This was our first time 3/28/26. Fresh and delicious. We can't wait to go back. Yummy!

What a hidden gem! Made a last-minute Opentable reservation for this restaurant and so happy we did. The restaurant is clean, spacious and inviting. We were greeted right away and brought to our table. So many birthday celebrations around us, so much fun! We had sangria (pitcher) and spicy margaritas, all delicious. Appetizer was queso funido delicious. Entrees was a mix of the beef soup, chicken/steak tacos, and beef tacos! Highly recommend and will be back! read more

Mateo's Cantina - Pitcher of sangria - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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I had heard mixed reviews about this place and now I can see why. Food tasted pretty good but not enough to return. Ambiance was nice and clean . Service seemed understaffed as I waited a while to get my main dish. (Servers were great tho) Even though food was tasty, I felt like it was overpriced. For two people we spent about $170, (we didn't order anything crazy nor order crazy drinks) read more

The food was outstanding!! May have been the best enchiladas I've had! Drinks were small and tasteless. The waitress was absolutely horrible with a bad attitude. read more

Been going there for a long time. This weekend mean nasty owner refused to take my $100 bill because "it was too old" now it was a 2012 bill with the line through it and she was just a nasty pig!! Her waitress who I adore was sooooo embarrassed and kept telling me how sorry she was. So I hugged her and said sorry but let me know when you leave this horrible woman and I will come right back into your new place. Went to Dirty Taco and not only did the manager reflected on what bad business that is and then jokingly said all she needed was a $1.99 cash marker and that would have been the end. Instead I dropped the bag of $60+ food on the floor and told her to have a great day! GO TO DIRTY TACO INSTEAD ALSO IN WANTAGH!!! Same price....better atmosphere and the food is delish!!! O.... And the owner is the coolest! read more

The restaurant is not super big and filled up pretty quickly on a Saturday evening. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. However, there was a large party in the back and that held up the kitchen. It took a long time for our food to come out because they could not keep up. They were very apologetic however. The food was good (I had veggie fajitas) and the portions are generous. The music in the restaurant was much too loud and they need to turn it down. Overall, a nice spot to eat despite the hiccups. The parking situation outside leaves much to be desired. They don't have a handicap spot out in the front and every spot was taken in the small lot. We had to drop off a member of our party in front of the restaurant as they cannot walk long distances. Then we had to park in the next lot over and walk over to the restaurant. read more

Always drove past this place and wanted to stop in, this time I did! Staff was very welcoming and I love the decor! Now on to the food. Started off with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was delicious and different from most other places I've been to. I ordered the Gordo Burrito Bowl and man was that good. Very large portions and quite tasty. For dessert, I had a slice of coconut Flan. Unique and delicious. Highly recommend this place. read more

Mateo's Cantina - Gordo Burrito Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

Decent local Mexican food. Glad that I finally got to try this place with some friends. The chips and salsa to start is always a good thing! The service was super quick! It seemed like every time someone from the wait staff saw we were done with our plate they jumped at removing it from the table! The place is nicely decorated and great for a date night! We shared an app of nachos although were good, I would've like some shredded cheese instead of queso but I loved the jalapeños on top! Was such a great addition. The shrimp fajitas were tasty and lots of sides which I appreciated too! A group of four of us shared a pitcher of white sangria and it was delicious and definitely enough! I'll go back read more

Mateo's Cantina - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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I went in for their $24 lunch menu and it was one of the best meals I've had in a while. Celina, my waitress, was super friendly and attentive, their music is on point, their decorations are festive and the restaurant as a whole is a vibe. Their restaurant week lunch menu is two courses- an appetizer and an entree. Some options for apps are emapandas( I got these ), chicken tortilla soup, wings, guac & chips and for entrees: 3 tacos (4 meat options, quesadilla, fajitas, etc! They also start you off with a delicious salsa and chips on the house!! While I am a sucker for an empanada, these were beyond what I could have expected. They are filled with chicken tinga and birria. For tacos, the 3 I chose were asada, birria and al pastor. To start off, the birria was phenomenal. I've had birria in Jalisco(where they were created) and these were probably just as good. Next, the asada. The steak was so tender and easy to eat. I feel like sometimes steak tacos are impossible to eat because you can't bite through the meat, but these were perfect. Lastly, the Al pastor. They weren't my favorite, but they were still good! I'm not huge on pork, so that's honestly probably why. I've been here many times before for their happy hour which is also one of the best deals in the area!! Their Passionfruit Martini is my fav. read more

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The food was delicious. For appetizers we had the street corn and the birria taco. Both were delicious. The chipotle shrimp dish was excellent and my husband loved the chili poblano. For desert we had the tres leches cake. It was the best I ever had. The service was excellent and we will definitely be going back!! read more

We visited Matteo's Cantina for a Saturday lunch around 2pm, and although the restaurant was empty at the time, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The space is beautifully decorated with Mexican streamers, artifacts, and some fun Halloween touches, creating a bright and festive ambiance. It was a special birthday lunch for my mom, and the staff went above and beyond to make it memorable. My dad ordered the skirt steak with rice and black beans, which he found absolutely delicious, and my son--who is usually quite picky--even tried some and loved it too. I had the fish taco and tortilla soup. The soup was phenomenal, tasting homemade and reminding me of a dish my Guatemalan friend makes. The fish taco was also great, with the aioli adding a nice kick and the jicama strips giving it a satisfying crunch. My son enjoyed a steak taco and an Al pastor taco with grilled pineapple, and they were accommodating with all his extra requests on the side. Since we mentioned we were there to celebrate a birthday, the staff surprised us after we ordered the tres leches cake. They played "Happy Birthday" over the speakers, brought out the cake with a large sparkler candle, and even had a sombrero for my mom to wear! The tres leches was amazing--spongy, sweet, and perfectly moist. We highly recommend Mateo's Cantina for both the food and the festive atmosphere. It's a great spot for a celebration or a casual meal. read more

Been here twice. Very good food. The Mexican street corn is my favorite thing. Service good and the drinks are very good too. My go to for Mexican in this area for sure. read more

Ladies Fiesta baby! Half price margs can't be beat. The food is fresh and delicious. Will be back. read more

Mateo's Cantina - Birria, Al Pastor, and Chicken Tinga - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

Great food great service relaxed ambiance and the very good drinks. Wonderful Mexican food, took a shot on this place a few months ago and keep coming back. It's in one of those jinxed spots but hopefully will last a long time! read more

Mateo's Cantina - Al pastor birria carne asada mahi mahi carne Molida - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

I do not recommend this restaurant! I went with 4 friends, it took over an hour after we ordered to get our food. 1 of us got a bowl with chicken, which was cold. 1 of us got flautas, which were very hard, and I got enchiladas, I had asked if they were spicy & was told no. They were spicy to me. But the worst part was that when we "complained" to the manager about all the issues. she didn't not care at all! She told us we only waited 30 mins, which is a lie, she also told me my food was not spicy, and said don't come back then. Literally the worst customer service I have ever encountered in person. They won't stay open with a manager like that! I would avoid this place at all costs! read more

Went on a Sunday evening. Service was OK- food took a bit to come out. Waitress realized that one of our orders was wrong before it came out, which caused us to wait even longer for our food. I had the chimichanga which was basically a fried burrito- rice and beans on the inside which to me is weird for a chimi. It was just OK. Had to ask for chips and salsa. Had to several times wave down a server for different things- drink refills, sauces, our check etc. Food was just OK, nothing really great. Menu is limited-ish. Place inside clean and nice. Probably wouldn't return- food was pricey and wasn't all that impressed overall with the food and service. read more

We've been waiting to try Mateo's for a while but since it is new and popular every time we've stopped by the wait times have been too long. We finally got in without a wait, probably because it was cold and rainy. The layout is not ideal as there are a number of tables right near the front door as soon as you walk in as well as right along the bar. We were seated at the table by the front door. Our server was very friendly and efficient. The main reason for the 5 star rating is the food. It is not typical Mexican and all of our meals were excellent. I'm hoping as the hype of being the new restaurant wears off the waits will go down and we will definitely be back. read more

Mateo's Cantina - Chicken Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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Service was okay nothing to complain about but nothing was exceptional. We had wonderful chips salsa and guacamole as an appetizer. The guac could've come with chicken or steak opted for no meat. And it was good and seemed fresh. We also had the steak, chicken enchiladas, chicken tacos, Al pastor taco. Everything was good. The beans came out as pinto we requested them to swap it for our preferred black beans and they brought out a new order. It was absolutely delicious they had a nice sauce that I mixed together with the yellow rice and it was great. The ambience was a typical Mexican restaurants with cute bar. I will likely return and update read more

Mateo's Cantina - Steak rice beans - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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i was very excited to try Mateo's Cantina the newest place in Wantagh ! My first try was a no go as it was a busy friday night and the wait was about 45 minutes . I went back on a weeknight at about 5:30 and walked in . The ambiance is casual, warm and inviting . Our server was lovely. She was attentive but not intrusive. She provided us with a perfect dining experience. Sangria was out of this world . It was perfectly balanced . Fruity but with body . Chips were crispy and salsa not the usual ! The color and flavor was not the norm , but more delicious! We had perfectly cooked sweet plantains . I had perhaps the most delicious enchiladas suisas i have ever had ! Flavor , texture , sauce perfection ! My son was extremely happy with his tacos. I have no complaints . I can't wait to go back . read more

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It was very cheap. There was no salsa and chips at the table like every other Mexican restaurant on Long Island. I had to pay extra just for some salsa and chips at the table. What a disgrace! You guys blew it with that one big time! I eat out and many gourmet restaurants and that was a low one not to give salsa at the table for a Mexican restaurant. read more

With the availability and abundance of Mexican restaurants I was both intrigued and less-than enthusiastic about trying a new joint. However Mateo's met expectations... on most fronts. Overall ambiance and service were top notch and provide the right atmosphere. The food was a bit of hit and miss, but I truly think this is a place where u need to find one or two quality items and frequent often based on your palate. The guacamole was a misfire and personally my daughter makes more authentic-fresh guacamole. The sangria was superb and highly recommended. The burrito was non-impressive but the birria taco is a must based on flavors, adequate level of heat and ultimately the explosion of flavors in my mouth. My wife had the enchiladas and thought relatively standard based on taste and quality of ingredients. The churros were amazing and highly recommended. Intrigued by other items on the menu so I will be back, but would certainly consider the birria taco, sangria and churros in the future. Given price point my expectations were slightly higher but again I would visit again and narrow down menu to a couple of key items. read more

Mateo's Cantina - Churros - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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Food was very good and service was great. Will definitely come back. Generous portions and the margaritas were great. Would highly recommend. read more

Came here for a late lunch with friends and the restaurant was very quiet. Classic margarita was really good, maybe could have been a little bigger for the price. Birria tacos were very good as well and the tacos are priced right that you can order a few to try if you'd like. The tortilla soup was excellent but I really prefer it without black beans and the online menu I looked at gave a detailed description but did not list beans. I was able to eat around them. Service was good overall Edit: Looks they have have updated the online menu regarding the soup having beans read more

I met with the girls for lunch last weekend. The staff were so nice and attentive. The restaurant was pretty quiet. The margs were fantastic! I highly recommend the flight. I tried my friend's white sangria too and it was up there as well. The chips and salsa to start were yummy. I was a little disappointed when there weren't any spicy options on the menu. My tacos were ok. Nothing special. I had asked for hot sauce and they brought out some salsa macha. I would've preferred something more savory. Overall, a solid choice in the area. Prices are good too! read more

Mateo's Cantina - Margarita flight - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

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This place has a nice simple, chilled out vibe the whole area of Wantagh is hopping. There's literally eight bars within 50 feet of this restaurant. The food is a very authentic. Their corn tortillas for the enchiladas were completely freshly made Their margarita flight was incredible especially the hibiscus one. my wife adored that, good beer selection reasonably priced. This is a win-win hundred percent slam dunk! great place. read more

Love this place. It has such a warm vibe and such a home style feel. Food is great and the spicy margaritas are amazing. The staff is awesome!!! Love them. Always go when I can. What a great find. Like a secret gem. A must try. read more

My favorite local restaurant. The food is so good and the service, especially Vincent, is always friendly. Restaurant is always very clean and well taken care of. read more

Mateo's Cantina - Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Wantagh, New York

Mateo's is absolutely amazing. From the food to the drinks to the amazing staff. Definitely will be returning (maybe even once a week ...it's that good) Family owned and tan restaurant, both husband and wife are the most personable,friendly, and attentive. read more

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Hidden lil gem Mateo's Cantina Hicksville road right before Mulcahey's. Upon entering you are greeted with a smile and if you time it right a blast of scorching hot sizzling fajita platters passing by you. We were promptly seated and then greeted by our awesome server Evelyn. She took our drink and appetizers selections and in a blink of an eye she returned with them. We opted to just try the chips and quacamole and it did not disappoint. Creamy and not so cilantro red onion forward like many other places serve. Then came our drinks, we chose the spicy margaritas and wow wow wow they were literally fire .Next up the most difficult decision was deciding what to order well here is where an awesome server steps in and offers you so many different options. We love birria so I had a birria with consume dipping sauce which was ultra rich, decadent and delicious. I chose a taco al pastor for my second one and that was also amazing. My wife opted to try the shrimp taco which was plump and flavor filled and her Mahi Mahi was by far the best we've had. My daughter's boyfriend went with a chicken quesadilla and he stated it was one of the best he's ever had which says alot. When all was said and done our tablecloth truly told the story of our incredible meal. You know a place is good when 2 days later you are telling everyone you speak with that they MUST check this place out and you can't wait to go back and try the Birria Ramen Consume which I'm sure will be fantastic . Definitely recommend ya'll come on down and check this amazing place out for yourselves.. read more

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*****Happy Hour**** Always on the lookout for a good happy hour. We were very happy! They offer 1/2 price Taco's ( $3) and half price fresh squeezed Margs ($5). They also offer a half price sampler Margarita platter ($15). Absolutely worth checking out! We liked it.. hope you do as well! The Bartender Liz is awesome! Ask for her!! read more

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not too spicy not too bland..just right!! Beef dishes best quality for mexican restaurants, tender cuts for sure, chicken also better quality then most other places. Never had a bad meal or appetizer , happy hour deals excellent, especially on mondays and tues. House tequila, hang over free so far, not cheap but better then other local places for sure. Service always pleasant and efficient, restrooms very clean and well stocked. Plenty of parking avail, front and back. Menu is simple and basic, not alot of confusing dishes to wonder through, Iam a picky eater and don't like alot of salt or spices, so there is no after effects when you get home. I've been here 5times and it never disappoints. read more

Local Mexican restaurant with great food and the sangria is amazing (A glass or two will do). The staff was very attentive and were super friendly. I've been here a few times and never disappointed. read more

Such an underrated place. The salsa is SUPERB. Awesome margaritas. The tacos are amazing and a good size too, so you aren't getting ripped off. Please try the Tres Leches. 10/10 experience. I can't wait to come back read more

This restaurant was wonderful! It is beautiful inside with lots of seating. It didn't feel crowded at all. The service was fast and friendly. The food was wonderful! So fresh and flavorful. The beef birria taco was amazing. A bit spicy, just perfect for me. I love that the tacos are all carte- so we steered 5 different ones to try many. The chicken fajitas were amazing! So many sides and such a generous portion of chicken. read more

I love this addition to the community. Very pretty place, nice ambiance, great service, food was delicious. Classic Mexican menu items, with a touch of perfectly different. Went for tapas only one night with girlfriends, back the next night with husbands for tapas plus dinner. Can't wait to go back. read more

This is a lovely little neighborhood place. It is small, and the food is delicious. The prices are reasonable. The service is great and the decor is nice. I am looking forward to going back. read more

Well, the tortilla chips they put out were great and the sauce they put out with it was great.. We had a Mexi-street corn and that was really great also. For mains we had tacos and chicken enchiladas. Very good, but the Steak in the asada taco could have been more well done, not so rare. But all in all the food was very good. The bad thing is that the maitre d' wanted to put up next to the bar people and we did not want to be next to so much noise. But we ended up at the window, which seemed ok at first, but the sun came out, they put the sunshades down for us, but the AC really stinks in the place and it became so uncomfortably hot that we were dripping sweat and couldn't wait to leave. The layout is pretty cafeteria-like. In conclusion, there is no reason for us to come back here. read more

Love this restaurant! The couple that owns it are super friendly and talented chefs. Great fajitas, enchiladas, etc. Luckily, our business just moved down the street Simi am sure we will frequent this place often. Delish. read more

Food was delish! Went for Taco Tues. had a spicy Margarita and a shrimp taco & fish taco...started w guac and chips. All great. Wish it wasn't SO bright inside..kind of kills the vibe. Very clean and service was friendly...speaking Spanish or having Google translate helps... read more

Food is fresh and delicious . Service was great as is the atmosphere, beautiful bar too. Liz does a great job here.