for some higher end Mexican eats in Durango. I plan on going back and will get photos and write more in-depth about their food.

• Amanda K.

  star star star star_border star_border 24 September 2026

  Ambiance-wise, this is by far the fanciest Mexican restuarant I've seen. The inside is truly amazing as far as decor goes...but you can't eat the decor.
  Service was great and extremely friendly.
  Food was overly priced and just ok. The chips and salsa were the first indication that maybe it was going to be a let down. The salsa was somewhat on the tomato-paste tasting side which was a bummer. For my entree I got the spinach enchiladas and they were just ok; refried beans were a little bland. My brother got the street tacos which were super small. Like three bites small and just ok. Maybe it's because where we live Mexican and Latin cuisines are staples, but this place just left us feeling let down.