The good: Nice outing with fellow teachers from my district. Restaurant was empty besides 2 other tables of guests. Food was good overall, yet not memorable. Trendy atmosphere with music selection playing softly on the speakers. Server offered to take a photo for me of the decor on the walls. The not-so-good: Serving size was very small compared to the cost, While the server was effective, she never smiled the entire time while waiting on us. Kinda gave off a weird vibe. I ordered a virgin Pina colada since I can't drink due to medication precautions and it came out in a kiddie cup. I'm not sure if this is standard or not, but I don't know what to think of this. I would have appreciated it in a regular glass like everyone else so it wouldn't be so obvious I had a nonalcoholic drink. People at my table who arrived late and ordered 10-15 minutes after the rest of the table received their entrees before us, even those who ordered appetizers. The restaurant only had our group of 10 and maybe 4 other guests but somehow still managed to be a little slow with food and clearing the table. The cost of the food plus the amount will mean I won't be back anytime soon. However, it's a cool option if you are in Uptown for a concert or game and you want a trendy spot to eat Tex-Mex. Try them out if this is your desire. read more

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Uptown Cantina is right across from Protective Stadium so make sure to stay on top of any events going on before you go. Parking can be a little hard to find but we didn't wait long once we found a spot. It seems that on days that protective is open, they are only serving their "event" menu which was pretty limited. We were first timers so I looked up the menu beforehand and had my hopes up on a few other items not served. We got the steak quesadilla and Margarita tower to share. The portions are just okay for the price of the food. The margarita tower is mostly juice so I honestly wouldn't bother with it next time. They also advertise different flavors for the tower on the menu but that wasn't an option. Our server, Joslyn, was great however! read more

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Big helpings of food so come hungry! My signature taco plate came with skillet rice and four tacos: pulled pork, chicken, barbacoa, and ground beef. I did not get to the last two because I got full (as an appetizer we did the queso which was delicious!!) Service quick and helpful, but music overhead could have been a little softer. Sunday evenings - go for it bc absolutely no wait time! Parking can be difficult sometimes but worth it to circle the block as needed. read more

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So, I decided on Saturday to try out this establishment and I was pleased . The restaurant is in the Uptown district so parking can be tricky on days events are happening because they are located right across the Protective Stadium. The vibe was good. The décor was good. Plenty of seating. My waitress Cindy was super.helpful. I ordered the shrimp and grits for my entree and decided to go with a frozen strawberry margarita. The portion was huge. The grits were to my liking creamy and full of flavor. The blackened shrimp was good too. I have got to go back and check out other items. Overall a good dining experience. read more

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Ok so I'm glad I ignored the stars and tried it! I sat at the bar, it was busy, I grabbed the last seat and I'm glad I got it! The bartender is flipping amazing, she had an amazing personality, super friendly, made a bad ass Martini- (don't judge me, for having vodka at a Tex mex) I had the fried chicken tacos which were ridiculously good, and filling. I first questioned 3 tacos for $20 but I would do it again. Two people walking by asked what they were as they looked that good. Massive piece of tender chicken, slaw, hot honey.... I'm mad I live in CT... I'm usually critical of places, especially ones on touristy sections but job well done!! read more

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I love Mexican food. In fact, it's my absolute favorite cuisine. I had a one-hour lunch break so I stopped in to grab a quick bite at the bar (mainly because Mexican is usually cheap and quick). I ordered a short (16oz) draft Modelo and a gringo beef chimichanga. Now, I always order a short draft because they stay cold in the amount of time it takes me to drink them. Tall drafts grow warm. However, even though the glass looked chilled when she was pouring my beer, when I started sipping it was warm. The chimichanga was really just a burrito. Chimichangas are supposed to be deep fried to give the flour tortilla time to crisp up and get golden brown. This was spongy, greasy and just dipped in grease- it was NOT fried. The ground beef filling was greasy and not super flavorful. At $16 it wasn't super expensive, but I'd prefer just about any strip mall Mexican spot over what I got here. read more

Uptown Cantina - Gringo Beef Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My server recommended the steak tacos. They were very flavorful. Restaurant was pretty empty about 11:30, food came out very quick. I was disappointed In them not having any type of lunch special. About $17 for 2 tacos and rice (a bit expensive). Also no chips and salsa included read more

This is great Mexican place downtown. It's a great place to eat before an event at the BJCC or a game at Protective Stadium. They have great food and drinks here. I've been here once for lunch and once for an event. It's so pretty here! read more

We went in last week for a work luncheon and Coby and his staff took great care of us. From the time we walked in until the time we left, the staff was at our call. There were about 20 of us and we all had drinks and food out very quickly. Our entrees were hot and delicious. The desserts were amazing. Thank you again for a great outing. read more

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Service was good. It was our first time visiting restaurant. Food is on expensive side for lunch. We spent over $68 and that did not include the $10 tip. My husband and I split a chicken fajitas. It only come with 4 tortillas. We paid extra $1 for more tortillas. Plate was not even warm. Give you very small portions of lettuce, cheese, pico salsa and sour cream. If you want chips and salsa, you had pay $4.00 for endless chip and salsa ( but no one never offer any more chips and salsa ). I didn't like salsa, but my husband liked it ( it's not a tomato salsa it's thick chili tasting sauce). Dessert I ordered a sopapilla with honey powered sugar and cinnamon. It also had a scoop of vanilla ice and whipped cream. It was delicious! read more

Uptown Cantina - Honey Sopapilla - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great location for my weekend plans. The food was tasty. The portion isn't worth the money. read more

Uptown Cantina - Wood-Fired Protein Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The food was amazing. The Steak was delicious, the drink called The Bishop was phenomenal. The presentations were top notch. The service was spot on Karen was my server. She was so attentive and great with a responses. Her server etiquette was by the letter. The ambiance was cultural and vibrant. The staff was amazing everyone worked in sync. This is how an restaurant supposed to work. I had fun read more

My friend and I went to Uptown before a concert. The atmosphere was fun and it was clean. The lighting was good. You have to purchase chips and salsa unlike other Mexican restaurants though the chips and salsa are bottomless once you order them. The guacamole was pretty standard and the salsa was ok. We had some bacon wrapped shrimp which were good and came with some bread. The margarita flights were on special for $5 off and they were the best part of our experience. The server was sweet but did not know what gluten free meant which could be dangerous for someone. Overall, it was a good experience, though the food that I had was not my favorite. I would go back for the drinks! read more

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Checked out Uptown Cantina with a big group, and it was a solid experience. The service was on point--super friendly and handled our crew like pros. The place is really nicely decorated and super clean, which added to the vibe. I went with the chicken-stuffed nachos, and they were absolutely delicious--crispy, loaded with flavor, and just hit the spot. Overall, good food, good service, chill atmosphere. 8/10 recommend. read more

Uptown Cantina - Stuffed Nachos L - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The chips and salsa are not free but they are good. This is in uptown so it's definitely overpriced, that's to be expected. The staff was friendly. Our server was young, energetic and quickly admitted he was unfamiliar with the alcohol menu (during happy hour). My friend and I paid separately. The server doubled checked with him to offer him to leave more tip money before taking his check. Side eyed that. Anyway, I ordered the bowl, it was heavy (rice, beans, corn, meat, cheese) fresh lettuce and tomatoes would have lightened it up. I asked for guacamole (pictured: $5 up charge). My friend ordered the quesadillas which he said was good. Very nice decor and a full bar. I didn't order directly from the bar. My experience: The food and service are mid overall. read more

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I absolutely love Cantina on wheels!! The food is so fresh and flavorful. It is located on seventh avenue. There are many food trucks in that area at a certain time especially on weekends but cantina on wheels caught my attention and I am so glad I tried it. I got the fish and chicken taco. If I had to pick a favorite between the two I would pick the fish. It was crispy and the toppings were perfect. There was little bit of a line but the employees were quite efficient. I had questions before ordering and they answered them all happily. Cantina on wheels is next to various restaurants, bars, and clubs. They were opened late and make for a good stop to end the night. The only downside is not knowing when they will be out there. They do not have a schedule on the truck. I can't wait to go back! read more

I went here looking to try a new spot In Birmingham and let's just say I left on an empty stomach. We were greeted by the hostess and sat immediately (the only good thing I can say about my experience). When we sat down we waited for 10 minutes and no server ever came to our table, it was practically empty as well so not sure why it took so long. Because we weren't greeted by a waiter we decided to just go to the bar to try to get quicker service. The bartender greeted us very dryly and asked us what we wanted (no suggestions or anything). We ordered some chips and guac and a couple of tequila shots and the glasses they were served in were DIRTY. We excused the customer service and the flies but dirty dishes is where I draw the line. The establishment is in a convenient location and beautifully designed but management and staff need to do better.. it's a nope nope nope for me! 0/10 would recommend if I could put zero stars if I would. read more

Uptown Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Just not good Mexican food and very expensive for what they serve you. I had the taco plate was served three shredded chicken tacos with sweet slaw like you would serve at a barbecue in the taco.. It was awful to say the least. The service was good. The beer was cold. The prices were high. Look elsewhere. read more

Super cute decor! Basic food, but not bad for a Tex Mex spot. I ordered the elote off the cob. It had potential flavor wise, but unfortunately it came out cold. For my main, I ordered 3 tacos: the fried chicken taco and chicken barbacoa! Both were great but the fried chicken taco was the star of the show! The sauce, the crispness. I will definitely be back for it! Service was great. The staff was very quick and attentive to my parties needs! read more

Uptown Cantina - 2 Chicken Barbacoa 1 Fried Chicken Taco - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

we waited an hour and 30 minutes and the restaurant was basically empty. they told us that we would have to wait again for a table, even though we had already waited for an hour and 30 minutes. Then we ordered our food and our waitress was really nice. Then our food came and they kicked us out of the restaurant because our friend with a DISABILITY couldn't prop up her leg on a chair. They're threatened to call the cops on us. overall horrible experience and terrible staff. read more

Uptown Cantina is a great location. The interior is Instagram worthy. The staff were pleasant as well! Was expecting a party of 7. They have a rule that you just have half of your party in order to be seated. Water is free. Chips & salsa is on the menu to order. Good thing bottomless salsa is $4. The waiter suggested the trio for $14 and I honestly don't think it was worth it especially if everyone at the table is not going to finish the trio together. Food came quicker than expected. I ordered and ate the chicken burrito: 6/10 The other items in the pictures were ordered by my friends. They overall enjoyed their meal. Patio was closed when I arrived, not sure why. They have an upstairs however it was not in use during my visit. Not much room at the bar to sit but very good selection of items if interested in a drink. The drinks my friends had were rated 10/10. I just had the water. I have tried calling in to this location before, there was no answer. Other than that, I do not know how delivery/pick up service is here. I only dined in. Overall pleasant experience! read more

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The food was good ( but not Mexican). The service was terrible. The guy at the bar was profoundly unhelpful. He sent me over to the hostess, and when I explained I was in a hurry and just wanted 2 fish tacos, she talked about sitting down and getting hors d'oeuvres. She then sent me back to the guy at the bar. I ordered two fish tacos to go. What I got was to shrimp tacos. No explanation. The rice had a nice flavor, but it was southern rice not Mexican rice read more

Uptown Cantina - supposed to be fish taco: mahi. I got shrimp. - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great location. Food was okay. Service average. Had potential to be lively and fun with the right crowd. If you're in the uptown area for anything, consider going. read more

Uptown Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Ya know. We could talk about the unfortunate and raciest incident that occurred during the dining experience and how incredibly rude and disrespectful management was, but I'll stay focused our specific table. Although service was decent, definitely could have been better. The ambiance is low noise level, decor is minimal. The food was bad. Flavorless, overcooked, dry. The chips and queso were the best thing. We wanted to send food back but after seeing how management handled the other situation, plus we were short on time, we just took our losses. read more

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An amazing start to Bham Restaurant Week! We tried the BRW special, which was a curated tasting menu of five of the most popular dishes! The bacon wrapped shrimp was our number one favorite- perfectly crispy and flavorful! However, we really loved all five courses. Each one had such great flavor, and each course came out right after the previous one- the service was fabulous. We were impressed all around! read more

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Until tonight I would've had a 5-star review of this restaurant, but now I don't think I will be coming back here for a while after tonight. I came here with one drink and one meal in mind--that was the only reason I came here. We waited over an hour in the cold only to be sat and given a menu that wasn't even front and back. There was a concert at the BJCC whatever so they apparently do an event menu with severely limited menu items and drinks--hope you like margaritas because that's your option. If you're going to have a piece of paper as your menu then how about informing the people who aren't aware before wasting their Friday night. read more

I went with a group prior to visiting a nearby exhibit. The business was packed but only had a 30 minute wait for a party of 6. The venue has an open floor plan, but was a little warm and stuffy. As with most businesses these days, they were short staffed, but the staff that was there were working diligently to take care of customers. The drinks took a few minutes longer than anticipated, but once we got them, we were pleased. Food was good. I'd go back. read more

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Came by with my boyfriend one Sunday for a late lunch/early dinner. The place was pretty empty when we arrived. I am assuming because we came at a strange time. The place looks very trendy, but not upscale enough to justify the prices paid for average food. The street corn was the star of what we ordered. Our tacos were good, but nothing fantastic.(I forgot to snap a pic of those) I don't think we will be visiting again when there is much better Mexican around for a fraction of the cost. read more

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Absolute BEST hips & queso EVER!! The salsa is diff from any other salsa we've ever had. I thought it was good, but no one else in sour party did, so I would not order the salsa again. I had the enchiladas, very good.. the waitress warned me about the heat... I like heat, but felt this was too much. We also had tacos and a steak dish. We loved the tacos as well as the rice and beans. Hubby was not a fan of steak dish. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful!! So colorful, fun and clean! Oh and we loved our server, very sweet, helpful and attentive! read more

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We didnt get a chance to take a picture before eating because we were so hungry but we got margs (prickly pear & regular), combination fajitas, and large guac! Food: the guac was PHENOMENAL. Couldn't stop eating it. The fajitas had so many grilled onions and bell peppers & a good amount of meat and the rice was so well seasoned! Will 100p get this again. The margs were small and a little sweet to the point where I couldnt taste any alcohol or much more than the mixer - not the biggest fan. Ambiance: wonderful! Its in a great location, there was live music, and the place is very colorful/vibrant! Loved it. Service: okay. Our waiter was kind but in general, our drinks and apps took SO long to come. It was also not super busy but it took a while for us to get our order -- so we were waiting for a good minute. Wouldn't stop me from coming back overall though! read more

Uptown Cantina - Combination fajitas, large guac - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Ok so I came here for lunch with my prayer sisters on Saturday this was everyone's first time so we anticipated on good food good drinks & laughs now we were able to accomplish 1 & 1/2 out of the three! The drinks were delicious not much alcohol but pretty good the food...meh I'll start with the chips & salsa or marinara b/c that's exactly what the salsa taste like so 3/10 I got the steak bowl it was dry my steak was a little fatty & I was charged a $1extra per item for pico sour cream & a shot of queso all served in the smallest sauce container they had! One of the ladies had the chicken suizas that lacked flavor and tasted like cardboard the shrimp burrito was subpar! very disappointing! overall it's a very cute place for instagrammable photos & THATS IT!!! read more

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I'm extremely disappointed and disturbed by the treatment my group and I received at this restaurant. What was supposed to be a simple dinner turned into a humiliating and racially charged experience that no one should ever have to go through. We arrived about an hour before closing and were told we could order if we placed it quickly. We did so without issue. However, from the moment we sat down, the service was dismissive and unwelcoming. One of our drinks was incorrect, the other was half full. When we brought this to the attention of the manager, he immediately argued with us instead of listening. Only after the server admitted the drink was wrong did he back down--no apology was offered. Later, I politely asked that my dessert be brought out after the meal (as I had requested). The server rolled her eyes and said, "I'll see what I can do." She came back moments later to say the kitchen was closed and asked, "What do you want me to do?" I requested to speak with a manager again. Instead of getting one, she walked away visibly annoyed, again rolling her eyes. When my group pointed out that her behavior was disrespectful, it seemed to escalate the situation. After waiting nearly 20 minutes for our food, it was brought out already packed to-go--without our consent. We were informed that the general manager had decided to have us removed from the restaurant due to "our behavior." At no point had anyone from management come to our table to speak with us or ask for our perspective. We eventually spoke to another manager who was kind and understanding. He apologized, adjusted the bill, and admitted he was only told one side of the story. When we were told the owner, Bryan, was available to speak, we were hopeful. Instead, he approached the table with his arms crossed, defensive, rude, and completely unwilling to hear our concerns. When we asked why he made a decision without ever speaking to us, he replied, "I don't have to talk to you. It's my restaurant. Your money doesn't matter to me." He then told us to "get the hell out." What's most alarming is that from the beginning of this experience, it was painfully clear that we were not welcome--and we strongly believe this was due to the color of our skin. The tone, treatment, and attitude we received from multiple staff members, including the owner, was laced with bias and racism. We were calm, respectful, and simply trying to enjoy a meal, but we were treated as if our presence was a problem from the start. Racism--whether subtle or overt--has no place in any business. No customer should ever be made to feel inferior, dismissed, or disrespected based on race. I will be contacting corporate and encouraging others to speak out. Until this ownership is held accountable, I strongly urge others to take their business elsewhere. read more

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We almost didn't go here because of the 3.1 review on yelp but so glad we did! Right from the start the service was fast and the staff were so friendly. The place is huge, clean, and modern. We ordered the Trio Dip and the shrimp taco and the chef recommended beef taco. The food was amazing. Would 100% go back again and recommend it to others. read more

Eh. Mediocre. Queso and fire roasted salsa was good. Tacos were sub par. I ordered the shrimp tacos... I didn't care for the pineapple salsa on top... when I think pineapple or mango salsa I think Caribbean. It just didnt work for me. My rice came out cold as well. On the contrary my coworker enjoyed his carne asada tacos... I ordered a Texas Margarita but it didn't come with a grand marnier float ... which I thought was interesting. It was literally tequila and orange juice and agave and lime... it was tasty but nothing special. The biggest disappointment was the service. Me and my coworker sat at the bar... and from the moment we walked in the bartender looked annoyed. Minimal eye contact.. standoff-ish demeanor... no smile or warm welcome... I would never sit at the bar if he's working. I do like the atmosphere.. it has indoor and outdoor seating... booths and hi-top tables ... pricing is fair ... portions are decent... I probably wouldn't come back tho... if I did it would be to taste the carne asada tacos. read more

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I has to overnight here in Birmingham. And wanted something good to eat. So decided to walk down around my hotel. Heard about this place. Now I'll say my overall experience was good. But the food was just ok to me. I wasn't full and ended up ordering something else.. but the food wasn't really seasoned to my liking. Again it was just ok to me. The margarita was delish! I would give it a whirl again and try something else! I can't remember my waiters name but he was extremely attentive and pleasant. It was fairly empty because it was during the day! But the place was nice and clean. I would love to come back and try a different dish! Thanks guys!! read more

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Beautiful restaurant inside, but the food was very lackluster. For the price, the portions are small and it really could have been a lot better seasoned. Not even the jalapeños were "spicy." read more

Uptown Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Whenever you're looking for something to eat and you're hungry Mexican cuisine is always the easiest choice because there are so many options for various taste buds and of course CHEESE! We were going to the UAB football game at the stadium across the street and decided to pop in here prior to kick off. We ordered the taco soup, Mexican salad, and shrimp tacos. We also tried the margarita and Paloma for drinks. The taco soup was very thin so I asked for sour cream and cheese but that did not help at all. The taste was bland and the broth was greasy. Hubby said the salad was just OK & my daughter did not like her shrimp tacos at all. The shrimp was so tiny like the little cocktail shrimp you get from a can in the grocery store. Both adult drinks were served in a tiny Dixie cup! Terrible! The indoor decor is so cute and this place is in a great area which is why it gained one star. Do better Cantina! read more

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Stopped in here while visiting on a business conference. I've eaten lots of Mexican food, both authentic from different part of Mexico and Tex-Mex due to living in Houston. I'm originally from AL and based on the relatively small population of Hispanics living here, I wasn't expecting much. Uptown Cantina delivered on my low expectations. No free chips and salsa and very few items on the menu. I ordered chicken fajitas, a common Tex-Mex dish and specified corn tortillas. They brought me 3, count them....three tortillas. Of course I had to ask for more, because who can eat a whole serving of fajitas with just 3 tortillas? They were decent but nothing to write home about. Bottom line, Uptown Cantina is not authentic even Tex-Mex, so don't expect much. read more

As an out of state visitor, I highly recommend AVOIDING Uptown Cantina. The staff and 'owner' Brian were so disrespectful and rude. It was unbelievable And so disappointing! Their behavior does not represent Alabama well at all. Do not give this establishment your hard earned money. There are so many wonderful places to enjoy in this great state. read more

Uptown Cantina - Don't go to Uptown Cantina 0 out of 10. - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Recently went here and the service, atmosphere, and food was terrible. Had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated and the resturant was empty. Then, once me and my friend was seated we had to wait another 10 minutes for a waiter/waitress to greet us. The waitress was not friendly at all, she would walk past the table numerous amount if times and not check with us, but she would check on every other table around us. I literally had to get the manager attention for him to get salsa. I also dont understand why I have to pay $4 for salsa. I assumed every Mexican/ Texmex resturant would give complimentary salsa and chips. The food was not flavorful, felt like I could have made a better quesadilla at home. read more