Taco Vista

Wonderful spot to chill overlooking the water between downtown manhattan and Brooklyn, gorgeous view and plenty of cute seating area to lounge around. Food was cooked by authentic Latinos but could amp up the flavor, my burrito needed sauce to go down with. I first got a watermelon juice which was supposed to be 100% real juice and homemade but it tasted like it has gotten sour and fermented a bit. Luckily one of the juice lady agreed to offer me a fresh cup of hibiscus drink which was delicious. Live DJ nice music. Clean “portable bathrooms”made from improved porter potty with individual sink and ventilation, was surprisingly clean because I’m scare of public bathroom.

Love the Chicken Tacos! The location on governors island is wonderful, chilling and enjoying the view with your feet in the sand is priceless. The service is great, you can choose between sodas, cocktails (frozen margarita is wow), beers and many choices of tacos burritos and Mexican food.

Taco Vista is all about the location. You’re eating tacos in a postcard, with insane views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. The beachy, laid-back atmosphere makes you feel like you’re on vacation. Then the food and service remind you you’re not. The fish tacos were under-seasoned and forgettable. Shrimp ceviche had potential but needed acid and more flavor. Chips were straight from a bag, no effort. The hibiscus lemonade was actually great. Finally, something that delivered. $15 for two basic tacos, and you can’t even mix and match. For that price, at least let me be disappointed by two different flavors. Ceviche was $16 and just okay. Service was meh. They looked like they didn’t want to be there, and this was just after opening. Can’t imagine their mood by 3 p.m. Would I go back? Yes, but only for the views, not for the food or the vibes behind the counter.

Such a fun summer spot!!! Beach vibes with sand and lounge chairs, loud music, and good food. It was hot and I was craving a frozen beverage soooo bad. What better option that a frozen margarita!! They had a watermelon marg which was their regular frozen marg with a watermelon juice floater. This watermelon juice was incredible. Although I do love some artificial watermelon flavor, this one was real juiced watermelon!!! So light and flavorful, mixed with the lime margarita that was tart and smooth. I could've drank a whole pitcher myself. For food I tried the nachos with pork and these were pretty good. Perfect balance of all ingredients including the chips, so nothing was overpowering anything else. I thought the pork was cooked well and all the other ingredients tasted incredibly fresh!

Amazing food and a great view. The fish tacos are incredible. I visited this place during my lunch break because I was craving them. I totally recommend it!

One of my favorite spots in New York that very few people know about. You have to take the ferry to the Governor's Island, so it's a little bit hard to get on and off the island but once you get the boat timing down, it's 100% worth it. Unmatched views of Downtown Manhattan, great food and fairly priced. Spend the entire afternoon on the island and bike around or just stroll. Pro Tip: Go on a weekday, if you can.

Taco Vista is a great spot to get some awesome tacos, a wonderful frozen margarita and delicious chips & guac. You can’t beat the views of the city and it’s a short walk from either ferry drop off point. The fish taco in particular was great, the fish perfectly crispy and the chipotle crema so so good. Love this place and will be back the next time we’re on Governors Island.

A quality meal and great drinks with a spectacular view. Taco Vista is in the perfect location with a beautiful view of lower Manhattan. The drinks are well priced and delicious. The tacos and guacamole are straight up delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful. And did I mention the view! Overall a great outdoor dining experience!

I have to admit I got caught up with the atmosphere. Something about eating outdoors in NY sways me I think because we can only do so for a short periods of time per year. Anyway, the views are spectacular, the picnic style tables are along the river and the weather was balmy and not too hot. Very enjoyable day to act like a tourist in my own city and chill and have some good food. Summer vibes on every level , what caught my eyes right as I entered was the outdoor open kitchen with 8 Mexican chefs ,all dressed in gleaming white uniforms - I salivated at the just the mere thought of chomping into some very authentic tacos. The scent of food wafting over was heavenly. I looked at orders coming ahead of mine and they were esthetically pleasing. I decided to get myself steak tacos and quesadilla for my kid. Food came out in under 10 mins. Fresh tasting buy oooh lacking flavor. My steak didn't even have salt. Thank goodness for the bottles of El Yucateco hot sauces available ( they had every variety) . I wasn't looking for heat but salt and perhaps some steak seasonings. I was sad. It honestly disappointed me. My original plan was to have some tacos, then get a drink (the margaritas were calling me). But after dropping $15 on 2 tacos I didn't want to pay to be disappointed again. My kid's quesadillas was off the kid menu - $6 so it was the size of a taco as well. Not the larger tortilla size. Service was friendly , this is basically a self serve joint. Order at one end and pickup at the outdoor kitchen, clean up your tray after. No alcoholic drinks can leave the premises- so no walking around the island sipping margs.

This was our second/last stop on Governor's Island after a day at the spa. Great location overlooking the water. The person who took our order was very friendly and even gave me my margarita for free because it was my birthday! And although she still got our drinks on the rocks versus frozen like we asked they were very good. I got the regular margarita and my sister got the watermelon, and honestly the regular tasted the best. The steak tacos were delicious and the portion of steak was very generous. The guac was also tasty with the chips. I would come back here again as the location is very chill, the service friendly, and the turn around on the food was pretty quick.

I work on GI and have eaten here twice now. However my second time was the first time I tried their tacos. My initial visit I wasn't super hungry and just got some fries. Diego suggested I try their fish tacos after I asked him what his favorite protein was. When I asked what type of fish they use and he said tilapia, I was sold. I think tilapia is a great fish for tacos, fried or grilled. Anyway, I got the meal deal that comes as a perk of my job, 2 tacos, fries and a soda. I only waited about 6-7 minutes. When I got back to the office, I realized the tacos were huge and the pieces of fish inside were also very large. Love that. I didn't get a great picture because I was hungry so you'll just have to trust me on that. The fries taste exactly like McDonald's. But better. And without the guilt. . The tacos were great. The fish was battered nicely and seasoned perfectly in my opinion to where the other components weren't overshadowed. The guac was nice and fresh, super tangy, the cabbage and the pico added great texture and the sauce they poured on top was super tasty. I have no complaints other than I wish it was a corn tortilla, I think it might have been flour. I can't speak for their other proteins but the fish taco is a must try.

Great spot to start your Governors Island day. The chips & guac are a great starter. Guacamole had flavor, chips were fresh! For drinks, you are better off ordering your frozen margaritas individually. Pitcher of frozen watermelon was $40, about 3.5 glasses in it, individually they are $10 each. Not the best deal. But very tasty! All outside seating, little coverage from the sun or elements. No bathrooms!

They have food items we didn't try, but the chips and salsa and chips with guacamole were good. The service was good; nothing special because you order at the counter and pick your food up there. Pleasant people. The food was a little pricey, but I'm guessing that's expected because of the location. It seemed to be completely outside, so rain might be an issue. Seating is along the river, so the views of the city were awesome.

$10 margaritas. can't beat the view you need to take a $5 ferry to get here. don't buy from scammers on the street. buy at the terminal

To start off, the service was ok but a few minutes or so after putting in our order, our food was ready. Except they didn't page us on the buzzer they gave us. My partner noticed that it was sitting out on the pickup table for several minutes and we weren't sure if it was ours. when I walked over to confirm whether or not that was our order they buzzed us. The food itself was food. It was sustenance and lacking in anything that made it stand out the pork burrito tasted like it came out of a microwave and the fries were like the fries you get at the bottom of a bag: tiny and numerous. And every square inch was covered with salt. Overall, if you need something filling, this place is ok. And the view of the skyline is great. But prepare yourself for bland food and untimely service.

Will be back soon. Loved the ambiance. We ordered the fish taco, the mushroom quesadilla, and chips & guac, and they were all tasty. The chips were on the hard side and the guac has a nice spicy kick to it. Taco Vista is located right by the ferry entrance which makes it super convenient.

Did a stop here after a long day of walking and riding at Governor's Island. I got a pork burrito and it was delicious as well as the chip and guac. Both were fresh! I got the watermelon marg and it was a refreshing way to end the day. This place is right next to the ferry that takes you to lower Manhattan and the seating gives you a nice view of the city skyline.

I went to Governor's Island ready to splurge-- on both spa time at QC Spa and overpriced entrees at the bougie Gitano, the beach lounge just up the way. They happened to be closed, so they sent me to Taco Vista, their casual sister eatery. Their slushie machine produced a serviceable frozen marg, and just a few minutes after ordering I was able to procure some fish tacos to be enjoyed on the waterfront. Neither were much to sing the praises of, but it's slim pickings on Governors Island, particularly on weekdays when the food trucks aren't out. The picnic benches overlook the city skyline, and its not a bad place to while away an afternoon.

It's very convenient, right by the ferry. We only have drinks, and leave after seeing the ferry emptied itself. The city view is great but once sitting down, is blocked by the black wire fence.

Very mediocre tasting food, meh at best but you'll still be paying a lot of money since food options are limited on GI On the bright side, service is fast and the view is great

Food: 1. Get the fish tacos 100% 2. Skip the pork tacos 3. Chicken quesadilla is fine, maybe ask for a spoon to scoop up the toppings cuz it gets messy 4. Didn't get the burritos but it looked good Seating: All outdoors by the water, it was sunny in may so it was nice but it can get kind of cold in the few shady spots. It was all Self service but the views were beautiful

Quick eats on the island? This is your spot! I added an extra star just for the margarita...it was a REALLY amazing and refreshing Margarita after 2.5 hours biking around on a 90 degree day. I ordered two tacos which, as other reviewers have mentioned, are fine. Best I've ever had? No no no. Fine? Yes. SO MESSY and I forgot napkins but was travelling solo so didn't want to get up and surrender my table and literally just lived in the mess looking around and hoping no one noticed? Also yes. The views are everything they're described as and worth a trip for drink just for that reason alone. The service was super quick which was helpful since I only had 25 minutes before I needed to catch the ferry. This would be absolutely ideal for a bachelorette party or group gathering, as the atmosphere is relaxing and there's lots of family style tables. Looking forward to stopping by again the next time I am on Governor's Island.

Was there on Sunday with some friends and we ordered a watermelon margarita , sad to say it was the worse margarita I ever had :( the closest this to watermelon was the color , but it tasted like pure lime and ice that's about it . They charged us a ridiculous amount for a pitcher and all we got was frozen punk ice with lime .

I'm having the mushroom burrito which is awesome! Joyce is having the carnitas rojo mole which is also awesome (the word she chose.)

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful meal here today. He enjoyed his tacos which had Carnitas with a red mole sauce. I enjoyed my cheeseburger as well. I found the prices here to be more reasonable than most of the other options on the island. The view is probably better as well as this restaurant is right on the water. The location is also very close to the ferry which is highly convenient.

As the name implies, this place has lovely views across the water and is right by the ferry terminal. The service was a bit lack-luster, but that's to be expected when your customers come in waves that coincide with the ferry arrivals. I'd go back for the views, but they do need to do something about the bees. It felt very unsafe for anyone with an allergy.

*3.5 stars* I ordered a chicken burrito and a canned water which cost me around $18, which I honestly thought was too pricey for the location, but there was not too many other options to eat out on the island. My burrito was good, though it was drizzled with sour cream on top making it hard for me to eat with my hands without making a mess. My friends got nachos which they enjoyed and fish tacos which they said were okay. The view was alright. Pretty good place, but again not much to compare it to, since there are not many other ones. Would come again!

Good food, bad service. Came here with my girlfriend and we didn't know they opened at 12 - we arrived 11:45 and as we walked through, people in the kitchen didn't say say anything and were speaking Spanish so we assumed they didn't speak English so we continued to look for someone to ask - we saw 3 people sitting at a table, drinking, and just watching us and didn't bother saying anything to us. My girlfriend asked if they were open and they told us they didn't open until noon then laughed so we walked away. We came back later and realized the 3 people worked there at the bar and register. While eating- we noticed a few things which were off. The staff seemed very segregated and the people who worked at the register/bar gave a vibe that they were the owners which I hope isn't the case. Another thing we noticed is the kitchen staff has their own tip bucket separate from the register which leads me to believe they don't pool tips which bothers me because I think the kitchen staff deserves more. The food was very good and the drinks were subpar. Definitely recommend the fried fish tacos

Came here on my way off the island. Seating is first come first serve with it being primarily benches! I ordered the chicken burrito and by the time I got the buzzer to let me know the food was ready it was DONE! For drinks I ordered the lemonade and water ! Paid 22 dollars and was satisfied and full! Highly recommend as one of the premiere places to eat on the island. Walking distance from the ferry as soon as you enter the island. Alcohol is also served. Apple Pay is accepted I'm not sure about cash. Tips are welcome!!! The view is also very very nice! Shaded and unshaded seating area

As soon as you arrive to governors island this spot is to the left. The service is quick. The beer selection is good. Great view of Manhattan! The burger has a nice grilled flavor. The homemade guacamole was refreshing and the fries were fun. Zen was very understanding and he made sure that our order was correctly received. Great staff. Would definitely stop by again.

We were staying in the island and decided to bike around. We came across this place and decided to try it out. There wasn't a long line so it was quick to order and to get our food. Ordered a margarita and carnita mole tacos. Both were good and tasty. I liked it but I did not love it. Probably because I have tried better tacos. I would order it again though. At least I have a go to place whenever I decide to go back to the island. Love that we were eating our food with a nice view! The only reason why I put 4 stars was because it didn't seem that they wipe down their tables after each use.

After checking out all the food truck options near the mini golf, we decided to grab some tacos here. But we were slightly disappointed. The tacos were too salty and weren't satisfying. The lavender drink was tasty, but it was too expensive for the size ($16). I guess you can come here for the view...but it is an island so you can pretty much get the same view anywhere.

What would you expect? Very high prices for low quality mexican food. It does the trick and fills you up. Portions aren't particularly anything to cry home about. The seating is...junkyard chic. I do like that they offer biodegradable straws and utensil. Not a lot of shaded spots to sit some come early!

Came for the views and convenience, stayed for the margs. Taco Vista is one of two options right off of the ferry. The food was not bad but definitely not worth writing home about. The service as very quick though! I would recommend going for a marg or two and trying another spot for food

This little taco spot is right by the ferry entrance to Governor's Island. Its very cute with lots of seating in the open right by the water. We went while it was cold and were freezing but I bet its the best during the summer. The menu is small but pretty neat, they have a few taco options, quesadillas, burgers, fries etc. I really wanted to try the tacos but they looked way too small for $4+. Which takes me to my next point, everything is super expensive. My friend and I paid a total of $30 for a small portion of guacamole and 2 tiny frozen margaritas. I will say that both were very delicious though. I guess it works if you don't mind the prices. It's also convenient if you don't feel like walking to the other parts of the island where there are way more options.

Yummy fresh burrito. Definitely a go to spot. Inexpensive, variety of drink options. Outdoor seating and nice skyline views of NYC.

The view is gorgeous, but the tacos are dreadful. I wanted to try the seared tuna tacos based on the photos here, but instead of a beautiful rosy sashimi quality piece of fish, what I got was pale and overcooked. Everything was ice cold, as if even the tortillas had just come out of a freezer. Next time I would just get a drink and enjoy the location.

After spending the day exploring the island we stopped at Taco Vista for a scenic lunch. The views are absolutely beautiful and the food was pretty delicious as well. The menu is alittle overpriced in my opinion. Margs (8/10) - tasted really good but it was light on the alcohol The guacamole was 9/10 really tasty but the chips where just alright I got the chicken tacos and they were a great light meal however if you typically eat larger meals - the burrito and quesadillas are probably the better option as they are bigger for a similar price Overall an enjoyable meal

When you're once one of only food places you can get away with a lot. Food was really basic. I'm really trying to understand why they would squirt decorative sour cream on top of my burrito. It's not a knife and fork kind of burrito either. Really annoying. Lemonade was really terrible too. Lemons tasted old.

The food is good quality. They even have frozen margaritas! Cutlery, dishes and even clear cups are either recyclable or compostable. Their hot sauce collection is on point. Overall, great spot for having lunch at Governor's Island with an awesome view of the skyline.

fabulous views of NYC are the big draw here, not the fast food style service, but guac and tacos are fine and beer and margs good too so I do make it a point to stop by when I am here

Given the limited food items on this island, I'm glad that this was there. I have to admit though, the fish tacos were just average. It's great to have this as part of the variety of food choices, but it wasn't something that blew me away. PROS: - fish was good, not the freshest that I've had, but it did not give me food poisoning. - it was medium-size. Good enough for me as a small eater, would not fill up someone who was there for a normal lunch unless you filled up on carbs like fries as a side - can sit by the water - this is good during COVID times, breeze helps dispel provided it's not blowing into your face. CONS: - food gets cold quick - there was not that much flavor to be honest. The salsas that come off to the side (self-served) were the few things that added heat, in addition to the white sauce. To be honest, I had packed a snack of naan and mint chutney, and that mint chutney 100% improved the taco. Overall, I've just had better fish tacos in the city. I can't really give great stars but this place is probably there to provide variety. People will still go eat it if they are hungry and it appeals to their palate (there are maybe max 5 places to eat here on this island).

After a hot afternoon in Nolan Park, Taco Vista was a very welcome stop: delicious frozen watermelon margarita, great tacos, some shade under an umbrella, great New York Harbor views. It's not cheap; it's probably not cheap to get supplies to the island. I do wish they had tap water, but again, guessing that's due to island limitations. We sat at a communal picnic table. Which is charming until someone else sits on the bench and constantly kicks or rocks it. No malice intended, I'm sure, just a lack of spatial awareness and empathy. The bench rocker was pals with one of the staffers, and the crew was getting lots of freebies. The staff seems to have lots of pals getting freebies; one jumped ahead of me between when I ordered my drink and got it. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: Clearly I need to become friends with the staff. They wrote "hot bartenders" on their sandwich board; clearly they're looking for friends.

Beautiful views... but the margaritas are basically lemonade and the chicken quesadilla was pretty flavorless. Other than the views, wouldn't recommend or return.

Okay, so I didn't actually try any of the food, but I did have a fantastic frozen watermelon margarita for the reasonable price of $9. Obviously, the view is killer. Made for a very nice late afternoon treat.

Their hours are listed as open till 6...we showed up 5:45 and were told we're closed. We said your hours are listed as open till 6. The Mexican workers didn't say a word and laughed as we walked away! A real quality establishment! If you don't serve food at your listed open times, then don't list those times!

I stopped in for some chips and guacamole (and a lemonade). Guac was really yummy with pickled onions and jalapeños on top. The view was gorgeous. Great spot for a sunny day and some drinks.

The food and margaritas were rad. Unfortunately the staff, who were friendly and hard working, were overwhelmed, so the food was a long time coming. The huge, rude, disrespectful, and disorganized family in front of us didn't help matters; nor did the fact that the ferry had just unloaded. Try without a line and it's probably worth it.

The frozen margaritas were great, pretty strong depending on who makes it. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre. I order a chicken burrito and there was barely any flavor or meat. There were tons of bees everywhere and one got into my drink. Don't worry, the bee may have gotten unintentionally drunk but we made sure it was okay before we left.

Highly recommend this spot for great food with a great view. The staff is professional and very gracious. Thankfully, it is not as crowded or loud as the other spots. They do play great music but you can actually have a conversation without raising your voice. It's laid back and just a nice way to grab a bite, frozen watermelon margarita (must have!) and watch a dramatic NYC sunset.

Ate here twice in one day, it was that good! Ingredients seemed super fresh, staff was friendly and the service was quick. I particularly enjoyed the fish tacos and the rocks margarita. Guacamole was some of the best I've had! Definitely recommend stopping by if you find yourself on Governor's Island.

One of the more affordable places to eat on the island who is pretty good I recommend asking for more sauce and the views are amazing and everyone wears a mask

Govenor's Island is a magical place with a captive audience, you're not going there for the food but there are some options and it's nice to have them. I don't review these places the same way I would a business in the boroughs. I'm sure there's a higher cost associated with bringing ingredients out to the island, and a number of other things I don't know about; that being said I think there's room for a little improvement. The carnitas taco I got was cold, with a minuscule amount of meat. What meat was there was drowned in sauce. The two bites I got out of the thing were nice enough, but it was just all sauce. They have a seared tuna taco that consists of three quarter sized pieces of fish. The taco was mainly cabbage. They also only use one tortilla shell, which starts to rip instantly in the middle the moment you try picking them up, I'm thinking from all the liquid on the meat and in the slaw. Two very, very small tacos and a luke warm can of beer came to $17.33. At least make the meat warm and the beer cold. Or add another tortilla. Or a larger portion. Something. It's a nice menu, with great views and friendly staff. Also great music: The Box Tops : The Letter, Wooly Bully. I get it, it's the location, but c'mon, just a little something.

Fresh homemade tuna rltaco Will come back against Yes dear umbrella Lobelywatwr view

I came to Governors Island for the day and my friend and I decided to try tacovista. Sadly, it was too expensive for what we got. I got the two chicken tacos in salsa verde $12. They were super wet and broke the tortilla. They was topped with jalapeños which made it super spicy. I decided to try the guac and chips $12 which was also covered in jalapeños and green chilles. It literally burned my tongue off. I had to comb through it to make sure they were out. They should give you the option of making it spicy rather than being so spicy. The lady that was there got my order wrong twice. She told me they didn't have guac and chips and to get another thing for that amount. But they did have that, she was so confusing and I felt I was in the wrong. Then she gave me somebody's else tacos. It was so disappointing. I will not be going back there again!

Came here on a lovely Sunday afternoon and the atmosphere seemed promising. It had all the beach vibes.... With that said, given that this was on Governor's Island, it is literally the only Taco stand around. The tacos were definitely sub par at best, although it helped out that we had a sweet view of the harbor to eat them. The other fantastic benefit of eating here, is that you can drink wine, beer or mixed drinks as well. Word of advice: they do not substitute ingredients in any of the tacos. They come as advertised. Also, stick to bottled beers and wine: the mixed drinks are horrible ( as overheard from another patron) and small, but expensive. Overall, it was not a bad experience, but next time I will pack my own picnic if I ever come back to the island.

I came here yesterday with some friends. The food was delicious. I had the mexican burger and it was cooked quite well. You don't really get what you pay for, but what can you expect when you have to take a ferry to get back to Manhattan. The staff is friendly, but did not seem to be in a rush to take orders (they took their time despite a line). They have vegan options and desserts. I'd come back to Taco Vista if I was on governor's island.