Delivery
Yes
Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Fireplace
Yes
Great cocktails
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
No
Wheelchair-accessible seating
No
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
No
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Gender-neutral toilets
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Transgender safe space
Yes
University students
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 313-437-1431
Site: http://www.cantinaonlenox.com/
Site: http://www.cantinaonlenox.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:3–11:30PM
- Tuesday:3–11:30PM
- Wednesday:3–11:30PM
- Thursday:12–11:30PM
- Friday:12PM–12AM
- Saturday:12–11PM
- Sunday:12–1AM
Comments (199)
The service was good but the tacos are not authentic. I also tried the jerk mango taco . Really not a good choice to put with cilantro. My partner bought a quesadilla but it was very bland. Really over priced for super average food.
The settings was amazing along with the food. The restaurant gives you a chill vibe, as the city does. However it was the moment I witness a Karen moment. This place is filled with food and great music, inside and out. Two people came in with dog and wanted the outside music off, killing all good vibes. Then they later changed there minds when the people started complaining.
Noisy noisy noisy . I felt I was in a nightclub. The food was good but I couldn’t enjoy it, I thought “I need to leave asap” , the environment was really bad. The poor waitress couldn’t hear the orders and customers were complaining for the mistakes but it was not the waitress fault. I won’t call this “A mexican restaurant” , is more like a nightclub with food.
The tacos where amazing and so are the flavor margaritas specially the passion fruit. If you come here to celebrate a birthday do not expect a cake because they dont have one. The decor and ambience was conformable and the music was loud enough to have a conversation with someone. The bathroom decor was nice and it also seemed to be disabled friendly, however, there are stairs before you enter the place with no ramp. Overall my experience at cantina was great and I will come again.
The food was ok however we noticed that all the music was fine when they played afo American music,they saw the joy and quickly changed to non American music, I would never visit again. I visit Harlem for the black culture.It’s the few places I thought I could go for that.
I was celebrating my birthday. My family and I had a wonderful time. Our server was the sweet, attentive, and was always available if we needed something. I understand she is working for tips, but she made us feel comfortable. It is a small place, but I prefer this. The drinks were superb. I had the Blood Orange magarita with salted rim. My uncle had the Passion Fruit margarita. My uncle had a half salted rim to try. He never had a Margarita before. You can ask for a sugar rim if you dont like salt. We ordered mango-jerk chicken, Grilled Lime chicken, Al Pastor, fish, and Tijuana steak tacos. We also had chimichanga, mexican corn, and churros. Ill be back.
I will say right off that serving tacos on cold tortillas is a mortal sin. No sure what this is about. Maybe because i asked for everything (brussel sprouts with chorizo) be served together and the tacos had to wait on a cold surface for the brussels to cook? I will excuse this because the food here is obviously good. The brussel sprouts are sauteed abd served in a mini black iron skillet. Delicious! The sauteed shrimp tacos are delicious. They have a slight spicey afterburn that is perfect. The chicken lime tacos were good from the pictures alone. Perfect for the person who hates spicey food. The pulled pork is goid. It tastes as it should! The classic margarita is perfect. Tacos here are served with lettuce. Not a fan of lettuce. I think it is flavorless and distracts from the meat (focal point). On a Wednesday night at 8:30pm this place was pretty much packed.
Came here during covid shutdown and got a cup of the frozen rum punch to go. Delicious. Slightly different flavor from the rum punch at the other Cantina location, but just as good. And cheaper too!
The vibe was hot while playing American music then the manager switched to non English music with a predominantly afro American crowd. I would never done here again just cause
I came in for Happy Hour and I must say the vibe was amazing! The snacks were great and our bartender Dujon was exceptional, he was servicing the entire place and still got all of our drinks and food on time! The margaritas were so good and strong, I will definitely stop by after work for happy hour some more!
Seemed like good food however we ended up leaving because the bartender and the chef both were not wearing masks at all. I asked the waitress (who was the only person wearing a mask) if the people in the kitchen wore masks while preparing the food, she told me yes but then about five minutes later I see one of the chefs walk through without a mask.
This place is truly a gem. The waitress was AMAZING, I just wish I could remember her name. The happy hour menu is pretty decent. The margaritas were very good. The menu has a decent amount of options but not too much. Will definitely be coming back
Happy hour drinks and food were great! The service- not so much. There is no one to greet you at the front when you walk in so we were confused and didnt know who to ask for a table. When we finally got someone, there was a wait which was fine. An hour later our table was ready and it took another 45 min for a server to come and take our orders. Just be prepared for a long wait. Happy hour time is 4-7p and it gets really crowded!
I go for Happy Hour, great flavored margaritas, and their mango jersey chicken tacos are the best 🤤
Great wings and tacos. Excellent vibe and friendly staff.The happy hour deals on food and drinks are very good value for money.
Food is good, drinks also. Love their margaritas. They are the closest thing to sexy taco since they shut down.
The Worst Cantina restaurant in Harlem!! I order take out to find out that theyre ate out of utensils to eat my food!! They didnt even have the decency to let me know before I ordered my meal!! I guess I was supposed to eat with my hands!! I ordered, then paid & they passed me my meal in a shopping bag!! I happened to look in the bag before I left & there was the meal without utensils or napkins or anything!! Just my meal in a plastic bowl! We that was my last time ever going there & Im going to tell all my friends & family to never go there either!!
I just want to start off by saying that the service here was good and had nothing to do with the waiters. The portions they put into a taco is mind blowing and so scary that I just ended up putting my two portions of meat into one taco. I never thought that I would have to make a review on how bad a place was but $10 for some guacamole that taste artificial, sweet, and comes in the smallest portion I ever seen is unacceptable. This place was made for mostly white people and you can tell by the toppings they put on the tacos. I ordered about 4 plates of food (including the guacamole) and ended up being almost $100. I don’t recommend and suggest buying some from a truck or authentic Mexican restaurant which will be so much cheaper and taste a whole lot better. Support the small businesses because even they manage to have better prices. :/
Came here with a friend on a trip to NYC, and the entire experience was pretty awesome. Wasnt too crowded for a Friday night, so we could talk without shouting too much. The staff were very friendly and attentive, and offered great suggestions for those unfamiliar with their menu. The food itself was great, and I especially recommend their mango habanero wings. My major gripe would be the fact that theres only one bathroom, shared by all patrons, so that tends to result in lines. Other than that, its a great experience for groups of all sizes.
Cute place, great happy hour!
Prince is the best manager ever! At the bar we have Shy who is amazing! Thanks for always taking care of us when we go. Service is impeccable and food is to die for !
House Margaritas are excellent! Flavorful, fresh and strong! Great value for money at $7 during HH. Tried their queso, guacamole and house salsa- all delicious- and the queso was especially flavorful and delightful. Their special “Al Pastor” pork taco was really tasty too. Great menu with lots of variety for every taste on the food and an incredibly complete bar menu given the cozy location. Staff was on point and friendly- will definitely be back!
I wasnt disappointed food was fast and very delicious.Had a passion fruit Margarita also very good. Excellent service Definitely will be back!
Cantina was good place to have a good time.. the food was excellent the drink off the hook I had the coconut margarita it was good ...
Great food and drinks. The ambiance is great too
Had the worst experience in this spot. I went on a Saturday night with my sister for drinks and tacos. The drinks never arrived and the waitress said it was because the manager that day had a feud with her and didnt make the drinks on purpose. The waitress showed me her order in her tablet and I saw that manager made drinks for other tables except for ours. I reached out to the host to see if he could talk to the manager and the manager refused. They ended up not charging us but the experience was horrible. That manager should be fired for not doing her job, providing services to customers.
Love the Marguerites here. Happy hour before 7. Very strong drinks. Just as we like it.
Great place for Mexican. And lets just say the margaritas are *proper*.
There are 2 locations of Cantina in Harlem. I prefer the low key lounge on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. The staff are friendly and the food is great. If you are ever in the neighborhood - definitely stop by.
Wanted some good Mexican food and was told to try Cantina. They werent especially busy but I saw them working. Waited 10 minutes inside at the bar and was glanced at by the employees, no one ever said anything. I finally walked over to the service station and said Id like to sit outside. I was told, Okay, Ill be with you soon. Grabbed a menu and sat outside, waited 5 more minutes. Then another server finally came out to tell me their patio was closing... it was 7:30 pm.
Good vibes, great service, delicious food and nice ambiance. I had a great time for ladies night!
Stumbled into this spot randomly. I had the fish, steak and jerk chicken taco. The food was incredible. Great music and great vibes. Also great margaritas.
The odds of you catching Pumkin Escobar at this local Harlem watering hole are high. You know why? Because they serve the BEST Maggies in NYC! Frozen it on the rocks, Cantinas Margarita game is not to be trifled with children. Burritos? Great. Chimichangas? LOVE em! Tacos! Loaded up nachos! Cheesy, gooey quesadillas!
Loved this place the food and the drinks were GREAT!! If u like alcohol try the Blue Patron Margarita!! FANTASTIC!
Great Tacos! They have so many different options compared to the standard restaurants. The drink will also have you lit!
Stopped in for a drink and a taco and was really surprised! Heavy pour and grea service + fire tacos 🌮 😋 🔥 (mange jerk was decenttt)
Great place with an awesome atmosphere! Good deal during happy hour for drinks! Definitely recommend to visit when you are in Harlem!
The food is not authentic and its kinda nasty and bland. The waitress was nice, too bad the food didnt match. The place is small and a bit uncomfortable. The pandemic is still going on so I didnt like that I was seated so close to the other tables. Didnt get to try the Drinks but I did overhear the bartender telling customers that he couldnt serve frozen drinks due to a machine malfunction so he was telling people to get on the rocks.
Food was good but this restaurant goes against all COVID protocols. Tables are less than 6 ft apart in the indoor area (maybe 3-4 ft apart), they do not sanitize menus in between customers. More people than the authorized capacity limits. No barriers and poor ventilation as this is an establishment on a lower level. They did not utilize outdoor dining area. They do not listen to science. I hope the health department checks in on them.
Great tacos. Cute little place. Fun music.
Arrived at 8p and was not greeted by server until 8:20p. And once we were greeted (after asking the host AND server about service) the waiter flung us the menu. Right before, he’d told my friend that he wasn’t serving anyone else. We left. So disrespectful and unprofessional. Rude to say the least. First time potential customer and will not return.
Great experience, friendly staff, sidewalk seating is actually 4 apart not 6, however patrons seem to eat and leave. Thankfully Central Park is nearby so eating in the area is easy. Did I forget to mention I went on $3 taco 🌮 tuesday?! Must have slipped my mind after those boozy margaritas 😍🍹 ☺
Amazing food, try the octopus taco! Taco Tuesdays were on when we visited so a few options for $3. Frozen margarita was better than a straight marg.
We here and ordered the steak nacho and my friend found a shrimp in it...now I have allergies to shrimp and thank goodness she found it and not me cause I would be on my way to the er...the main problem is that someone from the back came and in stead of asking what happen was very dismissive about the fact that there was a shrimp in the food and she found it...that if I found it I would be going through a reaction...the concern and apology in the matter is not there...the front staff was nice but the mangers attitude was nasty and very dismissive. You could tell that he didnt care that someone could have been very sick on his watch...they dont get another visit ever...
Absolutely Best Tacos & Margaritas in NYC. Great happy hour & weekend brunch too.
Always a pleasure to visit. Service is great. Customers are mostly locals and friendly. Food and cocktails are reasonably priced and on point. I definitely recommend.
The food and drinks were Great. Service was excellent
Great location right above the park. Great outdoor seating. Food is very average. Ordered 6 tacos and their chimichanga - all eh. Chips were good and marg good so possibly a go to for some happy hour drinks
This business is disrespectful to the inhabitants of the neighborhood it has just become a part of. You can delete and flag the review all you want, but police having to be called for your establishment attempting to blast music from loudspeakers on the street like a nightclub is POOR business practice. Every complaint surrounds the poor management there.
Went here for my birthday after waiting over an hour for the Vegan place around the corner. And boy am I glad we stopped in....Great atmosphere even better food! Some of the BEST Mexican food I’ve ever had. Our bartender Laura was so awesome we didn’t want to leave. I will definitely be back to enjoy the batter fish and shrimp tacos...oh and the Mexican street corn...you may need to brace yourself because it’s BOMB!
Solid tacos, their jerk chicken tacos were a surprise. I want to know what is in their mango sauce.
So where do I begin??? One and done! Thats for sure. Avoid this place like the plague, if you are getting deliveries. The food came through Grub hub and it was cold and nasty! The nachos must have been sitting for so long that it was so disgusting!This place is pathetic! The tacos are miniature made for a baby. The flavor is that there is no flavor!! Absolutely horrendous! If you want great Mexican authentic food....Estrellita Poblana is the spot to go!! Oh, and another thing....the price of Poblana is half the price of this garbage!!!
Went here with a group of friends. The wait was long because the place is not equipped for a large party and they dont take reservations, so make sure you plan accordingly. The food is definitely worth it. Even the salad was tasty. Had the fish taco, very good. Everyone else had different tacos and they all enjoyed it. Definitely recommend this place. Blood orange margarita is the way to go.
Omg I just found out about this place I loved it so much..and Laura was AMAZING she made my visit so special to the point THAT Im coming back on Tuesday...
Small area where the bottomless mimosas were very good. Brunch time on Sunday was nice.
Noise review here. Too noisy. Unfriendly noise levels leaking outside the place, before and long after NYC noise limiting times. Not cool.
The tacos here are amazing and they have a great happy hour special that makes it really cheap. The beer selection is just you standard selection that you find at every Mexican restaurant, and they have good margaritas. The staff is really friendly and make you feel right at home. I cant wait to go back and try all the different other tacos I havent tried yet.
Awesome tacos and burritos. Love the chips and fresh guacamole. Good prices in a fun atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Omg, the food here is so good. I am devistated i left mine after paying a $60 tab. Id go back just get the food. The drinks are great too. The servers and bartenders are all nice and friendly. They have drink specials and to engage with the customer so I think that is good. Also, the serving sizes for the price is great. I will come back for sure.
We were welcomed to the bar with a super friendly bar tender and 2 free shots! The burrito was picture perfect in taste and appearance and the drinks are awesome! Highly recommend you try the frozen margarita.
The atmosphere was nice. The drinks were good. But the food actually made me sick. $0.99 for chips and salsa that should have been free, maybe simply band altogether. The wings were covered in a yellow goop that was supposed to be a mango habanero sauce but seemed more like bland glue. And while the tacos were tasty, there simply wasnt enough of it to justify the price. There are so many Mexican-inspired and taco spots around. Dont waste your time on this one. Food actually made me sick.
A bit small and around our table to the back smelled a little moldy... but happy hour was amazing! Had a few passionfruit margaritas on the rocks and that was really good. My friends had the frozen strawberry and coconut margarita and that was good also. The tacos and the wings were tasty.
Best place for tacos!! Drinks are great as well. Very friendly staff and nice environment
Great spot. Usually hip hop, r&b or chill reggae playing. Diverse crowd mostly around mid to late 20s. Food is great! Good portions. Pricier than some places like it. Cozy and stylish atmosphere.However, ordering for delivery is IMPOSSIBLE. It used to be so simple, but now you can only order through Amazon Prime and even then Amazon will then contact you about only half your order actually being sent.Had to remove 2 stars for such a stressful experience for a simple delivery.
Just okay. The food was good, but the staff is inattentive, and I have visited twice.
The staff was very friendly, the falafel taco was real good, the pork taco was real good, and the jalapeno poppers were real good too. My wife and were very satisfied after leaving.They also have wireless charging built into the bar. That was convenient too. I would definitely go back.
I loved itt there the food was amazing and the service was great 😌, this was the chicken quesadilla
I just ordered for the first time today.I threw up. I asked for no cilantro, and they did not include any. They also included no tomato/onion ANYthing. I guess they were mad, because I dont like cilantro. The phone number they have listed, does not work.DO NOT EAT HERE. Im not certain they poisoned me, but I felt fine, before I ate it. I threw up RIGHT after eating. So, Im not certain they didnt. I THREW UP. Yuck.
The 1st time I went it was Great. This was the second time and it was Horrible. The waitress unattending the food came with my appetizer and the drinks were very weak we was sat next to the bathroom it was a horrible and crowding experience.
Drinks are delicious and strong.Food is phenomenal. The mango-jerk chicken tacos are my favorite and the queso dip is amazing.Small space but it makes the experience more intimate with a small group of friends or loved ones.
Cozy little sub street level place in Harlem. The menu is not extensive but has a good selection of Mexican standards. The tacos are individually priced which allows one to mix and match. I especially liked the Sriracha Shrimp. The nachos were meaty with tasty Manchego cheese and black olives. Accompanying were margaritas that were generous in size. I liked it, and Ill be back.
Went here over the weekend to get a drink at the bar. I had the rum punch and it was really good. Will go back to try the food.
Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere.Update 2019 - weve lived in Harlem for 3 years now and this is our favorite spot. We love going here, especially after getting back from vacation. Only complaint is that the front seats are low run thru an automated ordering system. We refuse to sit at that table now, but of course will continue to frequent this establishment!
1. Malcom X location (4 stars): Good neighborhood place to go for a quick bite or a little fun. Great energy. Drinks good. Food good too. Try the Al Carbon, Brisket, Fish, or Shrimp tacos. Never a miss.2. Frederick Douglas location (2 stars): very mediocre tacos. Fish tacos ok. Al Pastor and Lime Chicken tacos terrible. Dry and grissley. Almost no meat 9n fish and chicken tacos. Asked waiter, he said this is how they are served. Nice people but not good food. Maybe will try again but not sure.
Fast and friendly staff. The happy hour was as advertised. The margaritas were strong and the tacos were tasty
Best tacos Ive had hands down, they were so good I forgot to take a picture of what I ordered. They also have a happy hour menu for drinks and food! Decor was cute and staff friendly but a little slow. Very easy to get to using the subway.
LOVE this spot in lower Harlem! Cheap drinks and reasonably priced food. Normal Mexican style food with a twist on classics like nachos, burritos and... their amazing tacos. The bartenders make some strong drinks but are balanced well. A must if youre in the area. I cant wait to get it to-go and walk across the street to Central Park and enjoy some good food under a tree during the summer!
The Margarita is better frozen.Best tacos in the neighborhood.Thank you Jon Lim for posting the menu. #jonlimforpresident
Came across this small gem. Walked in, seated immediately, and food served within 10 minutes. Tried 3 soft tacos: Chili-Lime Chicken, Fish, and Steak. Each tasty and priced under $4.50 per taco - not too bad. Wished they had more options, like chicken flautas and hard-shelled tacos. Definitely recommend! Will return shortly.
Great drinks but food was just ok. Seemed pretty rushed IMO. Long wait times and not enough help. Just go for drinks if you have to
Theres long waits and somes the food is cold . Some guest who walk in that know the staff may get a table before you I dont get that its also cramp so if busy and waiting get ready for that . Also if theres a big group they will time longer to leave you going to be there waiting a hour !! I have like/ dislike for this place because I like the prices at times but the food needs to come out hot not lukewarm or cold for tacos
My girlfriend and I stumbled in here this evening as I had walked by it before and thought it looked like a great spot. What a find! Snuggled away just off the beaten path and in the neighborhood, this was a great meal with authentic Mexican food. But the best part was probably the drinks. We both got margaritas and they were absolutely delicious. The bartender, Jason, was a great guy and extremely friendly. He even cooked up a special shot for us. Take in the great food and drinks with a modern but classy decor. Its definitely going to be a spot well return to.
I listed an apartment for rent and sale in the neighborhood and decided to dine and explore and found this hidden treasure. I tell myself two tacos is my maximum, but in the end, I order on or about 5 or 6, and I have to have a margarita to satisfy my taste buds. I walk out super happy and find myself squeezing into my pants the following day. I sit at the bar and have a friendly chat with the locals, the staff is attentive, friendly, excellent service. Thank you Cantina for making my day!.
Opens at 3. Walked in at 245. Was told not open, made us wait outside till 3. Wanted the booths ,wouldnt allow two people to sit in a booth only three people. Even though we were the only 2 people in the whole restuarant. Menus were dirty. Waitress did notice and replace. Ordered chips and salsa. Chips had to be baked for 5 min first. Ordered off the happy hr menu. Wasnt impressed. Was just typical over priced tacos.
Great low-key vibe compared the to 125th & Lenox location. Good music, service and the food was on point. Enjoyed happy hour and the us open on the TV at the bar. Will definitely add it to my rotation of spots to go out.
Getting off work wanting a nice steak bowl and cool drink. This is definitely the place I needed togo to.... Cant wait to get home and enjoy. Be safe Drive safe. BX
While visiting NYC my friend and I heard rave reviews about this little hole in the wall. The food was excellent. The margaritas were on point. Fun atmosphere! We enjoyed our time and will make the walk again when we next visit the city.
GREAT happy hour, awesome margarita choices and incredible staff but the hours are so uneven and not at all what they post online. Walked in last Wednesday a little before 9pm, got told they were closed (website says 11:30pm). A few weeks ago on Friday, strolled in at 10pm and was told it was last call (website says 12am). Sometimes its not even open at all when it says it should be.This happens so often I dont go there much any more because half the time I try, I find myself needing to make a new plan.
The vibe of this downstairs spot in lower Harlem is the star of the show. Clientele seems cool, staff seem cool... you even seem cool. Great place for after work drinks where the atmosphere is casual and lively. In all honesty the food is only ok. Most everything is fine and a couple of items are good. But you dont need to go to Cantina to find the best Mexican food in Harlem... thats not the gig. Cantina is a great place to hang out and have some fun with locals and nosh if you get a bit hungry.
These are the best tacos in the area at a great value. The staff is attentive and you can always ask for whatever you are missing at your table and they will get is for you. Awesome place especially for their happy hour and brunch deals!
I came here after hearing good reviews and thought it would be a nice place to celebrate with my girlfriends on being hired at new jobs and other career opportunities. To start, we were disappointed that they did not have nachos as an appetizer. Instead we ordered a small guacamole and chips for the table. They brought the smallest size guac we have ever seen. We barely could split it.We each chose different variations of 3 tacos and a side. We each felt that there were some good, like the chili-lime chicken taco, and others that they definitely need to work on. Out of the 3 tacos from my order, I would say that the brisket one was the best. The crab and shrimp one was just mediocre at best and definitely not worth the additional charge to the order because it has seafood in it. One of my girlfriends ordered the corn on the cob as a side but barely touched it due to it leaving a nasty after taste. One girlfriend also ordered steak quesadilla. She said that this dish was the one redeeming quality of her entire order. We thought it was strange that sour cream was not included with the meals, so we asked the waiter for it. After reviewing our bill, we saw that we were charged 50¢ for 1 small container of sour cream. We have been to several restaurants over the years and this is the first time weve ever experienced being charged for a condiment.While the food was ok, I will say that Ive had better. Like another reviewer said, the only factor in this place staying open is because the restaurant is located in a high traffic area. After spending close to $120.00 for average food, I do not plan on visiting this place again.
Cool atmosphere, delicious margarita, top notch tacos. Great local spot.
Cantina is cute and quaint but if you are looking for any kind of frozen drinks dont go early they are NEVER ready! Which is also known as false advertising you should always be ready for your customers I have gone 3 times for brunch looking for a FROZEN MARGARITAS and all t 3 times I have heard its not frozen yet....bad business ....food is mediocre
Awesome spot to stop in on a relaxed day trip. Perfect intimate atmosphere for drinks with friends. Got three tacos, was honestly full after two. Friends and I agreed all options were delicious.
Amazing food and super nice location! Highly recommend the chimichangas and the nachos sampler!
The food was great, I love the ordering system. One of the cocktails tasted like cleaning products, it wasn’t at all enjoyable. I hope it was a fluke bc that cocktail must have been conjured up in a experimental death lab.
Awesome! Food is amazing, and the drinks are amazing as well... this is definitely a good place to bring a date or just go with family or whatever
What a great little quaint place with a great happy hour and taco Tuesday.
The run punch was weak and watery. The food tasted like it was box food, box rice , can corn. This is the worst location.I left the restaurant hungry , I didn’t even ate the rest of the food nor did I took my food to go.
Had tacos during happy hour. All of them were spicy from the 5 I tried minus the negra modelo fish and slow roasted brisket.The other three were chili lime chicken, pulled pineapple pork, mango jerk chicken.To me, they all taste good. My favorite was the fish.
For the first time I had a bad experienced here. Very upsetting to have had to wait over 1 hour to get seated for a party of 6 while there were people sitting at the tables not ordering just talking and the owner allows this. Was looking forward to having a good time for my nieces 21st Birthday
The moment you arrive you get complimentary nachos with salsa. Food Amazing, portions were huge. I didnt have drinks. We got seated in less than a minute and the restaurant was packed.
Waited well over 30 minutes to get seated because the hostess and owner only had one table booth for four. But to give context, the table for four was in reality two tables for two placed together and the bar was full. Along with my friend, three other groups of two came in and we were all told to wait. After 44 minutes a group of three walked in straight to the booth and sat down with no issues, no obstacles. We left hungry and annoyed because we couldve at least have eaten. The last time I was here the food was cold and honestly, you shouldnt have people waiting over an hour when you have unreserved seating hoping that a group of four will show up. Thats like refusing to sell a customer a used phone hoping someone will be buying an iPhone later. Rude and discourteous.EDIT: In response to the restaurants account reply below me. Ive been to your restaurant three times, my companion much more often. Im not mistaken. And not once have you ever used a pager system. Ill take a video/photo next time to prove that.And if the person that one of your servers went to, who denied us seating, and had us wait for a long time just because he wanted to keep an unreserved table open for a larger crowd, was not an owner or a host then you have a very significant and different problem to address.I was able to play air hockey with my friend on my phone, win twice, lose three times, read a chapter, watch a YouTube vid, talk to the other couples you made wait. Search for a different place to eat, and write the review above.So instead of trying to avoid being accountable for poor pre-service treatment, learn from your mistakes and apply better organization.
This place is amazingly reasonable on the cash strapped pocket. Every taco option is worth having. The team of folk working this establishment are some of the friendliest people you will meet. A good time was had by all... on more than one occasion.
Amazing food! Tiny, hole in the wall place but authentic food, cold beer, warm and hospitable. Will definitely be back! Get the Cantina tacos... so good! And highly recommend the cochinita pibil.
Do yourself a favor and stay far far away from this place.We ate st the Lenox avenue location the food was overpriced , and very bland food not fresh at all. I definitely got food poisoning from the terrible tacos. Because i had diarrhea all night after eating from this place.
Good tasting food.Drinks, tasty but eeeehhhh 🤷🏾♀️. Change the consistency of the slush its too syrupy...
Dont come here to relax. Loudest place imaginable; no one apparently grasps the concept of inside voices so if youre ok with roadhouse-level noise, youll love it. I just couldnt stand it. However, the happy hour is decently priced. The brisket taco was rich, flavorful, tender, and the guacamole was good, but not the best. My favorite part was the house made tortillas which are my new carb addiction. Best Ive had outside of Mexico.
Arrived in NYC at 9pm on a Friday and was staying at an Airbnb around the corner from Cantina. My 22 yr old daughter and I walked over for a bite to eat and a drink. What a great little spot. Cool atmosphere, friendly staff, great food and awesome margaritas!.
Happy hour deals include $6 margs (in multiple flavors - mango and coconut were particularly good) and $4 beers (pretty good selection). Portions are large and all the food was delicious. The loaded nachos are massive
We went to the Lennox location and were amazed at how Mexican food could turn out so bland. The service was pleasant, but not perfect. The food came out quickly, and the ambiance had a nice lively party vibe, but the food was AWFUL and gave my husband food poisoning.
One of my favorite spots for getting Tacos, Quesadillas and Burritos. Service is fast too! I especially love their magaritas..cheers!
Love, love love everything here. In fact, the only reason Im writing this review is bc I had a mid-day NEED for their food. Unluckily, I got here when they were closed. LUCKILY, they open in five minutes. Lol. Margaritas can be a bit tart, but great otherwise!
Thoroughly disappointed. After reading the reviews here, I figured I wouldnt have anything to lose. I didnt know it was possible to mess up a taco. We got the taco sampler that gives you 8 tacos (choose 4 types and you get 2 of each). The shrimp tacos were way too salty. The construction of the other tacos was weird; most places use pulled chicken in their chicken tacos and shred their cheese. Not here. Good location though =/
Do NOT order from this place. I ordered delivery at 9:30PM and at 10:30PM, they told me theyd order it by 10:50PM. At 10:50PM, I was told theyd order in 8 minutes. Then finally at 11:15 PM, they LIED to Grub Hub and told them they came to deliver my food and I wasnt picking up when I was by the door with a working phone the entire time. Furthermore, if they delivered my food already, why did they keep telling me it was on its way from 10:30PM on. I waited almost 2 hours for a meal that never came because their delivery service is incompetent. Do yourself a favor and save your time and money. Jesus Taco is a much better, more reliable option.
As a fan of tacos the pulled Pork and Fish tacos were two of the best that I have had thus far. Ordered takeout and part of my order was missing, but the restaurant called apologized and had it there in ten minutes. Great customer service.
I used to love this place, but it seems to have really gone downhill. Went in this evening with a group of four and put our name in with two waitresses. We waited almost an hour and a half for a table and watched four groups who came in after us get seated first. Finally we flagged down a third host who asked us if we were waiting because we had been standing around for so long. He then realized no one had actually written our name down. Instead of being apologetic, he acted like he was doing us a favor when he tried to get us seated. When we finally were seated it took thirty minutes for our drinks to be delivered, over an hour for our food, and incorrect orders were brought to the table. Not once did anyone apologize for the poor service. Im so disappointed to have been treated so poorly at a place that I used to go to regularly.
Good frozen margaritas. Small taco selection. But overall a good experience.
Came in after reading all the raving reviews, it’s Saturday Afternoon and they literally do not have half of the menu available. What Mexican place tells you they are out of chips and chorizo? Probably never coming back if I can’t choose anything I actually want from the menu because nothing is available.
The cheapest and best tacos in Harlem and by extension NYC. Go for happy hour and enjoy the atmosphere: good music selection, vibrant patrons, delicious tacos, and affordable cocktails. The service is pretty good too.
Visited for a Sunday lunch, great food and service. The tacos were delicious and there are some really great happy hour taco and drink specials. I’ll definitely be back.
Closed too early and the staff was not helpful with providing a table. The drinks were okay and thanks to the group which celebrated their birthday there. They made the atmosphere unbelievable.
We selected this restaurant last minute on 5 de Mayo. The vibe was great, music good, food delicious and the waitress was awesome!
Flavorless dead food. No character what so ever
For a change from goulash, we tried here and glad we did. Very good mexican food and chilled cocktails. It was little more expensive than other restaurants we ate at in Prague but still cheaper than equivalent eating in England.
Nice place for some after work drinks and good. No Mexicans seen at this establishment, being its a cantina an all. Mostly indians and africans serving. Food chips and guacamole excellent. Salsa yuck!!!! Happy hour ok, but becareful as they will tell you to leave your table if after you have eaten and paid your bill.
Very cute spot and a welcome addition to a neighborhood thats lacking in options. STRONG margaritas. Quesadilla was solid but didnt like the use of gouda...with mozz would be perfect, but thats just pedsonal taste. Guacamole nothing special but not bad. The catfish entree, however, was AMAZING, as was the sauteed spinach service also really nice. Will be back for sure.
Wow Im was very surprised about the tacos not good nothing to them.i barely taste any steak or fish.never again😜
Cantina ??? This place has a long way to go.. You can get better Tacos from Chipotle!! Really this place cant represent HARLEM we have too much flavor to let this place compete with our Veteran restaurant. If your going to wast money on the small tasty bar drinks then its worth it talong with the ambiance. Truthfully, they need to learn seasoning to bring flavor to Harlem. There too bland tasteless.
Worst tacos I ever had, service was horrible and super slow, tacos looks and taste disgusting, bland and no flavor at all, my 2 years old son can make a better tasting taco.I would NEVER EVER go back again to this fake so called Mexican Restaurant which by the way I dont think its own by a Mexican.REPLY TO THE OWNER: Im not beings racist if that what u r trying to insinuate ( FYI: IM A 100% PROUD MEXICAN) I just got disappointed when I go to fake fast food restaurant like yours and not even get an imitation of the Mexican food you advertised.P.S. Instead of replying to bad comments you should concentrate in improving your service and most importantly you food.The location I had the nightmare was the one in Adam Clayton Power Jr. In Harlem
Cantina is a nice little “hidden” gem on a mostly-all residential stretch of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. boulevard, perfect for a low key day or night. Love stopping by for a margarita or two and some tasty tacos! Give it a try 🤙
Cool vibes, Great drinks and service
One of my favorite spots for tacos Tuesday! Drinks are strong and the tacos are great especially during hour which starts at 4pm and ends by 7pm! #Cheers
Nice casual atmosphere, delicious food and good service.
Nice little neighbor hood taqueria, Margaritas on point, Soft Tacos delish wait staff friendly and helpful. You cant go wrong coming here, oh yeah the fajitas are pretty good here too.
Food was delicious excellent service beautiful atmosphere!
Great food, we had some tacos, the quesadilla with extra steak and the taco bowl salad. Everything was really tasty. It was somewhat noisy though
Very neat and convenient spot. They offer generous meals and for inexpensive rates. We loved the meals a lot and the staff members were very personal and chatty. I recommend this place.
Food and drinks were delicious! Happy hour deals were wonderful! The servers were helpful. Definitely a place to go back to.
Went there tonight for the first time... the staff was very friendly and attentive. Lovely Happy Hour offerings - great guac and a nice falafel taco option for a vegetarian like me.
This place has a nice atmosphere with great drinks and good prices. The food is authentic Mexican and very good. With its relaxing voice and great music this is a spot worth returning to.
LENOX LOCATION….Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! experience on June 2nd, 2015. The service was poor and SLOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I walked in and seated myself and waited over 30 minutes just for guacamole and chips. Really it take 30 minutes to make GUAC!! In addition to the horrible service, the WAITRESS MIA LOST MY BANK CARD. (The girl at the table next to me saw her give it to two guys). So irresponsible!! I spoke the the manager at the time Prince. I left my phone # with Prince, and he stated the Mark the owner would call me to accommodate my experience. I had to pay to have a new bank card sent to me. I wasnt even offered money to get home, as this establishment lost my bank card. My weekend was ruined by this experience. I have not heard anything from the owner or management.
Excellent margaritas !Best ever! The whole staff was very cordial and inviting. Ask for Jesus when you go. He is the best. We had a great time and will go back very soon.
$7 happy hour margarita specials!!! if you live in MA you know how precious these happy hour specials are. specialty margaritas and the food looked bomb.
I love this spot and this specific location by central park. Its cozy, the staff is great, music great drinks 👍👍 and tacos yummy. Its def a go back too. Its casual and chill
A cute little ground-floor spot serving up delicious tacos and margaritas on a beautiful street of brownstones. Late-night bites mean I can come once the restaurant closes and I’m done in the kitchen, so, check!
This is a go-to for happy hour at the end of the work week. Extremely affordable and the tacos are great. Try the brisket, the pulled pork, and the fish tacos during happy hour!
I waited 1 1/2 for 3 tacos. Does that sound like good service!?? When i called no one answered for 10 mins. When i finally got a hold of the receptionist who seemed pleasant on the phone. She told me it had not left the restaurant yet. To try back in 10 mins. I call 10 mins later and no answer once again of course. After calling 5 or 6 times. Finally someone picked up and told me that my order left a long time ago. So my order went from sitting on the counter 5/10 mins ago to leaving the restaurant a long time ago. This place is tired and poorly ran. Not a good way to run a business and piss off a costumer such as myself.
Great food, great prices, great marcs. Service was a little slow, but overall the vibe is very chill.
This is my cheers/go-to when i am in harlem. prince, absa, aldo,...they make us feel at home while serving up slushy, liquid margaritas. 😉 the happy hour tacos are tasty! the veggie bowl? DO IT!!!
Our neighborhood spot. The people are friendly, professional and the food is great! Bring your date, have a party or a girls night out. Cantina on 111th is the best!!!
We ordered take out and the tacos al pastor were good but were a little soggy. The chicken quesadilla was good.
Food was good but within 1 minute after eating it threw it allup. I think the meat might have not been fresh
A great go-to spot for tasty tacos and even better margaritas. Awesome happy hour. Great atmosphere. Good music. Very laid-back vibe.
Very unprofessional place told us we would have a table in 10 mins and stood for almost over an hour while other groups of two and more came in and were seated. I overheard the food was very bad as well. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone who is looking for anything professional.
Horrible service,me and my wife waited to place our to go order while the bartender chatted with other customers, clearly ignoring us.After finally placing our order we waited another 20 minutes until finally asking how much longer will the food take.the bartender replied that he would check, he went back to chatting with his co-workers.needless to say we left without buying the food. Will never return, wont recommend to anyone.This was at the Harlem location,127th LENOX ave.
Really nice employees and a small restraunt but very warm and inviting. Best tacos in Harlem. Music was on point too.
The customer service is always rapid, good atmosphere, super friendly employees. Will visit again when I get nearby.
Excellent happy hour with yummy tacos and great drinks served up by friendly host!
This place is what I classify as SUPER LOCAL; meaning it is right in the immediate residential area. Pumkin Escobars motto is that nothing beats a bar directly across the street from your home. That aside, they have a great Happy Hour with super-mashable $2 dollar soft tacos and $4-5 dollar margaritas that are quite buzz-worthy. Great little spot, intimate, with a nice atmosphere; musics good and ONE flatscreen above the bar. Emphasis on being good company. If you find yourself in the area with time on your hands... come get some.
Horrible service!! Waited over a hour !! The food was okay we didnt even get what we order not enough meat or anything else in the tacos!!! Just horrible stay away from this place we didnt get our margaritas till we ask what was happening after the one waiter walk around with our drinks asking everybody if it was there they finally made it to our table!!! Just a horrible experience!!!!!
It used to be really good when they opened but now everything taste prefabricated. The rice taste as if it came from a box, the protein was limited, and the margaritas are premade.
The mango jerk chicken taco is an amazing combination! Not to sweet or spicy. The flavors really complement each other.
Went there for a quick bite,and was served cold taco and they dont prepare burritos in the evening unbelievable,ordered a seltzer water they gave me a baby glass to drink from I was not happy here at all.... music loud and drunk people all over it was not a great place to enjoy yourself..... stay away from this restaurant 😈
Great food, and the margaritas are fantastic, particularly at happy hour prices. One note, they dont have high chairs, so coming with kids can be tougher.
Happy Hour 4pm-7pm was GREAT, both the food and drinks! Very small inside so I wouldnt recommend bringing unnecessary bags.
The best happy hour drinks and the tacos,are really good too. Its the best place to start if you are hanging out 4 the evening or going bar hopping.
Good place, great waiters, they are nice but the food took forever to come out. Work on that and we are at 4 stars.PS, the quesadillas are tasteless here.
Excellent tacos and the rum punch!
The best tacos and service NY has to offer 👌
Nice cozy spot a few steps from Central Park. Beer prices was very reasonable compared to other spots in the area. I recommend this place to anyone visiting or looking for a new hang out.
Short staffed but they work hard to get yoy what you want. Love the drinks!! Margaritas😍
Had some tacos and margaritas here! The best! Will definitely come back!
Friendly bartender, amazing 60s music, delicious burrito, yummy chips and salsa, and amazing prices. What more could you ask for? I cant wait to go back.
Good service, awesome food. Full house, so the food took a little time, but the mood and drinks made it worth the little extra wait! Would recomend any time!
This place is worth trying. They have large portions for reasonable rates. Consistently well organized and with fantastic ambience. Will come visit again.
This place has great food with incredible flavor. Friendly service and great location.
Great happy hour. Great tacos with flavors different than the norm. Helpful and friendly staff.
Happy Hour Tacos and Margaritas hit the spot and are easy on the wallet here. Perfect for a cheap 1st date or the pregame spot before a night of buffoonery.
Margaritas and tacos were worthwhile. The taco platter of 8 gave us great variety and leftovers to take home.
Best tacos, fajitas and margaritas Ive ever had at a great price. Employees are very nice and friendly.
First time walking in and the person we encountered was completely rude. He clearly did not want our business because after asking simple question he gave us attitude and a bad look.
The one on 126th street and Lenox is better. They give free chips and salsa. Plus happy hour drinks are bigger.
Amer (bartender) is very professional and courteous. He’s very prompt and ensures customers enjoy themselves, even during this pandemic!
Looked nice but Pricey..this is the First Mexican spot where chips and salsa arent even complimentary. tacos arent worth the money.
Best after work or midday for delicious and different sorts of tacos. Good drinks and inexpensive, nice atmosphere.
I love this place. The manager is great, he is very helpful and accessible. The bartender is the best. She is super nice attentive.
Epic spot, great vibes! #RecklessWeekends
Food was great, especially the tacos but the drinks werent very good and the ambiance was not great. Tables are very close together.
Total reviews rating 4.2
199 Reviews for Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-05The food here is GARBAGE! They don’t give any chips or salsa or anything to start. The frozen rum punch tastes like tomato juice, and the details on the menu are NOT what they give when the food comes. Came here for 5 de Mayo there were no specials or anything to highlight the holiday. I wouldn’t recommend or return
Review №2
2021-12-31The service here was great but the food wasn’t it for me. It was that thing when it’s mad dry and has too much tortilla even tho there are more than enough ingredients?Loved the outside seating though!
Review №3
2021-07-29Cantina is a pretty kool spot to chat it up with both friends and strangers alike. The atmosphere is very welcoming and the waitresses and waiters are all good in my book. The seared Tijuana steak bowl is my favorite but the mango jerk and Sriracha shrimp is on point 👌 also. The frozen drink are awesome I love the passion fruit flavor margarita. No complaints here.
Review №4
2021-08-31New place, probably still figuring out their style and taste, friendly staff and food is ok, super noisy inside but a lively crowd. Lacks a bit of homemade taste, I am from a border state so my expectations were high. Good location and boisterous crowd, hoping the menu evolves over time and that it develops a less off the shelf taste profile.
Review №5
2022-05-01I haven’t been to Cantina in over a year and the last time I visited they were in the old location. The last two times I ordered? The wings (a former favorite of ours) arrived soggy and over breaded, and the tacos seem to had shrunk. We completely wrote off Cantina and had stopped going. Fast forward a year later and we see that Cantina has moved.We decided to give it a try and order all of our old favorites. Everything seems to be back to the high quality cooking that they had pre-pandemic. The mango wings were crispy and well seasoned, the tacos were better than last time, and the chips are still top notch (seriously make sure you get chips). I’m excited to have this spot back to it’s former glory.
Review №6
2022-01-19I normally LOVE coming here, but today I was so turned off. 1st, I tried calling my order in due to lack of parking but no one answered the phone. So they have a special 3 taco + 1 side for $16. I wanted 4 tacos though. Was told they dont do single tacos, so I had to buy 4 tacos and add the side which came to $28+ which means I spent $12 extra bucks for 1 taco. Then asked for a tip. The next day I went to 116th St and paid $20 bucks for the same amount of food. I enjoyed it even more. Ill be back here only when they start To Go drinks otherwise no thanks. I feel RIPPED OFF.
Review №7
2021-08-21I never leave reviews, however I have to today. The food was so tastyyyyyyy (had me dancing in my seat) .💃🏽 The Jerk Chicken Tacos was DE-Lish-ous, and the Steak Quesadilla was to die for. The Host were Excellent, great customer service. I will definitely be back. I hear Happy Hour calling me to come back this week. 😋😃
Review №8
2022-02-17Its one of the few restaurants in the area with a vegan main dish. This place had salsa dancing when we went and the cocktails were excellent. For vegan sides, ask them to leave the cheese off the black beans.
Review №9
2022-05-24I ate here 3 times and meant to leave a review. I had a difficult time finding this place on Google tonight because I wanted to try them on the take out side, but they are closed, Monday.I am very surprised to find this restaurant rated below 4 stars - like 3.8 or something. They do attract a young crowd so it could be that those novice millennial pallets have no idea what good food or fresh ingredients taste like - and as a consequence, are leaving behind undeserved poor ratings. What a shame. McDonalds anyone?Heres the truth: The grilled fish tacos are amazing and so friggin tasty. I usually prefer fried fish tacos, which I tried here as well, and they were also good. But the grilled fish tacos have now moved up the chow line to my favorite - or at least when I come here. They are using a real grill, which is becoming so rare with these cheap restaurant owners who fail us miserably by not investing in a traditional restaurant grill that can give us that authentic, banging charcoal flavor. Go Cantina!The fried sweet plantains were incredibly well made and properly aged each time I ate here. I am saying, this restaurant does the banana right. The plantains are aged, sweet, no hard spots, and fried well done where they come out with that delicious sticky, black crispy crunch along the edges. Just delicious and very hot - cooked to order I believe.I didnt drink alcohol but my friend did and said his margarita was okay. He may have complained about it not being strong enough - but I cant review it since we have different preferences and I didt drink while there. The alcohol levels may have been just fine for me.The avocado salsa with tortilla chips came out fresh, chilled, chunky, organic and delicious. I am a real foodie so I was happy to learn this restaurant is not cutting corners where the guac is concerned. Lately, Ive been running into some liquified Guacamole around these parts.I wont turn your stomach and tell you why that is happening but I do suggest you Google liquid or runny Guacamole so you can learn that this is an actual thing in a few Mexican restaurants. Some owners or chefs are now trying to cut corners. Theyll have you pay for Guac (avocados) but are really selling you an imitation version made from another Mexican product. I learned about this recently.Cantina Taqueria gives us the real deal served up in a heavy traditional Mexican pilon dish. It was really, really delicious.Every time I came through the food was delicious & satisfying - living up to my very high standards & expectations for food - so I give them an A+ for cook & consistency, which is so important for rating restaurants.I feel secure that any time I drop in Ill get what Im craving - the same way every time! Keep up the good work.Vibe: Now if youre on a first date, just know its loud inside, very loud and alive so you wont be able to engage in meaningful conversation unless youre willing to yell over the music and energetic voices - possibly spitting in your dates face.But maybe you can text one another?This might be a good place to bring a date if you just want to be around the person without blabbing off at the mouth too much. Ha ha. Enjoy!My waitresses have always been kind, positive and respectful - zero negative attitude.
Review №10
2022-04-24I really like the goat cheese and spinach saladMy bf loved the mango jerk chicken tacos and chicken lime rice bowl