From the host to our server, we were delighted with Cantina. It's authentic and the menu boasts a variety of options. We were sharing a meal and starters. We had the queso which is not your average. Its thick cheesy texture tucks inside of a small tortilla. So, not your typical chips and queso . The addition of a roasted jalapeno was brilliant! We split an order of beef tacos, and had the street corn( the exact menu name fails me). It was some of the best I've had. Fun place with a delightful vibe and top notch food and service. read more

Cantina - Pins Colada Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We tried Cantina for a date night on a Wednesday. We started off with the ceviche of the day and the hamachi for appetizers. Unfortunately, I did not ask what the ceviche of the day was before ordering. The ceviche was shrimp with squid ink and I am just not a fan of squid ink dishes. The hamachi appetizer was great though. Then, we waited an hour for the rest of our food to arrive. The mole dishes we ordered were more bright/sour and not the deep rich flavors we were expecting. The citrus marinated prawns had great flavor, but the sharp prawn antennas took away from the dish. The presentation was lovely, but we left disappointed in the food and the long wait. read more

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Cantina on Broadway St. in downtown Cincinnati is serving up some seriously delicious Mexican food. Their entire menu is gluten-free, an incredible bonus, but honestly, you'd never know it. Every dish is bursting with flavor! We tried a little bit of everything: Ceviche, Guacamole, Snapper a la Talla, Camarones Asados, Tacos, and Carne Asada. Every single dish was spot-on and absolutely delicious. Hands down one of the best restaurants we've discovered in Cincinnati. If you're in the area, this spot is a must-try read more

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Wow! What a fantastic restaurant! We came with a large group and our server did an excellent job accommodating our group. We ordered a bunch of appetizers so that we could try a variety of things. My favorites were the grilled oysters and the camote asado, which was a sweet potato dish. For dinner I tried the enchiladas. The flavors melded perfectly, and it was just the right amount of spice. I also tried the piña colada margarita, which was sweet without being too sweet. 10/10 can't wait to go back. read more

Because it was Easter Sunday we were expecting a crowd but instead there was plenty of seating and it was very chill! Our server asked us up front about any food allergies and made menu suggestions based off of that ... top notch!!!! And then the food - so well proportioned! It was so good and the pricing was excellent too! I will definitely come here again solo, would love to be brought here on a date, and would kick it up here with my girls over brunch!! read more

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Cantina's got an awesome location with really nice ambiance and outdoor seating. Had never been here before so I ordered tacos- the tijuanero (steak) tacos were tasty- big fan especially of the shell. They brown the shell and it's so nice and crunchy. However, according to the guys next to me, the brisket tacos aren't great so don't get those. read more

Cantina - Tijuanero - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I looove the CRG restaurants so I knew I would love Cantina and I absolutely did! They are located in the heart of Pendleton and the restaurant is super cute with a very nice ambiance. We went on a Sunday for brunch and surprisingly it wasn't packed. We got right in and seated with a group of 5. I tried the brisket and sweet potato taco with the beans and Mexican rice and it was absolutely delicious. I am not typically a beans and rice girl but I couldn't pass on these. The guac was fresh and served with large deep fried tortilla shells. Everything was phenomenal and our whole table was overly satisfied. We will be back! read more

Cantina - Brisket and Sweet Potato tacos with beans and Mexican rice - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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New location in the old Boomtown space. Modern decor. I like the different seating areas. My cousins treated me in celebration of my retirement. Cantina is a favorite for me. Service excellent and consistent. It is just as good as day one, back in its pop up Tuesday days. I think it was Tuesdays. Drinks unique, avocado margarita for example. This time I had the chicken enchilada with charro beans. Yes, it was amazing. The guacamole is next level in my opinion. My cousin and his wife agreed. We did try the tres leches cake, flavor was good but we did not like the texture. Our bad, we didn't know what to expect. read more

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Went here for the second time on NYE! While they were busy they were able to move us to a quieter table. Service was great even tho it was such a busy night. We are sensitive to spicy things but everything was delicious! Especially love the steak & desert! read more

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We love cantina! So happy they are in a little bit bigger space. The food is always a hit. We love the lamb tacos, the asada and they have some of the best margaritas in the city. You always feel well taken care of and the staff is welcoming and friendly. read more

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I'm DONE with this INCOMPETENT restaurant service!! The lady that answered the phone was unaware of ANY meal and had to hand me over to another staff person , who put Meat in my tacos after I told BOTH of them Vegetarian. Then when I take the tacos back they take some of the meat out , leave the nasty grease and Pieces of Chorizo in my food that makes me sick! I'm done with this incompetent restaurant service. read more

We really wanted to like this place, but everything from food to service to wait times were inconsistent. We were initially seated in the covered outdoor patio, which was actually pretty cozy with the space heaters. The restaurant at this time was not busy, there were only two other tables being served beside us. Unfortunately, we were actively ignored by both servers on multiple occasions after being seated by the hostess. They would help both tables beside us, then quickly move back inside without a glance or acknowledgment of our table. So we got up, took our menus, and relocated ourselves to the bar. The bartender was incredibly helpful, and got us started right away. The drinks were great, we had the horchata and a cocktail, both refreshing and generous. The guacamole was delicious, especially with the roasted veggies, but portion size was on the smaller side. For mains, the fish tacos were a letdown unfortunately. The ingredients were fresh, but the battered fish came out lukewarm and the flavors were just okay. On the other hand, the Cochinita Pibil was fantastic. The slow cooked pork melted in your mouth and the "build-your-own-taco" presentation was fun. We finished the night with the tres leches, which was also delicious -- light, creamy, and balanced. The only qualm here is that we waited 15-20 min to get it after finishing our main course. Our experience overall was bizarre. I can only describe this experience as inconsistent through and through. There is still lots of room for improvement. I am not opposed to coming back, but if the shortcomings are never addressed, I'd be hard pressed with so many other restaurants in the area that can deliver a better experience for the price. read more

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Recently came into their new space during their soft opening. It was my first time and loved how everything looked! Their new location is super bright, clean and easy to get to. For drinks, we started off with a couple of Mexican cokes and their michelada. Their tomato drink mix is house made, and it was delicious! Later, I ended up ordering their piña colada margarita which was super creamy and refreshing. I asked for less alcohol and they did it perfectly! Everything we got was fantastic but my favorite was there lamb taco! Super tender and very flavorful. This is a great spot to go to if you feel like you wanna step at Cincinnati for a night! read more

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The cutest gastropub! Loved the wood finishes and boho elements to the room. One of our favorites stops in Cincy. Every single thing on the plate was delicious, especially the lamb. Our server was delightful. read more

Cantina - Lamb Barbacoa, Baja Fish - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Our visit to Cantina last night was horrible. As a group of four, we expected a smooth dining experience, but unfortunately, that was far from the case. After being seated, we waited 30 minutes for our server to greet us. In that time, the hostess had to step in to bring us waters and take our drink order. When our server finally arrived, it was only to take our appetizer order. Despite our anticipation, our drinks never arrived. After finishing our appetizers, we were still waiting for our drinks. Another 30 minutes passed before our server returned to take our entrée orders. At this point, we expressed our concern about the prolonged wait for our drinks. The manager did come out to apologize for the delay and removed the drinks from our bill, which was a nice gesture, but the service continued to be lacking. Despite the manager's intervention, our server never checked back with us. We had to seek out another staff member just to get our check, and the cashing out process took yet another hour. While the food was decent, it's hard to appreciate a meal when the service is this poor. It should not take 3.5 hours for us to have a single cocktail, apps and entrees.... We probably would have had more drinks if we were ever asked... Having worked in the service industry for years, I can say this experience was unlike anything I've encountered. Our server seemed unsuited for the role, which ultimately affected our entire evening. If people ask me about this place I will say it it's not worth it... read more

This place delivers on all the essentials and then some. The drinks were expertly crafted--bold, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. The food was flavorful and just the right amount of spice. What truly tied it all together was the ambience: warm and inviting, making it an ideal spot for both a relaxed dinner or a fun night out. The service was on point ...A great place to eat, drink, and linger a little longer than planned. read more

Calm, cool & casual service. Food is fresh & healthy. I feel healthier leaving than when I walked in lol. Glad we went. read more

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overall pretty good! i thought maybe a touch overpriced for what you get, but the food was pretty good - especially the enchiladas and the queso. great drink selection (just know it's heavy on the tequila and mezcal drinks, but tha shouldn't be surprising). staff was all very nice and helpful when i had some questions about the menu. great vibe, low lighting, but on the quieter side so just know that if you are a loud talker like myself lol read more

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The food here is incredible!! 10/10 would recommend for food taste, quality, and service! The corn dish is delicious! The brisket in the suadero tacos is unbelievable. I could honestly eat it straight up! Next time, we will be ordering 2 dishes of the suadero tacos! read more

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food was wonderful service was excellent My first time here and I would definitely come back and try some other items conserver did an excellent job of explaining all the different dishes to me and it help me make my decision The bolognese rotolo was just top notch excellent read more

Cantina - Bolognese rotolo pleasantly appreciate how Good it is very impressed with the menu this is my first time here I would come back - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

While looking for a more unique brunch than just eggs and toast, we stumbled upon Crown Cantina. We decided to give it a try since we love their other restaurant down the street and boy were we shocked. The haute restaurant has a very modern, clean look with a small kitchen tucked away in the corner. It doesn't have the most seating, as the bar takes up a good portion of the square footage, but we were comfortable and not on top of other tables. Additionally, our server Mae was incredibly attentive, gave us wonderful suggestions, and had EVERY table in the restaurant as she was the only waitress. The food can speak for itself. Dare I say that this is the best Mexican food in the city? The menu is pretty small with really only two items that I would consider brunch options, but everything was extremely well executed. The drinks are also vibrant and delicious. read more

Cantina - Chilaquiles Verde with (pro tip) added Cochinita Pibil. AMAZING - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Cam provided great service. Food was flavorful. I enjoyed the Baja fish taco more than the main dish. Very nice, intimate restaurant. Not too crowded. read more

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Let me start by saying this is a 100% GLUTEN FREE kitchen (per their menu). So they get brownie points for that. Service was great. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, the drink items, and took time explaining the menu to us. Ambiance is very cute and elegant. They have outdoor seating, an indoor bar top and some indoor seating. (This is not their fault necessarily) but the outdoor seating lines one of the more major roads in downtown cincy so on a weekend evening it can get really loud when cars are blaring by. Otherwise, the outdoor seating is cute and comfortable. They had umbrellas if it was too sunny. For drinks - I tried the pina colada margarita. I was not a fan. It tasted very heavy of coconut which I wasn't a huge fan of and the consistency was thicker than I would have appreciated. I swapped out for one of their signature margs and enjoyed that a lot better. My friend got the spicy margarita and it was tasty. For food- we tried the queso. I wasn't a fan. I understand that it was fresh and gluten free but it was quite literally melted cheese in a skillet. It had little flavor and came with 4 corn tortillas to eat it with. There weren't even enough tortillas to eat 1/4 of the cheese with between 3 people. Why was this not served with chips? And why was the cheese lacking all flavor. Anyways, we felt like they couldn't call this dish "queso". It was more "build your own cheese quesadilla". I wouldn't order this again. Their guacamole looked more up our alley (we saw someone else order it). The fish taco, rice and black beans were the highlight of my meal. Very tasty. I got a steak taco too but was not a fan. Overall I feel like for an all gluten free kitchen this is somewhere I would give another try but I would stay away from the queso and maybe try something else as a meal besides tacos. Also stick with the more "traditional" margaritas. read more

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Looking for a gluten free kitchen? Perfection is what the Crown Cantina offers. The food is freshly prepared by a well-equipped staff. The fresh corn tortillas were the best I have EVER had I can't wait to go back and try more options. read more

We've been to Crown Cantina many times and it's always delicious. This is one of our favorite Mexican spots in the city. When we go, we don't overthink it, we just order every taco. It's the perfect amount to share for 2 people. The drinks are also delicious, especially anything mezcal. It's a pretty happening spot, so make sure to get a reservation ahead of time. read more

Cantina - Tacos, all of them - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Blown away by the service of this place. Huge fan of anything taco, ceviche, or salsa. I felt like it was a perfect spot for a casual date night. The staff and General Manager, Michael, are passionate about what they're doing and really care about making sure the service is good. I would recommend an RSVP if you have a large group since the space is not huge. We loved sitting on the patio. Bonus points for a dog friendly patio. read more

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Cantina's space was relaxing with low lighting and chill music, really nice ambiance. Our server was really good and gave his honest opinion on food which I appreciate. The food itself is great, some of the best upscale Hispanic food downtown. Mezcal and tequila selection and prices were top notch. read more

My friends and I came in for my friends bachelorette party and had a great experience! I enjoyed how we ordered our whole meal up front and our waiter paced out the dinner. The food was delicious and unique, definitely would come back for an upscale Mexican dinner! read more

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Outstanding! Service, food and drinks all top notch! We sat at the bar and enjoyed talking to our server and other guests. Definitely will be back! read more

Finally got to this spot early on a Sunday before an Aronoff performance. Conveniently located right at the east end of 8th street, we were able to find street parking easily. We tried the guacamole and the salsa, both served with scratch in house fresh crispy tortillas. Delicious! I had a couple of the tacos, both of which were surprisingly larger than some other places 'street tacos'. Quality of the food was excellent. Nobody at the table had anything negative to say about the food. Value wise, I think the prices are fair - neither an incredible bargain or feeling overcharged. Our server was super friendly and attentive, and well informed about the menu. The one area of warning, like many places that serve fajita style dishes, you're likely to walk out of this place smelling like the delicious food you just ate. I hope we didn't make the people sitting behind us hungry during the show! read more

Cantina - Queso fundido - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Well worth the drive! All food was fantastic and the patio made for a lovely evening. Our server was really nice and very knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered tostadas and salsa to start, then a variety of entrees and tacos. The baja taco and carnitas were big favorites! Definitely recommend trying Crown Cantina. read more

Cantina - Baja taco - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Delicious food and margaritas in a great space! Came here for my second time with some friends and loved everything. Our server was very friendly and walked us through the menu well. We started with the queso to share, which is different from most queso dips since it's like a fondue you use to make mini quesadillas. Everyone loved it! I got the Margarita No. 13 and loved the elderflower in it. So good! I got two tacos for dinner, the Cochinita Pabil Taco and the Brisket Taco, and loved them both. The two tacos and the shared queso was enough for me. Would recommend and looking forward to going back! read more

Cantina - Ghost Guava margarita - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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BEST MEAL EVER. I have been many places, and to this day, I stand on this being my best meal ever. From the beginning to end, I was taken on a journey and no portion was lacking. The ambiance is cute, very wooden and earthy. But be warned, this is a very small establishment. Highly recommend making a reservation. The service was very good. Our server had good recommendations and we never had to ask where they were because of they were on top of things and always checking in. Now, the food is just out of this world. I'm convinced that anything you get here you will enjoy because you can truly taste the quality, attention, and live that goes into every meal. The manager came by and told us that they wake up in the early early morning to prep everything fresh for dinner service. Make your way here and you will not be disappointed. read more

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Such an amazing dinner. Cannot recommend the carne asada enough. Insanely delicious. Phenomenal food, wonderful wait staff, amazing ambience. Stupid good. I live 8 hours away from Cincinnati and was just stopping by on a road trip, but I'm already trying to plan a visit back just to come here. Should have a Michelin star just for the carne asada. read more

If you are reading reviews deciding to come here or not, i'll make it easy. EAT HERE! Started off here with some of the best guacamole i've ever had! the smokey peppers add a real different element i've never experienced in a guac. The inside is a long bar with tables scattered throughout, there is outside seating as well so it can accommodate a good amount of people. Our Amazing Waitress Lydia! (definitely ask for her if you get a chance) recommended the Hamachi, always take the servers suggestions. It was yellow tail in a habanero purée and it was so so good and buttery with some crispy elements on top that added depth in the bite. The Fish tacos were a good size and a hearty fish, Mahi Mahi. The slaw and tortilla was great as well no complaints. The Shrimp Plate was good as well but at this point we were all hitting a wall, the shrimp were cooked and seasoned beautifully! i would say the vegetables with the shrimp plate were just subpar (maybe because i was full)! Overall 10/10 read more

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Crown Cantina is my pick for the best restaurant in Cincinnati. With such stiff competition in a place with fantastic restaurants, Crown shines. The vibe is elegant and intimate and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The food is incredibly creative and well executed. The guacamole, sweet potato with black garlic, hamachi, and fish tacos were all elite. I recommended this restaurant to multiple people for important events and they loved it! I cannot wait to go back and sample the rest of the menu. read more

Visiting Cincinnati for work. My boss took us here and it was yummy! We had the queso fundido and guacamole for our appetizers, the guacamole was really tasty. The roasted veggies in the guac added so much flavor! The enchiladas verdes was zesty; just how I like it. The ghost pepper and guava marg was not spicy at all, it was on the sweeter side but not too sweet. The service was attentive and the staff were nice. We were a large group and were seated outside, it was pretty hot but it was a nice patio. The inside was aesthetically pleasing. Overall, a 7.5/10! Would recommend! Overall an 8/10! read more

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This was my first experience at a Crown restaurant, and I have to say, I now fully understand the hype. My husband and I popped in to Crown Cantina after an event at Duke Energy Center. We didn't have reservations, but we got there right when they opened, and the hostess was able to seat us on the patio. Despite the chilly temperature outside, the patio was enclosed and heated. If we came again at a more typical dinner time, I would definitely make a reservation, because they quickly filled up! Our server, Emily, was fantastic. She was friendly and attentive, while offering great menu suggestions. We ordered a little bit of everything - but our favorite bite of the night by far was the guacamole. This isn't any ordinary guac - it's topped with caramelized peppers and onions, making every bite unique. Our other favorites from our meal included their take on a Wedge Salad - which was creatively dressed with crispy, candied bacon, and a heavenly "green goddess tomatillo" sauce. We also loved the Sweet Potato appetizer, topped with a smoky, spicy salsa, and served on top of a crema that offered some necessary relief. Our entrees were tasty as well - my husband ordered the shrimp, which was brought to the table sizzling, and I ordered one each of the steak and brisket tacos. We ended our meal with some of their Tres Leches cake, which is one of my favorite desserts ever. Crown Cantina's is topped with toasted coconut shreds, and served in a bowl of delicious cream. After such a memorable first visit to a Crown restaurant, we're already planning to stop into one of their other businesses soon! read more

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Ate here for lunch on a Tuesday and we had the whole place to ourselves! Great decor and ambiance, really good service and authentic Mexican food with fresh ingredients read more

Cantina - Sweet potato taco and lamb taco with butter rice and black beans - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The atmosphere of Cantina is very cozy! We tried three appetizers : the guacamole, queso and sweet potatoes. The queso was amazing and I definitely recommend. My main dish was the chicken enchiladas they were good but I would try something new next time. My favorite was actually the side buttered rice with black beans could have eaten a whole plate of it! My only complaint as a spice wimp was that some items on the menu were not labeled spicy but then had a serious kick. Definitely, looking forward to going back! read more