Prima Cantina

A very solid local cantina that replaced long-time palisades staple, Kay-n-Dave’s. I went and ate there around the time it opened and I felt there were some issues with the service, but I have since been eating there almost once a week (primarily takeout) for over a year and find the food to be really good every time - particularly the fajita plate my wife and I share that’s packed with fresh veggies. I’ll often add a side shrimp or carve asada taco, a-la-carte for a reasonably priced mid-week pickup that’s plenty of food with some leftover even.

I went here during the happy hour times. BEST DEAL IN TOWN! I got their salmon tacos and they were delicious. The flavor was spot on and honestly, the best taco I’ve had from the larger palisades area. The service was great, refilling water fast and fulfilling my every request. The food came out in a good amount of time. It can take longer, but just a bit, because they make it fresh. The atmosphere was tasteful and casual. You should even take your kids there. Overall a wondrous place. Definitely recommend!

Chips n salsa, crispy chips and a pretty good red salsa. Double Cadillac margarita by Nadir. George Clooney sponsors the restaurant. Ordered the carnitas plate w/ a grilled jalapeño on the side. Looks yummy. Ok, carnitas plate: a bit salty, but still not bad. Now I'm feeling thirsty from the salt, so I'll have another Cadillac margarita, double. ($24) They have a habanero salsa, pretty spicy. They closed early, not much traffic. Dinner, drinks, conversation for $100 tip included. Overall, I've had better food for less, but this is the Pacific Palisades.

Their impossible burger tacos are so good! I also enjoyed their Heard it Through the Grapevine cocktail. The waiters are friendly.

I ordered delivery but idk how this place doesn’t have better reviews - best salmon taco I ever had, best rice, really really great flour tortillas and homemade corn tortillas!! had the beef fajitas and they were solid, came w chips and guacamole and it was solid too, pretty standard, their salsa wasn’t great but everything else was good or great and their prices are solid too.

This is good Mexican food restaurant at Pacific Palisades. It takes 10 minutes from Santa Monica pier.

I went hiking with some friends and family at Will Rodgers Park. We were all unfamiliar with the area. We tried our luck in Pacific Palisades and after a careful review of our options chose Prima Cantina. They had no problem seating 6 adults and a 5 year old. I ordered 3 shrimp tacos. No cap, probably the best cooked shrimp I've ever eaten, And they didn't skimp.

The food is decent Atmosphere is fine - basic, but fine. The service is really bad. I think the MD is on something. And the lady behind the counter was extremely rude. Service for take out was very slow. Politely asked for some chips for my 8 year old while we waited and they bit my head off & refused.

We walked in here after our hike and to our surprise there was a 50% Happy Hour menu that blew us away! What great service, ambiance and food! Absolutely delicious! The Happy Hour menus started at 5-6 and it really was well worth the price.

It was okay. We were going to go to Cafe Vida, yet walked by here and thought we'd try it for the first time. I liked the free chips and salsa. The chips were thicker than usual, so they may have been store bought versus made fresh on premises. The service did its job, but definitely not overly friendly or warm. When we left, the servers clearly saw us walking out and didn't utter a word of "Thank you" or "Have a good night!" My margarita was tasty. My salad was bland and the cook forgot to put dressing on the salad. I asked for dressing, and even with the dressing it wasn't very flavorful. I added shrimp, so I don't feel like it was worth the $22 price tag. The ambiance is cute, cozy, and small. It was just okay, I'm not sure I'd go back.

We stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to try it since it looked pretty chic from afar. This is a hole in the wall type restaurant with a very warm and welcoming ambiance. Right as you enter your hit with color. The food itself was underwhelming, especially for the prices. The chips tasted like they're store bought and then heated up. The salsa reminded me of the canned grocery salsa. The salad entree was just sad. I've never had a salad that was not dressed... literally just Romaine with shrimp on it. The fish tacos, though, were decent but not for the price. The most disappointing experience was the service. Although the waiters and waitresses seemed nice, they weren't friendly. Our waiter had to be reminded to bring simple things to the table. He barely spoke loud enough to hear and had to think of he, yes he, was ready to take our orders. As we stood up and began to exit, there was no "thank you" or "have a good night" as you'd expect. Hospitality is lacking. Honestly, will not return.

The employees very rude seem like they don't care about their job. No welcome no thank you. Don't work here. Have to ask for water twice and took for ever. The food aren't that great Kay and Dave were 100x better . We really missed them both. The went on f the new restaurant better talk to there employee how they should be nice and to be rude t there customer. This is not going to be last to long if this keep up with there attitude. Good luck new owner.

My son and I are regulars. We love it here. He gets the Prima Burrito and I get shrimp tacos. Delicious and the staff are lovely.

4.5 I really like this restaurant. I would like to preference this because I did go for a work event that rented out the restaurant and had a coursed menu. So, my experience might be super different from others. But, the food was fantastic, and I actually ate so much that I couldn't finish my meal because it was all so good! The drinks are delicious, and I would highly recommend getting one. The servers were also super nice, and the decor was super cute. It is a very small restaurant, so if you don't like that vibe you might not like this. Overall, my experience was super good!

I now change my review to 5 stars, as I have dined at this restaurant many times since the initial review. Their drinks, fajitas, guacamole and everything we've ordered are some of the best I've had. Great service, great vibe. Will continue to be a customer for the foreseeable future.

This place has unbeatable tacos, rice, and beans! I always go for happy hour. You can not beat their lobster or salmon tacos! They replaced Kay and Dave's, and I might say I am so happy they did! This is the best Mexican food in the Palisades' hands down! They have unbeatable prices as well. Their margaritas are great too. Lisette

I always used to go to the Montana location but now come to the Palisades location for Timothy. He always gives me a good laugh and has great menu recommendations. Go to Prima Cantina Palisades and ask for Timothy!

I finally stopped and tried the basic Prima Burrito that consistently gets high marks from Yelpers. It was abundant and perfectly prepared. Let's support this restaurant so it can stay in the Palisades! I often stop at the wonderful Galvan food truck, which has some excellent items as food truck food goes. But the Prima Cantina burrito was quite different and the chips and fresh salsas were terrific. I'll be ordering a flight to compare salsas on my next visit.

My wife and I came here for the first time on a recent Friday night. We were craving good Mexican food, but unfortunately were left very disappointed. It started well enough - the tortilla chips were fresh and warm and the salsa very good as were our margaritas. For entrees we had chicken enchiladas and fajitas. The enchiladas had very little cheese and were thin on sauce. The corn tortillas used were very thick (I know corn is traditional, but I prefer flour) all of which made the dish not very enjoyable. Definitely not your soft, melty kind of enchiladas. For the fajitas we had steak and shrimp. The shrimp and veggies were quite good, but the steak was extremely tough and chewy. The rice and beans were also a letdown. The rice was clumpy and not cooked well and the beans were lukewarm and fairly flavorless. The service was ok, though despite being such a small space our server was not very attentive and clearly wanted to be somewhere else. We were excited to have a Mexican option in town (I'm not counting Chipotle) and really wanted to like Prima, so I'm hoping this will help them improve. Maybe it was an off night as other reviewers seemed to have a much better experience, but everything was so mediocre that I don't know that we'll be back.

The ambiance is appealing. It is bright and cheery.The decor is tasteful. Service is prompt and excellent. Great selection of Tequilas and mixed drink. The food is well presented but oriented towards bar food more than dining. Their fish tacos are good but not savory enough to want more. The seating arrangement had the feel of an arena, only a few corners for a private conversation. The chips were average and the salsa thin and watery. As a tapas bar or drinks and tastes I would definitely go back for a number of their adult beverages.

The impossible taco was amazing! Super flavorful and the texture was just right! One of the best tacos I have ever had!

Absolutely love this spot!! My husband and I recently discovered this restaurant a few months ago and have been eating in person as well as ordering food for delivery on Caviar/Doordash. Great food, large portions, tasty margaritas, wonderful service. Our personal favorites: Chips & Guacamole, Queso Fundido, Ceviche, Lobster Tacos (by far the largest serving of lobster in any lobster taco I've eaten!), Mushroom Tacos (so so good!), and the Branzino. Will def be happy returning customers as long as things stay at this level :)

I was disappointed twice today at lunch. First it was the same waiter who had no personality was there again. And secondly, the food I had did not compare to what I had there a few months ago. The quality on the tacos was no comparable to the past. So it was a disappointing lunch. I probably will not go back there again.

I really like this place, first time here definitely not the last time, the chicken tortilla was really good, the chicken cooked very nicely with tasty kick, the service was great and definitely recommend

Food was really good. Some of the Kay n Dave staff. Service was perfect and friendly. Food was tasty and spicy marg as well. Highly recommend!

I happen to be in the area, and wanted to give this place a try again since it changed ownership. I loved Kay & Dave's and had dined there often. Unfortunately last night was a mistake, although the place looked busy. The service and food all left me disappointed. First off, the service was bad. When we first arrived, we didn't feel very welcomed. The manager or waitress who seated us was not very friendly, and didn't even smile or say "welcome," she just bluntly asked "how many?" Secondly, the waiters were just as bad, not very welcoming, odd, and un-attentive. They didn't bother coming by to ask us if we needed anything. In fact, we had to ask them several times for certain items, and on top of that, they would completely forget about us and we ended up asking for the same items 2-3x. In regards to the food and drinks, it all lacked flavor, and was very bland. The house margarita I ordered was watered down, and for some reason they put OJ in it! When I questioned the waiter (who also made my drink) about it, he said it's part of their house mix, and he added OJ. I have never had a margarita in my life with OJ in it, did they run out of the margarita mix? And if I wanted OJ in my alcoholic beverage, I would have ordered a Mimosa! It had no flavor, and did not taste like a margarita at all. I clearly stated that I did not like 2x, and the waiter failed to ask me if I would like another drink and just apologized. Before the bill came, I requested that they please remove it from the check, but he only ended up giving me 50% off. I asked why, and he stated that I drank 1/2 of the drink which was not true! The glass was more than half full, & I had taken 2 sips at most so I can decide whether I wanted to keep it or not. I could not prove it since he took the glass away! But, out of courtesy, if a customer does not like something, and not it's best, it should automatically be removed from the bill. The combo Fajita's we ordered (chicken/Steak) were horrible. The chicken was dry and bland, steak was tough! Lastly, be aware if you order anything extra, like salsa's, extra tortilla's, there is a charge! Not sure if it was an off night, but we did arrive after the Happy hour, and the restaurant had cleared out by that time we ordered, so they had plenty of staff to attend to us. They seemed like they rather clean up tables than come by to check on the customers who were still there dining! I know this may seem harsh, but this is all my opinion. Compared to Kay & Dave's, this place is not great. I don't plan on returning, and rather have gone somewhere else to dine where I could have enjoyed the service, food, and ambience.

A new restaurant replacing Kay n' Dave's, this spot was great. At the time of this review they have only been open for two weeks in this location. My family and I never liked Kay n' Dave's too much so we thought we should give Prima a try. We walked in with no reservation and we were seated immediately by a friendly staff member. We were served very good, and Fresh Chips and Salsa. We as well ordered some guacamole, which was delicious. We also ordered a corn appetizer, esquites, which were great. Everyone in my family got something different. I ended up getting a few different Tacos, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I would strongly recommend the Carnitas tacos. They also have many other menu options, such as Bowls, Burritos, other entrées, and salads. In the end, I believe this restaurant has great value for money, considering the location in the Palisades. Another restaurant, Que Padre, that also has Tacos that are good, but so much more expensive and limited to variety, and I feel that Prima has good quality food, good variety, while not making it too expensive. So, to conclude, Prima is a nice, modern Mexican restaurant with good food, friendly staff, and fairly priced items. If you are in the Palisades and want some Mexican food, I'd say it's worth checking out! Thank you, Ilan S. Side note: They do have a bar but I didn't get anything from it. The drinks they were making looked like they were good, though.

So, my wife and I originally planned to eat at the restaurant across the street, but the wait was really long. We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now, so it was the perfect time. The food was excellent. Chips and salsa were very fresh. We tried the guacamole appetizer. That, too, was excellent. The tacos, especially the grilled Mahi Mahi, were fantastic as were the chicken enchiladas. This place is worthy of 5 stars had it not been for our waiter. After reading multiple other reviews which commented on the server and his lack of concern for his diners, we came to the conclusion that it was our waiter who was likely responsible for those reviews. The bus boy was extremely helpful and did most of the work. Our waiter was completely disinterested in being helpful. We told each other that it seemed as if he had just been told tonight was his last night of employment and, as such, he could care less about his service. Too bad that a great neighborhood place line this allows this server to drag down their ratings and reputation. We'll definitely try it again and hopefully won't have to deal with him next time!

Great for kids. Tasty food reasonable prices. Good service. It's all here. Loved the fish tacos.

Their "bloody" Michellada is fiiiireee. Very friendly staff and solid ambiance. Smiles all around!

Food is great, I've tried a bunch. Carne asada tacos are prime. Service is friendly but slow and kind of not dialed in. Not a great place to be in a hurry. But friendly, just distracted.

We ate at Kay n' Dave's perhaps more than any other restaurant in the world, and were sad when it closed. We ordered some take out from Prima three weeks ago. I had carnitas which were perhaps the best I have had anywhere. My family ordered the carne asada, and the chicken enchiladas. Everyone was pleased, and we have ordered from Prima every week since then.

The food here is great and the service is even better. All of the staff greeted and treated my family with care. We have 2 young boys (4 & 6) and the restaurant was very accommodating. The boys are picky eaters but simply smashed their chicken tacos. ...oh, and the churros, definitely get those!!

Pure standard, ordinary Mexican food no different from Kay 'n Dave and countless other little restaurants. Nothing bad, but undeserving the rave reviews here. Don't expect some kind of surprise discovery. Our party of six (takeout) ate burritos, tacos, salad, guacamole, salsa, chips...$145. Nothing exemplary or memorable. But the mainly avocado guacamole and bland chips were sub par and minimal quantity considering the high price. The little Mahi strip in the taco was about 1/2 the width of the tortilla. Kay n Dave lasted 20+ years here serving the same generic food so Prima will probably do the same.

Not a good experience. Food was mediocre, staff certainly didn't want to be there. Certainly wouldn't go back.

Upon walking in, there were only 2 tables occupied. We waited about 4 minutes to be seated. Not like no one noticed us. They just all expected the other to seat us. Service was so substandard from beginning to end. Then after 45 minutes our food comes out. The steak was non-edible. It was super chewy. No flavor and super greasy. We got home smelling like a greasy kitchen. $30 fajita dish that was the worst I've ever had.

The Mexican dishes we ordered for the 3 of us were deliciously prepared by the chef with a wonderful blend of freshly prepared garden vegetables for our chicken, steak and shrimp dishes. Chips and salsa were fresh: a great beginning served with perfectly salted chips and homemade salsa. Beer was bottled and cold. A bottle of Pino Grigio for our group was cold and delicious. Our waiter, Timothy was very knowledgeable of the menu, served our food hot from the kitchen, and had very good manners. In fact, the entire Wednesday evening waitstaff worked well together as a team should. Food was not bland or overly spicy. It was prepared perfectly. We sent our highest compliments to the chef. Will definitely return!

The good stuff... Love mom and pop restaurants that love what they do. Great food, great service, GREAT margaritas. We live walking distance and will be back over and over and over again. Thank you for a great experience. The cozy restaurant also is a huge plus... I almost didn't want to write a review so we kept it as our small like diamond I rough. Butttt these needs to get out. It's mom and pop and this will help them grow. Enjoy

Came to Prima Cantina in the Palisades for lunch today. Place was packed and the vibe was great! I ordered the street corn, (excellent) and the chicken enchiladas, it all came out piping hot and quickly for being so busy. The enchiladas we really good with the red and green sauce. My wife had the Prima burrito and she loved it. Chips and salsa were great as well. Service was excellent, and as I said, the place was super busy. Really great experience.

Need to get their kitchen in sink as the wait can be painfully long even when the restaurant is not at capacity

Delish! Obsessed with the tacos and handmade tortillas. Guac is yummy. Only not doing 5 stars because the chips are not gf. But consider it a 4.9 stars.

Been to this place three times, but will not go again until the staff changes. Food is good, but the staff has a very bad attitude. Rude, condescending, not accommodating at all. Difficult to deal with and dismissive. For a service oriented business, they need a lot of help. Sharp contrast to Kay and Dave's staff before them. For the owners I suggest a major overhaul in staff attitude or in staff management. Poor example shown by the onsite manager. Will not be going back

While you could never replace Kay N Dave's it's a pleasure to have this new addition in the Palisades. Great food, service, food, and margaritas!

Food was so delicious, I ate the carne asada plate and it was tasty and complete, you can choose flour tortillas or corn, which is so important for me. It was authentic, and the salsas were flavorful! The servers were very professional and friendly. Sadly we don't live close the area, but sure we will drive all the way when we feel like eating Mexican food !

bad service in the Palisades branch. the waiter actually said he was busy when i asked for something. can't even remember but it felt harsh.

We were in the neighborhood and hungry for a late lunch and saw this place which I think is where the old Kate and Dave's used to be. There were not many people there. We were seated right away, and the server told us they weee out of chips. When we were surprised, he told us they make them there. He said we should have them soon, as he asked for them about 15 minutes before we arrived. It took us two requests to get our water - not a good sign. We ordered our food and over 20 minutes later our tacos arrived. They were okay. I had fish and chicken and my husband shared one of his salmon. To tell you the truth, they all tasted the same. Not any distinctive flavors in any of them. When we were almost done with our tacos, the chips arrived. No way these were freshly made. At least not there in the day we were there. There was a Chipotle across the street. We could have had just as good a Mexican meal for half the price.