Playa Betty’s

"Playa Betty’s feels like a San Diego beach party as imagined by a New Yorker who has never been to California. But while the surfboards on the walls, palm trees, and “Hang 10” burrito may seem kitschy, this is really just a fun place to drink margaritas and eat big portions of Mexican food on the Upper West Side. The bright, rectangular bar is no exception, and if you’re looking to share buckets of beers or play drinking games with strangers, this is one of your best options in the area." - matt tervooren

"The palm trees and holiday lights and surfboards on the walls at Playa Betty’s could make you feel like you were in some kind of Times Square tourist trap if this Upper West Side spot took itself at all seriously. But everyone at this restaurant, which serves a massive burrito called the Hang 10, just seems to be having fun. And that also goes for the crowds of people at communal tables sharing beer buckets and guacamole. This place doesn’t make the best tacos in the city, but that’s not why you come to Playa Betty’s. You come here for affordable stress relief in the form of colorful cocktails, warm chips and queso, and fake palm trees. This is one of the more casual and enjoyable spots to spend a few hours with a group of friends uptown - assuming you don’t take yourself too seriously. Food Rundown Guacamole The guacamole comes with ingredients like tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, and peppers - so you can make it exactly to your specifications. Queso It’s not a big surprise that a bowl of melted cheese topped with chorizo is pretty damn good. We will say that the chip-to-queso ratio is way too high, and you’ll almost definitely still have a big pile of chips after all of the dip is gone. Tater Tot Nachos Again, we’re not sure it’s possible for tater tots topped with cheese, beef chili, guacamole, and sour cream to be bad. Like with everything here, you get a big portion for a very reasonable price ($12). Avocado Taco These have raw avocado along with fried avocado and guacamole. They don’t have a ton of flavor, but they’re definitely filling. Carne Asada Taco These are the tacos to get - a solid amount of steak topped with a lot of guacamole and cilantro. Hang 10 Burrito This burrito has steak, french fries, and guacamole in it, but despite its size, it has too much tortilla and not enough meat." - Matt Tervooren

"Playa Betty’s bright, open space has plenty of room for a big crew before your show at The Beacon Theatre. It’s about one step away from having decorative sand on the floor in here, but we kind of love that about Playa Betty’s. The Mexican food is definitely not the best around, but the portions are big and everything comes out fast. And since the margaritas are strong, and they have cheap buckets of beer, we’re guessing nobody will have a problem with the food." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren

"We once got a margarita pitcher to go from Playa Betty’s on the Upper West Side and then walked with a friend around the Jackie O’ Reservoir until all the tequila was gone. We’d highly recommend the experience, despite the many runners annoyed with our presence. But if you want to expand your picnic provisions beyond margaritas, Playa Betty’s also sells platters of chips, guacamole, and tacos (and lots of kids menu dishes). Everything on their menu is available for takeout through their website from 1-9pm daily, including brunch specials from 1-3:30pm." - hannah albertine

"At Playa Betty’s, you can get some “California-style” Mexican food - which essentially just means that they serve enchiladas, burritos, and tater tot nachos. There are also about 30 other things on the menu, and they should all make you feel better about the fact that it isn’t a Friday or Saturday. So if you’re around the Upper West Side and you want to eat something quick, get some food beneath a little palm tree here." - bryan kim