La Parrilla Mexican Bar & Grill

You'll smell the char before you see the restaurant – that's the wood-fired grill doing its thing with proper cuts of meat and fresh tortillas. The exposed brick and stripped floors keep things unfussy, letting the food do all the talking in this Waterloo spot that's become a local favourite for good reason. The menu sticks to Mexican classics but executes them with proper care – think smoky carnitas that actually taste like they've seen some fire, and tacos that arrive properly warmed. It's the kind of place where you can bring the family for weekend lunch or settle in for a few margaritas on a Thursday night without feeling like you're in some theme park version of Mexico.