We LOVE this place! My husband and I just moved to the neighborhood and we tried Cena out for happy hour and dinner. Oliver (the owner) and his entire team were truly incredible. We're already planning to make this our local spot. The food was excellent, the service was amazing, and they were so welcoming and genuinely seemed to care about their customers. They even made us this sign to welcome us to the neighborhood after we told them we're new to the area. Food: Great tacos (pork with pineapple was what I had) Quesadilla- incredible. (Chicken was great!) Ambiance - very modern and yet charming! This really stands out from other Mexican restaurants in the area! read more

Cena Brooklyn - The team really welcomed us to the neighborhood when we told them we just moved to the area! - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I have been to Cena a couple of times, and I have really enjoyed the food and service. Last night, my husband and I decided to take two of our friends there for dinner. I normally do not write reviews of places where I've had a negative experience, but I felt that others with physical impairments would like to know this. One of our friends is deaf in one ear. Last night, the music in Cena was very loud, and my friend had difficulty participating in the conversation at the table. He asked our server if it would be possible to turn the volume down. The server walked away for a few moments, and there was no improvement in the volume. When the server returned, I re-explained the situation and asked if they could turn the volume down further. The server said, "We already did." To which I asked if they could turn it down a little bit more, and she said, "No--then we won't be able to hear the music." She was very rude in tone and body language, and we left. Again, prior to this evening, I've only had positive experiences at Cena, but if you have a physical or hearing impairment, you might want to find another location. read more

Horrible! The waiter dropped the taco on me as he was handing them out. I spent 20 minutes in the bathroom crying as my friends tried to get the stain out. No remorse and he did not even offer help. He simply said sorry and then walked away. Do not recommend. Place is also a mess. read more

Ah if you want some delicious vegan tacos I recommend these extremely flavorful options: HUITLACOCHE and FLOR DE CALABAZA! Wow! I came on a taco Tuesday to try them out and I tell you never tried tacos like this, and I doubt you'll find them anywhere else. PLUS quality, environment, and the attention is completely worth the price. In addition to the tacos, the Guacamole and chips 10/10 and the Cucumber Margarita ! Surely you won't regret sitting in and enjoying this spot. Thanks again!! read more

Cena Brooklyn - Bar and dinning Area - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Bland food, weak drinks, poor service, and INSANLY overpriced. The Carne asada taco was ok, but everything else was awful and had no taste. I waited 15 minutes for a round of drinks before I told them never mind, the drinks were still on the bill which was hard to notice since the bill is just a number on a phone that you swipe. Avoid read more

O.M.G. favorite tacos in the neighborhood!! Ordered the pescado, carne asada and pastor. So much flavor in every bite!! The salsas that accompany the tacos were also soo tasty. Margs nice and strong. Little pricey but in my opinion worth the price. Such a cute outdoor dining situation as well. read more

Cena Brooklyn - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've been here for brunch and it was fine but their dinner and lunch menu was not great. It was a little tasteless and overpriced.

Tasty Mexican - Get the guac and chips to start. The chicken fajitas could have had more chicken (it was predominantly peppers and onions) but other than that it was great. It's an order at the counter, sit where you'd like and have the food delivered - the only thing missing in the bag was plates but we improvised by using the plastic covers of the containers. Would definitely go back the next time I'm in the area. read more

Cena Brooklyn - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is my happy place. So grateful they opened in Windsor Terrace! I come here for my morning coffee and scone, and then in the evening for a beer and a burrito. The people are extremely nice, the place is beautiful and I really feel a community vibe when I'm here. Would give it more stars if I could read more

Cena Brooklyn - Bear cookie in ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We ordered our food and drinks. They brought them out pretty quick, but forgot one drink. We never saw a server again. Eventually, I went inside to ask for my drink. Our food never came. We asked about it a few times. One server told us the kitchen was "busy with deliveries". After 40 minutes of waiting and asking, our server told us the kitchen never got our order, because there are 2 printers - one for drinks and one for food. I don't know what that means. We left without eating. This place looks great. It's a neighborhood restaurant. I wanna support it, but this is the 2nd bad service experience I've had here. The margarita I eventually got was bad - watery and limey. Don't eat here. They don't know what they're doing. read more

Everything tastes so fresh, and is served with attention to detail that really shows. Nachos don't get soggy! Margaritas are delicious! I want to try all the flavors. read more

This place was my hotspot during the pandemic summer. Their tacos are expensive, but soo good. And I loved their set up. I always had a good time going their and getting their margs as well! read more

Cena Brooklyn - Fish and shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

PLEASE HIRE MORE STAFF. The food here has improved so much since this place originally opened. Really, no complaints about the food overall - so if you're cool with takeout/delivery, do that. My last three visits attempting to dine-in were some of the worst service I've ever had. Even eating at the bar didn't improve the situation, where the one person who was both the bartender AND only server managed to ignore attempts to order drinks and food despite standing mere feet away from where we were sitting. The last time I went with a group of three other people and sat outside, where we waited endlessly for the server to show up. When she finally did come by, she dropped off the water carafe, glasses, and utensils and then disappeared before we could even put in a drink order. We then watched her walk back and forth into the restaurant, even wiping down a table nearby that no one was even sitting at, all while managing to ignore our attempts to order. Even a "Hey - I'm sorry to keep you waiting, I'll be right back." would have gone a long way, but ultimately after 15 minutes of the same, we just up and left. Next-level terrible service. read more

Looks lovely. The service was great. We had tacos and nachos. Pretty decent l. And the churros for dessert were warm and tasty. I tried the peppermint tea and it was eh. Could be me but not very minty read more

Cena Brooklyn - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I honestly truly hate this place because the food is just overpriced disappointing cheap crap. The empanadas are FROZEN. The guac has pomegranate but no salt or lime???? The drinks are nothing special. I try to like this place because it's a few doors down from me, but it just sucks every time. & the service is so unorganized. I asked for a new tortilla because mine was soggy & it came 15 minutes later. I'm frustrated because two frozen empanadas & a soggy shrimp taco somehow cost $20. I want to like you cena but do better!!! Also disclaimer, no hate to my server, she was doing the best she could, so 2 stars for her. I'm more annoyed by the food. read more

Food is okay, horribly understaffed. Seems like it is very disorganized. Outdoor tables and shoddy and broken. This could be such a nice location but they are really dropping the ball read more

This place is lovely and they have a kids menu that my kid will eat. The churros were delicious and the caramel sauce that went with them was a family favorite. Drinks were both visually pleasing and tasty. We are adding this the the regular rotation. read more

We love Cena! This is one of our neighborhood go-to spots. They're busy enough but there's rarely a wait, the staff are all very friendly (albeit the service can be a little slow from time to time), and the food is excellent. This is not your run of the mill greasy-spoon Mexican restaurant--the food is authentic and delicious! Try the fish tacos and the emoladas. They don't have liquor but they use an agave wine in their margaritas and you'd literally never know the difference. Highly recommend! read more

Went to dinner here greatly under impressed by some of the food. Had the veggie burrito. Was expecting a bunch of veggies and some rice. But had a ton of rice and some sautéed mushroom mix. Beer selection was ok nothing to write home about, and in this day and age beer selection as well as cocktails count. No reason to return, unless I happen to fall into them. read more

Not sure about this place yet. The atmosphere is nice. The food is nothing to write home about. The portion size is confusing. The hibiscus tea (Jamaica) is $5 for 8oz with no free refill #totalripoff. The $15 burrito came with about 2-3 Tbs of meat, and a ton of (stale) rice and beans (not on the side as the menu seems to suggest). But the large guac was very large, and the quesadilla was huge with tons of cheese. All the tacos I've had so far have been good, especially the breakfast ones.#knowwhattoorder So just not sure what's going on in their kitchen. Maybe this place is better for drinks and that's how they'll survive, they seemed to have a pretty good drink menu (get ppl happy and drunk and they'll eat anything). I've been in the neighborhood for 7 years and I think if they wanna survive, they might have to figure some stuff out. Either a more laid back menu that's good for to go (eg burritos that are cheaper and foil wrapped), or upscale the quality of the food to be a nice dinner spot. read more

Loud .... so loud.... too .... loud. Food order was limited to a burrito... not bad ...but not "espectacular"!!! Beers on tab ... about 6 ... bar service attentive but frigid.... table service much better.... menu limited to 9 or so items.... alcohol selection limited as well ... noticed if you come alone .."no complementary chips and salsa"!!!! Maybe an afterthought or are Solo eaters 2nd class customers here.... not sure if I will try again .... read more

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Wow. Wow. WOW! I absolutely LOVE this place especially because it is incredibly child friendly. Finding a spot where kids are not only allowed but welcomed is tough. I came here yesterday with my 5week old, 3 year, a friend, and my husband. It was supposed to be a quick dinner and we ended up staying for 5hrs! They played an array of music. From 90's hits, to Reggaeton. They had a kiddie corner where kids are welcome to play with their in house toys. I fell in love with this concept as my 3 year old can get impatient. My food was great! I had chicken tacos. Not sure how one could screw that up though. Wait staff were professional, attentive, always clearing off the table and bringing us rounds of margaritas within a few minutes of our asking. I would definitely come here many more times. read more

Came here for lunch with a friend since we both wanted to try out the new restaurant in our neighborhood. The restaurant space itself is really nice and I can see myself enjoying a drink at the bar, but the food we had wasn't that great so I wouldn't come back for the food. We shared an order of the corn salad, pork burrito, and 2 tacos, and the best item was definitely the corn salad which was very flavorful with just the right amount of spice and cheese. The pork burrito was my least favorite. At $14 I expected more but the burrito was mostly overcooked mushy white rice with a little dry shredded pork inside and it just lacked flavor and spice. I've definitely had better burritos at Chipotle to be honest. As for the 2 tacos, they were tiny and nothing special. If I was rating just on the food, the restaurant would be 2 stars, but I did enjoy the space and the service so I'm adding another star. read more

Very long wait for food with two toddlers. The portions are very small. Waited over an hour tor our food and the food was subpar. Not worth going to. Would def give 0. read more

Came here for breakfast and the tacos are delicious! I also appreciate that they do not charge extra for oat milk, and whatever espresso beans they use are absolutely delicious. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the tacos end up being about $6 each if you get them with a protein, however, they are definitely worth it. Just a little pricey! read more

Wow the Steak fajitas were amazing, also the drinks were top notch. Also Lalo the bartender made the experience so cool, definitely will be coming back soon read more

Cena Brooklyn - Bar section - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food here was excellent and one of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to in a while. I will be coming back soon; generous portions, tasty and authentic. read more

Came in here for a bookclub meeting on 01/22/2020! This place is on the smaller end but the ambiance and bar area is nice. Our server that day is very nice! I came in just in time for happy hour and got a house margarita. It was good! I ordered their esquites and quesadilla. Both were amazing! The esquites were so spicy for me but it was so worth it because it was delicious. I have yet to try their tacos which were on a pricier end compared to some places but the presentation was nice when I ordered it for my boyfriend who followed at the end of our meeting. They were kind enough to allow split checks in a group of 20! Will come back. read more

This neighborhood has desperately been in need of a spot just like Cena. Went for drinks last night and my excitement was equally met with solid vibes, bespoke aesthetic, and crazy good smells from the kitchen and tables. I had a cold Pacifico from the tap, my wife had an agave wine margarita, both of which went down with a quickness. The waitstaff was attentive and personable, and the place was packed. Impressive considering Cena is currently operating off of a "soft opening" limited food/drink menu. Can't wait to see what this place becomes in the near future. Definitely coming back! read more

Cena Brooklyn - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I came to cena for brunch way before the pandemic and i was content with the meal. I know this particular location had few struggles with being able to keep a stable restaurant (the one before cena wasn't that great) but the brunch food at cena is Delicious. The coffee is also great which is very important. read more

This is my new favorite spot! The food is incredible and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Frozen magaritas are the best and so are the carnita tacos! You must try this place!!! read more

Cena Brooklyn - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The tortilla soup Flavorful. Well made. Tasty. Authentic it is. The quesadilla The sopes. Aqua fresca. The staff is friendly. read more

After some years of their being on the corner, I continue to like this place a lot. The food is simple and delicious, there are options for vegetarians, and the way they responded to Covid-era seating needs was immediate, friendly, safe, and scenic. I like the cheese quesadillas, the salads, the beans, the rice. Nice beers too, and friendly service. Really glad they're in the neighborhood. read more

Eloras! 272 prospect pk west, they deliver I live in the neighborhood and CENA is really waiting for it's liquor lic. They are hoping to be a hipster wine bar. After over 40yrs in the hospitality industry ( restaurants) I have rarely seen such poor execution! Prices are high for standard Mexican food that at times is inedible ( and small portions) while it was badly designed as bar food it is almost inedible and messy. The food neither reflects flavor or price of even Taco Bell ( I would prefer that). It has the ambiance of a hospital cafeteria or 1970's howard Johnson disco lounge The owners seem to believe that this is soho or some other hipster neighborhood, which is fine if you deliver good food or good ambiance, and trying to capitalize on our stupidity read more

We go there regularly now for margaritas and some food. I love their salad, and my mates like quesadillas, tacos, and guac. I wasn't too impressed with the tacos. Their outdoor setup is great but the service leaves something to be desired once you step away from the window. We've been served food with no silverware, and takeout of guacamole with no chips, which unfortunately I didn't notice until I was home in a different neighborhood. It's definitely not cheap, but it's good enough, and the drinks are strong enough, that we keep going back despite there being better value elsewhere. I could take it or leave it but I don't live in this neighborhood. It's better than most of the other spots I've been to nearby and the staff is super friendly. read more

I've given this place several tries, and it consistently disappoints. Mediocre food, absurd prices ($7 for mushrooms or peppers as "protein" in a dish?!?!), and rude service. Not to mention I was charged twice for the meal--now have to go through the labor of contacting my bank to be reimbursed for the first charge. Lots of people seem to like Cena, but it left a literal and figurative bad taste in my mouth. read more

Love this neighborhood place! Always friendly people waiting tables and fresh food. Love the ceviche and the tostada. The tacos are good too and they have affordable kid options. Love the outdoor tables. read more

On a rainy Friday night , I decided to come with a friend.. and from the staff to the drinks to the ambiance was amazing . I def would recommend coming here even if you want to grab a latte as well . It has a home-y feel would def come back again to try other things on the menu . They do have happy hour so take the trip to an amazing establishment. read more

Cena Brooklyn - Sangria please ! . - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I really like this place as a coffee shop/cafe. They have THE BEST LEMONADE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. 5 stars for the lemonade. Also, everyone who works here is really nice. It's a smidge on the expensive side for dinner. The chorizo in the chorizo taco is quite tasty. Hubs also had the spicy pork and the steak. Those were good but not as good as the (much cheaper ones) at our fave taco truck in Brooklyn. The chicken burrito was solid but should have come with green and red sauce. Mine was plain as I asked for no dairy, but I saw green sauce drizzled on someone else's burrito and should have asked for that. The guac is good and the small size was certainly big enough for the two of us. I am sad when the "small" guac at places is the size of a takeout side of ketchup. Theirs has a unique, very smooth texture, and I LOVE the pomegranate seeds they put on top. The chips seem homemade and are also good. The marg was good and sizeable but maybe not the best I ever had. The pina colada someone else was having looked dope and I would like to order that next time. read more

What a GYP! This ain't it. I got a burrito. The burrito itself is $10, which is expensive already, and you have to pay separately for protein, which is a minimum of $4, so you're gonna end up paying $14 for a burrito. Mind you, without the protein, the burrito (again, $10) is literally just white rice and beans in a flour tortilla...and the amount and taste of the meat (I got carnitas), was SAD. It was pretty much boiled pork, no flavor. Waitresses were nice, but I would rather go to Chipotle than this place, any day. read more