El Lugar Cantina

I was in this restaurant on Saturday and I’m i’m allergic to cilantro. Manager made it sure that every single meal was prepared properly. Very good food and amazing service and outstanding atmosphere.. give it a shot and try cucumber margarita trust me is delicious.

Visited a few times whilst staying at a nearby hotel. The staff were always really lovely and remembered us each time we visited. They have a great happy hour menu which includes drinks and tacos.

El Lugar Cantina is a new contemporary Mexican restaurant in Midtown. It is known for its extensive tequila and mezcal menu and $2 taco Happy Hour deal. They’ve just launched a new menu on the weekend serving up brunch food with a Mexican twist. Thank you Francisco and our server for the warmest hospitality. They were so welcoming and knowledgeable. We could wholeheartedly feel their passion about the food and cocktails they’re serving. ＊Breakfast Egg Tostadas🌟 Highly recommended! Each tostada was loaded with a fresh plop of guacamole, sunny side-up egg, honey-glazed bacon and cilantro. The mixed flavors and textures were bursting in my mouth. ＊Beef Short Rib and Waffle A Mexican version of Chicken Waffle, while the proteins were substituted with shredded beef and crispy bacon. The beef was so tender. The housemade butter served on the side literally melted on the warm and chewy waffle. ＊Champiñones Tlayudas🌟 I know we had to order their signature tlayudas. We picked the mushroom one and it was SO GOOD!! Tlayudas is a wood-fired Mexican pizza with a corn-tortilla base. The crust was so thin and crispy, heavily topped with mushrooms, corn and cheese. We were stuffed but still enjoyed it because it was very light. ＊Faux-Loma (<.05% alcohol) ＊ In a Hamkock in Tulum Their cocktails and mocktails are the highlights of their menu. Must order

Stopped into this place for a drink and a snack. It has a cool vibe, the bartender was super friendly as was the host. He may be the proprietor. He is super knowledgeable about mezcal, which made trying it fun. We split a tlayuda topped with carnitas (a little off menu ordering, pro tip). It was so good we decided to stay for more. The guacamole was really fresh. The tuna tostada was a little Asian fusion. The dessert was unexpectedly delicious. How do they seal ice cream in a hot sweet bun? Drinks were creative and delicious, I recommend the sunset one and the fireplace one. Photos taken after we started eating so not as pretty as they show up at your table. But you get the idea.

Omggg! My new favorite Mexican restaurant. I went with my 2 friends to have dinner since it was a while we have not done it. Once we came in the welcoming was FABULOUS. Our server was checking us often if we needed anything or how was everything. The manager made us feel special introducing himself and that he was there if we needed anything . Now let me tell you the food wise wowwww I give props to the kitchen staff because the food was bomb because it’s rare to find a good Mexican restaurant in manhattan with actually Mexican style and taste. The food makes you remember Mexico . Now the dessert the concha ice cream that’s so unique totally enjoyed it. Good restaurant for sure we will be coming back to try more food and Fresh Delicious Margaritas <3

Great happy hour! Tacos were delicious and house Marg was refreshing. Got two margs and 3 tacos for under $25.

I’m originally from Mexico City so I was excited when this place opened up near my office. Truly outstanding happy hour, delicious tacos. We tried the Birria, Tinga, and Papas con chorizo. We will definitely come back. Great margarita options, lets you choose the main flavor and type of salt/spice on the rim. I tried the hibiscus (Jamaica) and smoky chipotle salt on the rim. ¡¡Gracias!!

Gorgeous spot. Stopped for drinks and the bartender was nice and drinks were made well. Wish i could have tried their food too

It was a great experience! They were very friendly, attentive, and the drinks were good! Unfortunately, we had just eaten, but the menu looked great too. Place was decorated very nicely, and had a chill vibe to it. I absolutely would recommend!

Checked this place out for brunch a few weeks ago and had a great experience. Super nice inside. Friendly service. Yummy food and drinks! Menu was a bit small, but we went with the burger and breakfast burrito, both were amazing. Burger didn't come with fries but was still very filling. Burrito was one of the best I've had! Brunch drinks were unlimited and our glasses were never empty...not watered down either! Not the best location, but easy to get to. Brunch was pretty slow, but I can see this spot being busy during the week. Def check it out if you're nearby with an itch for Mexican food!

El Lugar Cantina is a new contemporary Mexican restaurant in Midtown. It is known for its extensive tequila and mezcal menu and $2 taco Happy Hour deal. They've just launched a new menu on the weekend serving up brunch food with a Mexican twist. Thank you Francisco and our server for the warmest hospitality. They were so welcoming and knowledgeable. We could wholeheartedly feel their passion about the food and cocktails they're serving. ＊Breakfast Egg Tostadas** Highly recommended! Each tostada was loaded with a fresh plop of guacamole, sunny side-up egg, honey-glazed bacon and cilantro. The mixed flavors and textures were bursting in my mouth. ＊Beef Short Rib and Waffle A Mexican version of Chicken Waffle, while the proteins were substituted with shredded beef and crispy bacon. The beef was so tender. The housemade butter served on the side literally melted on the warm and chewy waffle. ＊Champiñones Tlayudas** I know we had to order their signature tlayudas. We picked the mushroom one and it was SO GOOD!! Tlayudas is a wood-fired Mexican pizza with a corn-tortilla base. The crust was so thin and crispy, heavily topped with mushrooms, corn and cheese. We were stuffed but still enjoyed it because it was very light. ＊Faux-Loma (less than .05% alcohol) ＊ In a Hamkock in Tulum Their cocktails and mocktails are the highlights of their menu. Must order

Food and service were exceptional. We felt like they were happy to have us there and couldn't wait for us to taste the food.

Dined at this gem last night with a few close friends for a catch-up, and had a great time! Despite being open for just two weeks, you'd never guess it--this spot exuded the charm of a seasoned establishment. Walking in, the intimate and moody ambiance set the perfect tone. I would definitely recommend as a perfect date night spot. The stunning bar caught our eye, although we missed out on happy hour specials since you had to be seated there. A minor bummer, but common in city spots. Our waiter, Felipe, was a standout--friendly and full of fantastic recommendations, especially about their impressive Mezcal collection. Cocktails were a hit, I loved my choice--the Hibiscus Margarita was hands down one of the best I've ever had. The "build your own margarita" option is a neat touch with various rim choices from tajin to coconut flakes. On to the food adventure! The Queso Fundido with warm tortillas was a gooey delight, hitting all the right notes. The Diabla Camarones"Mexican Pizza" wasn't as fiery as expected, but still enjoyable. Love the concept of it, especially that they're made in their wood fired oven, and I would definitely try some of the others that they have on the menu. Now, the tacos stole the show! The Tinga taco and Mahi Mahi Ceviche Tostada were outstanding. My friends ordered the Birria taco and loved it! The flavors, especially the refried bean paste in the taco, were a knockout. A side of hot sauces from mild to super-hot added an extra kick to our meals and they were super delicious! Overall, a return is a must, and I foresee this place becoming very popular very fast!!

I went to El Lugar Cantina for a brunch on my birthday, and the restaurant was fabulous. It was a group of 5 people, and I was a little skeptical in the beginning. I had arrived at about 2 pm, and it was completely empty. I thought I had made a wrong decision choosing this restaurant; however, by about 2:30, people started trickling in. By 3:00, it was a nice crowd, and the music was really pumping. They play mostly hip-hop/ r&b, which creates a really nice mood. For weekend brunch, they have a $35 bottomless option with purchase of an entree. For 1.5 hours, you can get unlimited mimosas, sangria, and micheladas. The servers also makes sure your glass is full. The food was quite tasty as well. The birria tlayudas, a Mexican pizza, was great. For about $25, the tlayudas serves about 4 people easily. The la burger cantina was tasty as well. Add an egg to the burger for $3, and you have a nice brunch dish. Since it was my birthday, the host Leidy also made sure our group was well taken care of. I'd definitely come back again for brunch or dinner.

I had the chance to visit the restaurant with a group of friends in a weekday specifically for their happy hour. Located continently near several subways in midtown, this venue is a classic Mexican spot that boasts a large seating area as well as a bar the length of the restaurant itself. When we arrived we opted to sit at the bar where the bartender took our drink order and also was able to serve us food. Their happy hour consisted of a variety of two dollar tacos, all which were extremely tasty. I also decided to get a beer which was six dollars during their happy hour special. All in all a great experience for an awesome price!

Recently visited this spot after work with some co workers and it was pretty good. Overall I thought the food was good, the music was not too loud and the service was good. The space was pretty empty but as the evening went on more people come in. Our server was very nice but over talked a bit. I love making a connection with a people who work places but if it goes on for longer than 5 minutes and I am with a group of people, I feel it is a bit too much. Also, the server talked up a lot of drink options (a lot) but did not offer us any samples. I understand that it is not possible to...but then just suggest 1 or 2 drinks max-not 5 or 6. We ordered a queso dip with tortilla's and it was great but when we asked for more queso (since we had a lot left) we were not told we would be charged for it. I think it is a good thing to let people know they will be charged extra for something. Also, we ordered hot sauce and were not offered typical hot sauce...but were offered 3 special sauces (for an extra cost we did not know about). I would have been very happy with tobaccos but did not know it was not an option. Overall, I think over communicating costs would have been nice. The tacos were very good but I would skip the tostadas (if you have to choose between the 2) and the pizza....was also so so. Overall, this is a good spot to catch up with friends, it is located not to far from penn station and ktown and they did give us a coupon for a free app next time we come.

Cocktails are wide ranging and delicious. If you're a tequila lover this is the place for you, their selection is DEEP. Food was fresh and flavorful. Tradition with a modern flare. Vegetarian and vegan options available also which some of my friends are so everyone had something they could enjoy. Definitely recommend for a date night or a night out with friends.

Can't recommend enough. The food was delicious, the tequila pairings and margaritas were delightful, and the staff went above and beyond to make our experience amazing.

Service was great and the drinks were very good. The food though is so bland and not made well. We had guacamole they made table side and the avocado wasn't ripe enough for guacamole so it just tasted weird. The entrees were much worse. I had the Birria Tlayudas and it was just bland. Ingredients also seemed frozen and not fresh. Would not go back.

We came here for a birthday, staff with incredibly friendly. The owner Francisco came over to personally greet us which was a very nice touch. Food was delicious and the atmosphere is very fun and lively!

I went to El Lugar for a celebration with my friends. We felt right at home and very accommodated. The place is lively, the drinks are amazing, and the service is excellent. Special shout-out to Francisco, Miguel, and Valentina. Everything was great and would definitely come back. Highly recommend this spot

There were so many great things about El Lugar that we enjoyed including our overall service with Jairo (Jota), margaritas and guacamole. Jairo checked in with us often and was personable and friendly. The Margaritas were on point and were exactly what we were needing to quench our thirst. And the guacamole was made to order and before she added anything to the avocado she shared what each ingredient was before mixing everything together. The presentation of the food was beautiful. The only reason for the 4 stars out of 5 had to do with the host who we learned his name was James. When we came in the restaurant- the dining area was empty. We told him it was a party for two and we did not have any reservations. He asked us for our phone number and name. We asked the reason for needing our phone number and he said he was adding us to the reservations. He then said- you have never been to a restaurant that asked that. We both said no and not as soon as we walk in and he said "interesting." He proceeded to take us to our table- mind you again- there's really no other party sitting in the dining area. We expected for him to say anything about enjoying our meal or have a wonderful meal but he didn't. He barely made eye contact and just left. We initially thought we might just leave because we were left feeling uneasy with his whole demeanor and our first impressions of the restaurant. But thankfully the rest of our visit was enjoyable and made up for his whole unwelcoming vibes.

happy hour is def worth it $2 tacos !!! can't go wrong but the tacos are super tiny and u have to order mini. of 3 tacos which isn't that bad . drinks are great ! diff choices of salt on the rim when u order margaritas

so I live nearby, we thought we would give a newcomer a try. I went to order in person, very few people there, I ordered 4 things, one was left out, and what I got was only marginal. they forgot the beans, the carne asada was exactly that, a piece of meat in a take out container. we had high hopes but hate to report- very uninspired!

I went with some friends to the soft opening and was absolutely unimpressed. The decor of the inside does not even come close to hinting that it is a Mexican restaurant. The inside is painted in dark blue and green and the lighting inside is very dim. I needed to use my cellphone light to read the menu. I experienced more of a cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking bar vibe than a Mexican restaurant. Also, the music was very loud and not appropriate for the restaurant. It was in the forefront and not in the background. The food was also non impressive. My friends ordered a pizza and quesadilla which were average. I ordered 2 mushroom tacos and was completely disappointed. The tacos arrived cold and were street-sized tortillas with sauteed mushrooms. The plate looked empty. There was no dollop of sour cream, guacamole or pico de gallo decorating the plate and adding flavor to my very sad meal. Instead the tacos sat on a plain white diner-style plate with a lonely lime wedge. The drinks were good, however, for $17 each I would have liked more than a glass of ice with a tablespoon of drink in it. Side note to the wait staff: when a customer places their order with confidence and is not seeking advice from you PLEASE do not ask if they like other items. The customer placed an order for a reason, they want what they ordered. I would love to attach photos of my experience but it was too dark in the restaurant to take any. All in all this place has potential but REALLY needs to step up it's game..... Scale 4/10

I am surprised by the reviews of this place in yelp, the ones on Google are more aligned with my experience here. The food was excellent. The drinks were Innovative and the food was excellent. The guacamole was super fresh and tasty, the tostada and tlayuda delicious, the staff was friendly and attentive. The space is large and comfortable, quiet enough for conversation at normal volume. The bar is cool, backlit. I will be back for sure.

The BIRRIA tacos, the michelada, nothing here I order comes with less than greatness. Everything is always so amazing and hot. This is my go to date night spot with my husband

Phenomenal service. Delicious, fresh, authentic. Table side guac, generous portion and fresh chips, we also had queso fundito and birria quesadilla - all incredible. The wood fire ovens get that yummy char on the quesadilla and tortillas for an elevated crisp in every bite. This is a new regular spot for me.

This is the NEW HIP spot in the NOMAD neighborhood. I can't wait to return. The guacamole is hands down one of the best in the city. The coconut margarita with the coconut chips added was my favorite. I didn't get to try the deserts but I saw the churros being ordered throughout the night, so I will definitely go back for those.

The food is great, the vibe is chill. Started with the Sriracha Tuna and the Ensalda Caesar with a Rockaway Beach. So good. Katherine the GM touched the table Carla was our server. I'm very impressed with their hospitality. I'm coming back for the grand opening and will be telling my friends. I love this spot!!