(‘Long’ John Baldry) – Wahaca, Canary Wharf
A couple of weeks ago I met some friends at Canary Wharf after dropping some engraving work at the Tiffany shop; it’s a long story. Two weeks later the work was ready for collection, so another trip to Canary Wharf was required.
This time we decided to visit Wahaca, the Mexican chain founded by ‘Masterchef’ winner Thomasina Myers. I’ve tried the Bluewater branch and enjoyed it, even if the food was a little on the mild side for my palate. My wife and I visited Mexico a few times and had to inform the waiters that I was not American and I was happy to go for full on spice.
Outside Wahaca
Outside Wahaca, Canary Wharf
Outside Wahaca, Canary Wharf
Wahaca is upstairs, to the east of One Canada Square, close to ‘Canada square Park’, where there was an arts and crafts exposition in a marquee.
We arrived shortly before one, having visited the aforementioned exposition, Wahaca wasn’t busy, but a few tables were occupied. Quite a few tables had young children, which was a concern, but we were steered to a quiet table away from the kids.
The place mats double as the menu, and our waiter brought us pre-printed ‘post it’ notes with the day’s specials.
Spring Specials
For starters, Kit and I had Crispy prawn tacos , a couple of small crispy corn tortillas stuffed with chopped prawn, chillies, spring onion & coriander, served with guacamole, tomato salsa & chipotle mayo.
Crispy Prawn Tacos
They were tasty, but needed slug of chilli sauce to liven them up.
We decided to share a portion of Hibiscus glazed chicken wings, but they’d sold out.
Seriously? At lunchtime?
For mains the two guys tried the daily special of ‘Chorizo Tlayuda’, described as “A Oaxocan twist on the pizza, Chargrilled crisp flour tortilla base, brushed with Mexican style chorizo and topped with Gringa Dairy queso fresco, fresh tomato salsa and avocado”.
Chorizo Tlayuda
They were light, crisp and tasty, and a contribution from each serving goes to a good cause.
Elaine enjoyed the MSC grilled Cod Fillet, which she said was also very tasty – served with guajillo & parsley pesto salsas, green rice & salad.
For drinks, Kit enjoyed a bottle of Pacifico Clara, I enjoyed a bottle of Negra Modelo. Elaine had a glass of Rose – £6.45 for 175ml? A tad pricey and frankly (according to Elaine) mediocre.
We were going to follow with a coffee, but struggled to catch the waiter’s eye, similarly we were unable to use Wahaca’s fancy “pay by ‘phone” app.
We ended up paying at the bar as we left, unimpressed.
The ‘Squaremeal’ website suggests that there are more than a hundred and fifty restaurants in the Canary Wharf campus, I politely suggest that Wahaca will need to raise their game to encourage repeat visits.
Rating: 
