Now Open: Mexican beach theme, few surprises at new MOA eatery

By Rick Nelson, Star Tribune CANTINA 1 Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-854-6500 , www.cantina1.com Kitchen open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Full menu served 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; bar menu served later. More from Dining + Nightlife "This is going to involve a gift shop, isn't it?" That was my friend's response when I informed him that we were dining at Cantina #1, the Corona beer-themed restaurant that debuted last week at the Mall of America. Yeah, I'm afraid so. Turns out, the boutique in question was not such a big one. That's the first clue that this restaurant and bar (and shopping opportunity), located on the megamall's moribund fourth floor, isn't the kind of slap-you-upside-the-head eatertainery that it could have been. I wouldn't go so far as to use the word understated,... [read full story]