MoCo Events MoCo Music

Happy Hours in Rockville

Review of La Canela

MCR Rating:

The rating usually hits places that generally have nothing going for them, but one or two good aspects lift the rating from the bottom of the barrel. Use in case of alcohol emergency.

Mediocre

141-D Gibbs St Rockville, MD 20850

Google Map

301-251-1550

(No website)

Specials		Drink	Food
Monday	None	None	None	N/A
Tuesday	None	None	None	N/A
Wednesday	None	None	None	N/A
Thursday	None	None	None	N/A
Friday	None	None	None	N/A

Special is available in the restaurant area.

Performance

Food:Excellent
Service:Good
Atmosphere:Good
Price:Pricey

Vitals

Capacity: Medium # Bars: 1 # Floors: 1.5 # Draft Beers: 0 Wine selection: Full Liquor selection: Full Only in MoCo: Yes

Themes/Styles: Latin American / Restaurant w/Bar Parking Accessibility: Tolerable Approximately 1.5 miles from I-270 Exits 5 or 6. It’s in the Rockville Town Square, so the best parking is in the garages around the area, which will cost you $1/hour.
Metro Accessibility: Easy Across Rockville Pike (and opposite corner of the Town Square) from Rockville Metro station (Red Line) and Rockville MARC station.

What is La Canela?

La Canela is an upscale Peruvian restaurant located in the Rockville Town Square. The interior, adorned with intricate woodwork, is split into three different eating areas, on different “half-levels.” The main level is the largest part of the restaurant; one half-level up is the bar area with stools and some seating; and the 3rd half-level up is another, more private seating area. Outside Area: Yes. Small amount of seating on the sidewalk, served out of the main door. Entertainment: No.

Our Review

If there is any reason to come to La Canela, it’s for the food. The Peruvian cuisine is expertly made, and the taste is close to addicting. The only catch: with no happy hour specials, you’re stuck in a “get what you pay for” situation. Appetizers will run you $8-$10, and entrees move up from there. The drinks will also run into your tab: bottled Peruvian beer costs around $5, and to get the traditional Pisco Sour will drain you $8. The setting is quite nice: highly detailed wood accents, a marble bar, wrought iron adornments on the exterior; all combine to give an upscale and authentic atmosphere. I was a bit disappointed by the light classical music; a little Latin flavor would have created a nice experience. The service was very accommodating, but sometimes out of sight. In fact, a bartender is not really on duty until 5pm, so if you show up a bit early, there will be a little scrambling action. It was tough to gauge the crowd since there was none; happy hour is apparently not a priority for this spot.

The Run Down

If the size of your bill does not matter, La Canela’s style and phenomenal food will be sure to impress you. La Canela does not feel the need to attract a happy hour crowd, so the lack of deals and lack of early evening patrons could disappoint the happy hour aficionado.

Reviewed by Lee on Thursday, June 12, 2008.