Rosa's started 2024 with a bang by opening its doors to the public on the first day of the year after months of planning.

The restaurant, located on St. Clair West in Corso Italia, was created with a whole lot of love by Anna Canzona and Victor Reinoso, who are the owners, chefs, and married couple also behind Atomic 10 down the street.

That's also why they named the restaurant Rosa's, the Spanish word for roses. "A rose symbolizes love, and we do this with a lot of love and passion," Canzona says.

The name also pays homage to Reinoso's Ecuadorian roots. In February 2023, he and Canzona visited rose farms in the country, which happens to be the largest supplier of roses in the world. 

Inside the swanky, lively, Miami-inspired styled restaurant, you'll find Latin American cuisine that's prepared and served with a whole lot of gusto and flair, with upbeat Latin American music playing courtesy of a nightly DJ.

Rosa's most popular tequila-based drink, Angel's Kiss ($17), is citrusy and sweet thanks to its guava juice, agave syrup, and lemon juice.

There's also That Summer Night ($17), made with vodka, blueberry syrup, pineapple, and lime juice, as well as coconut milk to give it a thicker texture. It's refreshing, fruity, and not to mention pink.

Reduced prices for Rosa's beverage menu is available during "Hora Feliz," the restaurant's happy hour, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays to Saturdays (with live music on Thursdays to boot).

Rosa's shines in its shareables. There's the deep-fried burrata ($18), made with chorizo, roasted grape tomatoes, and a honey chimichurri sauce. It's savoury, tangy, and crispy all at once.

You can also try a vegetarian shareable, like the grilled corn ribs ($16) that are made with in-house whipped riccotta and salsa matcha.

If you want something that's a bit sweet and crunchy but still savoury and cheesy, there's the Plantano Con Queso ($13), which is made with sweet fried plantain and topped with cheese and a guava reduction.

It's no shocker that Rosa's would also excel at tacos, considering that its sister location Atomic 10 is known for its delicious Mexican food. The birria option ($23) really takes the cake (or the taco) out of all of the selections here.

Deep-fried shells stuffed with juicy beef chuck, Montery Jack cheese, red onions and cilantro make each bite exquisite. There's also a house-made mango habanero sauce that comes on the side.

You can also try the baja fish tacos ($22), which are a lighter option in comparison to the birria. The tacos are made with deep-fried fish, chipotle aioli sauce, pickled red cabbage, radish, and salsa criolla.

Rosa's has an "A La Parilla" grilled section in its menu, which comes with one side and chimichurri. If you were to get one dish in this section, it should be The Entrana ($35).

It's a juicy, medium-done skirt steak that's grass-fed and directly imported from Argentina (which Canzona says is a must if you want "the best steak in the world").

It's topped with chimichurri sauce and paired with jasmine rice, Brussels sprouts, cut potatoes, sea salt, and chilies. Calling this a feast would be an understatement.

Although recently opened, it's clear that Rosa's is becoming a neighbourhood favourite as a go-to dinner spot, with well-crafted dishes and drinks to match an upbeat vibe.

Rosa's is located at 1067 St. Clair Ave West.