Canyon Cafe
2 Plz Frontenac, Saint Louis, MO, 63131
Canyon Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2 Plz Frontenac
Saint Louis, MO, 63131 - Phone (314) 872-3443
- Website https://www.canyoncafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Tina S.
We wanted dinner outside on a patio and this was the place for us this evening. Our server Roseanne was very attentive and friendly. I thought I would try the "Best Margarita in St Louis", hmmm not sure who gave them that title, it was nice but the best........ My friend likes meatloaf and the bison meatloaf quickly caught his eye. It was served with two big slices of meatloaf on a bed of mashed potatoes and a huge heaping helping of vegetables. Let say that my friend did not talk to me for a good ten minutes while he devoured his vegetables..... VERY VERY GOOD. I ordered the Vegetable pasta with chicken. Holy cow, I love it when the vegetables are visible, and not your typical vegetables I had asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, slices of red and green peppers, roasted tomato half and black beans mixed into the pasta. The chicken was a nice compliment to the pasta. We were very pleased with the food, and service, drinks... that is why I gave them 4 stars and not 5.
(4)Deborah D.
Well we went on a Thursday this past week. My boyfriend and I had never been. We tried it because quite honestly we had a COUPON! Didnt know what to expect price-wise. It wasnt toooo bad. Somewhat pricey... I totally agree about the salsa and chips. I had no ideal what i was eating , but man they were good! I was careful on eating the blue and red ones but they were goood! Our food was really good. I got the chicken quessedilla and boyfriend got fajitas. NOT BAD AT ALLL! Great food! PLSU they allowed me to substitute french fries forthe slaw. WHEW!~ The nicest thing was the manager come over to our table and was asking how we liked our meal and socialize. SO COOOOOL!!! OH AND THE BATHROOMS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!
(5)Vazz Z.
I am confused why Yelp calls this "Tex-Mex" or "Mexican" when it's not. It's more like a Southwest/Native American/Tex-Mex food. The restaurant has a nice, casual atmosphere-- there are wonderful Native American and Southwest artworks hanging on the walls. The free starter (tortilla chips) is absolutely DELICIOUS. The desserts are so good, too. I've tried a few on the menu and they were great. Food is very expensive, so don't come here unless you don't mind spending a lot of $$$ on a good meal.
(4)Ashli H.
I love this place. The food is consistently delicious and the service is on point. My boyfriend and I drove down from Chicago for the weekend and coming here was a must. I got the veggie fajitas as per usual and he got the shrimp fajitas. The chips and salsa are also unique and we enjoyed the white chocolate almond treat at the end of dinner.
(5)Julie V.
Came here for a happy hour with friends. The staff couldn't wait to get us out of the place even though our idea of happy hour is catching up quietly, ordering lots of food and drinks and tipping generously. The food we got wasn't bad but we never got another drink order after that. When we requested desserts the server just sighed annoyed at us and never came back with the round of waters we ordered. Too many good places to go to than to go back here.
(2)Anthony S.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars for Canyon, I'd say a solid 3.5. I've never had a bad experience and the food is pretty good but I'd saw for the price the food should be better. The margaritas are great but again the good ones are pricey. I feel like there is a 'Frontenac Tax' going on here that is boosting the prices somewhat vs if they were located somewhere else. With all that said, we do come here every now and now and we have a good time and good food in a nice atmosphere and I wouldn't turn people away from coming here..its just a little expensive for what it is.
(3)Mike S.
The salsa and homemade chips were awesome. The bison and fish taco special was incredibly tasty. Quick service and attentive server were key to us getting our food on time. I would eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)Brett W.
Canyon Cafe is located at Frontenac Plaza so you think it would be good but no. It is s hot mess. Very disorganized and lengthily waits for very mediocre food. I don't think I could justify eating here again was not worth waiting for. Taco Bell would be quicker and better at 1/10 th the price.
(2)Melissa C.
I'm really growing to like Canyon Cafe. The first neat thing to me is the chips are different from most places, they have a different mix of chip types in them. I'm not sure what's all in there but they're good! I also enjoyed the margaritas. I did not have just a house margarita but unfortunately without a drink menu I cannot remember what it was called. For dinner I chose 3 tacos, each with a different meat and each very good. My gluten-free husband has the carnitas and loved every bite. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Overall it was a good experience. I'm looking forward to going back!
(4)Kay X.
After leaving the movie theater I was ravished and tired of being gawked at like a Unicorn (that's a mythical creature); so I needed a drink STAT (shortest turn around time)!!! Frozen margarita, sugar no salt please. It didn't taste like the typical strawberry purée...fresh strawberries were definitely used & I immensely appreciated it! If you've been here then you know the drill; in five minutes or less you receive fresh salsa and on all accounts the BEST chip mix in the land (any land, including but not limited to Middle Earth, Pony Ville, Panem, Westeros, Hogwarts, Tatooine, Land of Oz and Pandora). This may not be a white tablecloth restaurant but just like them when there is a Chef specialty there are no substitutes! Having dinner at some of the aforementioned places I totally understand the reason. Substitutions can really mess with the integrity of the vision and above all Chefs want to be consistently consistent. So what does that mean? I ordered what I knew I could handle with no changes and I was particularly pleased. I had a trio of street tacos, which were chicken honey hot sauce w/ mango fruit salsa, blacked fish and veggie. I upgraded to a platter that included black beans and rice. Totally tasty and totally fresh! Each taco had a charming mix of flavor, color and texture that were on full display with careful preparation. Our waitress was Stacy and she was helpful and attentive. I made sure to ask her to relay my compliments to the Chef and that everything was delightful. The manager came over and I had to reiterate how awesome the meal was and that I didn't even need the side of sour cream and guacamole that I requested. The food and drink was so good that I temporarily paid no mind some repulsive comments and the stares we received in the dinning room as if brown people eat differently but it was more of a what are "they" doing here stare (more on the entitled & exclusionary vibe I always get at this mall in my Frontenac review). I even ordered my favorite soup to go (Poblano chicken chowder soup) and it even came with extra chips and salsa!!! The only reason this is not a five star review was because a large party came in and instead of making sure the group had room, the staff tried to cram them all together. At one point there was a man so close to me that our arms touched (no bueno).
(4)Vince H.
Stopped in for lunch after a long morning of shopping. The chips they give are awesome and freshly cooked. The salsa is homemade but I wasn't a big fan of it. My wife had the fajita wrap and said it was the best fajita wrap she had ever had. I had steak fajitas and they were ok. Nothing was wrong with them, I just wasn't a big fan of the flavor/seasoning. Presentation was nice. My kids had the quesadillas and they were very happy with them. The waiter was attentive and very nice. I would definitely give the restaurant another try, I 'lol just make sure to try another dish.
(4)Warren C.
I think proximity wise, I'll never get closer to eating Tex-Mex next to a Saks Fifth Avenue. The food was decent, and there is a large variety and assortment on the menu. As far as mall food goes, this is pretty much as good as it gets. I had the carnitas and enchilada combo, which I would say is slightly above average. Service was fast and friendly. My margarita tasted similar to Country Time lemonade, otherwise everything else was great.
(4)Stacy H.
Generally, I am an eat local type of girl. And also generally, I am more of an authentic type of girl, as well. However, Canyon Cafe gets five stars from me! This place is a small chain restaurant. They do sort of a mexican/tex mex situation. You can go more or less tex mex because they menu offers options. They start out by giving you some chips and salsa like you may never have tasted before. The seasonings are amazing, and some of them are even sweet (like a sweet potato chip thrown in there amongst the corn chips). I always get a margarita (as a general rule, everywhere). I have tried their "limit two" margaritas, and may I say that they should probably be limit one, because they are verrrrryyyyy alcoholic. The regular house margarita is great as well. Then, I like to order the fish tacos! They are so good and have crunchy shells. As odd as it seems, Canyon Cafe sort of makes the usual side dish of rice and beans into part of the main event. Their beans and rice as so good, I could simply eat those and be content with life! You get a lot of food here, and my caution is to not try to eat it all--box some up for later--or else you could just keep eating and eating because it is so delicious! (Personal experience talking!)
(5)Rose L.
This is my favorite tex-mex restaurant in Saint Louis. I get sort of sad when I stroll past it during non meal times when I'm shopping at Frontenac and know I can't go in and eat. Canyon is busy and a little loud, so keep that in mind when visiting. There is a full bar you can wait at if tables aren't free when you come in, and they even have TVs with sports games on. You can sit there and munch on chips and salas and order a marg, and honestly sometimes I think I just want that to be my meal! I have no clue what the chips are made out of (at least one of them is sweet potato (I know what you're thinking, but you have to try it)) and the seasonings on them are phenomenal. The menu has lots of variety, and while I try to order something new each time I always end up ordering the same thing: Pancho's enchiladas. Sometimes I can convince myself to order the portobello quesadilla, which is also amazing. I think the food turn around time is about average, but if you have a drink and chips in front of you it's hard to mind the wait. Here is my absolute favorite thing about this place: I always see a manager. He's always walking around talking to tables, checking in with the waiters, and even helps clear plates. I worked in restaurants for years and I often wished I had a manager like that - most just sat in the back office and worked on scheduling or comping bills of unhappy eaters. These guys take the restaurant seriously. If you're looking for a place with good service and management try Canyon!
(5)Kimmy N.
I love canyon cafe! It's one of the better tex mex restaurants in the STL area! My absolute favorite is their chips and salsa! the chips are super crunchy! They have really good salads! My favorites are the southwest cobb salad and the blacken chicken & avocado salad! Every time I'm at frontnac this is a must stop by place!
(5)P M.
Ordered the rather expensive Carnitas Platter which by definition is PORK. Not at this restaurant where I was served chicken. Brought it to the attention of some guy who appeared in charge, he didn't seem to care. Will never return here!!!!
(1)Jennifer T.
Love this place! Not only is it in a swanky location such as Frontenac Plaza. Its decor is quite unique as well with the Modern Southwest vibe. Don't let the location fool you though. Need not dress to impress here. Shorts and nice t's are perfectly acceptable! Instead of giving you regular chips and salsa, they make fresh daily three kinds of chips and serve them with their made daily salsa (though its almost more like a mole sauce!) The free unlimited chips are awesome! Tortilla chips (blue and yellow corn), Sweet potato chips, and wonton like chips with some having a wonderful sweet/spicy seasoning. HELLO YUM! For drinks I ordered the Orange Beso margarita. Don't be fooled by the price of $12. They bring you the shaker and its nearly three full drinks! It was a great choice for sitting out on their awesome outdoor patio. Not too sweet, not too sour, and just strong enough to have the tequila linger on your palette. For dinner I chose a daily special: Chorizo and steak quesadilla with a side of slaw. There were four decent size pieces. Everything was very fresh. That was my favorite part. The flavors really melded together and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The slaw was great on its own, but I also added some a top of my quesadilla bites for a bit of fresh crunch. They have terrific looking desserts, but I was just too full from the chips and half the quesadilla to try any! I need to remember to come here more! For SURE!
(5)T. Lee S.
Heavy mall food. Don't be fooled. Margherita ' s aren't bad. Service is mediocre. Tried it twice. Won't be back.
(2)Rosa C.
A great place to sit at the bar and watch the Cardinal game while eating dinner. Friendly staff. Good service and good food. Fish tacos are great. Happy hour is a bargain, lasts until 7 pm.
(5)Aaron B.
Canyon Cafe has an amazing happy hour. Eat at the bar and I believe it's 1/2 price (or discounted) beers on tap and appetizers. Be warned, this is no slow happy hour. It's a happening place and you might have to be aggressive for bar space but it's well worth the effort. I went with 2 other friends so it wasn't hard for the 3 of us to find a spot but much bigger than that might be difficult. I'd recommend getting there earlier if you have a larger party. The chips they give you are soooooo good. They have these special ones with this amazing seasoning words cannot describe. It is sweet and unique...mmmmmmm....you will fight for these so it might be worth paying extra for a bowl full of them. I recommend getting their loaded nachos. Can't go wrong with those. I would love to go back here for a meal but their happy hour is a lot of fun and great deal. Enjoy!
(4)Debbie R.
I had previously given this place four stars but an experience we had tonight is unforgivable. My 18 yr old son is a very picky eater. He ordered the burger and asked for it to be plain and on a plain bun. Easy enough. We joked that they would probably screw it up - and they did. The burger came out with cheese on it. We immediately told the server that he had ordered it without cheese. She asked - is it because of a food allergy? We said no that he just doesn't want cheese. I told my son that they would probably scrape off the cheese, flip the burger over to hide the evidence and bring it right back. And that is exactly what they did. Horrible! They messed up and then did this to fix it? Not sure I will ever go back with that kind of service.
(1)Meg H.
The chips they serve are everything and more. YUMMMMY. What a fun take on chips. The salmon Caesar i had was not good, salmon was weird, and there was barely any dressing. My madre had the mushroom quesadilla she really liked her food. Service was very busy for a Saturday around 130pm, but we did get in and out pretty quickly which was nice. Hostesses were no where to be seen, stood awkwardly at host table for a good couple of minutes before being greeted. All in all, it was ok, but for being at Frontenac I think you have a lot of better options for a lunch while shopping.
(3)Christy M.
If I'm craving Mexican food, Canyon Cafe is my go-to! I've eaten at Canyon Cafe several times since I discovered it a few years ago. Their food quality is amazing every single time. Service is usually very good, though sometimes can be a miss...like if they are crazy busy. I love their chips. They are a combo of sweet potato chips, tortilla chips, and sweet chips that are absolutely delicious. I seriously would come back only for the chips, even if I liked nothing else. Fortunately, that is plenty more to like. For main dishes, I love their chicken avocado salad, salmon, caesar wrap, and fish tacos. Yes, it is a little pricey but I am willing to pay a bit more for quality. My fiancé and I are now fish taco snobs...anywhere else we try them, they are never as good as Canyon's. So I'd rather have something I LOVE and pay a few extra bucks than something that's just OK for a bit cheaper. I love to check out their daily specials and usually end up ordering off of that. It's varied and always delicious, which makes coming back fun for semi-regulars like me :-) I've yet to do their happy hour because it is crazy and busy in that area at that time. I hear it's amazing and I really want to do this someday though...just another excuse for me to go in, right?! If you live in the Lou, this is a must go. I was sad I lived so long without it once I went there.
(5)Greg G.
Short and (not so) sweet: Fantastic drinks. Terrible food. So-so service. Go for drinks, but eat somewhere else. Seriously, it's awful. This place has really gone downhill over the years. Brett W. is absolutely right when he says Taco Bell is a step up. Nice atmosphere, good drinks, lousy food, not-so-great service.
(2)Manny R.
First time eating here. The staff was very helpful and the hostess very cordial. Clean and appealing eating area. Menu has something for everyone. The three types of fresh chips and salsa is the best around town. The food was as expected. The food reminds me of Chevys restaurants in Cali. After a couple of hours of shopping this place fits your eating and drinking needs.
(4)Jonathan S.
Excellent tex-mex style restaurant. Quick service. Chips/salsa are great. For how good a restaurant it is, it's surprising it's in a mall.
(4)Rommel C.
Pretty good food. The chips and dip are the best I've ever had. The food is terrific. I recommend their street fish tacos.
(4)Barry B.
I ordered a steak (CHILE-RUBBED SIRLOIN) that was supposed to be medium: it was on the rare to raw side when it arrived. There were dark grill marks on one side, but not the other side. OK, better under done than over done. The real problem was we could not find our waitperson. I told my wife to go ahead and eat. Our waitperson did not reappear until my wife was done eating. The person asked if we were done. At that point it was too late to send the steak back, so I told the person yes. I would have expected the waitperson to ask if there was something wrong with my steak since I had only eaten two bites off one end and one bite off the other end. The waitperson however said nothing. If this restaurant wants to expand its space by placing tables in the mall area, they need to insure that waitpersons are available to properly cover those tables. In this case they completely failed at that.
(1)Tracy D.
Don't let the mall fool you. Canyon Cafe does good food. I liked them before and now even more so! Canyon Cafe is doing a new dish called "Street Tacos" and I am totally hooked! They are fresh, full of delicious flavor and they won't break the bank or your diet. You get a choice of 3 for $12...nice! Each taco has a wonderfully prepared meat along with some light salad or fruit preparation on top to enhance the meat flavor. My favorites are the bison, carnitas and the crispy chicken, in that order. However, I have tried them all and none of the options were poorly done. I haven't had a different dish since they came out with the street tacos...and I have no plans to try anything else. I feel like rarely can you eat Mexican food and not feel totally stuffed and bloated at the end. This is how you can do it right. If you get the platter for just $2 more, you can get rice and beans and a nice jicama salad along side your tacos. Their chips and salsa is pretty tasty, too. The salsa has a nice sweet roasted flavor and the chips usually come out warm. I have to pace myself or I am full before my tacos come out. And I love, love, love the end of the meal when they bring out the white chocolate wrapped in the corn husk. Yum! the perfectly sweet ending to a delicious and not over-the-top meal. Thank you, Canyon Cafe. Now off to the Frontenac Cinema for a nice independent film. :-)
(4)Anna B.
As far as the food goes, pretty average Tex-Mex, but they have some extra flares that really add to the dining experience. Their chip basket is really the standout. They make them fresh and have a few different delicious varieties. Normally I pass on the chips, but you can't miss 'em here! And they bring them out to you still hot. I got this Naked Chile Relleno this time which was OK, a little greasy and not as spicy as I was hoping, but I love the spice. Service was a tad slow but the atmosphere and the chips kept me happy. Also I love how at the end of the meal they bring you a little piece of white chocolate in the corn husk! It's little touches like that that take Canyon Cafe from 3-stars to 4 in my book. Plus they have something for everyone on the menu! Definitely worth a trip or 2, especially if you are in the mood for southwest cuisine.
(4)Jason G.
Had the Top Shelf Margarita and it was great! Have eaten here on a couple occasions and the food has been delicious. The stuffed chicken breast is a must have. The service has always been very attentive and helpful, making suggestions and checking to make sure everything is great!
(5)Dee F.
I absolutely love this place. All of the food is good. The chips and salsa are the best around town. The limit 2 margarita is very smooth and it only takes one.
(5)Patt C.
I met a girlfriend for lunch. Our server was quite attentive. The chips and salsa are tremendous. The chips are the same unique chips, but the salsa has changed, and I like it better. It's got a little kick, and there are tomato chunks (not pieces) in it. Yum! And we got our own saucers of salsa, so we didn't have to worry about double-dipping. She got the Grilled Vegetable Pasta ($11.95) -- Angel-hair pasta tossed with spinach, black beans and grilled vegetables in a garlic soy sauce. The vegetables were zucchini, winter squash, portabella and asparagus. I got a a special salad advertised on the standard at the table: Spinach, Pecan, Pear and Shrimp in a light balsamic viniagrette that was just perfect for the ingredients. She gave me her portabella and a spear of asparagus that I cut into the salad, which was a bounty of baby spinach, red onion, red pepper, avocado, pecan pieces, thinly sliced pear strips and small breaded-sauteed shrimp. The salad ingredients were cut small enough that I could get a good bite of nearly everything in one forkful. I like that! Gives a better idea of the chef's inspiration. We both had another meal in our recyclable to-go vessels, and our server gave us each a to-go beverage for the road.
(5)Leslie S.
Went for my first lunch-time visit. Definitely 5 stars. Great patio area. Tables outside are 4-tops, so if you have a larger group, you'll like have to wait until two tables area available to push together. First come, first serve. You can also eat inside at a table looking at toward the main mall hallway. Decor is very Southwestern and makes me nostalgic for Phoenix, AZ. Here's what we ordered. Everyone enjoyed their meals quite a bit. See posted pictures: 1) Chips and salsa (complimentary) 2) Buffalo Crawfish & Shrimp Wrap (for the health eater in our group) 3) Desert Fire Pasta w/ fresh jalapenos and Jalapeno Gravy (for the spicy eater in our family) 4) Chicken Flautas - This was my lunch, and I can't recommend it highly enough! 4 chicken flautas in red and yellow shells comes with rice and beans. 5) White chocolate w/ nuts (I think?) - Complimentary at end of meal
(5)Bernadette C.
I have NEVER had a bad meal here - one of my all-time favorite St. Louis restaurants and I have been going here with my family since I was a child. They have the most amazing chips and salsa (the chips have this smokey seasoning and the salsa is a little sweet), their Pablano Chicken Chowder is incredible and I always have to decide between their meatloaf and their Pancho's Enchiladas. Finish everything off with a Rico Rita (which are limit two margaritas - strong stuff) and a piece of their chocolate truffle pie, and you are in heaven. Additionally, the staff have always been friendly and helpful - and the manager, Laura, is always stopping by to make sure your order is perfect. Love love LOVE and will return again and again!
(5)Tian Q.
One of the few personality characteristics I inherited from my (hella) asian parents is the love for free things. And I absolutely LOVE Canyon Cafe's complementary and amazing assortment of flavored chips along with their homemade white chocolate. They don't just give you free shit. They give you QUALITY free shit. As for the rest- food all taste great (especially the fajita) and come in large portions. No problemo with the service. Nice/spacious atmosphere in Plaza Frontenac. Ruv it.
(5)Kathy M.
We needed to be at Plaza Frontenac and needed some lunch before we started shopping, so we tried Canyon Cafe. My daughter and I really liked the chips and salsa and found it to be unique. The chips are a mixture of sweet potato, corn and won ton and the salsa has a great fresh flavor - it was thick with a nice kick. I tried the fish tacos and really enjoyed the margarita slaw that accompanied it, but overall, thought they were just okay. My daughter had the margarita taco and thought it was good but did not have enough cheese and had too much slaw for her taste. Overall, we thought it was a fun place, but a little overpriced for lunch. If we lived in the area, we would probably try it again and just choose different items.
(3)Dave F.
I really liked the sweet potato chips, the salsa, the service and the free little desert thing they gave us. Portion size (no take home) and price ($1 more) of the fajitas was less value than other Mexican restaurants, but this is more upscale than most. The bonus is on a not so great weather Sunday- we were able to walk the meal off in the small mall.
(3)Danielle K.
The wait staff and management are so nice - they visited our table many times to check in (I hate when our servers disappear after we are sat!) We even got a couple deserts to share when they found out we were celebrating a birthday! The chips were soo good, so much better then typical mex. food chips, they were warm and a mix of tortilla and sweet potato as well as sweet and salty! I overate as usual!! The margaritas were also deliciouoso! The 15.00 ones are big, they even come with the shaker, so basically you get two out of it. The enchiladas were wonderful!! I am taking my mom there when she comes to visit, even though she is from So -Cal and isn't always impressed by Stl Mex. food, I think she will LOVE Canyon Café.
(4)Kadi G.
Probably the best happy hour margaritas you'll find. The drinks are $4 and really are delicious. The mix of chips and salsa are perfect. The salsa is a one of a kind recipe. I'm only giving it fours stars because the place can get kind of crowded so obviously a lot of people love this place. But sometimes it's hard to find a seat.
(4)Jill C.
Usually I'd give Canyon Cafe 3-3-1/2 stars.. they have good but not great quesadillas and enchiladas, good margaritas and decent chips.. And the patio is pleasant enough (despite overlooking a mall parking lot). However, last night (a Saturday night) we went to Canyon Cafe at 6:30 and were surprised that there were 8 open tables on the patio. We went inside, saw lots of people waiting for tables, and asked the hostess for a table outside. She told us that it would be a 20-30 minute wait. Um, WHAT? Her response was that they were seating others outside. We left for about 15 minutes, walked by Canyon Cafe again and saw that the same 8 tables were still open. Management, last night it appeared that you'd prefer to see people sitting around waiting for a table or leaving, than having people seated ordering food and drinks.
(2)Bedhead E.
Based on past experiences, I would have given the Canyon Café four stars, because it's been in the same location for decades and has always been a favorite. It's gone WAY downhill, or maybe we were there on an off night... but why would Saturday night be an off night? The first thing the hostess told us at the door was an emphatic "We CANNOT push tables together." Okay..... but we didn't ask! We were a party of four. All of the tables we saw could seat four easily. Service on the patio was really, really slow, and we asked for utensils after our food (finally) came but we never got them from our server. There was a table next to us on the non-smoking patio, and one of their party had a pack of cigarettes with him. No one actually smoked, but it seemed as though EVERY employee of the café came out to admonish the table about not smoking. (If only their SERVERS paid that much attention to customers!) Finally, a woman who seemed to be the manager came out and said "I'm going to have to ask you to put those away." As if the people were watching child-porn or something!! One of the ladies in the group got a little testy (justifiably so, we thought) and the manageress got even TESTIER -- claiming they weren't really even allowed to carry cigarettes on mall property. Good grief -- they weren't even smoking! I'm not a smoker myself, but this was a ridiculous side show. As though we'd stepped into a police state! Fast forward to the time our food came and we're waiting, waiting, waiting for utensils, which the server promised to bring right away. The table with the smokers was also waiting for utensils, and finally the testy lady got up and went inside. She came out with enough utensils for her own table and for ours -- she couldn't find anyone inside except other customers and our waitress, who was busy mopping the floor (at 8:30 p.m. -- long before closing time), so she just walked into the server area and took enough utensils for all. Apparently, the rest of the staff were off having a meeting about whether to call in the smoking gestapo or something. In short, we got better service from the people at the next table than we did from our server. Our waitress, incidentally, was pleasant enough; she just seemed to be overworked, with serving a large Saturday night crowd (she seemed to be the only server) and having to clean the restaurant between customers. All that, and the food was just mediocre -- not the Canyon Café of old. Not at all. Salty, salty, salty sauces, stale chips, and hard chicken wings (probably nuked). Next time we go to Frontenac, we'll be eating at one of the other snotty little eateries in the area, especially if anyone in our party is carrying contraband tobacco!
(2)A B.
Fish tacos were out of this world. Service was great. Original burger was cooked to perfection. Will be back.
(5)Jeff C.
Wow...is all I can say. We have worked very hard to like this place. The food is very good...we love the location and ambiance (any restaurant there could have this). It unfortunately has just not measured up! What is very bad is the service. They seem to be all about them...not the customer. Training of their staff must be atrocious. This includes the focus of management. We have probably gone there once every two months for two years (silly us), and you'd think good management would recognize this and provide a welcome as such. No such luck. Rarely do we ever have staff pick up empty dishes during our meal (things just sit there until the end). Refills on water without having to ask? - If we're lucky. Come on guys! You are an upscale restaurant in an upscale location...step it up and act like it.
(1)Merri A.
Enjoyed happy hour with an excellent margarita and a basket of assorted types of chips. Friendly bartender that didn't mind we lingered to talk for a long time without ordering more. Very relaxed. Will have to go back for dinner or lunch.
(5)Ashley A.
Southwestern atmosphere with tex-mex food. Went for Mother's Day dinner. Had good tri-blended chips and roasted tomato dip. Also had cheese dip that came out in cast iron skillet. My dad ordered the Ribeye which he said was pretty good, my mom had a really good Cobb salad and my sister and I split the Portabella mushroom and spinach quesadillas with margarita slaw. Our meal was really good and flavorful. Waitress was nice and we had good service. Hostess at front was not friendly at all when seating us. This tex-mex restaurant is attached to Frontenac mall. Overall a good place to go and eat.
(4)Susan S.
I used to love-love-love this place, about 15 years ago. It was the go-to spot for moms' night out (read: Escape from Toddlercatraz). So, my memories of Canyon Cafe, I think, are influenced by the pleasure experienced by not cooking and not cutting someone else's meat. Fast forward to a night with husband and 18 year old daughter after seeing Renoir at Plaza Frontenac Cinema. I like my tortilla soup, but the chip basket didn't thrill me like before and I really didn't care for the heavy, somewhat cloying, salsa. Husband liked his chicken and daughter liked the quesadilla, so I was the only one under-whelmed. I think Canyon Cafe will remain on the after movie nosh list, but I wouldn't seek it out as there are so many restaurants out there.
(3)Allison B.
Excelente! I hadn't been to Canyon Cafe in years, but we were in the area and I remembered loving their chips. They did not disappoint! Our server was very attentive. When I asked her about the special chips (they were mixed in the basket with the regular tortilla chips), she said they have blackened seasoning and powdered sugar on them. Then, she offered to bring us a basket of just those chips. Score! My mango frozen margarita was tasty, and the queso dip was very good. My husband and I enjoyed our meals and had enough to take home leftovers. Can't wait to treat ourselves again sometime soon!
(5)Beth B.
Canyon Cafe does have really good chips (the sweet ones are kick ass), and you really can't dispute that. It's not that I dislike the rest of their offerings, per se, but it has never blown me away. I sort of blame my mom for dragging us here for every single family dinner we had for 2 years straight. Mostly though, it's just that the food hasn't ever really wowed me. I've had the veggie pasta (Angel-hair pasta tossed with spinach, black beans and grilled vegetables in a garlic soy sauce), and it's pretty decent. Other than the black beans, it's not an especially Mexican dish. The Margarita soft tacos with roasted veggies & slaw are tasty as well. I also like the fajitas a lot. They have very good margaritas. The enchiladas are so-so. My beef is with the Canyon-Mex portion of the menu - the meatloaf (bland), the tuna (dry), the crab cake (standard). Most of these items have been on the menu for years, and that's part of the problem - it's a little tired. On the other hand, I did notice that they've introduced a few new menu items, so perhaps it's time to go out to dinner with the family again...
(3)Colin K.
Ok let's talk about canyon cafe. First of all this place is just weird. My order was the blackened fish tacos. Granite they were good but they came in a hard shell. I have never heard of fish tacos in hard shells. Next thing I would like to say is that my buddy had the enchilada plater and it came with a side of salad with Italian dressing? That is not a Mexican place I want to be at. This canyon cafe is wrong in every way. To make a long story short, this place was AB over priced Chevys but not even on the same level as Chevys cause it suck that bad. Canyon cafe was horrible and don't ever go there.
(1)Bill B.
Why would you ever go here w/ Amigos Cantina so close? The "Limit-2" margaritas we got tasted like something out of a hummingbird feeder. They were so sweet. Also the food was super plain / bland. The only thing I really liked here was the chips and salsa they brought out...the only thing.
(2)Rebecca S.
This place has a relatively nice atmosphere and the food is not terrible but it is definitely not tex-mex or Mexican food. More like a random, odd, if not totally bad variation. Like enchiladas covered in queso. Weird and pretty mediocre. But my margarita was good.
(2)Teri D.
We have loved this place for some time now and have never had a bad experience. Well.......does over stuffing on those chips and salsa they give you count? They aren't your regular chips! They give you - quickly - a basket of multiple chips. Regular, blue corns, sweet potato, and my fave the sweet wonton one. I will fight you for that chip!!! The dining area sort of spills out into the mall and there is a nice patio as well. Their margaritas are tasty tasty tasty and they often have drink specials, but they rule supreme with their steak fajita salad. Oh drool! Everything about this salad is a winner; the lettuce, the grilled green peppers, the dressing, and oh yeah - the steak. And it's not like you get a pile of greens and a few sprigs of meat, you get enough meat to last you through just about the entire salad. There have been plenty of times I had to take part of my salad home to eat later. Hubs has gotten other dining options such as their enchiladas (good) but I've always stuck with my salad. Good food! Good service!
(4)Jimmy M.
The best Mexican in St. Louis. Delicious and unique chips. Fresh guacamole is excellent. I recommend the Panchos Enchiladas. Though Canyon is expensive, their happy hour from 4-7 Monday - Friday is excellent. Three dollar drafts and four dollar margs. My favorite margarita I have ever had. Half price apps during happy hour makes for an economical full mean plus drinks.
(5)Lindsay S.
Bland, bland, bland. I guess I should have expected that in a mall restaurant, but carnitas should have some kind of flavor, and while the margarita wasn't syrupy, you couldn't taste any tequila either. The chips and salsa are fantastic, but that alone isn't reason to go back.
(2)Tim B.
Our family of four came here on our way from O'Fallon into the city, wanting to try a new place. We are glad we did, we got there just before the rush on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Initially they were going to put us out in the mall area, but we requested to be inside the main part of the restaurant, for better ambiance, and they were happy to oblige. The service we received was friendly and attentive. They brought us out the chips (great) and salsa (ok) and got our drink orders right away. It was a tad slow, towards the end, but I attribute that to how busy they were. Based upon our first visit, I can't judge the mex-mex, as we all ordered off the canyon -mex menu. We got a variety of items and all were very pleased. I tried each item and would have been happy with any on them -- including the bison meatloaf, the tuna (really light and fresh, seared and cooked rare), the lemon salmon, and the steak (cooked a perfect medium rare). When they found out it was our first time, to our surprise, they offered us a couple free desserts to share -- they were really good as well, including the best sopapillas I've had outside the southwest. We enjoyed our meal at Canyon Cafe and plan to return.
(4)Devon F.
Decent food, decent service. The staff doesn't seem all that happy but they work hard at least.
(3)Paula G.
Too bad that the chips were the highlight of the meal. The salsa tasted like chili powder added to canned tomatoes. The music was depressing love songs rather than upbeat MEXICAN music. Maybe I got spoiled in California but it is sad that this is what excites locals.
(2)Michelle L.
I'm a huge fan of Mexican and Tex-Mex, but have had mixed results with Canyon Cafe's food. The chips and salsa were good, with a nice assortment of chips I've never seen done elsewhere. The angel hair vegetable pasta was also good. I wasn't too crazy about the vegetable soft tacos. Too bland and I prefer my veggies cooked more. Same with the vegetable fajitas. But the veggies were cut into really small chunks. I guess you'd call it diced. I liked that. Now what's really, really good is their top shelf margaritas. These are the reason to go back! Decor was nice. Ambiance OK. I don't like that it is attached to a mall. Service was good.
(3)Paige N.
I have a very fond place in my heart for the Canyon Cafe at Plaza Frontenac. Not only is the food quite good, but the whole dining experience is great! You can be inside dining and people watching the who's who of Ladue and Frontenac in the mall during the colder weather or outside on the lovely patio watching the Mercedes and Lexuses roll by searching for parking spots closer to the door. My absolute favorite time of year to sit inside in the mall proper is during Christmas when Santa has set up his giant chair for pictures. Watching some of the scenes that go down provides all the lunchtime entertainment you need: picture it - kids flipping out, parents bending over backwards to get them to crack a smile and a long line of aggravated parents waiting in an hour long line for little Jimmy to get that Kodak moment for the yearly Christmas card for the relatives. And summer's just glorious because you're dining al fresco - nuff' said. And as I mentioned before, the food's always good too. It begins with a complimentary basket of warm, house made chips: blue corn, white corn, and sweet potato chips (my personal favorites) and salsa. The entrees are definitely big enough to split (especially after a few handfuls of chips and salsa). The quesadillas are good, they have an Adobo rubbed chicken sandwich with grilled portabello mushrooms and cheese that's superb, but I usually go for the salads - tilapia salad, grilled chicken or salmon caesar salad (it has capers on it - yum), or the steak salad. All are quite unique and tasty and very, very big. And here's an insider tip - you can order half sizes of the salads if you ask - it's not on the menu but they easily accommodate when requested. The meal is also ended on a positive note because when the check is brought out, the server also brings house made, individually wrapped white chocolate tamales with almond pieces in corn husks. They're sweet and vanilla-y and just the perfect end to the meal. I always have a good experience at Canyon Cafe, and if you can - request either to be seated "out in the mall," or if the weather permits, "on the patio."
(4)Julie L.
I had always noticed Canyon Cafe on my few visits to Plaza Frontenac but never had a chance to try until date night last night... ...and we most certainly will be back! Several friends of mine recommended that I order the Pancho Enchiladas so I went with their suggestion and I was not disappointed. It was a very filling dish and when you pair it with the chips and salsa at your table you're more than full. My hubby went with his traditional "gotta try the burger" burger and he said it was pretty good. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff is very attentive. Those chips, they are to die for!! We made a reservation just in case but we had arrived early and they were more than happy to seat us upon arrival. The next time I go I'm going to have to try what they call the area's best margarita. Didn't get a chance last night but that just means I'll be headed back.
(4)Mina I.
Okay okay, I have to give this place it's full 5 stars now for these reasons: 1) Service is always prompt and quick (by that I mean I come to eat lunch here once a week and I am in and out within an hour and my drinks are always full). 2) The bar selection is full of variety and the bartenders are always in a fun mood! 3) About 3 weeks ago, I left my iPhone at the table that I was eating at during lunch and once I got back to work, I started freaking out and called up there and spoke to the manager who reassured me that their busser was so sweet and found my phone while cleaning up my table and left it locked in the back office of the restaurant so no one could steal it. I was definitely a happy customer after that. All in all, this is a great place to come eat with your family or have drinks on their patio with your girlfriends or plus one!
(5)beth w.
Manager was a bitch along with the hostess...so dingy and clueless. Decent food and lame happy hour policy. The service was good.
(1)Tiyo T.
Have dined twice recently, once for lunch and once for dinner. Service and food very good (mix of salads, burgers and quesadillas ordered). Kudos especially to manager Laura.
(4)Tina S.
We wanted dinner outside on a patio and this was the place for us this evening. Our server Roseanne was very attentive and friendly. I thought I would try the "Best Margarita in St Louis", hmmm not sure who gave them that title, it was nice but the best........ My friend likes meatloaf and the bison meatloaf quickly caught his eye. It was served with two big slices of meatloaf on a bed of mashed potatoes and a huge heaping helping of vegetables. Let say that my friend did not talk to me for a good ten minutes while he devoured his vegetables..... VERY VERY GOOD. I ordered the Vegetable pasta with chicken. Holy cow, I love it when the vegetables are visible, and not your typical vegetables I had asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, slices of red and green peppers, roasted tomato half and black beans mixed into the pasta. The chicken was a nice compliment to the pasta. We were very pleased with the food, and service, drinks... that is why I gave them 4 stars and not 5.
(4)Deborah D.
Well we went on a Thursday this past week. My boyfriend and I had never been. We tried it because quite honestly we had a COUPON! Didnt know what to expect price-wise. It wasnt toooo bad. Somewhat pricey... I totally agree about the salsa and chips. I had no ideal what i was eating , but man they were good! I was careful on eating the blue and red ones but they were goood! Our food was really good. I got the chicken quessedilla and boyfriend got fajitas. NOT BAD AT ALLL! Great food! PLSU they allowed me to substitute french fries forthe slaw. WHEW!~ The nicest thing was the manager come over to our table and was asking how we liked our meal and socialize. SO COOOOOL!!! OH AND THE BATHROOMS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!
(5)Vazz Z.
I am confused why Yelp calls this "Tex-Mex" or "Mexican" when it's not. It's more like a Southwest/Native American/Tex-Mex food. The restaurant has a nice, casual atmosphere-- there are wonderful Native American and Southwest artworks hanging on the walls. The free starter (tortilla chips) is absolutely DELICIOUS. The desserts are so good, too. I've tried a few on the menu and they were great. Food is very expensive, so don't come here unless you don't mind spending a lot of $$$ on a good meal.
(4)Ashli H.
I love this place. The food is consistently delicious and the service is on point. My boyfriend and I drove down from Chicago for the weekend and coming here was a must. I got the veggie fajitas as per usual and he got the shrimp fajitas. The chips and salsa are also unique and we enjoyed the white chocolate almond treat at the end of dinner.
(5)Julie V.
Came here for a happy hour with friends. The staff couldn't wait to get us out of the place even though our idea of happy hour is catching up quietly, ordering lots of food and drinks and tipping generously. The food we got wasn't bad but we never got another drink order after that. When we requested desserts the server just sighed annoyed at us and never came back with the round of waters we ordered. Too many good places to go to than to go back here.
(2)Kay X.
After leaving the movie theater I was ravished and tired of being gawked at like a Unicorn (that's a mythical creature); so I needed a drink STAT (shortest turn around time)!!! Frozen margarita, sugar no salt please. It didn't taste like the typical strawberry purée...fresh strawberries were definitely used & I immensely appreciated it! If you've been here then you know the drill; in five minutes or less you receive fresh salsa and on all accounts the BEST chip mix in the land (any land, including but not limited to Middle Earth, Pony Ville, Panem, Westeros, Hogwarts, Tatooine, Land of Oz and Pandora). This may not be a white tablecloth restaurant but just like them when there is a Chef specialty there are no substitutes! Having dinner at some of the aforementioned places I totally understand the reason. Substitutions can really mess with the integrity of the vision and above all Chefs want to be consistently consistent. So what does that mean? I ordered what I knew I could handle with no changes and I was particularly pleased. I had a trio of street tacos, which were chicken honey hot sauce w/ mango fruit salsa, blacked fish and veggie. I upgraded to a platter that included black beans and rice. Totally tasty and totally fresh! Each taco had a charming mix of flavor, color and texture that were on full display with careful preparation. Our waitress was Stacy and she was helpful and attentive. I made sure to ask her to relay my compliments to the Chef and that everything was delightful. The manager came over and I had to reiterate how awesome the meal was and that I didn't even need the side of sour cream and guacamole that I requested. The food and drink was so good that I temporarily paid no mind some repulsive comments and the stares we received in the dinning room as if brown people eat differently but it was more of a what are "they" doing here stare (more on the entitled & exclusionary vibe I always get at this mall in my Frontenac review). I even ordered my favorite soup to go (Poblano chicken chowder soup) and it even came with extra chips and salsa!!! The only reason this is not a five star review was because a large party came in and instead of making sure the group had room, the staff tried to cram them all together. At one point there was a man so close to me that our arms touched (no bueno).
(4)Vince H.
Stopped in for lunch after a long morning of shopping. The chips they give are awesome and freshly cooked. The salsa is homemade but I wasn't a big fan of it. My wife had the fajita wrap and said it was the best fajita wrap she had ever had. I had steak fajitas and they were ok. Nothing was wrong with them, I just wasn't a big fan of the flavor/seasoning. Presentation was nice. My kids had the quesadillas and they were very happy with them. The waiter was attentive and very nice. I would definitely give the restaurant another try, I 'lol just make sure to try another dish.
(4)Warren C.
I think proximity wise, I'll never get closer to eating Tex-Mex next to a Saks Fifth Avenue. The food was decent, and there is a large variety and assortment on the menu. As far as mall food goes, this is pretty much as good as it gets. I had the carnitas and enchilada combo, which I would say is slightly above average. Service was fast and friendly. My margarita tasted similar to Country Time lemonade, otherwise everything else was great.
(4)Anthony S.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars for Canyon, I'd say a solid 3.5. I've never had a bad experience and the food is pretty good but I'd saw for the price the food should be better. The margaritas are great but again the good ones are pricey. I feel like there is a 'Frontenac Tax' going on here that is boosting the prices somewhat vs if they were located somewhere else. With all that said, we do come here every now and now and we have a good time and good food in a nice atmosphere and I wouldn't turn people away from coming here..its just a little expensive for what it is.
(3)Mike S.
The salsa and homemade chips were awesome. The bison and fish taco special was incredibly tasty. Quick service and attentive server were key to us getting our food on time. I would eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)Brett W.
Canyon Cafe is located at Frontenac Plaza so you think it would be good but no. It is s hot mess. Very disorganized and lengthily waits for very mediocre food. I don't think I could justify eating here again was not worth waiting for. Taco Bell would be quicker and better at 1/10 th the price.
(2)Melissa C.
I'm really growing to like Canyon Cafe. The first neat thing to me is the chips are different from most places, they have a different mix of chip types in them. I'm not sure what's all in there but they're good! I also enjoyed the margaritas. I did not have just a house margarita but unfortunately without a drink menu I cannot remember what it was called. For dinner I chose 3 tacos, each with a different meat and each very good. My gluten-free husband has the carnitas and loved every bite. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Overall it was a good experience. I'm looking forward to going back!
(4)P M.
Ordered the rather expensive Carnitas Platter which by definition is PORK. Not at this restaurant where I was served chicken. Brought it to the attention of some guy who appeared in charge, he didn't seem to care. Will never return here!!!!
(1)Stacy H.
Generally, I am an eat local type of girl. And also generally, I am more of an authentic type of girl, as well. However, Canyon Cafe gets five stars from me! This place is a small chain restaurant. They do sort of a mexican/tex mex situation. You can go more or less tex mex because they menu offers options. They start out by giving you some chips and salsa like you may never have tasted before. The seasonings are amazing, and some of them are even sweet (like a sweet potato chip thrown in there amongst the corn chips). I always get a margarita (as a general rule, everywhere). I have tried their "limit two" margaritas, and may I say that they should probably be limit one, because they are verrrrryyyyy alcoholic. The regular house margarita is great as well. Then, I like to order the fish tacos! They are so good and have crunchy shells. As odd as it seems, Canyon Cafe sort of makes the usual side dish of rice and beans into part of the main event. Their beans and rice as so good, I could simply eat those and be content with life! You get a lot of food here, and my caution is to not try to eat it all--box some up for later--or else you could just keep eating and eating because it is so delicious! (Personal experience talking!)
(5)Rose L.
This is my favorite tex-mex restaurant in Saint Louis. I get sort of sad when I stroll past it during non meal times when I'm shopping at Frontenac and know I can't go in and eat. Canyon is busy and a little loud, so keep that in mind when visiting. There is a full bar you can wait at if tables aren't free when you come in, and they even have TVs with sports games on. You can sit there and munch on chips and salas and order a marg, and honestly sometimes I think I just want that to be my meal! I have no clue what the chips are made out of (at least one of them is sweet potato (I know what you're thinking, but you have to try it)) and the seasonings on them are phenomenal. The menu has lots of variety, and while I try to order something new each time I always end up ordering the same thing: Pancho's enchiladas. Sometimes I can convince myself to order the portobello quesadilla, which is also amazing. I think the food turn around time is about average, but if you have a drink and chips in front of you it's hard to mind the wait. Here is my absolute favorite thing about this place: I always see a manager. He's always walking around talking to tables, checking in with the waiters, and even helps clear plates. I worked in restaurants for years and I often wished I had a manager like that - most just sat in the back office and worked on scheduling or comping bills of unhappy eaters. These guys take the restaurant seriously. If you're looking for a place with good service and management try Canyon!
(5)Kimmy N.
I love canyon cafe! It's one of the better tex mex restaurants in the STL area! My absolute favorite is their chips and salsa! the chips are super crunchy! They have really good salads! My favorites are the southwest cobb salad and the blacken chicken & avocado salad! Every time I'm at frontnac this is a must stop by place!
(5)Jennifer T.
Love this place! Not only is it in a swanky location such as Frontenac Plaza. Its decor is quite unique as well with the Modern Southwest vibe. Don't let the location fool you though. Need not dress to impress here. Shorts and nice t's are perfectly acceptable! Instead of giving you regular chips and salsa, they make fresh daily three kinds of chips and serve them with their made daily salsa (though its almost more like a mole sauce!) The free unlimited chips are awesome! Tortilla chips (blue and yellow corn), Sweet potato chips, and wonton like chips with some having a wonderful sweet/spicy seasoning. HELLO YUM! For drinks I ordered the Orange Beso margarita. Don't be fooled by the price of $12. They bring you the shaker and its nearly three full drinks! It was a great choice for sitting out on their awesome outdoor patio. Not too sweet, not too sour, and just strong enough to have the tequila linger on your palette. For dinner I chose a daily special: Chorizo and steak quesadilla with a side of slaw. There were four decent size pieces. Everything was very fresh. That was my favorite part. The flavors really melded together and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The slaw was great on its own, but I also added some a top of my quesadilla bites for a bit of fresh crunch. They have terrific looking desserts, but I was just too full from the chips and half the quesadilla to try any! I need to remember to come here more! For SURE!
(5)T. Lee S.
Heavy mall food. Don't be fooled. Margherita ' s aren't bad. Service is mediocre. Tried it twice. Won't be back.
(2)Rosa C.
A great place to sit at the bar and watch the Cardinal game while eating dinner. Friendly staff. Good service and good food. Fish tacos are great. Happy hour is a bargain, lasts until 7 pm.
(5)Aaron B.
Canyon Cafe has an amazing happy hour. Eat at the bar and I believe it's 1/2 price (or discounted) beers on tap and appetizers. Be warned, this is no slow happy hour. It's a happening place and you might have to be aggressive for bar space but it's well worth the effort. I went with 2 other friends so it wasn't hard for the 3 of us to find a spot but much bigger than that might be difficult. I'd recommend getting there earlier if you have a larger party. The chips they give you are soooooo good. They have these special ones with this amazing seasoning words cannot describe. It is sweet and unique...mmmmmmm....you will fight for these so it might be worth paying extra for a bowl full of them. I recommend getting their loaded nachos. Can't go wrong with those. I would love to go back here for a meal but their happy hour is a lot of fun and great deal. Enjoy!
(4)Debbie R.
I had previously given this place four stars but an experience we had tonight is unforgivable. My 18 yr old son is a very picky eater. He ordered the burger and asked for it to be plain and on a plain bun. Easy enough. We joked that they would probably screw it up - and they did. The burger came out with cheese on it. We immediately told the server that he had ordered it without cheese. She asked - is it because of a food allergy? We said no that he just doesn't want cheese. I told my son that they would probably scrape off the cheese, flip the burger over to hide the evidence and bring it right back. And that is exactly what they did. Horrible! They messed up and then did this to fix it? Not sure I will ever go back with that kind of service.
(1)Meg H.
The chips they serve are everything and more. YUMMMMY. What a fun take on chips. The salmon Caesar i had was not good, salmon was weird, and there was barely any dressing. My madre had the mushroom quesadilla she really liked her food. Service was very busy for a Saturday around 130pm, but we did get in and out pretty quickly which was nice. Hostesses were no where to be seen, stood awkwardly at host table for a good couple of minutes before being greeted. All in all, it was ok, but for being at Frontenac I think you have a lot of better options for a lunch while shopping.
(3)Christy M.
If I'm craving Mexican food, Canyon Cafe is my go-to! I've eaten at Canyon Cafe several times since I discovered it a few years ago. Their food quality is amazing every single time. Service is usually very good, though sometimes can be a miss...like if they are crazy busy. I love their chips. They are a combo of sweet potato chips, tortilla chips, and sweet chips that are absolutely delicious. I seriously would come back only for the chips, even if I liked nothing else. Fortunately, that is plenty more to like. For main dishes, I love their chicken avocado salad, salmon, caesar wrap, and fish tacos. Yes, it is a little pricey but I am willing to pay a bit more for quality. My fiancé and I are now fish taco snobs...anywhere else we try them, they are never as good as Canyon's. So I'd rather have something I LOVE and pay a few extra bucks than something that's just OK for a bit cheaper. I love to check out their daily specials and usually end up ordering off of that. It's varied and always delicious, which makes coming back fun for semi-regulars like me :-) I've yet to do their happy hour because it is crazy and busy in that area at that time. I hear it's amazing and I really want to do this someday though...just another excuse for me to go in, right?! If you live in the Lou, this is a must go. I was sad I lived so long without it once I went there.
(5)Greg G.
Short and (not so) sweet: Fantastic drinks. Terrible food. So-so service. Go for drinks, but eat somewhere else. Seriously, it's awful. This place has really gone downhill over the years. Brett W. is absolutely right when he says Taco Bell is a step up. Nice atmosphere, good drinks, lousy food, not-so-great service.
(2)Manny R.
First time eating here. The staff was very helpful and the hostess very cordial. Clean and appealing eating area. Menu has something for everyone. The three types of fresh chips and salsa is the best around town. The food was as expected. The food reminds me of Chevys restaurants in Cali. After a couple of hours of shopping this place fits your eating and drinking needs.
(4)Jonathan S.
Excellent tex-mex style restaurant. Quick service. Chips/salsa are great. For how good a restaurant it is, it's surprising it's in a mall.
(4)Rommel C.
Pretty good food. The chips and dip are the best I've ever had. The food is terrific. I recommend their street fish tacos.
(4)Barry B.
I ordered a steak (CHILE-RUBBED SIRLOIN) that was supposed to be medium: it was on the rare to raw side when it arrived. There were dark grill marks on one side, but not the other side. OK, better under done than over done. The real problem was we could not find our waitperson. I told my wife to go ahead and eat. Our waitperson did not reappear until my wife was done eating. The person asked if we were done. At that point it was too late to send the steak back, so I told the person yes. I would have expected the waitperson to ask if there was something wrong with my steak since I had only eaten two bites off one end and one bite off the other end. The waitperson however said nothing. If this restaurant wants to expand its space by placing tables in the mall area, they need to insure that waitpersons are available to properly cover those tables. In this case they completely failed at that.
(1)Tracy D.
Don't let the mall fool you. Canyon Cafe does good food. I liked them before and now even more so! Canyon Cafe is doing a new dish called "Street Tacos" and I am totally hooked! They are fresh, full of delicious flavor and they won't break the bank or your diet. You get a choice of 3 for $12...nice! Each taco has a wonderfully prepared meat along with some light salad or fruit preparation on top to enhance the meat flavor. My favorites are the bison, carnitas and the crispy chicken, in that order. However, I have tried them all and none of the options were poorly done. I haven't had a different dish since they came out with the street tacos...and I have no plans to try anything else. I feel like rarely can you eat Mexican food and not feel totally stuffed and bloated at the end. This is how you can do it right. If you get the platter for just $2 more, you can get rice and beans and a nice jicama salad along side your tacos. Their chips and salsa is pretty tasty, too. The salsa has a nice sweet roasted flavor and the chips usually come out warm. I have to pace myself or I am full before my tacos come out. And I love, love, love the end of the meal when they bring out the white chocolate wrapped in the corn husk. Yum! the perfectly sweet ending to a delicious and not over-the-top meal. Thank you, Canyon Cafe. Now off to the Frontenac Cinema for a nice independent film. :-)
(4)Anna B.
As far as the food goes, pretty average Tex-Mex, but they have some extra flares that really add to the dining experience. Their chip basket is really the standout. They make them fresh and have a few different delicious varieties. Normally I pass on the chips, but you can't miss 'em here! And they bring them out to you still hot. I got this Naked Chile Relleno this time which was OK, a little greasy and not as spicy as I was hoping, but I love the spice. Service was a tad slow but the atmosphere and the chips kept me happy. Also I love how at the end of the meal they bring you a little piece of white chocolate in the corn husk! It's little touches like that that take Canyon Cafe from 3-stars to 4 in my book. Plus they have something for everyone on the menu! Definitely worth a trip or 2, especially if you are in the mood for southwest cuisine.
(4)Jason G.
Had the Top Shelf Margarita and it was great! Have eaten here on a couple occasions and the food has been delicious. The stuffed chicken breast is a must have. The service has always been very attentive and helpful, making suggestions and checking to make sure everything is great!
(5)Dee F.
I absolutely love this place. All of the food is good. The chips and salsa are the best around town. The limit 2 margarita is very smooth and it only takes one.
(5)Patt C.
I met a girlfriend for lunch. Our server was quite attentive. The chips and salsa are tremendous. The chips are the same unique chips, but the salsa has changed, and I like it better. It's got a little kick, and there are tomato chunks (not pieces) in it. Yum! And we got our own saucers of salsa, so we didn't have to worry about double-dipping. She got the Grilled Vegetable Pasta ($11.95) -- Angel-hair pasta tossed with spinach, black beans and grilled vegetables in a garlic soy sauce. The vegetables were zucchini, winter squash, portabella and asparagus. I got a a special salad advertised on the standard at the table: Spinach, Pecan, Pear and Shrimp in a light balsamic viniagrette that was just perfect for the ingredients. She gave me her portabella and a spear of asparagus that I cut into the salad, which was a bounty of baby spinach, red onion, red pepper, avocado, pecan pieces, thinly sliced pear strips and small breaded-sauteed shrimp. The salad ingredients were cut small enough that I could get a good bite of nearly everything in one forkful. I like that! Gives a better idea of the chef's inspiration. We both had another meal in our recyclable to-go vessels, and our server gave us each a to-go beverage for the road.
(5)Leslie S.
Went for my first lunch-time visit. Definitely 5 stars. Great patio area. Tables outside are 4-tops, so if you have a larger group, you'll like have to wait until two tables area available to push together. First come, first serve. You can also eat inside at a table looking at toward the main mall hallway. Decor is very Southwestern and makes me nostalgic for Phoenix, AZ. Here's what we ordered. Everyone enjoyed their meals quite a bit. See posted pictures: 1) Chips and salsa (complimentary) 2) Buffalo Crawfish & Shrimp Wrap (for the health eater in our group) 3) Desert Fire Pasta w/ fresh jalapenos and Jalapeno Gravy (for the spicy eater in our family) 4) Chicken Flautas - This was my lunch, and I can't recommend it highly enough! 4 chicken flautas in red and yellow shells comes with rice and beans. 5) White chocolate w/ nuts (I think?) - Complimentary at end of meal
(5)Bernadette C.
I have NEVER had a bad meal here - one of my all-time favorite St. Louis restaurants and I have been going here with my family since I was a child. They have the most amazing chips and salsa (the chips have this smokey seasoning and the salsa is a little sweet), their Pablano Chicken Chowder is incredible and I always have to decide between their meatloaf and their Pancho's Enchiladas. Finish everything off with a Rico Rita (which are limit two margaritas - strong stuff) and a piece of their chocolate truffle pie, and you are in heaven. Additionally, the staff have always been friendly and helpful - and the manager, Laura, is always stopping by to make sure your order is perfect. Love love LOVE and will return again and again!
(5)Tian Q.
One of the few personality characteristics I inherited from my (hella) asian parents is the love for free things. And I absolutely LOVE Canyon Cafe's complementary and amazing assortment of flavored chips along with their homemade white chocolate. They don't just give you free shit. They give you QUALITY free shit. As for the rest- food all taste great (especially the fajita) and come in large portions. No problemo with the service. Nice/spacious atmosphere in Plaza Frontenac. Ruv it.
(5)Kathy M.
We needed to be at Plaza Frontenac and needed some lunch before we started shopping, so we tried Canyon Cafe. My daughter and I really liked the chips and salsa and found it to be unique. The chips are a mixture of sweet potato, corn and won ton and the salsa has a great fresh flavor - it was thick with a nice kick. I tried the fish tacos and really enjoyed the margarita slaw that accompanied it, but overall, thought they were just okay. My daughter had the margarita taco and thought it was good but did not have enough cheese and had too much slaw for her taste. Overall, we thought it was a fun place, but a little overpriced for lunch. If we lived in the area, we would probably try it again and just choose different items.
(3)Dave F.
I really liked the sweet potato chips, the salsa, the service and the free little desert thing they gave us. Portion size (no take home) and price ($1 more) of the fajitas was less value than other Mexican restaurants, but this is more upscale than most. The bonus is on a not so great weather Sunday- we were able to walk the meal off in the small mall.
(3)Danielle K.
The wait staff and management are so nice - they visited our table many times to check in (I hate when our servers disappear after we are sat!) We even got a couple deserts to share when they found out we were celebrating a birthday! The chips were soo good, so much better then typical mex. food chips, they were warm and a mix of tortilla and sweet potato as well as sweet and salty! I overate as usual!! The margaritas were also deliciouoso! The 15.00 ones are big, they even come with the shaker, so basically you get two out of it. The enchiladas were wonderful!! I am taking my mom there when she comes to visit, even though she is from So -Cal and isn't always impressed by Stl Mex. food, I think she will LOVE Canyon Café.
(4)Kadi G.
Probably the best happy hour margaritas you'll find. The drinks are $4 and really are delicious. The mix of chips and salsa are perfect. The salsa is a one of a kind recipe. I'm only giving it fours stars because the place can get kind of crowded so obviously a lot of people love this place. But sometimes it's hard to find a seat.
(4)Jill C.
Usually I'd give Canyon Cafe 3-3-1/2 stars.. they have good but not great quesadillas and enchiladas, good margaritas and decent chips.. And the patio is pleasant enough (despite overlooking a mall parking lot). However, last night (a Saturday night) we went to Canyon Cafe at 6:30 and were surprised that there were 8 open tables on the patio. We went inside, saw lots of people waiting for tables, and asked the hostess for a table outside. She told us that it would be a 20-30 minute wait. Um, WHAT? Her response was that they were seating others outside. We left for about 15 minutes, walked by Canyon Cafe again and saw that the same 8 tables were still open. Management, last night it appeared that you'd prefer to see people sitting around waiting for a table or leaving, than having people seated ordering food and drinks.
(2)Bedhead E.
Based on past experiences, I would have given the Canyon Café four stars, because it's been in the same location for decades and has always been a favorite. It's gone WAY downhill, or maybe we were there on an off night... but why would Saturday night be an off night? The first thing the hostess told us at the door was an emphatic "We CANNOT push tables together." Okay..... but we didn't ask! We were a party of four. All of the tables we saw could seat four easily. Service on the patio was really, really slow, and we asked for utensils after our food (finally) came but we never got them from our server. There was a table next to us on the non-smoking patio, and one of their party had a pack of cigarettes with him. No one actually smoked, but it seemed as though EVERY employee of the café came out to admonish the table about not smoking. (If only their SERVERS paid that much attention to customers!) Finally, a woman who seemed to be the manager came out and said "I'm going to have to ask you to put those away." As if the people were watching child-porn or something!! One of the ladies in the group got a little testy (justifiably so, we thought) and the manageress got even TESTIER -- claiming they weren't really even allowed to carry cigarettes on mall property. Good grief -- they weren't even smoking! I'm not a smoker myself, but this was a ridiculous side show. As though we'd stepped into a police state! Fast forward to the time our food came and we're waiting, waiting, waiting for utensils, which the server promised to bring right away. The table with the smokers was also waiting for utensils, and finally the testy lady got up and went inside. She came out with enough utensils for her own table and for ours -- she couldn't find anyone inside except other customers and our waitress, who was busy mopping the floor (at 8:30 p.m. -- long before closing time), so she just walked into the server area and took enough utensils for all. Apparently, the rest of the staff were off having a meeting about whether to call in the smoking gestapo or something. In short, we got better service from the people at the next table than we did from our server. Our waitress, incidentally, was pleasant enough; she just seemed to be overworked, with serving a large Saturday night crowd (she seemed to be the only server) and having to clean the restaurant between customers. All that, and the food was just mediocre -- not the Canyon Café of old. Not at all. Salty, salty, salty sauces, stale chips, and hard chicken wings (probably nuked). Next time we go to Frontenac, we'll be eating at one of the other snotty little eateries in the area, especially if anyone in our party is carrying contraband tobacco!
(2)A B.
Fish tacos were out of this world. Service was great. Original burger was cooked to perfection. Will be back.
(5)Jeff C.
Wow...is all I can say. We have worked very hard to like this place. The food is very good...we love the location and ambiance (any restaurant there could have this). It unfortunately has just not measured up! What is very bad is the service. They seem to be all about them...not the customer. Training of their staff must be atrocious. This includes the focus of management. We have probably gone there once every two months for two years (silly us), and you'd think good management would recognize this and provide a welcome as such. No such luck. Rarely do we ever have staff pick up empty dishes during our meal (things just sit there until the end). Refills on water without having to ask? - If we're lucky. Come on guys! You are an upscale restaurant in an upscale location...step it up and act like it.
(1)Merri A.
Enjoyed happy hour with an excellent margarita and a basket of assorted types of chips. Friendly bartender that didn't mind we lingered to talk for a long time without ordering more. Very relaxed. Will have to go back for dinner or lunch.
(5)Ashley A.
Southwestern atmosphere with tex-mex food. Went for Mother's Day dinner. Had good tri-blended chips and roasted tomato dip. Also had cheese dip that came out in cast iron skillet. My dad ordered the Ribeye which he said was pretty good, my mom had a really good Cobb salad and my sister and I split the Portabella mushroom and spinach quesadillas with margarita slaw. Our meal was really good and flavorful. Waitress was nice and we had good service. Hostess at front was not friendly at all when seating us. This tex-mex restaurant is attached to Frontenac mall. Overall a good place to go and eat.
(4)Susan S.
I used to love-love-love this place, about 15 years ago. It was the go-to spot for moms' night out (read: Escape from Toddlercatraz). So, my memories of Canyon Cafe, I think, are influenced by the pleasure experienced by not cooking and not cutting someone else's meat. Fast forward to a night with husband and 18 year old daughter after seeing Renoir at Plaza Frontenac Cinema. I like my tortilla soup, but the chip basket didn't thrill me like before and I really didn't care for the heavy, somewhat cloying, salsa. Husband liked his chicken and daughter liked the quesadilla, so I was the only one under-whelmed. I think Canyon Cafe will remain on the after movie nosh list, but I wouldn't seek it out as there are so many restaurants out there.
(3)Allison B.
Excelente! I hadn't been to Canyon Cafe in years, but we were in the area and I remembered loving their chips. They did not disappoint! Our server was very attentive. When I asked her about the special chips (they were mixed in the basket with the regular tortilla chips), she said they have blackened seasoning and powdered sugar on them. Then, she offered to bring us a basket of just those chips. Score! My mango frozen margarita was tasty, and the queso dip was very good. My husband and I enjoyed our meals and had enough to take home leftovers. Can't wait to treat ourselves again sometime soon!
(5)Beth B.
Canyon Cafe does have really good chips (the sweet ones are kick ass), and you really can't dispute that. It's not that I dislike the rest of their offerings, per se, but it has never blown me away. I sort of blame my mom for dragging us here for every single family dinner we had for 2 years straight. Mostly though, it's just that the food hasn't ever really wowed me. I've had the veggie pasta (Angel-hair pasta tossed with spinach, black beans and grilled vegetables in a garlic soy sauce), and it's pretty decent. Other than the black beans, it's not an especially Mexican dish. The Margarita soft tacos with roasted veggies & slaw are tasty as well. I also like the fajitas a lot. They have very good margaritas. The enchiladas are so-so. My beef is with the Canyon-Mex portion of the menu - the meatloaf (bland), the tuna (dry), the crab cake (standard). Most of these items have been on the menu for years, and that's part of the problem - it's a little tired. On the other hand, I did notice that they've introduced a few new menu items, so perhaps it's time to go out to dinner with the family again...
(3)Colin K.
Ok let's talk about canyon cafe. First of all this place is just weird. My order was the blackened fish tacos. Granite they were good but they came in a hard shell. I have never heard of fish tacos in hard shells. Next thing I would like to say is that my buddy had the enchilada plater and it came with a side of salad with Italian dressing? That is not a Mexican place I want to be at. This canyon cafe is wrong in every way. To make a long story short, this place was AB over priced Chevys but not even on the same level as Chevys cause it suck that bad. Canyon cafe was horrible and don't ever go there.
(1)Bill B.
Why would you ever go here w/ Amigos Cantina so close? The "Limit-2" margaritas we got tasted like something out of a hummingbird feeder. They were so sweet. Also the food was super plain / bland. The only thing I really liked here was the chips and salsa they brought out...the only thing.
(2)Rebecca S.
This place has a relatively nice atmosphere and the food is not terrible but it is definitely not tex-mex or Mexican food. More like a random, odd, if not totally bad variation. Like enchiladas covered in queso. Weird and pretty mediocre. But my margarita was good.
(2)Teri D.
We have loved this place for some time now and have never had a bad experience. Well.......does over stuffing on those chips and salsa they give you count? They aren't your regular chips! They give you - quickly - a basket of multiple chips. Regular, blue corns, sweet potato, and my fave the sweet wonton one. I will fight you for that chip!!! The dining area sort of spills out into the mall and there is a nice patio as well. Their margaritas are tasty tasty tasty and they often have drink specials, but they rule supreme with their steak fajita salad. Oh drool! Everything about this salad is a winner; the lettuce, the grilled green peppers, the dressing, and oh yeah - the steak. And it's not like you get a pile of greens and a few sprigs of meat, you get enough meat to last you through just about the entire salad. There have been plenty of times I had to take part of my salad home to eat later. Hubs has gotten other dining options such as their enchiladas (good) but I've always stuck with my salad. Good food! Good service!
(4)Jimmy M.
The best Mexican in St. Louis. Delicious and unique chips. Fresh guacamole is excellent. I recommend the Panchos Enchiladas. Though Canyon is expensive, their happy hour from 4-7 Monday - Friday is excellent. Three dollar drafts and four dollar margs. My favorite margarita I have ever had. Half price apps during happy hour makes for an economical full mean plus drinks.
(5)Lindsay S.
Bland, bland, bland. I guess I should have expected that in a mall restaurant, but carnitas should have some kind of flavor, and while the margarita wasn't syrupy, you couldn't taste any tequila either. The chips and salsa are fantastic, but that alone isn't reason to go back.
(2)Tim B.
Our family of four came here on our way from O'Fallon into the city, wanting to try a new place. We are glad we did, we got there just before the rush on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Initially they were going to put us out in the mall area, but we requested to be inside the main part of the restaurant, for better ambiance, and they were happy to oblige. The service we received was friendly and attentive. They brought us out the chips (great) and salsa (ok) and got our drink orders right away. It was a tad slow, towards the end, but I attribute that to how busy they were. Based upon our first visit, I can't judge the mex-mex, as we all ordered off the canyon -mex menu. We got a variety of items and all were very pleased. I tried each item and would have been happy with any on them -- including the bison meatloaf, the tuna (really light and fresh, seared and cooked rare), the lemon salmon, and the steak (cooked a perfect medium rare). When they found out it was our first time, to our surprise, they offered us a couple free desserts to share -- they were really good as well, including the best sopapillas I've had outside the southwest. We enjoyed our meal at Canyon Cafe and plan to return.
(4)Devon F.
Decent food, decent service. The staff doesn't seem all that happy but they work hard at least.
(3)Paula G.
Too bad that the chips were the highlight of the meal. The salsa tasted like chili powder added to canned tomatoes. The music was depressing love songs rather than upbeat MEXICAN music. Maybe I got spoiled in California but it is sad that this is what excites locals.
(2)Michelle L.
I'm a huge fan of Mexican and Tex-Mex, but have had mixed results with Canyon Cafe's food. The chips and salsa were good, with a nice assortment of chips I've never seen done elsewhere. The angel hair vegetable pasta was also good. I wasn't too crazy about the vegetable soft tacos. Too bland and I prefer my veggies cooked more. Same with the vegetable fajitas. But the veggies were cut into really small chunks. I guess you'd call it diced. I liked that. Now what's really, really good is their top shelf margaritas. These are the reason to go back! Decor was nice. Ambiance OK. I don't like that it is attached to a mall. Service was good.
(3)Paige N.
I have a very fond place in my heart for the Canyon Cafe at Plaza Frontenac. Not only is the food quite good, but the whole dining experience is great! You can be inside dining and people watching the who's who of Ladue and Frontenac in the mall during the colder weather or outside on the lovely patio watching the Mercedes and Lexuses roll by searching for parking spots closer to the door. My absolute favorite time of year to sit inside in the mall proper is during Christmas when Santa has set up his giant chair for pictures. Watching some of the scenes that go down provides all the lunchtime entertainment you need: picture it - kids flipping out, parents bending over backwards to get them to crack a smile and a long line of aggravated parents waiting in an hour long line for little Jimmy to get that Kodak moment for the yearly Christmas card for the relatives. And summer's just glorious because you're dining al fresco - nuff' said. And as I mentioned before, the food's always good too. It begins with a complimentary basket of warm, house made chips: blue corn, white corn, and sweet potato chips (my personal favorites) and salsa. The entrees are definitely big enough to split (especially after a few handfuls of chips and salsa). The quesadillas are good, they have an Adobo rubbed chicken sandwich with grilled portabello mushrooms and cheese that's superb, but I usually go for the salads - tilapia salad, grilled chicken or salmon caesar salad (it has capers on it - yum), or the steak salad. All are quite unique and tasty and very, very big. And here's an insider tip - you can order half sizes of the salads if you ask - it's not on the menu but they easily accommodate when requested. The meal is also ended on a positive note because when the check is brought out, the server also brings house made, individually wrapped white chocolate tamales with almond pieces in corn husks. They're sweet and vanilla-y and just the perfect end to the meal. I always have a good experience at Canyon Cafe, and if you can - request either to be seated "out in the mall," or if the weather permits, "on the patio."
(4)Julie L.
I had always noticed Canyon Cafe on my few visits to Plaza Frontenac but never had a chance to try until date night last night... ...and we most certainly will be back! Several friends of mine recommended that I order the Pancho Enchiladas so I went with their suggestion and I was not disappointed. It was a very filling dish and when you pair it with the chips and salsa at your table you're more than full. My hubby went with his traditional "gotta try the burger" burger and he said it was pretty good. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff is very attentive. Those chips, they are to die for!! We made a reservation just in case but we had arrived early and they were more than happy to seat us upon arrival. The next time I go I'm going to have to try what they call the area's best margarita. Didn't get a chance last night but that just means I'll be headed back.
(4)Mina I.
Okay okay, I have to give this place it's full 5 stars now for these reasons: 1) Service is always prompt and quick (by that I mean I come to eat lunch here once a week and I am in and out within an hour and my drinks are always full). 2) The bar selection is full of variety and the bartenders are always in a fun mood! 3) About 3 weeks ago, I left my iPhone at the table that I was eating at during lunch and once I got back to work, I started freaking out and called up there and spoke to the manager who reassured me that their busser was so sweet and found my phone while cleaning up my table and left it locked in the back office of the restaurant so no one could steal it. I was definitely a happy customer after that. All in all, this is a great place to come eat with your family or have drinks on their patio with your girlfriends or plus one!
(5)beth w.
Manager was a bitch along with the hostess...so dingy and clueless. Decent food and lame happy hour policy. The service was good.
(1)Tiyo T.
Have dined twice recently, once for lunch and once for dinner. Service and food very good (mix of salads, burgers and quesadillas ordered). Kudos especially to manager Laura.
(4)Margo C.
Like Speed Tripping! What I like about dining at Canyon Cafe is that while I am there I feel like I have taken a quick trip to Sedona, Arizona. Not only the food, but the decor complete with Kokopelli, stonework, plants, and rustic wood transport me to the Southwest. We love the endless baskets of tri-colored chips with salsa. I had a Southwest Chicken Sandwich today with Crispy Fries as I was in the "I don't know what I feel like eating mode". I loved the crispy fries, light and crunchy. I have tried many of the dishes and overall I enjoy the food but what I really enjoy is the feel of being on vacation. Simple but true!
(4)Cristy K.
A little pricey, but always good! Fun atmosphere and good food! Love their blackened chicken salad and fish tacos!
(5)Steven B.
Big thumbs up for the Spinach & Portabella Mushroom Quesadilla. A meat lover like me was amazed at it's flavor and it has become one of my favorites. If you need "meat", Mama's Quesadilla is excellent with it's grilled chicken, fajita vegetables and Jack cheese. Salad lovers, order the Blackened Salmon Caesar and you will have the perfect lunch. Dieters, this is filling and bursting with flavor. "Limit 2 Margarita's" the Top Shelf Commemorative is top notch, enjoy two at the bar with house made chips and salsa, to have a perfect "Happy Hour".
(3)Bob S.
Went with a group of 4 based on yelp recommendations and everyone raved about their meal. Great service and loved the salsa. Will definitely go back next time in ST. Louis.
(4)Marissa R.
Always a great place for lunch or dinner. Recently when I went, I got Pacho's enchiladas. They were so tasty, they were a chicken enchilada covered with a spicy cheese sauce. There were three on the plate and that was more than plenty. The chips and salsa are always good.
(4)Monica B.
One of the things I love most about going to a Mexican/Southwest restaurant is the chips & salsa they set in front of you, like, the second you sit down. And it's free! The main reason we would typically order an appetizer is because we want FOOD FASTER when we're really hungry and just sitting there waiting is BORING. But when places give me free pre-meal snacks they're saving me money and quieting the roar in mah belly. And the chips &salsa at Canyon Cafe are definitely the best in the STL area, in my opinion. Blue & white corn tortilla chips, flatbread crisps with some kind of sweet & spicy mix on them and sweet potato chips, which I didn't think would go well with salsa but oh man, they totally do. We did order an appetizer once, the sedona spring rolls with roasted BBQ sauce and tossed greens...reeeeally good. But we usually go straight to the entree. We both love the canyon burger, which is gigantic! It's served on a jalapeno roll with bacon, cheese and just a light drizzle of BBQ sauce. Tip--their fries are totally fine, but go for the grilled/sauteed vegetables instead. Amazing. Zuchinni, squash, carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms. It makes you feel way better than if you just had the fries, which, to me, are nothing to write home about. I've also tried the seafood paella, which was one of the specials. I sincerely hope they bring that back soon...it was HUGE, with whole lobster tails, shrimp, clams, scallops and a spicy saffron sauce with grilled asparagus. I've never had to wait here but we also tend to avoid coming here on Friday night, etc. They have plenty of tables and the service is great.
(4)John R.
LOVE Canyon Cafe. Not one bad experience. The BESO margarita is a must try! The manager is always there and always makes an effort to come over and say hello. She doesn't remember my name, but she always says thanks for coming in again. The last visit they were so busy we sat at the bar and ate. A different experience but just as nice service. Go there!
(5)Tiff K.
Canyon Cafe has been one of my favorite spots for years. I love the mix of sweet potato and tortilla chips with their spicy/sweet salt. The service has always been good. I seem to usually get seated on the outer part of the restaurant, where you can see the rest of the mall, I like the open feeling. From the fire blazing decor outside to the comfortable seating inside the atmosphere is fantastic. Over the years the menu has changed a bit but there are always several vegetarian options. SPINACH & PORTABELLA MUSHROOM QUESADILLA is delicious, the mushroom is thick and juicy, the cheese creamy and the sauce delicious. The slaw is the perfect addition to any menu item. MARGARITA SOFT TACOS - Once again it's the slaw that really makes these. This is the item I order more than any other. I've also tried the pasta which was a little too spicy for my liking. Service has always been good, once I had to wait a long time for my party to arrive and they just kept bringing me iced tea and chips to nibble on. I had one instance where the chips were a little soggy and another where the slaw was lacking seasoning but those are my only less than perfect experiences.
(4)Kelly H.
I must say I wasn't enthused about venturing to this place due to the mediocre reviews, but my coworker Karyn S. said their salmon is "amazing". So I knew I had to give it a chance. We drove down Lindbergh in Karyn's bright red Jetta bumping to country music! We quickly arrived at Plaza Frontenac about 5 minutes later. We were immediately seated and introduced to our waiter. Now, Canyon Cafe has a lot of unique offerings that have set them apart from any other "tex-mex" restaurant I've been to. For starters they bring out a basket of chips which consist of 3 different flavors but I at the moment I can only remember two of the flavors (sweet potatoe and wonton). The wonton chip is "Amazing" that was definitely my fav and there were only two wonton chips in the whole basket! Moving on to the entrees...They had a special of the day which was BBQ salmon with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I am a BBQ girl so that is what I went with. Ade w. ordered what I was originally going to order the pecan salmon with sweet mashed potatoes Karyn S ordered the fish tacos with black beans. Look at the pics I posted the presentation for the fish tacos was amazing. The taco shell was orange on the outside and black in the inside....a beautiful contrast of colors! Then for dessert they bring out a piece of chocolate actually im not sure what it is...but its in the husk. It's like a little treat. They definitely have trademarks that set them apart. The price I didn't like so much at $14.95, It's not a place that I can frequent for lunch weekly only on special occasions. The food took awhile to come out so make sure you have time ie an hour and a half..so your manager won't yell at you for coming back late. Other than that I don't have any other complaints. Don't be discouraged by all the not so great reviews...give it a shot..and decide for yourself! I had a great time!
(4)Veronica M.
First of all, the chips and salsa are fantastic- seasoned, with a mixture of salty and sweet, crunchy and flaky. We were there for happy hour and the service was great. My drink was delivered about 2 minutes after I ordered it. Their specials are very inexpensive, and the food is really pretty good. The steak quesadilla was perfect, chicken quesadilla a little drier but stil good. The margaritas are awesome, and plentiful- if you ask, they'll keep 'em coming. Although this review is about happy hour (M-F 4-7P), I've also dined her for dinner. Unfortunately, I can't remember what I had- but I know I liked it. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Paul W.
This place is awesome ... Ask for Courtney!! The table side guacamole is so good and you can't find better chips & salsa!!!
(5)Bobby S.
I didn't know you could screw up such basic food. Sedona spring rolls are the same overlooked chicken in most of their dishes but edible. Bison meatloaf was dry and tasted like nothing but cumin. Cutting into a block doesn't make it look appetizing. It looks like something cooked in the morning, thrown in the fridge, the cut and reheated. The most disgusting thing ever was the pecan crab cake. Holy crap. I can eat almost anything but this was repulsive. Sweet, mushy, little crab, and no flavor. Still having nightmares. Ugh.
(1)Michael B.
I think the last time I was here was when I was a child so I didn't recognize anything. But wow the food is amazing, great flavor and quality. Also good sized portions for the price. Easily trumps other "tex-mex " places.
(5)Mark U.
A great place to stop by for lunch or dinner. This will have to be a brief review, but as I was in commenting on another place, thought I'd drop a quick review for Canyon Cafe. When we visit St. Louis, this is one of my wife's and my favorite places to have a meal. When we ask each other where we want to eat, Canyon is always at the top of the list! I usually go for the carnitas platter. Great, all the way around. The last several times we've had one of the "limit 2" margarita's. We love them. But seriously, limit 1 if you're driving! The chips and salsa is second to none. I've been known to ask for a sack to take home. They're that good!!!! I've taken the business cards for the managers a couple times. I wished I could find where I've put them. I've been meaning to write them with our compliments! Service: I can't think of a time where we've received anything less than exemplary service. Ambiance: you forget it's in a mall. Tex-Mex at it's best!
(5)Jennifer F.
On Sundays Lululemon has free yoga at 11am. I met up with a few of my lady friends, went to yoga, and decided to pop downstairs for a little lunch. We had our yoga mats in hand and wearing yoga clothes. We got to the counter and it was almost like the guy at the counter wanted us to sit outside based on what we were wearing. None of us were dressed ridiculous(yoga pants and a tank), and I don't think there is a dress code. But, we agreed to sit outside on the patio. Oh, but wait, it was at least 80+ degrees outside at that point. We had a waiter, who didn't quite know what was going on. Service was painfully slow. We actually asked other waiters where our waiter was. And the other waiter laughed about our waiters slowness and commented on how fast he thought he was....REALLY? Since they stuck us outside, our water needed to be constantly refilled, to the point where I got out my own water bottle and filled up my glass. Classy, right? I was thirsty! I had the roasted veggie angel hair pasta. It was really good, but the service killed it for me. Before he brought us the check, we asked for separate checks. I know in this day in age, that isn't hard, you just click a button. Still brought 1. Then we waited, and waited to check out. What could have been a quick 45 minute meal turned into a Broadway production and lasted twice as long. So, there you have it. Cast outside, given a bad waiter, no water and took a while. That about sums it up.
(2)B W.
Best (1) chips & salsa, (2) enchiladas, & (3) margaritas in the city of St. Louis. Try the Rico Rita--it's like a pina colada on crack. Caveat: Canyon is my summertime favorite due to the outdoor seating. Sitting in the mall can really kill the vibe when it's cold out...
(4)Chloe S.
Love this place! A bit expensive to go to all the time, but WORTH it. Uniquely varied menu of Southwest and Mexican fusion. TRY THE TABLE-SIDE GUACAMOLE!
(4)Jonathan H.
An open letter to all businesses and restaurants, but specifically Canyon Cafe: Customer service has become a tremendously lost art in this country. American businesses, apparently, take our business for granted. Therefore, they relagate customers to peasants status and treat them accordingly. Whatever happened to a nice smile, a quaint "hello", or the decency to just ask a table how they are doing? Apparently, this is a thing of the past. At a recent visit to Canyon Cafe, I was shocked at the level of unsophistication and poor customer service especially for a restaurant nestled in the ultra-expensive Plaza Frontenac. The restaurant on this week night was not overly packed and had only one large group. However, upon entering, our table could only be provided with one menu for four people. Really? One menu? Please note: more than half of the tables were empty and not everyone was seated at the same time! Where are your friggin' menus?!?!!? After settling in and waiting for a couple of our guests to arrived, we ordered cocktails. Trouble begins. The waiter gives the time honored excuse of "the bar is backed up." I'm sorry, but I don't give a flying a$$ if the bar is backed up. That is not my problem, that is yours. After waiting nearly 20 minutes, we receive our drinks. Please note that during this timeframe, we did order an appetizer. We then stopped the waiter to ask if we could order entrees. He seemed almost surprised at this request, but he obliged. Luckily, someone at our table asked about our appetizer to which he replied "Oh...I forgot to put it in. But, it will only take a moment to come out." 15 minutes later...our appetizer came. Another 15 minutes, and our entree came. People had come in after us, sat down, ordered, ate, paid and left before we received our entree. Throughout the meal, drink glasses went unfilled. Drink orders weren't taken often. Food arrived late. Etc. Etc. The worst part: there was a manager in the area. My dining companion mentioned that she had been sitting at a table with her friends for a good portion of our meal. After our check was dropped, the manager decided to actually do some work, and stopped by a few tables to see how things were. Correction: she stopped by two tables...of the 10 or so that had people. Then, she was right back to her friends talking about whatever nonsense there was to discuss. CERTAINLY it was not about the status of the restaurant or her servers. I was super excited to try out this place as I heard the food was great. The food was fine; not horrible but not the best ever. It was the service that was awful. In this economy, restaurants need to do what they can to keep customers coming, and I will not be going back to this place. To all owners of all restaurants: certainly the economy plays a factor in your survival. But not all restaurants are closing! Maybe...just maybe...it is because they serve good food at an affordable price with exemplary service. Maybe that is the key!
(2)Erin G.
Canyon Cafe is one of my favorite tex/mex restaurants. They have delicious chips and salsa, fish tacos (my regular), slaw, and a great margarita deal (a pitcher for about $20).
(5)Lauren D.
Best chips and salsa in St. Louis, in my opinion. There are 3 different kinds of chips (regular tortilla, sweet potato, and fluffy doughy slightly sweet kind), and the salsa is chunky and a little spicy with good flavor. I usually get the fish tacos, and I love the margarita slaw that comes with it. I've also had the spinach and portabello quesadilla, which is excellent. At the end of the meal, everyone gets a complimentary white chocolate tamale(?) thing, which is a perfect small bite of sweetness after the meal. I've always had pleasant servers and always leave satisfied with the food and experience. It's also fun to sit out in the mall and people watch!
(4)Sarah H.
Arrriba! If Chevy's has lost it's pizzaz for your, come to CC! And get what I got! 1)Top shelp Conmemorativo margarita is SO good and comes with your own personal shaker to refill your glass when it gets too low. Limit 2! 2) Fish tacos: delicious blackened fish (talapia?) in chipotle mayo with yummy "margarita slaw" and pico de gallo nestle next to a mini-tortilla bowl on black beans and rice. A note on the service: it was excellent last night. Our server was prompt and patient despite the fact we had a late fourth party (it was my BF, so he's forgiven!). The hostess could freeze your water with one stare, however, so guard your loins.
(4)Danielle W.
Canyon Cafe is in a very odd location. Frontenac Plaza! However, its a great place to relax, have a few margaritas after a hard long day of shopping! Canyon Cafe probably has the best chips and salsa around town. The sweet potato chips are to die for! You can order a whole basket if you ask nicely... The salsa is not too spicy, but not too bland either. Really perfect! I could probably eat the chips and salsa as my main meal. The last time I was at Canyon Cafe I had the MIxta grill, with grilled tilapia and rare tuna, with mixed veggies on the side. MM MM good. I usually just have the Tuna, however they both are excellent! The portions are huge also! Canyon Cafe is a great place to sit down, people watch, and enjoy a nice tex mex meal.
(4)Jenny P.
I have been here twice for lunch only and have not been impressed. I hear their margarita's are great, but the food, meh, not so much. I did not find much to choose from on the menu that sounded good. Maybe it's just me since I'm not a huge mexican lover, but who knows... The service was not great either - long waits and unorganized. I will only go back for the chips and salsa (which were AWESOME) and to try the margs.
(2)Chip K.
Just went here for the first time after wanting to try it forever. This place has amazing chips and salsa. Hiding in the basket with the multicolored chips are sweet potato chips (yum) and these crunchy wonton like things (really yum). The salsa is a little spicy, a little smoky, a lot fantastic. The entrees are a bit different than what you find at other area Mexican restaurants like El Nopal, El Maguey, and Las Margaritas (this is a good thing). My wife got some sort of cheesy peppery enchilada which was really good. I got a skillet enchilada (almost like a Mexican lasagna) and it was okay. Portions are adequate, but small by the standards set by other Mexican restaurants. Yet, the prices are similar to (if not a little higher than) what you'll find elsewhere. Anyway, it's a refreshing change of pace from the usual St. Louis Mexican fare. Chips and salsa are fantastic, food seems pretty good, and that's all I have to say about that.
(3)Breeah K.
The food here was nothing but show. On the menu the items looked interesting and sounded delicious. In reality it was less than mediocre. It was cold and the tastes were badly matched. I would not recommend this place to anyone except those who like chain mexican food.
(1)Liz A.
I'll usually grab lunch here if I'm shopping or drinks before a movie. The margaritas are awesome and the chips and salsa are very unique. If anything, just go to the bar and snack on these with drinks. The food really isn't that great, but it's alright. I usually get the Verde Enchiladas (I think that is what it's called) and some of the cheese dip (standard). I think the problem with the food is how it is prepared. Everything sounds great but just doesn't really come together the way you think it would. Service is good and I love the decor! ***I so jinxed myself! After writing this review I started craving their chips so I went out to eat here and the hostess was SO RUDE. I never confront the staff in restaurants (I've actually never felt compelled to) but I was :thisclose: to saying something to her. BOO blondie! However our server was awesome.
(3)Brew K.
I'm gonna do this review differently: Prologue: With (somewhat) original Mexican dishes, Canyon Cafe is nothing to sneeze at. It's good, not great. Pros: Good authentic-ish Mexican food Fast service Good location Cons: Not much.
(3)Mike O.
I loved this place! Great Tex-Mex, with some flair. I can't wait to go back and sample more of the menu. Good service, great food, decent prices. This one is high on my list.
(4)Kathy K.
This place never disappoints me. The food is always good. The service last time in October was a bit lacking- they admitted they were short on help and made the best of it. I love the sweet potato chips. Try their top shelf margarita! Comes in a shaker and is enough to share if you are a light drinker. The desserts are wonderful, too!
(4)Stefanie E.
I really like this place. I had no idea it was a chain. Probably because it's at Frontenac, which seems really separate from the chain world. Yes, Brio is attached to the parking lot, but Cardwell's is original and Canyon Cafe feels very similar. No matter, the basket of "chips" you get when you sit down is a unique assortment of fried root vegetables. They're so good. I really like the corn-crusted calamari. They're nice and tender and the breading is super, perfect with the chipotle remoulade you get to dip them in. I always order the blackened fish tacos. I like that they're not fried like Baja fish tacos are, and you get fresh pico de gallo and limes, southwest rice and black beans. The prices are pretty reasonable for an upscale southwest eatery in a tony mall like Frontenac.
(5)Derek C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after a movie last night, 2/25/09. Website says "open til 10". Walked in at 9:10 with about 15-20 people eating @ various tables and they told me "Closed early due to a slow night". Told host (not the mgr. as she was gone for the night acc. to him) that they should change posted business hours since that's how they operate. I was very disappointed b/c I had someone special with me and we were hungry! They pretty much suck because of this experience. Go eat Italian, German or Steak very close nearby instead after a flick at Frontenac...don't count on this place.
(1)Raymond S.
We've been enjoying cc for years. I've never had a bad meal yet. This not your standard mexican joint-more southwestern. There salsa is awesome and the adobo chicken is my favorite with a lot of kick. If I moved away, this is one of those places that I would miss.
(5)Sue J.
This is always a good casual place to go for a weeknight dinner. I love the assortment of corn and sweet potato chips provided before dinner. The margaritas are above average. My favorite dish is the fish tacos. I love the cabbage slaw and other items that come with it. The fish taco entree is fresh and fairly healthy (I think) and in my opinion the best in town. It also like the tilapia salad with the citrus marinade that makes a blah fish like tilapia sing . They sometimes have a seafood paella special that has a very good flavor, large amount of seafood, and is better than other spanish restaurants in town. Too bad it's not a regular item on the menu. I also love the white chocolate tamale sometimes provided at the end of the meal. Despite being a chain, the food is above average in quality and flavor. Service is good. Overall, a good place to grab a drink and bite on a weeknight or before the movies at Frontenac.
(5)Ashley S.
The food is tex-mex so I missed the authentic mexican ingredients but the chips and salsa were so amazing I will forgive them anything. The puffy sweet chips and the fried plantains are the best and the salsa is pretty good too. This place was fun and casual and the wait staff rocked. We went as a group and had no trouble getting seated or served. Everyone should try once just for chips and salsa.
(4)Amanda Z.
I would give this place 3 stars if it weren't for their completely amazing chips and salsa. I wish this place was like Fazoli's and I could just sit and eat these for a minimal price all night. I would probably go here every day and gain dozens of pounds from these things. They are simply the best chips I have ever had at a restaurant. DELICIOUS. Aside from the chips and salsa, the menu is fairly standard. Back in my meat eating days, I loved the fish tacos at this place. Unlike most of the restaurants in St. Louis, they truly know how to make a fish taco and don't deep fry the fish to a point so greasy it's hardly identifiable as healthy. Know, I stick with the veggie options, and like most Mexican restaurants, this is an easy place to find many good ones. Burritos, fajitas, and other veggie assorted goodness dominate my veggie choices here. I don't usually hang out in Frontenac, but if I am catching a movie I like to hit this place up for dinner first. It always makes for a nice evening, and surprisingly enough, the prices here don't break the bank the way you would expect a good Frontenac establishment to. Oh, and they have a really cute patio out front with huge tiki torches and comfortable tables. On a nice night, it's a great place to enjoy a meal with friends.
(4)Nancy B.
Disappointed with Canyon Cafe got there for early dinner at 5pm on Saturday told the wait was an hour, there were at least 20 open tables we waited nearly the entire hour and was finally able to snag a table at the bar. On to the food, chips and salsa outstanding good margarita but expensive that is were it ended none of the food was any better than mediocre. Waiter though was one bright spot he did a great job
(2)Megan C.
Should have yelped it first! Lots of low ratings and I'm not surprised. I don't know how a restaurant in Missouri can serve a steak like that and not apologize for making me eat it! The fillet was so tough on the outside and a little bloody on the inside. I ordered medium rare and have never seen a steak cooked so badly. I didn't even know it was possible to ruin a steak that badly. The steamed spinach was edible. I was enticed by the patio (on my way to Flemings the day before) and tried to give it a shot. Should have just eaten dirt instead.
(1)Shari C.
Great for happy hour! Service was excellent. Even when the fish tacos were disappointing, the server sent the manager right over, who was quick to fix the problem and we had tasty quesadillas instead. Margaritas for $ 3.00 were topnotch. We will be back!
(4)Tanya M.
i have been here once and have not been back! it was not that it was bad or anything. i am from the east side and feel it is not special enough to make a trip there to eat lunch. everything has some sort of peppers in it. whether it is veggie or cheese. i like spice in my food, but not peppers of any kind. not even green peppers. so it is just not my kind of place. i would go back if i thought it was special enough to drive all that way. but really i can get a better chicken sandwich closer to home. the decor was cool though
(3)Sarah H.
Canyon Cafe is delicious. It's located in the ritzy Plaza Frontenac mall, so you'll find yourself eating among St. Louis bluebloods. Regardless, my sister brought her five month old baby, who the restaurant easily accomodated with an overturned high chair to place her car seat in, and the noise level was loud enough for the baby not to disrupt other diners when she got fussy. The basket of homemade chips and salsa they bring you to munch on while you look over the menu are so good - you'll have to keep yourself from spoiling your appetite on these things! Canyon Cafe claims to have St. Louis's best margaritas, so I had to try one. I ordered the Grand Canyon margarita , not realizing it was not your typical 'rita (with prickly pear juice, so it's pink), and it ended up being too sweet for my taste. Had I ordered just your standard margarita, I might have been more impressed. For my entree, I got the spinach and mushroom quesadilla, and I loved it. My dining companions enjoyed their food as well. A note about service here - the entrees were delivered just as my sister's baby needed a diaper change, so our waiter brought a place to cover my sister's meal to keep it warm while she was on diaper duty. Canyon Cafe is a welcome change from ubiquitous national chain restaurants, even though it is a mini chain itself.
(5)Sarah F.
My parents live in Ladue, so we decided to meet here for lunch today. I've gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. The last time I came to the Canyon cafe was about 10 years ago, and the food is better than back then. I had the blackened fish tacos, and although the fish was a little dry (read: overcooked), the rest of my meal was pretty tasty. The tacos came with a fresh coleslaw, rice and black beans. I was happy with the level of spice: the food wasn't overly salty (something that "Mexican" restaurants often do). This place is "Tex-Mex", and I enjoyed the fact that they do not over-cheese their food too! Overall, for a place in Ladue, it ain't half bad and I would go again. Also, a good selection of vegetarian fair. My parents both had the mushroom and spinach quesadillas and were very happy. Our service was great; fortunately we didn't experience any of the complaints which other Yelpers spoke of.
(4)Hans G.
Those nachos and salsa are, indeed delightful. Unfortunately, they've been the only bright spot in an otherwise dull and disappointing experience for my last three visits. There's much better food very nearby, e.g. Cardwell's and Brio.
(2)Lauren D.
It was between two stars and three when I remembered their grilled chicken vegetable pasta. This is the sort of restaurant where I go just for the grilled chicken vegetable pasta. Really tastey. The southwestern food on the menu isn't great. They have a good bbq burger and some good margaritas. It's also in a mall - a HIGH CLASS mall, granted - but there is a little outdoor area. Servers range from nice to snooty.
(3)Derek C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after a movie last night, 2/25/09. Website says "open til 10". Walked in at 9:10 with about 15-20 people eating @ various tables and they told me "Closed early due to a slow night". Told host (not the mgr. as she was gone for the night acc. to him) that they should change posted business hours since that's how they operate. I was very disappointed b/c I had someone special with me and we were hungry! They pretty much suck because of this experience. Go eat Italian, German or Steak very close nearby instead after a flick at Frontenac...don't count on this place.
(1)Raymond S.
We've been enjoying cc for years. I've never had a bad meal yet. This not your standard mexican joint-more southwestern. There salsa is awesome and the adobo chicken is my favorite with a lot of kick. If I moved away, this is one of those places that I would miss.
(5)Sue J.
This is always a good casual place to go for a weeknight dinner. I love the assortment of corn and sweet potato chips provided before dinner. The margaritas are above average. My favorite dish is the fish tacos. I love the cabbage slaw and other items that come with it. The fish taco entree is fresh and fairly healthy (I think) and in my opinion the best in town. It also like the tilapia salad with the citrus marinade that makes a blah fish like tilapia sing . They sometimes have a seafood paella special that has a very good flavor, large amount of seafood, and is better than other spanish restaurants in town. Too bad it's not a regular item on the menu. I also love the white chocolate tamale sometimes provided at the end of the meal. Despite being a chain, the food is above average in quality and flavor. Service is good. Overall, a good place to grab a drink and bite on a weeknight or before the movies at Frontenac.
(5)Ashley S.
The food is tex-mex so I missed the authentic mexican ingredients but the chips and salsa were so amazing I will forgive them anything. The puffy sweet chips and the fried plantains are the best and the salsa is pretty good too. This place was fun and casual and the wait staff rocked. We went as a group and had no trouble getting seated or served. Everyone should try once just for chips and salsa.
(4)Amanda Z.
I would give this place 3 stars if it weren't for their completely amazing chips and salsa. I wish this place was like Fazoli's and I could just sit and eat these for a minimal price all night. I would probably go here every day and gain dozens of pounds from these things. They are simply the best chips I have ever had at a restaurant. DELICIOUS. Aside from the chips and salsa, the menu is fairly standard. Back in my meat eating days, I loved the fish tacos at this place. Unlike most of the restaurants in St. Louis, they truly know how to make a fish taco and don't deep fry the fish to a point so greasy it's hardly identifiable as healthy. Know, I stick with the veggie options, and like most Mexican restaurants, this is an easy place to find many good ones. Burritos, fajitas, and other veggie assorted goodness dominate my veggie choices here. I don't usually hang out in Frontenac, but if I am catching a movie I like to hit this place up for dinner first. It always makes for a nice evening, and surprisingly enough, the prices here don't break the bank the way you would expect a good Frontenac establishment to. Oh, and they have a really cute patio out front with huge tiki torches and comfortable tables. On a nice night, it's a great place to enjoy a meal with friends.
(4)Nancy B.
Disappointed with Canyon Cafe got there for early dinner at 5pm on Saturday told the wait was an hour, there were at least 20 open tables we waited nearly the entire hour and was finally able to snag a table at the bar. On to the food, chips and salsa outstanding good margarita but expensive that is were it ended none of the food was any better than mediocre. Waiter though was one bright spot he did a great job
(2)Megan C.
Should have yelped it first! Lots of low ratings and I'm not surprised. I don't know how a restaurant in Missouri can serve a steak like that and not apologize for making me eat it! The fillet was so tough on the outside and a little bloody on the inside. I ordered medium rare and have never seen a steak cooked so badly. I didn't even know it was possible to ruin a steak that badly. The steamed spinach was edible. I was enticed by the patio (on my way to Flemings the day before) and tried to give it a shot. Should have just eaten dirt instead.
(1)Shari C.
Great for happy hour! Service was excellent. Even when the fish tacos were disappointing, the server sent the manager right over, who was quick to fix the problem and we had tasty quesadillas instead. Margaritas for $ 3.00 were topnotch. We will be back!
(4)Tanya M.
i have been here once and have not been back! it was not that it was bad or anything. i am from the east side and feel it is not special enough to make a trip there to eat lunch. everything has some sort of peppers in it. whether it is veggie or cheese. i like spice in my food, but not peppers of any kind. not even green peppers. so it is just not my kind of place. i would go back if i thought it was special enough to drive all that way. but really i can get a better chicken sandwich closer to home. the decor was cool though
(3)Sarah H.
Canyon Cafe is delicious. It's located in the ritzy Plaza Frontenac mall, so you'll find yourself eating among St. Louis bluebloods. Regardless, my sister brought her five month old baby, who the restaurant easily accomodated with an overturned high chair to place her car seat in, and the noise level was loud enough for the baby not to disrupt other diners when she got fussy. The basket of homemade chips and salsa they bring you to munch on while you look over the menu are so good - you'll have to keep yourself from spoiling your appetite on these things! Canyon Cafe claims to have St. Louis's best margaritas, so I had to try one. I ordered the Grand Canyon margarita , not realizing it was not your typical 'rita (with prickly pear juice, so it's pink), and it ended up being too sweet for my taste. Had I ordered just your standard margarita, I might have been more impressed. For my entree, I got the spinach and mushroom quesadilla, and I loved it. My dining companions enjoyed their food as well. A note about service here - the entrees were delivered just as my sister's baby needed a diaper change, so our waiter brought a place to cover my sister's meal to keep it warm while she was on diaper duty. Canyon Cafe is a welcome change from ubiquitous national chain restaurants, even though it is a mini chain itself.
(5)Sarah F.
My parents live in Ladue, so we decided to meet here for lunch today. I've gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. The last time I came to the Canyon cafe was about 10 years ago, and the food is better than back then. I had the blackened fish tacos, and although the fish was a little dry (read: overcooked), the rest of my meal was pretty tasty. The tacos came with a fresh coleslaw, rice and black beans. I was happy with the level of spice: the food wasn't overly salty (something that "Mexican" restaurants often do). This place is "Tex-Mex", and I enjoyed the fact that they do not over-cheese their food too! Overall, for a place in Ladue, it ain't half bad and I would go again. Also, a good selection of vegetarian fair. My parents both had the mushroom and spinach quesadillas and were very happy. Our service was great; fortunately we didn't experience any of the complaints which other Yelpers spoke of.
(4)Hans G.
Those nachos and salsa are, indeed delightful. Unfortunately, they've been the only bright spot in an otherwise dull and disappointing experience for my last three visits. There's much better food very nearby, e.g. Cardwell's and Brio.
(2)Lauren D.
It was between two stars and three when I remembered their grilled chicken vegetable pasta. This is the sort of restaurant where I go just for the grilled chicken vegetable pasta. Really tastey. The southwestern food on the menu isn't great. They have a good bbq burger and some good margaritas. It's also in a mall - a HIGH CLASS mall, granted - but there is a little outdoor area. Servers range from nice to snooty.
(3)Margo C.
Like Speed Tripping! What I like about dining at Canyon Cafe is that while I am there I feel like I have taken a quick trip to Sedona, Arizona. Not only the food, but the decor complete with Kokopelli, stonework, plants, and rustic wood transport me to the Southwest. We love the endless baskets of tri-colored chips with salsa. I had a Southwest Chicken Sandwich today with Crispy Fries as I was in the "I don't know what I feel like eating mode". I loved the crispy fries, light and crunchy. I have tried many of the dishes and overall I enjoy the food but what I really enjoy is the feel of being on vacation. Simple but true!
(4)Cristy K.
A little pricey, but always good! Fun atmosphere and good food! Love their blackened chicken salad and fish tacos!
(5)Steven B.
Big thumbs up for the Spinach & Portabella Mushroom Quesadilla. A meat lover like me was amazed at it's flavor and it has become one of my favorites. If you need "meat", Mama's Quesadilla is excellent with it's grilled chicken, fajita vegetables and Jack cheese. Salad lovers, order the Blackened Salmon Caesar and you will have the perfect lunch. Dieters, this is filling and bursting with flavor. "Limit 2 Margarita's" the Top Shelf Commemorative is top notch, enjoy two at the bar with house made chips and salsa, to have a perfect "Happy Hour".
(3)Bob S.
Went with a group of 4 based on yelp recommendations and everyone raved about their meal. Great service and loved the salsa. Will definitely go back next time in ST. Louis.
(4)Marissa R.
Always a great place for lunch or dinner. Recently when I went, I got Pacho's enchiladas. They were so tasty, they were a chicken enchilada covered with a spicy cheese sauce. There were three on the plate and that was more than plenty. The chips and salsa are always good.
(4)Monica B.
One of the things I love most about going to a Mexican/Southwest restaurant is the chips & salsa they set in front of you, like, the second you sit down. And it's free! The main reason we would typically order an appetizer is because we want FOOD FASTER when we're really hungry and just sitting there waiting is BORING. But when places give me free pre-meal snacks they're saving me money and quieting the roar in mah belly. And the chips &salsa at Canyon Cafe are definitely the best in the STL area, in my opinion. Blue & white corn tortilla chips, flatbread crisps with some kind of sweet & spicy mix on them and sweet potato chips, which I didn't think would go well with salsa but oh man, they totally do. We did order an appetizer once, the sedona spring rolls with roasted BBQ sauce and tossed greens...reeeeally good. But we usually go straight to the entree. We both love the canyon burger, which is gigantic! It's served on a jalapeno roll with bacon, cheese and just a light drizzle of BBQ sauce. Tip--their fries are totally fine, but go for the grilled/sauteed vegetables instead. Amazing. Zuchinni, squash, carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms. It makes you feel way better than if you just had the fries, which, to me, are nothing to write home about. I've also tried the seafood paella, which was one of the specials. I sincerely hope they bring that back soon...it was HUGE, with whole lobster tails, shrimp, clams, scallops and a spicy saffron sauce with grilled asparagus. I've never had to wait here but we also tend to avoid coming here on Friday night, etc. They have plenty of tables and the service is great.
(4)John R.
LOVE Canyon Cafe. Not one bad experience. The BESO margarita is a must try! The manager is always there and always makes an effort to come over and say hello. She doesn't remember my name, but she always says thanks for coming in again. The last visit they were so busy we sat at the bar and ate. A different experience but just as nice service. Go there!
(5)Tiff K.
Canyon Cafe has been one of my favorite spots for years. I love the mix of sweet potato and tortilla chips with their spicy/sweet salt. The service has always been good. I seem to usually get seated on the outer part of the restaurant, where you can see the rest of the mall, I like the open feeling. From the fire blazing decor outside to the comfortable seating inside the atmosphere is fantastic. Over the years the menu has changed a bit but there are always several vegetarian options. SPINACH & PORTABELLA MUSHROOM QUESADILLA is delicious, the mushroom is thick and juicy, the cheese creamy and the sauce delicious. The slaw is the perfect addition to any menu item. MARGARITA SOFT TACOS - Once again it's the slaw that really makes these. This is the item I order more than any other. I've also tried the pasta which was a little too spicy for my liking. Service has always been good, once I had to wait a long time for my party to arrive and they just kept bringing me iced tea and chips to nibble on. I had one instance where the chips were a little soggy and another where the slaw was lacking seasoning but those are my only less than perfect experiences.
(4)Kelly H.
I must say I wasn't enthused about venturing to this place due to the mediocre reviews, but my coworker Karyn S. said their salmon is "amazing". So I knew I had to give it a chance. We drove down Lindbergh in Karyn's bright red Jetta bumping to country music! We quickly arrived at Plaza Frontenac about 5 minutes later. We were immediately seated and introduced to our waiter. Now, Canyon Cafe has a lot of unique offerings that have set them apart from any other "tex-mex" restaurant I've been to. For starters they bring out a basket of chips which consist of 3 different flavors but I at the moment I can only remember two of the flavors (sweet potatoe and wonton). The wonton chip is "Amazing" that was definitely my fav and there were only two wonton chips in the whole basket! Moving on to the entrees...They had a special of the day which was BBQ salmon with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I am a BBQ girl so that is what I went with. Ade w. ordered what I was originally going to order the pecan salmon with sweet mashed potatoes Karyn S ordered the fish tacos with black beans. Look at the pics I posted the presentation for the fish tacos was amazing. The taco shell was orange on the outside and black in the inside....a beautiful contrast of colors! Then for dessert they bring out a piece of chocolate actually im not sure what it is...but its in the husk. It's like a little treat. They definitely have trademarks that set them apart. The price I didn't like so much at $14.95, It's not a place that I can frequent for lunch weekly only on special occasions. The food took awhile to come out so make sure you have time ie an hour and a half..so your manager won't yell at you for coming back late. Other than that I don't have any other complaints. Don't be discouraged by all the not so great reviews...give it a shot..and decide for yourself! I had a great time!
(4)Veronica M.
First of all, the chips and salsa are fantastic- seasoned, with a mixture of salty and sweet, crunchy and flaky. We were there for happy hour and the service was great. My drink was delivered about 2 minutes after I ordered it. Their specials are very inexpensive, and the food is really pretty good. The steak quesadilla was perfect, chicken quesadilla a little drier but stil good. The margaritas are awesome, and plentiful- if you ask, they'll keep 'em coming. Although this review is about happy hour (M-F 4-7P), I've also dined her for dinner. Unfortunately, I can't remember what I had- but I know I liked it. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Paul W.
This place is awesome ... Ask for Courtney!! The table side guacamole is so good and you can't find better chips & salsa!!!
(5)Bobby S.
I didn't know you could screw up such basic food. Sedona spring rolls are the same overlooked chicken in most of their dishes but edible. Bison meatloaf was dry and tasted like nothing but cumin. Cutting into a block doesn't make it look appetizing. It looks like something cooked in the morning, thrown in the fridge, the cut and reheated. The most disgusting thing ever was the pecan crab cake. Holy crap. I can eat almost anything but this was repulsive. Sweet, mushy, little crab, and no flavor. Still having nightmares. Ugh.
(1)Michael B.
I think the last time I was here was when I was a child so I didn't recognize anything. But wow the food is amazing, great flavor and quality. Also good sized portions for the price. Easily trumps other "tex-mex " places.
(5)Mark U.
A great place to stop by for lunch or dinner. This will have to be a brief review, but as I was in commenting on another place, thought I'd drop a quick review for Canyon Cafe. When we visit St. Louis, this is one of my wife's and my favorite places to have a meal. When we ask each other where we want to eat, Canyon is always at the top of the list! I usually go for the carnitas platter. Great, all the way around. The last several times we've had one of the "limit 2" margarita's. We love them. But seriously, limit 1 if you're driving! The chips and salsa is second to none. I've been known to ask for a sack to take home. They're that good!!!! I've taken the business cards for the managers a couple times. I wished I could find where I've put them. I've been meaning to write them with our compliments! Service: I can't think of a time where we've received anything less than exemplary service. Ambiance: you forget it's in a mall. Tex-Mex at it's best!
(5)Jennifer F.
On Sundays Lululemon has free yoga at 11am. I met up with a few of my lady friends, went to yoga, and decided to pop downstairs for a little lunch. We had our yoga mats in hand and wearing yoga clothes. We got to the counter and it was almost like the guy at the counter wanted us to sit outside based on what we were wearing. None of us were dressed ridiculous(yoga pants and a tank), and I don't think there is a dress code. But, we agreed to sit outside on the patio. Oh, but wait, it was at least 80+ degrees outside at that point. We had a waiter, who didn't quite know what was going on. Service was painfully slow. We actually asked other waiters where our waiter was. And the other waiter laughed about our waiters slowness and commented on how fast he thought he was....REALLY? Since they stuck us outside, our water needed to be constantly refilled, to the point where I got out my own water bottle and filled up my glass. Classy, right? I was thirsty! I had the roasted veggie angel hair pasta. It was really good, but the service killed it for me. Before he brought us the check, we asked for separate checks. I know in this day in age, that isn't hard, you just click a button. Still brought 1. Then we waited, and waited to check out. What could have been a quick 45 minute meal turned into a Broadway production and lasted twice as long. So, there you have it. Cast outside, given a bad waiter, no water and took a while. That about sums it up.
(2)B W.
Best (1) chips & salsa, (2) enchiladas, & (3) margaritas in the city of St. Louis. Try the Rico Rita--it's like a pina colada on crack. Caveat: Canyon is my summertime favorite due to the outdoor seating. Sitting in the mall can really kill the vibe when it's cold out...
(4)Chloe S.
Love this place! A bit expensive to go to all the time, but WORTH it. Uniquely varied menu of Southwest and Mexican fusion. TRY THE TABLE-SIDE GUACAMOLE!
(4)Jonathan H.
An open letter to all businesses and restaurants, but specifically Canyon Cafe: Customer service has become a tremendously lost art in this country. American businesses, apparently, take our business for granted. Therefore, they relagate customers to peasants status and treat them accordingly. Whatever happened to a nice smile, a quaint "hello", or the decency to just ask a table how they are doing? Apparently, this is a thing of the past. At a recent visit to Canyon Cafe, I was shocked at the level of unsophistication and poor customer service especially for a restaurant nestled in the ultra-expensive Plaza Frontenac. The restaurant on this week night was not overly packed and had only one large group. However, upon entering, our table could only be provided with one menu for four people. Really? One menu? Please note: more than half of the tables were empty and not everyone was seated at the same time! Where are your friggin' menus?!?!!? After settling in and waiting for a couple of our guests to arrived, we ordered cocktails. Trouble begins. The waiter gives the time honored excuse of "the bar is backed up." I'm sorry, but I don't give a flying a$$ if the bar is backed up. That is not my problem, that is yours. After waiting nearly 20 minutes, we receive our drinks. Please note that during this timeframe, we did order an appetizer. We then stopped the waiter to ask if we could order entrees. He seemed almost surprised at this request, but he obliged. Luckily, someone at our table asked about our appetizer to which he replied "Oh...I forgot to put it in. But, it will only take a moment to come out." 15 minutes later...our appetizer came. Another 15 minutes, and our entree came. People had come in after us, sat down, ordered, ate, paid and left before we received our entree. Throughout the meal, drink glasses went unfilled. Drink orders weren't taken often. Food arrived late. Etc. Etc. The worst part: there was a manager in the area. My dining companion mentioned that she had been sitting at a table with her friends for a good portion of our meal. After our check was dropped, the manager decided to actually do some work, and stopped by a few tables to see how things were. Correction: she stopped by two tables...of the 10 or so that had people. Then, she was right back to her friends talking about whatever nonsense there was to discuss. CERTAINLY it was not about the status of the restaurant or her servers. I was super excited to try out this place as I heard the food was great. The food was fine; not horrible but not the best ever. It was the service that was awful. In this economy, restaurants need to do what they can to keep customers coming, and I will not be going back to this place. To all owners of all restaurants: certainly the economy plays a factor in your survival. But not all restaurants are closing! Maybe...just maybe...it is because they serve good food at an affordable price with exemplary service. Maybe that is the key!
(2)Erin G.
Canyon Cafe is one of my favorite tex/mex restaurants. They have delicious chips and salsa, fish tacos (my regular), slaw, and a great margarita deal (a pitcher for about $20).
(5)Lauren D.
Best chips and salsa in St. Louis, in my opinion. There are 3 different kinds of chips (regular tortilla, sweet potato, and fluffy doughy slightly sweet kind), and the salsa is chunky and a little spicy with good flavor. I usually get the fish tacos, and I love the margarita slaw that comes with it. I've also had the spinach and portabello quesadilla, which is excellent. At the end of the meal, everyone gets a complimentary white chocolate tamale(?) thing, which is a perfect small bite of sweetness after the meal. I've always had pleasant servers and always leave satisfied with the food and experience. It's also fun to sit out in the mall and people watch!
(4)Sarah H.
Arrriba! If Chevy's has lost it's pizzaz for your, come to CC! And get what I got! 1)Top shelp Conmemorativo margarita is SO good and comes with your own personal shaker to refill your glass when it gets too low. Limit 2! 2) Fish tacos: delicious blackened fish (talapia?) in chipotle mayo with yummy "margarita slaw" and pico de gallo nestle next to a mini-tortilla bowl on black beans and rice. A note on the service: it was excellent last night. Our server was prompt and patient despite the fact we had a late fourth party (it was my BF, so he's forgiven!). The hostess could freeze your water with one stare, however, so guard your loins.
(4)Danielle W.
Canyon Cafe is in a very odd location. Frontenac Plaza! However, its a great place to relax, have a few margaritas after a hard long day of shopping! Canyon Cafe probably has the best chips and salsa around town. The sweet potato chips are to die for! You can order a whole basket if you ask nicely... The salsa is not too spicy, but not too bland either. Really perfect! I could probably eat the chips and salsa as my main meal. The last time I was at Canyon Cafe I had the MIxta grill, with grilled tilapia and rare tuna, with mixed veggies on the side. MM MM good. I usually just have the Tuna, however they both are excellent! The portions are huge also! Canyon Cafe is a great place to sit down, people watch, and enjoy a nice tex mex meal.
(4)Jenny P.
I have been here twice for lunch only and have not been impressed. I hear their margarita's are great, but the food, meh, not so much. I did not find much to choose from on the menu that sounded good. Maybe it's just me since I'm not a huge mexican lover, but who knows... The service was not great either - long waits and unorganized. I will only go back for the chips and salsa (which were AWESOME) and to try the margs.
(2)Chip K.
Just went here for the first time after wanting to try it forever. This place has amazing chips and salsa. Hiding in the basket with the multicolored chips are sweet potato chips (yum) and these crunchy wonton like things (really yum). The salsa is a little spicy, a little smoky, a lot fantastic. The entrees are a bit different than what you find at other area Mexican restaurants like El Nopal, El Maguey, and Las Margaritas (this is a good thing). My wife got some sort of cheesy peppery enchilada which was really good. I got a skillet enchilada (almost like a Mexican lasagna) and it was okay. Portions are adequate, but small by the standards set by other Mexican restaurants. Yet, the prices are similar to (if not a little higher than) what you'll find elsewhere. Anyway, it's a refreshing change of pace from the usual St. Louis Mexican fare. Chips and salsa are fantastic, food seems pretty good, and that's all I have to say about that.
(3)Breeah K.
The food here was nothing but show. On the menu the items looked interesting and sounded delicious. In reality it was less than mediocre. It was cold and the tastes were badly matched. I would not recommend this place to anyone except those who like chain mexican food.
(1)Liz A.
I'll usually grab lunch here if I'm shopping or drinks before a movie. The margaritas are awesome and the chips and salsa are very unique. If anything, just go to the bar and snack on these with drinks. The food really isn't that great, but it's alright. I usually get the Verde Enchiladas (I think that is what it's called) and some of the cheese dip (standard). I think the problem with the food is how it is prepared. Everything sounds great but just doesn't really come together the way you think it would. Service is good and I love the decor! ***I so jinxed myself! After writing this review I started craving their chips so I went out to eat here and the hostess was SO RUDE. I never confront the staff in restaurants (I've actually never felt compelled to) but I was :thisclose: to saying something to her. BOO blondie! However our server was awesome.
(3)Brew K.
I'm gonna do this review differently: Prologue: With (somewhat) original Mexican dishes, Canyon Cafe is nothing to sneeze at. It's good, not great. Pros: Good authentic-ish Mexican food Fast service Good location Cons: Not much.
(3)Mike O.
I loved this place! Great Tex-Mex, with some flair. I can't wait to go back and sample more of the menu. Good service, great food, decent prices. This one is high on my list.
(4)Kathy K.
This place never disappoints me. The food is always good. The service last time in October was a bit lacking- they admitted they were short on help and made the best of it. I love the sweet potato chips. Try their top shelf margarita! Comes in a shaker and is enough to share if you are a light drinker. The desserts are wonderful, too!
(4)Stefanie E.
I really like this place. I had no idea it was a chain. Probably because it's at Frontenac, which seems really separate from the chain world. Yes, Brio is attached to the parking lot, but Cardwell's is original and Canyon Cafe feels very similar. No matter, the basket of "chips" you get when you sit down is a unique assortment of fried root vegetables. They're so good. I really like the corn-crusted calamari. They're nice and tender and the breading is super, perfect with the chipotle remoulade you get to dip them in. I always order the blackened fish tacos. I like that they're not fried like Baja fish tacos are, and you get fresh pico de gallo and limes, southwest rice and black beans. The prices are pretty reasonable for an upscale southwest eatery in a tony mall like Frontenac.
(5)