I've been here three times since my last review. I really love this place. Last night I had their jerk chicken empanadas with a chipotle mayo sauce. So outrageous that I woke up thinking about them. I'll definetly keep coming back. read more

First time being here. Great experience! Drinks reasonably priced and tasty. Both the margarita and the mojito are delicious. I asked for sugar on rim, I think they use a sugar salt mix though. Starting with the vegan nachos and those STOLE THE SHOW. absolutely delicious! We ordered chips and salsa and that both were a bit too salty. The chips seemed either stale or overcooked, not the crunch I expected. I ordered the vegan enchiladas and they were just OK. They weren't hot when they came out so by the end of the dinner they were a bit cold. The sauce was almost too sweet in a way I haven't had before. Overall it was good, not great. Experience and atmosphere/staff was perfect which made up for the food. read more

Alto Cinco - The back room! - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

This is one of my favorite restaurants. The food is generally fantastic and the staff handle the on-going crowds pretty reasonably. The bar and seating area is dimmer but provides a soothing ambiance. They seem to be incorporating more specials into their menu. As someone who does not eat all things I would recommend that if you do have a food allergy/aversion that you ask whether or not it's in something you're thinking about ordering. For example, they offered a pallela night with fresh dishes made to order that included pork (which I don't eat) but was not listed on the menu under the ingredients. They were kind and apologetic and allowed us to order something else as the pallelas do take about 30 min to prepare and we opted not to wait that amount of time again. I will return and ask more questions if need be. Overall one of my go to restaurants for a tasty meal! read more

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Not real Mexican food, white boy Mexican not good. Prices are to high. All hype not good

Westcott Vibes & Big Flavor for $5 Stopped into Alto Cinco and scored big with their $5 specials! I ordered small nachos and a spritz that hit just right. The nachos were a perfect portion for a snack while catching up with a friend. Crisp chips, melted cheese, black beans, guacamole, fresh toppings, and salsa. The spritz? Light, refreshing, and exactly what you want on a summer afternoon. Not too sweet, just enough sparkle. Wescott vibes: relaxed, artsy, and welcoming. Perfect for a casual bite, solo treat, or chill catch-up spot read more

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Went here on a snowy day and the food and atmosphere warmed us up perfectly! The cornbread app was awesome and I recommend trying their specials of the day. If you enjoy margaritas, they offer a couple selections that were good! read more

Didn't realize I'd never reviewed this place. This is our go to stop for road trips on the 90. They have a vegan option for every category on the menu - enchiladas, tacos, burritos, tostada, nachos, dessert...everything. They have a ton of sauced made in-house including vegan crema. You can get a BBQ tofu burrito or one loaded with beans and guacamole. The burrito of the month also appears to have a vegan option every month if it isn't already vegan. The food is delicious! Love the burritos so much. The fried nopales are also great. If I ever dine in, I'll try the enchiladas. Discount for cash. If you're getting take out on a road trip, order at least an hour ahead on the weekend. read more

Alto Cinco - Burrito of the Month - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I come here with my partner and we love it every single time One of our favorite local places. The drinks are delicious, the food is always fresh. The staff are quick on the draw and are attentive and just love the overall atmosphere read more

Recently got their huevos rancheros and they did not disappoint!! It comes with corn tortilla, two fluffy eggs, home fried potatoes, black beans, red sauce, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream. Delicious & filling--big enough to share. I don't think it's available all the time, but this and some other brunch items are on the "lunch (not brunch)" menu which is available weekends and some weekdays. read more

Literally best burrito to exist. Hands down. Never disappoints! Appetizers, drinks, everything here is so good I could eat this everyday read more

Alto Cinco - Jerk Chicken Burrito California Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Found this gem while looking for good eats for lunch on a Monday and was pleasantly surprised. We got there just when they opened at 4pm and the place was quiet. The ambiance was cute and cozy with dark lighting. We were greeted by a super cute waiter, Elizabeth, who definitely made our visit! We ordered the vegan nachos and guacamole as apps. I'll admit, I was disappointed with the guac at first look. With no visible onion, cilantro or tomato I was not impressed but hunni, from first bite, unassumingly delicious!! A must for your table!! I also ordered the catfish burrito with rice and beans. A lil less traditional with a fried catfish burrito but it was pretty good!! Would recommend! And put some green sauce over top! Lastly, on Mondays there are drink specials with $5 margaritas and $5 mojitos (I think beers were included in that too)! Pour me up please!!! Can't beat a cool kickback with great service, delicious food and $5 drinks! Would recommend you stop by! Oh and tell Elizabeth we said hi! read more

Alto Cinco - Catfish burrito, catfish Fish Soft Tacos and jerk chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We all arrived at the same time, how accommodating! There were several instances of food being served all around us, each item was played prior to being served. The building was located in an adjacent area. They prepared the space before being used. read more

Alto Cinco - Chicken Thigh - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

The decor alone is worth the visit! You'll feel like you're in a different world. The area is hoppin' too! My favorite coffee shop (recess coffee) is just around the corner. Pssst... there is a parking lot behind Boom Babies! My Paloma cocktail was delicious and beautiful. I ordered a black bean taco which was presented beautifully. I had a taste of my friend' burrito - out of this world! The staff was friendly and helpful. They seemed pretty cheery! I'll be back! read more

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I love AC! I've been coming here regularly since they first opened. They've expanded their restaurant and bought out the restaurant next door in order to expand. Their food has only gotten better over the years. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area; they have a take out counter, or you can eat in. There are multiple dining rooms, and in warmer months, there is outdoor seating as well. The decor inside is very electric too. I love the designs and decorations around the restaurant. I love their drinks, chips and salsa, quesadillas, burritos and enchiladas. Everything I have ordered here has been fresh and delicious. I can't wait to come back here again soon. read more

Loved the ambiance and selections! Service was great...sat at the bar! Had a great experience! read more

Alto Cinco - Loved my experience at Alto Cinco! First time while visiting...thanks to our awesome bar tender, Josh! - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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My husband and I love this place and have been going here for 15 years. We love the vibe and energy - lots of SU types frequent the place. The food is consistently great and always prepared with fresh ingredients. Nice bar and every bartender we've encountered mixes a great drink, the beer is always fresh also. I hate to even have a complaint, the food and service are so excellent, but here it is: the dining room, which was added on a few years back- is freezing cold - even with putting our coats back on. It's a step-down room and that's always inherently a colder room, but you need to add heaters! We asked our waiter to turn up the heat- he said it was as high as it could go...Yes, this has been a very cold winter, bit it is, after all, Syracuse and winters here are cold. read more

Alto Cinco catered a party of 17 for me. The food was wonderful and the service was great. Lisa was very helpful putting everything together. read more

First time there. Real good Mexican food. Service was real good too. Our waitress was very friendly and thoughtful.

My wife and I love going here, sitting at the bar and having dinner. Always bustling. Food and banter with the staff is always enjoyable, even though my wife always says "stop talking to everyone and introducing yourself, everyone doesn't want to know you" (but I'm happy to know everyone else regardless) My fav's are the chips, salsa and guac, jalapeno corn bread and for dinner spinach enchiladas with mole Though we missed the margarita specials by a couple minutes, the house and mezcal margaritas we ordered hit the spot I ordered a "paper plane" for my wife and another patron to split. The bartender gave me a quizzical look and I said "don't be bashful, look it up, may as well make your first one right". Another hit. Highly recommended - enjoy, me gusta mucho! read more

Delicious food at a great spot! They have indoor dining and an outdoor patio, a great menu selection and a variety of latte and coffee options as well as other drinks. The shrimp burrito was delicious. The chile relleno starter was amazing, also. Staff was friendly and helpful! read more

So the food was great except for the fact that I was SWINDLED FINANCIALLY. "Would you like some cornbread?" "Sure!" BUT DID NOT SAY IT COST $2.50!! I HATE restaurants that don't disclose that something is an extra charge WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MENTIONED IT! What a poor way to run your business. You should really disclose these hidden charges. Also the waiter was a little slow and was not attentive to our table. read more

I used Alto Cinco to cater my wedding. They were so communicative and helpful through out the entire planning. They helped me decide the right amount of food and what sort of food would fit my party the best. They provided labels, utensils, and serving trays - and even delivered! The food was phenomenal and it received compliments all night. I can not recommend Alto Cinco catering enough!!! read more

Always incredible food, great value especially for happy hour and daily weeknight specials, and wonderful service. Never had a bad time here. They are very conscious of my dairy allergy and it's great that that have many vegan options as well. It's always decorated for the season and it's a great vibe inside. read more

It's been six years since I've been here. I was going to a concert at the Wescott Theatre next door so we thought we'd hit up Alto Cinco beforehand. Last time I was here I really like the place. You know how sometimes you like something and you haven't had it in a while and you remember it being better than it was? Now imagine the opposite of that!!! It was better than I remembered. There's is the gold standard of nachos! Very cool atmosphere albeit a bit crowded (because of the concert). I look forward to going there again......soon!!! read more

I order the nachos. Not the best food overall but the guacamole was delicious for sure. The ambience is a little stuffy and lack authenticity as a mexican restaurant from the limited menu items to the decor. Service was good, bartender/waitress was a great multitasker. read more

Alto Cinco - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Had lunch there last week on the spur of the moment. Surprised that more people weren't dining there. The food was as reliably good as ever. Tried the bean soup and a favorite - fish tacos. Both delicious. Bra cause it wasn't busy, it was easy to have a conversation, unlike dinner time when it is usually full and quite lively. I'll remember this when I want a quiet spot for lunch. read more

During my concise visit to Syracuse, I got the chance to check out Alto Cinco, and it was phenomenal. The food isn't authentic but it got the job done. I tried the vegan nachos and vegan enchiladas. They both were so good! I also tried the vegan brownie, which I admittedly wasn't crazy about but still appreciated it. The customer service was on point. The food was so amazingly good. Conveniently located. Reasonably priced for the most part. However, I paid a ridiculous amount for kombucha. Overall it is a place that I would definitely try again if I got the chance to do so. read more

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Very good drinks and very good food but things took a bit of a wait due to how busy it was

Got the catfish burrito because of all the raving reviews and it was good but the real star of the meal was handsdown the calamari!! The calamari was super crisp& flavorful, and not chewy at all. Its coated in a seasoning that tastes like the blooming onion seasoning and it absolutely blew my mind! Honestly the best thing I had in all of Syracuse and I will probably always think about it. The dipping sauce it came with was also good, creamy & chipotle-y(?). Its the same sauce that came with the fried catfish plate & I ended up using the leftover sauce on my catfish burrito. read more

Alto Cinco - Catfish plate & calamari - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I was thinking that this would end up a 4, but it's becoming a regular for me now that San Miguel is out in Bville and "not the same." This, Papa Gallo, and Rio Grande are my recommendations; skip Margaritas and XO Taco (which isn't bad but it's a young vibe that seems more about the atmosphere than serving great tacos) Alto has a menu of usual options, and usually a good value. Tacos might have too much in them for my desire, but it's not like it makes the taco itself meaningless and a couple of them makes a meal. The oddity for me is fried calamari, their's is great. Even with delivery. And this is one of the few places I've had success with delivery bringing fried foods. If you are close, give it a try read more

One of my favorite places to get drinks, with $5 margs on Tuesdays! They have a great list of cocktails and make them well so definitely try one or two signature cocktails while you're here. The interior is a really enjoyable space with string lights and tons of decorations. They go all out for Halloween too! The atmosphere always feels right here and the service is solid. The burritos are hefty and yummy, but I'd say the drinks are better than their food. Definitely a must try in Westcott. read more

One of my favorites from Grad School days! A late night favorite and even a brunch favorite when they had one. We went here after a while and ordered our favorites and something new. Love the ambience of the restaurant. Got diablo fries and catfish burritos which most reviews will tell you is a classic. The fries were perfect with the right amount of spice. Loved the vegan crema and jalapeno sauce on it! The catfish in the burrito was perfectly crispy. I love that their margarita is fresh and not sweet with right amount of tequila. They have good veggie/vegan options which from experience have been good. Our server was polite and made sure we had a perfect dinner. read more

Alto Cinco - a burrito and a drink on a table - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I came for a last minute dinner after hearing good things about their burritos. We got a chile relleno to start, which was okay - I got more filled up with the large amount of rice and beans than the actual chile. For entrees we got burritos. They weren't super packed with flavor, however they are very filling. We only ate a little less than half and took the rest home. The staff was friendly and attentive the entire time & prices were reasonable. read more

Alto Cinco - Covered burrito and Jerk Chicken Burrito 7.5/10 taste was okay, the burrito was very filling making it a great deal - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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loooove this spot!!! very cool, dark, cozy vibes inside. parking is easy enough in the westcott area as well. service is consistently great, always friendly, attentive, and they make great recommendations. margs and other cocktails are great, and i don't think i've ever had a bad meal here. i love their chips and queso, tacos slap too. everything is reasonably priced as well (margs are like $11 which i feel like is slightly less than other spots). i definitely recommend alto cinco for anything from casual drinks with friends to date nights!! read more

Alto Cinco - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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First time at Alto Cinco for a girls night. The service was great. We each got an order of tacos and a margarita. I got the plain margarita and the jerk chicken tacos with a side of rice. This was the perfect sized meal for me. Prices were reasonable for a trendy Mexican place. Definitely a good spot for girls night or date night. read more

Every time I come back to Syracuse I make a stop at Alto Cinco for their catfish burrito. The spicy chipotle mayo on top is delicious and the fried catfish is just perfect. I got the burrito with a side salad and jalapeño cornbread. The location is great on Wescott with ample parking on the side streets. The service is great although they really need to clean their hot sauce bottles. read more

Alto Cinco - Catfish Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

This place has an intimate feel, good vibes, and tasty food. We were impressed with the quality of our experience. We will definitely be dining here again ! read more

Where to begin... Alto Cinco was my favorite restaurant for the entirety of my college career, and I am truly pained to no longer have any friends or family in Syracuse that would give me an excuse to binge here ten times a weekend anymore. My close friend lived around the corner in college, and every time that I'd visit Cuse, Alto Cinco was the first place I'd go. The freshness of their produce, especially the jalapeños, was outstanding and the guac always tasted newly mashed. Please, do yourself a monster favor and feast on the catfish quesadilla with spicy chipotle sauce with a side of chips and guac; however, their shrimp (or catfish) burritos with mango salsa were out of this world as well. I miss the hell out of being able to eat here -quite literally three or four times a weekend- and Alto Cinco is the perfect spot for a small family dinner, date, or quick meal with some friends. Cheers! read more

Alto Cinco - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Alto Cinco is a comfortable space for food and drinks, but is definitely NOT Mexican food, albeit Mexican influenced. The food was OK at best, drinks were better. Expensive burritos ($11 - $16 with nothing on the side) & crazy priced tacos ($15 for 2, $22 for 3). The deal-breaker for me was when I was presented with the check and noticed that if I use a credit card, I was going to be charged for it (about 3%.). No problem, I took it out of the what would have been a 20% tip. I will not frequent restaurants that charge for using credit cards, extra sauce or are just nickel and diming you on an already overpriced meal. There are too many restaurants that realize that without credit cards, a lot of their business wouldn't be possible. Alto Cinco chooses to be cheap and hit you with petty charges. I'm not going back no matter how good it is. read more

I don't often think of food in a sexual way, but these shrimp tacos are so good that I got caught air humping them. read more

Alto Cinco - Shrimp Shrimp Soft Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Syracuse, New York