It’s so easy to do mediocre Mexican food - smotherings of chillis and tomato paste can hide a multitude of sins. If you’ve had a bad experience before, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Cactus Cantina, in the Rydges Plaza Hotel, is decidedly different. Yes, there’s heat aplenty available for those who thrive on it, but in every dish the different ingredients and flavours are subtly balanced and complement each other perfectly.

After a warm welcome from owner Rudy Rivas, I knew Cactus Cantina was going to be different as a complimentary snack of tacos arrived. Forget the cardboard triangles that come out of a packet - these were fresh, delicately crisp and served with a salsa to die for. In fact, if you’re feeling peckish when you enter the restaurant, it’s easy to prematurely pig out on the tacos alone!

Talking of snacks, if you’re a heat-seeking missile like yours truly ask your waiter for a bowl of the Cantina’s pickled jalepenos. Just have a drink handy - I plumped for one of their famous frozen margueritas. Absolutely yum but drink cautiously if you want to avoid one of those “frozen brain” moments!

Having already filled a decent proportion of the not-inconsiderable Goldstraw tum up with the aforesaid tacos I decided to forego a starter on this occasion, although the quesadillas in particular (choose from chicken or beef, regular or large) were sorely tempting.

Instead I went for one of my real Mexican favourites - the chimichanga. This is a burrito of huge proportions (chicken, beef or cheese for the vegetarians among you) deep fried until a gorgeous golden brown. I plumped for chicken and a platter of intimidating proportions soon arrived at my table.

The Cactus Cantina chimichanga is topped with the restaurant’s home-made sauce, cheddar cheese and sour cream. It’s served with Mexican rice and refried beans.

My fellow diners were soon all charging into similarly delicious challenges, including some top notch prawn fajitas.

Mexican food is traditionally hearty and filling, so again we said adios to any thought of dessert. The failure of most people to make that stage is possibly reflected in the brevity of the dessert menu!

With great service and a convivial atmosphere, Cactus Cantina brings a genuine “South of the Border” experience to the heart of Dubai.

• During Ramadan Cactus Cantina is open from 12 noon through to 1am. It’s “sister” restaurant in The Rydges Plaza, Billy Blues, is open from 6pm to 1am. For more information on Cactus Cantina visit its website at http://www.cactuscantinadubai.com
• Have you already dined at Cactus Cantina? Share your dining experience with other UAEasy.com readers in our new FEEDBack restaurant review forum.

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  Here’s a great Ramadan competition and offer from Cactus Cantina and UAEasy.com. Enter and you could win a complimentary meal for four at Cactus Cantina. In addition all entrants will receive a voucher for a complimentary starter at the restaurant - or alternatively arrive by taxi and Cactus Cantina will deduct your arrival fare from the bill (on production of receipt).

  To enter, simply tell us the main ingredient of a marguerita. Send your answer to competitions@uaeasy.com by clicking here and we’ll send you a voucher that entitles you to one of those great choices. Please note, only one voucher per person, offer is limited and subject to withdrawal without notice.