El Cantinero

I love it here! I went to NYU and came here a lot 2017/2018. I recently moved to the neighborhood and got to come back. The margaritas are wonderful! (Really, you only need one but you should have more 🤣) The downstairs is chill with spanish music and the upstairs is fun for dancing and happy hour specials. This place is a must visit. Consistently good? 👍🏻☺️

The food is so good and fresh! Love the upstairs happy hour at the bar. Hubby and I come here often! Great lil gem!

I have been here many many of times. But now the service not sure because they are training or what they are lost. The food not the same like before some dishes are tooooooooooo salty or have no real flavor. The drinks also not like how they where. The atmosphere like always nice something to look at everywhere you turn. And when you are done they give a shot but when the drink comes they tell you...."shot not included" I hope not I did not ask for it.

I've been going here for over 10 yeand the. Food is always good. I tried various dishes. It's always good. That atmosphere is good. They have music upstairs. I've been up there twice maybe. And it's nice, but it gets a little crowded. But mostly I go to Ian and have the margaritas which are also very good. The staff is very helpful and efficient. I love the place. I have shed with friends and family and they still go there.

I’ve been coming to this spot since I was in grad school a few decades back ;). I have gone for the happy hour a few times in the upstairs bar area usually on Fridays before COVID. They had drinks for really good prices, great music, dancing a free delicious Hispanic food. I hope they re-open the upstairs bar soon. This place has a special place in my heart. Many great memories. I recently went there for my youngest daughter’s birthday. They are following all safety measures. We ate light and had some drinks. It was all delicious as usual.

My recent visit here was marred by subpar drinks and blatant gender bias exhibited by the staff. Despite both my friend and I being served, the quality of the drinks left much to be desired. The pitcher of margaritas we ordered was notably watered-down, failing to meet even basic standards of taste and satisfaction. However, what truly soured our experience was the unwarranted interference from the waiter regarding our drinking habits. We were shocked when the waiter began to question and dictate the amount of drinks we were allowed to have, suggesting that it was too much for "us women." He began to bring up our commutes home. This blatant gender bias and assumption about our drinking capabilities were both offensive and unacceptable. Furthermore, when we attempted to address these concerns with management, we were met with resistance and refusal to share management's contact information. This lack of transparency only added to our frustration and highlighted the disregard for customer satisfaction. It is worth noting that we were both able to provide identification, with my passport readily available in PDF format. Any insinuations about our ability to prove our age were unfounded and insulting.

At the bar and alot of people are having fun. Haven't tried the food yet but my coconut margarita had alot of ice. Good summer drink, also bartenders are very nice until they don't want to accept credit cards. Also so crowed during 5th of May and Friday's after you're finished with work. Now having a mango margarita and it's delicious with chips, salsa & guacamole. About to have a platter of appetizers. Salsas taste more spicy when drunk so have some water or milk.

The best Tex-Mex food restaurant The delicious food, the super delicious margaritas my favorite is the passion frizada with tajin the atmosphere is familiar I recommend them to come with family or with friends excellent service 🫶❤️

Food, service, and atmosphere was all incredible. Great place to stop for a well priced meal in the city!

My recent experience here was nothing short of disappointing and frustrating. Despite high hopes for an enjoyable evening, my friend and I were met with subpar drinks, mistreatment from the waiter, and a lack of accountability from management. The drinks we ordered, particularly the pitcher of margaritas, were noticeably watered-down, lacking the flavor and quality one wouldn't expect for paying $60. This alone would have been disappointing, but what truly soured our experience was the mistreatment we received from the waiter. Instead of providing courteous service, the waiter took it upon himself to question and dictate the amount of drinks we were allowed to have, suggesting that it was too much for "women like us." This intrusive and discriminatory behavior was both offensive and unacceptable. When we attempted to address these concerns with management, we were met with resistance and a refusal to provide management's contact information. This lack of accountability only added insult and highlighted the disregard for their customers. I would not recommend this establishment to anyone.

If I could give a zero I would . Horrible staff Changes prices When I brought it to management attention they denied, stated they can change the happy hr price. When we showed them the hand written signs of happy hour all night he sent his personnel to take the signs down but continued to charge more than $7. Charged $12

Just another day. In the city day, drinking, caught them between 3 and 6 PM and they have a dining room happy hour. Sangria was tasty. They have both red and white ambience was cute. Can't wait to come back for dinner so I can see the upstairs service was on point. Of course I ordered an appetizer to continue the drinking, the chicken quesadilla was delicious. Love the happy hour portions, perfection. See you soon!

Came for a date and I liked that it's quite and Imtimate, can have a conversation without any loud music; not too many people were there. I like the decor and the pictures on the wall. The staff were really nice and attentive. I ordered the shrimp ceviche which was ok needed a Lil more flavor, too much onions and the avocado was a nice touch. Didn't really give me ceviche though. I alsobhad the Plato micro which is mixed appetizer sampler which was good. The wings I liked and the Lil pizza with chorizo. The beef wrap I think that's what is was, tasted ok. My date had the chicken soup and the steak fajita which he liked. I also ordered the Tamarindo margarita which was tasty. Very good for a date or to catch up with friends. If quite conversation is what you're looking for then this is the place to go over good food and drinks.

If I could give zero stars I would I am extremely disappointed with my experience at this restaurant the food is very over priced and not worth the money at all there is a lot of false advertising here I ordered the nacho deluxe ( the only thing that makes it deluxe is there is meat added to it) they brought out 10 burnt chips on a plate with toppings all that for 13 dollars after that I didn't even order anything else I was looking forward to enjoying a good meal with my friends if you are coming here DO NOT ORDER THE "NACHOS" you will be disappointed

Best nachos I've had in the lower east side so far ! Super loaded and taste delicious.

So if you were to ask me my fav food, I will always say Mexican. But as I get older, I realize what I really like is house-made chips and salsa. So today we were wandering around and starving! The hubs suggested this joint as he did his "moving outta NYC" party here years ago! I come from the West Coast where chips and salsa are brought to the table for FREE!!! Here they charge you $5. I guess that's not the norm at this place. Soooo...in an effort to be a cheapskate, I order nachos with ground beef. I still get my chips and salsa only now I get some incredible (fkn awesome) ground beef and guacamole too! My main man got 2 tacos with rice/beans...loved em just expensive. Did I mention they have piña coladas and they serve them in pitchers if you ask!!! Yeah your gonna pay for it but imo, our pitcher was a deal! Tasted great and just enough rum to make my legs wobble as I walked home... Yum food, great and friendly dudes who served us! Prices are definitely up there, $20 for 2 tacos with rice and beans. But the food is good and I can't find west coast Mexican close to my apartment. This place is it for now!

Forgot what I ordered in the past, but I remembered the food and the drinks were spot on. Recently I came back for happy hour and we ordered the Plato Loco... which isn't as loco as it stated in the menu. It was just a simple appetizer sampler however the items in the sampler were delicious. I got the coconut margarita and it was just right and yet subtlety strong. My friend got the dirty martini and said it was the strongest yet. The 2nd floor is a disco floor with happy hour drinks and food, but you need an ID to sit in and they're very strict with their ID requirement. Not sure why they don't do happy hour on the first floor if it's under the same establishment... makes no sense so minus a star on that. P.S.: the 2nd floor can also be reserved for private parties.

This was a middle of the road Mexican restaurant. I had the vegetable enchiladas in red salsa. The flavor wasn't remarkable. The portions were good for lunch, but it ended up being much more expensive than I would have liked.

I came here with two coworkers for lunch. We were there for a couple hours. The service was slow but friendly. The food was filling, but could have been more seasoning. It was a bit one-dimensional and I had to add hot sauce for more flavor. Not the best Tex-Mex, but a solid spot when looking for a filling meal.

Great sangria. Good spot to people watch. Very friendly staff. Just had some beverages but will be back.

One of the most difficult parts of living in New York City, after spending a few years on the West Coast, is finding a go-to place for Tex-Mex. I'm still looking after eating at El Cantinero last night, but there's still hope. The Good: Friendly staff, Reasonable prices The Not So Good: Pace of meal, Average fare I visited El Cantinero last night after wrapping up a work party, desperately hoping to find Tex-Mex that resembled what I've had in California, Texas, or even Oklahoma. My wife and I were seated promptly at 7 PM and immediately noted that there was only one other occupied table - a little strange given the hour, but with the university nearby off for the summer, I wasn't too surprised. We immediately ordered chips and salsa for the table. The chips weren't bad, but the salsa was a little sweet and needed more seasoning overall for my taste. I chose the chimichangas for my entrée, while she chose the combination fajita platter. Both of these were pretty good; the ingredients were fresh, and the portion size was very reasonable. Add up two (non-alcoholic) drinks, chips and salsa, and two entrées, the bill came to $85 with tip. Here was the major issue: after finishing our meal and having our table cleaned, it took over 20 minutes for the check to arrive. We asked a few times for it and watched as tables that arrived before us ate their meal, finished, and left before we got our check. We weren't able to leave until around 9, which by that point, we were both exhausted after a long day. The restaurant wasn't all that busy at that point, which made us feel like we had been forgotten. All in all? El Cantinero isn't bad, but it also isn't up there with what you might find in Los Angeles, San Diego, or Austin. Par for the course for what you can expect in Manhattan.

Came here many times and the food is always amazing and delicious. The waiters are super nice and friendly. On the 2nd floor, there is a bar with a dance floor. There used to be a small area for outdoor seating (not sure if they still do that). Happy hour is 4-10pm. *Tres leches 3/5 fairly on the sweet side for me but some of the people at our table enjoyed it *Beef chimichanga 5/5 *Flan 5/5 enjoyed the flavor and texture of the flan very much *Pina colada 5/5 *Chicken Enchiladas 5/5

Fun and casual ambiance with a great margarita and polite wait staff. Neighborhood gem and good Mexican food.

Love this place! It's one of our go-to's for birthday celebrations and other special occasions! Being a CA-native of Mexican descent, there's a certain "authenticity" I look for in restaurants labelled "Mexican," and I'm here to tell you this place has it! It would make my abuelitas very proud! Their food is very tasty, and at a very reasonable price point for the amount they serve! Believe me, you'll be filled to the brim by the time you leave! Plus, their margaritas are very fresh and delicious, with the right amount of alcohol to make it a regular drink for us! If you want authentic Mexican food come down to El Cantinero! Salud!

Plentiful delicious food (steaks amazing!) and service like you didn't see much anymore!! Kind attentive and helpful people making awesome food- definitely recommend!

Cantinero is the place to go for a great happy hour ( starts at 4) and food. Their food and drinks are very cheap and they will definitely be worth the money. Not only is the food delicious but the drinks are strong but yummy! The service is amazing they are so nice and will attend you quickly to make sure everything is good. They are very accommodating . The ambience is one that is chill during the week but on Friday and the weekend they have a 2nd floor that plays great music, has hookah and a dance floor .

I was a bit surprised when they bought out the guacamole, such a small portion! I know we're going through inflation so whatever ... my 2 friends and I stopped by after we had lunch somewhere else and stayed for a couple of hours catching up. they did not rush us or anything even though we just ordered a pitcher and 2 apps Very chill atmosphere. The staff was attentive and the owner was nice and seemed very grateful to have us there.

El Cantinero is nothing fancy, but it really hit the spot for some margaritas and chips on a recent weekday afternoon. Located centrally in Greenwich, El Cantinero is somewhat of a hole-in-the-wall spot, and, complete with its low ceilings and Christmas string lighting, really reminds me of the family-run Mexican spots I grew up eating at in Texas. I am always on the hunt for a taste of home, so we sought out El Cantinero when in the city recently. We decided to sit on their covered and heated sidewalk tent, and ordered a pitcher of quite strong margaritas and their chips and salsa, which really hit the spot. We enjoyed whiling away the afternoon chatting and people watching in one of the city's most beautiful areas. El Cantinero is the perfect spot for a taste of authentic Tex-Mex in the middle of Manhattan.

1.They very careful with the Covid19, they check our temperature. 2. Food was good. 3. The service was very nice. 4.drinks were strong. 5. The atmosphere is very authentic low key.

This place never disappoints. My husband and I have been coming here over a year now and it's always great. Ask for Junior, her service is superb. The food is amazing and so are the drinks (not watered down). Try the fajitas Sorry I did take pictures but I will next time

Enchiladas de mole and nachos deluxe are amazing. This one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city.

Once again here we are after quarantine for the first time. My margaritas were good but they were taking long to bring our drinks. I had to ask twice in order for them to bring my drinks. Also, we order some nachos and they were not so good. Then, the waiter Osvaldo/ Oswaldo had the audacity to complain about the tips we left after we told him that our drinks were taking forever. We left a percent of tips based on the amount that we consumed and the service. Tips are always a suggestion based on the service provided and as a previous food inspector I know. After that, he went and was asking if his service was good enough.

Four solid stars for this long lasting downtown institution. I remember going to this place in high school with hopes of somehow sneaking past the bouncer to head upstairs to the lounge. They are pretty stringent with their carding process so I never did get to live out that dream until adulthood. Nonetheless, the upstairs lounge is also where the bathrooms are located so you can always scope out the scene that way if you'd like. The lounge offers dancing, hookah and drinks. If that's not your scene, grab a table in the dining room and eat some average Mexican-American fare perhaps paired with a pitcher of their Sangria or Margaritas. Whatever your libation, know that it will be strong. Service is super efficient and friendly. You can't really go wrong if you're in the area and want a laid back atmosphere for casual fun times.

Enjoyed my combination meal. I ordered a shrimp quesadilla and beef taco. It came with rice and beans. Everything was very delicious especially the shrimp quesadilla. The sangria was good would definitely return for the shrimp quesadilla.

Actually I'm a little confused??? Menu lists steak fajitas for $12 less than I was charged and what's was on the menu. That being said the fajitas were delicious. Steak was very tender and tasty. I especially was impressed with the refined beans which did not come with my meal but I tasted my partner's. They were not bland as many others I've eaten at other Mexican restaurants. My partner ordered the burritos which were also very good. Being in NYC often I try a different restaurant when I visit my daughter but in the future I may return to experience another choice. I do recommend and maybe the price increase was due to climbing inflation and restaurant has not yet updated on-line prices.

My dad and I stopped to eat dinner here before our Broadway show. We visit NYC quite often and really love Mexican food. I've tried so hard to find a "good" Mexican spot that is similar to what we have back home in SC. We have yet to find a place that is good enough to come back to a second time. This restaurant is nothing special either in my opinion. It's decent Mexican food and it filled me up and was edible. That's about all I can say about it. I was really disappointed that they didn't have cheese dip and chips like most Mexican restaurants do. I wasn't a huge fan of this place and the food was OK so that's why I'm giving it 3 stars.

Drinks were solid but the food was just alright. The bar section seemed substantially louder than the downstairs. Also happy hour is only at the bar

food was excellent. service was top notch. ambiance i couldnt ask for better, nice music playing and very pretty decor

This place was really overpriced and bad. I got a chicken quesadilla which was tasteless. I could taste that the chicken was boiled and had no flavor whatsoever, on top of that it was $20. On the contrary, the mango margarita was pretty good and because it wasn't happy hour it was $15 which is what an average drink would cost. My friend got the nachos "deluxe" and what came out was 10 chips topped with salami and cheese and half of the plate filled with lettuce. The place next to them looked better and had an happy hour until 7, so i would recommend the place next to them

This is what the restaurant considers as "Nachos" $9 but hey at least they served it with a fresh cucumber! Make sure to savor every bite mmm

Wow !! Actually so delicious , cheap food cheap drink & it's quiet ! It's literally so good. The staff is so nice, give this place a try.

I enjoyed the music and the food. Fast service but it was slow during lunch today. I like this place and I will def go back again.

I have been here numerous times since 2006. I've never been here regularly. It always seems to be a couple years in between visits. But it's been consistently solid. I'm not gonna tell you the food is amazing, but it's definitely good. It's really a good spot for any occasion. Great for dining with friends or a date. Love the vibes. Favorite spot is the rooftop patio area. It's enclosed, so you can be seated there in the winter as well. Was just there a couple of weeks ago for covid outdoor dining. They have a good seating situation. Definitely worth the visit for Mexican food in the area.

I am Mexican American , I also live about 4 blocks from this place. I actually prefer to go low calorie, and they offer a great low calorie dish. Steamed mussels in green or red sauce ! You get a lot of them for under 25 $, pair that with a margarita and chips and salsa , and you dont break your diet. Highly , highly recommend.

We ordered a quesadillas which came with rice and beans (very, I mean very small portions) we also ordered guacamole with chips and a steak Fajita plate. The food was ok. The drinks are strong if that's what your looking for at $12-$17 you get your money's worth. The top floor is the party seen, but be safe up there! It gets super crowded, no mask and it's impossible to social distance in this place. Oh, and one very small restroom which is crazy since they have outdoor dining, first floor indoor dining and top floor bar and dance floor.

I love love love authentic Mexican food, so you can imagine how excited I was when my friends said they were in mood for it and wanted to do an early dinner. This spot is very Tex Mex. I really didn't see a ton of fresh ingredients that I had fallen in love in Southern California and Mexico. Just be aware that the meals are heavy, but they have a good happy hour. I docked another star because a very small side of guacamole was $7 for an entree. OMG! And the guac and chips for an appetizer was on the menu for $11, and our waiter informed us it was $17. Holy smokes... I'll make my own at home!

it was good but the prices have gone sky high. Can't blame the restaurant as all prices for food whether bought to cook at home or for eating out have greatly increased. Hello, inflation. WhIle the prices are now higher at this restaurant and the portions smaller, the quality of the food has not decreased and the service remains excellent.

Strong margs and tasty tacos and Fajitas. Not bad if that's what you are looking for, but it was not anything special as a restaurant.

Having been raised on Mexican foods. I am always in search of good enchiladas suizas. I finally found delicious enchiladas suizas beyond my expectations as I have grown used to mediocre. I will now be a regular.

Sweet waitress but the food is terrible and really overpriced. 2 insanely greasy/oily chicken burritos for $20 each and the smallest portion of guac for $16 ‍

Been coming here my entire life thanks to my parents, Isis & Jose. No matter how far I have moved, etc. I always return & the only thing I have ever ordered are sizzling fajitas and they never disappoint. I bring anyone and everyone to eat and the bar upstairs (FYI avail for private parties). I think a couple years ago management switched or maybe just younger relatives are running the place but they kept some of the old staff like Bienbo in the kitchen and the food stayed the same - amazing. Great portions, flavor and service

When I was way younger I used to come here fairly frequently with my roommate. She had raved about El Cantinero and how she used to come here when she was broke and going to NYU and would load up on margs, their complimentary chips/salsa, and order refried beans and call it a day. We would often come in as adults after we graduated and stuff and order pitchers of margs and actual food. Some of its not bad - but its generally american tex-mex. I enjoy they have crazy combo platters. I haven't eaten here in a hot minute but I remember it being fairly tasty and enormous portions. They also do an unlimited dinner deal on Mondays that I've never taken part in but seriously tempted for I think its up to $14.95 now. Still not a bad deal and this place has a special place in my heart. Over the past few months I've been playing in an orchestra near here every Wednesday and this makes for an ideal location either after a concert or pre-rehearsal for catch ups with friends. The upstairs area is never that packed on Wednesdays (go figure) and they have happy hour on everything for $6 - ranging from flavored margaritas, pina coladas, shots, daiquiris, tequila sunrises, sangria, generic bottled beers, etc. Drinks are somewhat strong depending on what you order. The frozen drinks are a little iffy but I've never been a huge frozen drink fan unless I'm like on a beach. The complimentary chips and salsa add a nice touch, especially to help keep me sober for those practices. I wish they had the happy hour deal throughout the entire bar. Maybe for the downstairs area and back garden it could be until like 7pm and the upstairs is the all night deal. That summer patio is feeling some neglect and I'm not crazy about the dark night club feel upstairs.

Way overpriced - $20 for the worst enchiladas I've ever had. Service was good but not enough to make up for the food quality and price.

Love this place! Food and drinks are authentic and yummy! And service is superb, always!!!

This was my to go to spot from before I had kids. Who are now 25, 21 and 14. I use to work on 16th st many moons ago and we would eat there for lunch or hang out after work. I haven't been in 3 years and while the decor remains the same, the menu and taste have definitely changed to my disappointment. No more chips and salsa when you're seated,No more seafood rice, no more mussels but they still had my Shrimp Fajitas. They've even added more shrimps to the order!!! The refried beans have changed. It's now a runny watery version. But it's seems to still be the to go spot to be on a Saturday night. The club was open patrons never stopped walking in. I'll be back but only for drinks and Shrimp Fajitas.

I had the shrimp broth, frozen mango margarita, watermelon margarita on the rocks and fried ice cream and it definitely left a lot to be desired. The service is definitely great. Waiters are attentive hence the 3 stars, the made the day. Shrimp soup was salty, fishy and oily. Margaritas are okay not strong at all, and the fried ice cream was oily and like it was in the fridge a couple days. The highlight of the day was the nachos locos. Definitely a go to if you come here. Fajitas were big and according to friends burritos were small.

Mexican food is my favorite type of food. I love the flavor and of course cheese and sour cream. My friend and I were looking for somewhere to eat and she suggested this place, let's just say she won't be suggesting the next place. The food was okay. On Mondays you pay $15 and order all you can eat from a special menu. The first thing i ordered was a chimichanga and a i think a tostwhich is one of my favorite Mexican dishes it was good but I didn't get that mouth watering feeling. I honestly just ate it because I was hungry. By the second dish we ordered they didn't give us rice or beans as they did with the first. I guess the more food you order the less they garnish the plate. I believe i ordered a burrito or taco and again nothing special. Even the chips we got at the beginning was nothing special or the salsa. I assume they don't add a lot of seasoning for health reasons. Which is okay but I won't be eating there again. There us so many better NYC Mexican food options to go to that actually taste good.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022 party of 2 for Lunch. We walked in and were met at the door by Jesus who was very patient since it was freezing cold and took us a minute to take out our vax card and ids. We were originally sat at a 2 topper but, moved to a 4 topper because of the amount of food we ordered. Margarita on the rocks rimmed with Tajin. Nice and strong and made well. Guacamole was super fresh with great texture and flavor. Nice portion for the price. Warm tortilla chip are always awesome. SALSA was fresh with tons of flavor and a hint of heat. Loade Nachos with chicken huge portion with layers of flavors and ingredients. Pernil plate with rice and beans served with salad. This was amazing portion wise and flavor wise. We swore someone's ABUELITA was cooking in the kitchen. Service was attentive without being intrusive. We sat as long as we wanted and were never rushed out. Definitely, added to our dine out rotation.