I've been 2-3 times to Urban Cantina. It's definitely better than the other more popular Mexican option downtown. One time I went it was a ghost town and of course, service was better. Another time I went it was packed and in turn, service suffered. It took unusually long to get my order the last time but service great other time(s). The queso and made-from-scratch tortilla chips are addicting. The tacos are decent. The horchata was good...my server even gave me a free refill which was nice. Rice and frijoles are typical. The prices are higher compared to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican taco joints but not crazy high. The decor is cool with a lucha libre decor. It's a pretty nice option for Mexican food in the downtown area. I prefer to frequent other taquerias near me that are cheaper and better but if I'm already downtown, it's a place I would consider.
(4)
Laura L.
I've been here twice in the last month or so - both experiences were great. Though we sat at the bar, service was excellent. The bartenders were wonderful and offered several suggestions. Chips and salsa are complimentary and served right when you sit down. Good house margarita and Corona light on tap. Both times I ordered tacos: Carne asada, carnitas, shrimp and a tinga. The homemade tortillas were delicious and most had queso fresco on top - definitely a nice touch. All were good, but the tinga was by far my favorite. The shredded chicken was seasoned well and had a bit of a kick. Ask for their house hot sauces if you like some extra heat. If you can make it, they have a $2 Taco deal on Tuesdays. Overall a great spot with decent prices. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Lilian Y.
It was OK, I would not trek here from far. The only reason I didn't follow my Yelp-intuition was because it was getting late and I was really hungry. This spot was good but it closes early and doesn't have a changing table in the bathroom. No bueno for me, that's why if I'm ever back in the area this is a for sure skip and try something better kinda deal.
(3)
Melissa V.
I just went in for dessert because people told me that this place would offer me churros that were good since I couldn't find a restaurant that would serve these and my goodness were they delicious! It was definitely a plus when it came with vanilla ice cream all for $5! The only downfall is if you order online, they won't get it so when you go in there for your online to go order, they don't have it. It's kind of dumb to have the ability to order online but get there and your order was never placed. The only downfall for me besides not having lunch there and only dessert.
(3)
T2 B.
Wonderful food at very reasonable prices! Their queso is delicious and silky smooth The chips are thick, freshly fried, and have none of that hint of bitterness that always come with cheap chips. Portions are gargantuan. I had a filling dinner and enough leftover for two lunches. The dining room is simple but comfortable and the service was prompt and friendly. Parking downtown is always a minor hassle, but this place is worth it!
(5)
Cassandra S.
First time at the downtown location and it was a great experience. Awesome service. Delicious food. The house margarita, rocks, salt was awesome! My boyfriend loved his fajitas. Prices were reasonable. Great place to eat dinner in downtown Tampa.
(5)
Karen T.
The tinga tacos are rockin! If you like heat on your meat these will blow your mind. My lips are still tingling from the smokey hot goodness! Yum yum the carna asada tacos were also very good but put to shame by the tingas. I found the margaritas to be very average. .next time I would choose a cold beer instead. Check this place out...you won't be disappointed.
Oh ya baby- today I am a happy girl! If you read my reviews, you know I am a Mexican food lover/ snob with strong opinions and discerning taste. Tonight was a good night my friends; I found a new treasure! The run down: I grade my Mexican restaurants on three distinct factors: margaritas, tortillas and queso- the corner stone of Mexican cuisine. Urban Cantina did not disappoint! Margarita: served short with lots of tequila, lots of lime and very little sour mix! Tortillas:Chips were HAND MADE as were the corn tortillas for my tacos!! OMG if you have never had hand made corn tortillas, well you haven;t eaten good Mexican food. YUMM-O Queso: Queso al Fresco on the tacos and White queso dip for the yum-o chips. I pure Tex-Mex addition that I was so happy to get on rainy Monday! Server was a doll; ambiance was - well it was a Mexican restaurant; its always a little interesting.... $2Taco Tuesdays FTW; can't wait to go back!!
(4)
Mailoha A.
We placed a large order for pickup and not only did they get it all right but it was also all ready at the exact time they said it would be. It was easy to order, just emailed them our order, and they labeled it all for us, as we had requested. The food was also really good. Will be back for more for sure.
(5)
Andrea L.
Stopped here after a 2pm Saturday show at The Straz! Service was great, food was hot and staff was attentive. We had a fine experience!
(4)
Jasmine S.
Good food . Great prices. Nice staff . I'm not from the town but wandered in and I was pleasantly surprised their meals are delicious and a great portion .
(4)
Dillon K.
Have been here many times as the location is convenient for me. Never cared much for the chips as they are extremely hard unlike most Mexican restaurant chips. I would have given this place a higher rating if not for my last visit....or should I say attempted visit. A friend and I arrived at 8:50 and was told by the waitress that we couldn't be seated since they close at 9:00. I looked at my phone to check the time.....it was 8:50 not 9:00. The place was packed and I guess she wanted to get out of there and they must not need the extra business. I recommend they change their hours to close at 8:50 since that seems to be the time they stop accepting customers.
(2)
Cameron G.
I waited a long time to go here because there are a lot of other (better looking) places in downtown. But I'd nearly run out of new places, and it was time to give UC a shot. As I suspected, I haven't been missing much. I ordered a burrito, which was lukewarm at most, and it was otherwise bland. Three things brought this from a 2- to a 3-star experience. The first two are the the chips and salsa, which were free and great. The third was the size of my burrito. After the massive burrito and the chips and salsa, I left UC full -- and, for me, that's an exceptionally rare feeling.
(3)
Abe D.
Ok, My crew and I were doing an event in Tampa, finished early and looked for a quick bite. We ended up here because Lady M wanted to still drink beer and this place had beer. Place looked cool. Food decent, edible, nothing to really complain about. The service on the other hand was a horror story. Nothing really serious, just ditzy service. Wanted unsweet tea...got sweet tea. She brings me the unsweet...I ask for sweetener...2 more trips she doesn't bring it. Finally when she does....the whole dish is filled with regular sugar and only 2 packs of sweet n low! DUH. We get served our food yet no one has even brought us silverware yet. Definitely not worth coming back. But they did have beer.........
(3)
Vinny T.
I've been going to Urban Cantina regularly since moving to Downtown Tampa a few years ago. For Mexican in Downtown Tampa I believe they have a fresher quality product then Taco Bus. A creature of habit I typically get the Carne Asada Tacos with char-grilled skirt steak and topped with onions, cilantro, queso fresco and avocado. The avocado is what really does it for me with a squirt of lime. Everything on the menu is fresh and tasty and after numerous visits the service is consistently good. The only downside is the lack of a full liquor bar.
(4)
Todd B.
Big fan of Urban Cantina. We originally tried to get to their south Tampa location, only to discover it was closed for renovations, so we came to this one instead. Shame, because there is a CL Deal for it that we would have purchased had we knew we were coming to this spot. Oh well, and I digress. It's kind of a dingy little Mexican place, and I know that's a bad way of describing something, but I just mean it isn't a fancy restaurant. But one does not go here for the decor. The chips and salsa to start with are solid. Good, chunky delicious salsa. My girlfriend got 3 of their tacos. Not their street tacos or gringo tacos, and I don't recall which 3. She hasn't written her review yet, but when she does, check it out. You'll know it's hers because she will compare the tacos she got to her awesome amazing street tacos. All I remember about her meal is that she enjoyed it a lot. I got their gordito burrito with pork. It is a fat burrito. Ever get a burrito from Chipolte and load it with everything and wonder how you're going to fit a single bite in your mouth? Well, that's baby food by comparison. This thing was huge. I got mine with a ranchero sauce instead of queso on top - its offered both ways - and I suppose if you love cheese then you'd like the queso, but the ranchero sauce has to be the way to go. I normally don't get burritos in a new Mexican restaurant. I tend to stick with tacos or fajitas - my old standby. I went with the burrito because it sounded amazing and their tacos each had something strange about them that put me off. For example, I think the pork one had pineapple in it (don't quote me, this was a week ago and my memory is fuzzy and I can't be bothered looking up the menu right now). In any event, I don't regret the decision at all. I scarfed this thing down and then thought I would explode. Really delicious stuff. Solid solid solid Mexican food in downtown Tampa.
(4)
Alyssa S.
Stopped in for the first time after the Gasparilla parade. It is a cute little restaurant. We ordered a nacho to snack on before heading home. The nachos plate was smaller than expected, but delicious. It had the perfect amount of refried beans, quest, guacamole, lettuce and Pico de Gallo. The chips are freshly made here and tasty, however the nachos only had about 6-8 chips so we had to ask for more. Our server was doubling as the bartender today and did not check on us. If the service were better I would give it more stars. I will definitely give it another try though because I thoroughly enjoyed the food.
(3)
Debbie C.
$2 Taco Tuesdays plus $2 Coronas what's not to love! The tacos are delicious and so many filling choices that you'll have trouble narrowing your order down to a reasonable 3 or 4!
(5)
K.L. R.
Really good food... priced moderately! Cool atmosphere inside. The drinks are a little pricey (especially the margaritas) for the size you get. However, every waitress is really nice, prompt and have great personalities (especially Michelle - you rock!) As I've been frequenting downtown much more recently this has been a definite stop for lunch or dinner every other week! (also, they have CL deals all of the time - so half off is good!)
(4)
Patrick F.
Great little spot for a Mexican meal that's quick, cheap, and tasty! They have about anything you want, but tacos are the special of the house. I had a big burrito with ranchero sauce and it was delicious. And quick! I had barely ordered and it was already out! Small selection of beers on draft, but they're repping the Mexican beers correct! The decor is luchador to the hilt and there are plenty of TVs to catch the game, etc. I would definitely recommend you stop by if you're in the area!
(4)
Bob B.
Luchadores, chips, salsa, tacos, killer mole sauce, and rap music. This is about sums up the vibe I get from Urban Cantina downtown version. I have never been to the Hyde Park location so I can't compare, but I hope it is just like this one. It is awesome that right when you are seated, boom here comes the iced water, fresh tortilla chips, and homemade salsa hits the table before you can utter a word. You want more? They'll bring you more. Cost? Free. The tacos are all good. On this visit I pigged out and ordered 4 tacos ($9.99) a Chuleta Taco (Crispy pork chops sauteed in salsa verde), a Fish Taco (Lightly battered fish, cabbage, Pico de Gallo, secret sauce and topped with red onions), an Al Pastor Taco (chile rubbed pork grilled with pineapple and topped with onions, cilantro and queso), and a Crunchy Tinga Taco, (chipotle marinated chicken cooked in onions topped with lettuce, pico & queso). My favorites, in order, were the Chuleta (hands down winner), Crunchy Tinga, Al Pastor, and finally the Fish Taco. Betty ordered the Mole Poblano, a traditional, slightly spicy, chocolate sauce served over chicken and two enchiladas with rice and beans. I sampled this and it was really good, loaded with tons of shredded chicken and the sauce was phenomenal. Will definitely be back because of the service and the quality of the food.
(4)
Michael P.
This place has good food. They serve tortilla chips that are so thick, you just know they are homemade. Their salsa is awesome and the tacos are really good as well. Our waitress was very friendly and she was quick. Food was piping hot and did not get cold before I was finished. A new frequent stop in downtown Tampa!
(5)
Miriam C.
Wonderful authentic salsa chips needed salt but the shrimp tacos were great! the margaritas on the rocks delicious as well.
(5)
Melissa B.
Service was great! Margaritas were great! Chips, salsa and guacamole were awesome! A great place to stop for a great meal.
(5)
Brittney C.
If you're looking for great Mexican food in downtown Tampa this is the place to go. Great service by an exceptionally attractive staff plus an awesome tequila selection.
(5)
Robin K.
Really enjoy their food. Chips are perfect if you like a lot if crunch. Portions are large too. Have never been disappointed and have gone there at least 20 times.
(5)
Martin C.
got a living social deal so decided to give this place a try... Overall food was not bad but was not spectacular... Our server Anthony was very friendly and did his best to provide fast service even though they were understaffed. I definitely will give this place another shot, seems to have great potential.
(3)
Melissa Z.
What a nice little quirky Mexican restaurant we have right in downtown Tampa. It looks like it belongs in Ybor but some Mexican wrestler went and uprooted it and plopped it downtown. It has a casual, almost edgy atmosphere. We saw couples, loners, and families all here to eat some tacos and muse over the eclectic Mexican-wrestler theme whimsically placed along the walls. They are known for their Authentic Mexican Tacos. I tried the shrimp one, the black bean one and the fish one. All three were good. I think I like the shrimp one better though. I was disappointed how little avocado was on my bean taco. It was more like a garnish than a substantive flavor. That said, all of these tacos were generous portions. I love that you can order one type of taco so that you can enjoy a variety of tacos. Makes it a very affordable and enjoyable meal. They have plenty of options for everyone. They even have a special vegetarian menu which I will have to try when I return. If I can stay away from the tacos.
(4)
Mae S.
Pros - love the interior decorating. The portions were large and the prices were good. The guy I was with couldn't even finish his rice bowl which never happens. I loved the complementary chips and salsa. The chips really were amazing. Cons - very crowded. They really packed in as many tables as possible. The food took a while, and my tortilla soup was just ok.
(3)
Maddie G.
I don't know how this only has 3 stars. The service was amazing, the food was amazing, and the location is great. Our waiter was very on top of everything and attentive. I ordered a burrito which was HUGE and delicious. It puts chipotle burritos to shame. Great place!
(5)
Jamie K.
Good energy, tasty food food for the price.
(4)
H L.
We went here for an early dinner one weekend. When I went to check in on Foursquare, I received an offer for free guac. When I told the waitress about it, she not only was aware of the offer but also told me that it was a smaller size appetizer, not their normal size and wanted to make sure it was enough for us (as there were four of us). It wasn't and we ordered the standard as well. This was appreciated especially since some businesses aren't aware of their Foursquare offers. The menu had a vegetarian section which I was thrilled with. Plenty for me to choose from. The food was very good and we all enjoyed some beers with our meal. I definitely would like to head back here for dinner soon. One thing to note- we have been in search of great brunch spots. We looked online and saw that they had brunch on weekends, but had no menu items listed on the site. We drove down there and when we walked in there was no menu posted to confirm this and there was only one waitress taking care of one table. She saw us and told us to sit anywhere. We told her we had a question and waited by the door. She was taking their orders and wasn't able to come over to help us, understandably. After a couple of minutes we assumed that they didn't actually offer brunch items and left. So no brunch, but we'll definitely be back for dinner.
(4)
Martic R.
First visit late Saturday night even though it looked busy most people had already ordered so our food came out very quickly and we were very thankful for it. We ordered the quesadillas, tacos and chips. I absolutely loved the Guacamole not so much the chips but that a personal preference. I would like to go back and try a few other things like the fajitas.
(4)
Brian A.
Great selection fun decor and good prices for a downtown restaurant. The chip and salsa are unique and the fish tacos are my favorite. If you order a burrito you'll wobble out.
(4)
Clayton L.
We stopped at Urban Cantina for a late lunch over the weekend. And while we were generally pleased, it's about a block away from the downtown Taco Bus, which has some of the best tacos in town. Urban Cantina, although a competitor of Taco Bus, does offer some different dining options. You can get meals w/beans and rice, they bring (very good) chips and salsa to the table, and they have other stuff (like massive chimichangas) that provide more of a restaurant vibe than the Taco Bus. Service was a little slow, but not terrible. And the wait staff seemed friendly. It's also worth noting that we were seated right away. Of course that might have something to do with us dining during off hours. In short, if you're stopping in for tacos, burritos or a torta then Taco Bus is a better option. But if you want a more robust dining experience with more food options then Urban Cantina is worth a try.
(3)
Jim M.
Great location and great food. I liked everything about this place. Most importantly is the food and the super chimichanga is the way to go. Everything on the dish was delicious. My girlfriend enjoyed a pineapple mimosa with her dish and she loves it. The atmosphere is great with good music and friendly staff. The overall look of the place is pretty cool and I love their logo. Definitely coming back here if I'm back in town.
(4)
L.J. R.
Saw the ad in Creative Loafing for $2 taco Tuesday and dragged a couple friends with to try it. They try to make authentic Mexican street tacos, which are small, so I planned for that and ordered extra. Tried three different ones and I'd say the pulled pork and bean (vegetarian option) were my two favorites. You can ask for hard shell if you want, but I took whatever the menu description was. It was a cute place, the server was friendly, and things came pretty quick. We enjoyed our meal and didn't wait long for another round of drinks and more tacos. For the price, $2 coronas, and you don't pay a parking meter after 6pm, we will go back on another Tuesday.
(3)
Brandon A.
I ate at UC before I saw it on Yelp and I have to say when it loaded in the search results and I saw they were at three stars I thought to myself 'Eh, that may be generous but ok.' The best part about Urban Cantina is their exterior window decor, its essentially downhill from there. I had the taco lunch special -- The tacos were just ok, like others have said they weren't particularly remarkable in one direction or another. The service was on par with the food and not worth mentioning beyond that. What I will say is that for a 'special' I didn't feel like I got a whole lot of value out of my two tacos and rice with a soda for $12.50 -- I doubt I will be back.
(2)
Tony R.
A super solid Mexican option in downtown Tampa. The tortilla chips are homemade which is always a SUPER plus. They have a nice crunch and, the salsa is on point with just enough cilantro and lemon in it. The house margaritas were also pretty good and taste like they were handmade without the store bought mix overwhelming the flavor. We ordered Tacos and Enchiladas, my tacos were very good. The shrimp tacos might have been my favorite followed by the carnitas and chicken. Great flavor, nice use of queso fresco, red onions, and sauce. One complaint is that my homemade tortillas were falling apart and could not hold the flavor overload. Maybe a double corn tortilla would to the trick? Great visit, will be back.
(4)
Carter K.
Great service. Margarita's with patron were amazing. Great salsa and chips.We had quesadillas, tostada salad, steak and enchiladas and Chile rellano. All was wonderful. Do wish they had kid's menu. Will return again.
(4)
Heather S.
This place has fantastic tacos!! Tried the Tinga, the Mole and the Fish tacos... WOW!! We will definitely be back :D
(5)
Brennan T.
Good Mexican food, but nothing too special. On my first visit I tried the tortilla soup and sopes. The soup was only okay - good, but not especially flavorful or anything, but I enjoyed the sope. On my second visit I had a carne asada burrito, which was warm and hit the spot. The burrito was the perfect size for lunch. Sometimes burritos in other places are too small, and that makes me mad. I also enjoyed the salsa and guacamole. The queso was really good. You could tell they used real cheese rather than just some junk from a can. Service was friendly, but nothing outstanding.
(3)
Kathy O.
The food is just okay. The place is very loud and the service not anything to brag about
(3)
Heather P.
It was on the dirty dining list for having 19 cockroaches and food storage temperature violations :( I'll never go back now...but below is my original review. I ordered the chicken taco and the shrimp taco. I liked the shrimp taco, the salsa on it was good. The chicken meat was super flavorful in the chicken taco...but there was a lot of meat and the shell was extremely fried and overly crispy and hard. The guacamole was fine and my friend enjoyed his steak burrito. Service was so/so...i had to get the waitress's attention to ask for refills, more salsa, silverware, condiments...so she didnt stop by to check on us very much...which is ridiculous cuz the entire restaurant is a small open room. Would i return? Probably not. I have yet to find great mexican food in Florida. (I'm from Cali.).
(2)
Candyce B.
Loved this place! I pride myself on being a huge Mexican fan and this place has some really good food!!! Of course I started my meal with a margarita....so delicious and full of liquor just like I like them! The chips and salsa were amazing too...the chips came out hot and the salsa tasted so fresh. It had huge chucks of tomatoes, onion and cilantro! So tasty! I tried the tacos- 3 tacos rice and beans for only $7.49 was an awesome deal! I had the shrimp taco with fresh shrimp and slaw, a fish taco that included lightly breaded fish, and a cabbage mix and a Carne Asada taco with fresh cilantro. All came in a delicious soft tortilla and feta cheese! YUM. The rice and beans were a great addition to the meal and overall I enjoyed the entire experience. It's a cute place, tons of tvs and really nice staff! Do yourself a favor and stop by...you wont regret it!
(4)
Jessica G.
Tried Urban Cantina when visiting Tampa. Honestly, wasn't too impressed. The food did not taste like gourmet mexican food {A bit bland -_-}. We ordered the guacamole and queso dip with chips. My main course was three tacos. I found the meat to be dry and lacking flavor. Our favorite part of the meal was the queso dip. It had a nice flavor and was made with white cheese, rather than the usual yellow cheese. As the three star rating says - just A-OK.
(3)
Jeff F.
Not the best but certainly not the worst. Went here when I was staying downtown for a night prior to embarking on a cruise. Got the street tacos sampler which comes with 5 different types. The fish taco was the best one. Don't get me wrong -- the food was good but there wasn't anything that was not out of the ordinary. The chips seemed too dense and on the greasy side. Salsa was good with a nice spice to it. The decor was interesting. A lot of Mexican wrestling masks! Service was quick and friendly.
(3)
Blake G.
I stopped in for lunch with my friend because we both work in the downtown area. Overall it was just OK. The food was pretty good, the chips and salsa seem to be made in house and both taste good. I order the Al Pastor tacos for my entree. They were also pretty good, the rice was bland, while it resembled the color of Mexican rice it tasted like white rice. What I can't get over when I go to these Mexican restaurants that serve "authentic" tacos is the price. The Al Pastor tacos cost $10 and I can get the same tacos in Ruskin, that are 100% authentic and taste better for about $1.50 a taco. The service left something to be desired. While our waitress was polite our dinning experience took an hour and fifteen minutes, we only ordered two entrees. Most people in the downtown area are looking for a quick lunch (30 to 45 minutes) during their lunch hour. If you are looking for a quick taco for lunch I would recommend taco bus down the street.
(2)
William T.
Service was excellent. Food not so much... If a federal prison ever decided to do Mexican night I would imagine that it would taste a lot like this place. But service was great.
(3)
Melanie B.
Great location and good service. Love the queso, bean and rice! $2 Taco Tuesdays are awesome however we usually spend $60+ since we have so many! Love in this order: 1) chuletta 2) tinga 3) carnitas 4) carne 5) al pastor (a bit too sweet). If you arent able to make it on Tuesday, they have a CLDeal for $20 worth for $10... Get the XXL steak Chimichanga
(4)
Chris B.
I've been here a few times and it's pretty solid each visit. The portions are huge. I really enjoy the enchiladas, and for the price, it's a great deal. The restaurant is clean and spacious, and there are a few tv's scattered around. The chips and salsa are delicious as well. Service tends to be hit and miss and the happy hour could be better. Park on the street free after 6pm on weekdays and free all day on weekend (north of Kennedy).
(4)
Nick S.
Urban Cantina was packed for lunch on a Friday, but we got seats at the bar and enjoyed our chips, queso, guacamole, taco, enchiladas, and torta. Anythony gave us excellent service. I requested a couple limes as I like the flavor on my Mexican food. Would go again. Like the fun and interesting decor and attention to detail.
(4)
Lori V.
This place used to be great. I stopped going because it lost its touch. Plus, I had a good look around and was grossed out by the dirty floor and dusty chairs. I used to order the chicken soup and tacos. I now prefer the soup at Chihuahua's. This place is ok if you need something but don't expect a great experience. It is still a good experience though.
(3)
Tim K.
We had lunch here our first day in Tampa along with my sister and her boyfriend. Initially we were going to find a Taco truck of some kind, but they had always wanted to try this place and after a brief once over of the menu on the outside door we decided to check it out. The decor there is pretty cool, but it verged a bit on the hipster side. I was a little disappointed with the placement of one of the Luchador Wrestlers they painted on the wall next to our table. Had they positioned it properly they could have utilized the bolts in the wall as the perfect nipples and it would have been hilarious. Their Tortilla Soup was really good, but could use more Avocado in it. There was only like two small slices in the bowl. The best thing they offered however was their chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and still had a little bit of hot oil sizzling on them and the salsa was really bright and flavorful. I tried a few different tacos as they were all relatively small and my favorite was the Holy Mole. It was messy to eat, but was very very tasty. The wifey had one of their Al Pastor tacos and was a bit hesitant to try it at first as it stated it had Pineapples in it. She was afraid they would be huge chunks, but they were cut up small and it was more of a Pineapple Salsa. Rice and beans were a nice accompaniment to our meals as well. As for drinks, this is were I was slightly let down. Everything that I wanted seemed to be out so I settled for just a plain old Coke. Also my sister ordered a Mango Margarita and let me try it and we both agreed it tasted overly artificial. Service was good though and we had no complaints. Our waitress was nice, informative and prompt with refills and even offered us to-go drinks if we wanted them. All in all our overall experience was fair to medium. If I lived in the area I don't think this would be an all the time go to place, but wouldn't be opposed to going there every once in awhile. One of the reasons was that their prices were a little high on the tacos with them being as small as they were. That's just my opinion though.
(3)
Colleen D.
Went in for lunch, first customers in at 11:00 am. We were attracted by the window decals, which, duh. Blown away by the service, freshness of food, prices, etc. I had a pork fajita plate and my friend had the 3 taco plate (fish, shrimp, and chicken). We were both very satisfied and if we ever come back to Tampa will attempt to make a visit again.
(5)
Esteban O.
Great tacos! Chips salsa, amazingly simple! Service great! Ambience fun, and competent! Food was simple, flavorful, not complicated! Enough said. Come here if you craving authentic Mexican food, they prove that amazing Mexican food does not need all the gimmicks.
(5)
Laura W.
I went to Urban Cantina after a movie at the Tampa Theatre. The restaurant was a bit dirty looking, especially when I walked back to the bathroom. As far as the food, the chips and salsa tasted good. However, my entree arrived with the cheese unmelted inside the tortilla. There was a spoonful of pico on the side, which did not look or taste fresh. For such a basic item as a quesadilla, I would have expected better. The food didn't taste good enough for me to take the left-overs with me. The service was good, even if the quesadilla was not. After seeing the lack of cleanliness in the restaurant, I will not return soon. Check out inspections of your favorite Florida restaurants by the Florida Department of Business and Professional at: myfloridalicense.com/wl1…
(1)
Natasha P.
Great atmosphere and service, my friends and just had our Christmas dinner here and it was absolutely delicious. Hours later I'm still full. I had two yummy tacos and my son had a burrito. The price is very reasonable and location is perfect cause after we were done with dinner we walked to Down Town Tampa on ice and burn some calories.
(4)
Mike C.
Yummy yummy in my tummy. I love this place. I come here whenever I am in downtown tampa. I'm at a convention at the Hilton right now and I'll eat here every night.
(5)
Tami L.
Great food. AWFUL AWFUL selection of drinks. Worst tequila I've ever had. And snotty waitress
(2)
Christine H.
Found this randomly on Urbanspoon when visiting Tampa and loved it!!!' After living on the border of Texas and Mexico for 2 years, I can confirm that this is very authentic Mexican food. It tasted just like the deliciousness my husband and I used to get a few miles from the border in the Ro Grande Valley, and it was fresh and great quality. We both I got the 3 tacos w/ rice + beans option... The chicken mole is amazing, and I loved the vegetarian taco w/ corn, tomato and avocado. The chips and salsa seem homemade (yum!) and the margaritas were just right. We also had our 2 year old with us, who has a severe nut allergy, and they were amazingly accommodating of her (and made her a package of quick 90-second rice that we brought with us)... Thank you! Will definitely go back if we're in Tampa again.
(5)
Chi P.
Food was good, not great...but pretty good. Nothing came out hot. It was all lukewarm. That said, the food did have some flavor. We ordered veggie enchiladas, bean tacos, and tinga tacos (spicy shredded chicken). Everything was alright. We had flan and fried ice cream for dessert. Both were very good. Fried ice cream is a good size for two, maybe three people. Good to know ahead of time - the 3 taco plate means three of the same type of tacos.
(3)
Kim R.
Chips and salsa were fresh and delicious, guac was also delicious and satisfying. I had 2 black bean tacos w/ refried beans, also good. The staff was super friendly. The only negative is that I felt the margarita was too sweet. I'll definitely be back! (foursquare check in gets you free guac!)
(4)
Clyde S.
I was never a big Mexican foodie... I am Italian and actually have family members that own Mexican restaurants, but never got into it. We moved downtown and love to eat out, unfortunately, there are few places to go. Anyways. Long story short, it's a great place to eat. I enjoy the quesadillas, chimichangas and Soft tacos, they are delicious. I think some of the reviewers are overly critical. You can't please everyone, but to compare the food to Taco Bell... Come on. Some of you take Yelp way more serious than you should.
(5)
Kelly F.
Love at first bite. Seriously. I had always driven by the Urban Cantina on the way from Clearwater to Brandon but just never had the opportunity to eat there. Until one time I forced myself to stop and pick up food for myself, the hubby and kids. (I just couldn't resist their fun name and logo!) That's right, the first time I ate here I didn't even eat...here. And we loved it. LOVE. My husband is half mexican, born and raised in California and has the hardest time finding Mexican food in Florida that is "genuine". He loved it. Since that fateful day we try and go whenever we can. Our toddlers love the flautas (on the menu as an appetizer but more than enough food for the boys) and think the Mexican wrestling mask decor is to die for. My own tried and true is the Super Chimicanga. Delicious. To the point that I have a hard time sharing it with my four year old. And believe me, it's big enough to share, it just brings out that little bit of selfishness in me that makes me want to keep it...all...for...myself. I've never had a problem with super slow service here that some other reviewers mention, but we're typically here at non peak times so I'm probably not the best judge. And if it were slow, I'd still recommend it. Urban Cantina makes my belly happy!
(5)
Whitney E.
Called in a togo order. When I got there thirty minutes later, they hadn't even started cooking it yet. When I finally got my salad (after another 20 minutes), it was soggy and missing half of the ingredients. 20 dollars for a corona and crappy salad.
(1)
Craig L.
4 tacos & a lemonade for $9.99. The food here was great. I cannot for the life of me understand the negative reviews. The bartender was great. Next time I am in Tampa...I will def be back.
(5)
Mike S.
Unfortunately unimpressed, because this is one of the few eateries in downtown that is open at night. And judging by the few other patrons there with us on a weekday evening, it is not magnetic enough to draw customers at that hour....and we were lured by a coupon or special. The decor is spiffy and attractive, but we came to eat not just look. Regrettably the food was not special and the service a bit tepid. I am a soup lover, but disappointed by their bland tortilla soup (tomato-rice) Can't remember the entree that came with obligatory rice & re-fried beans....so that tells the story....not quite disgusting enough to warn against and not good enough to repeat or recommend. There are clearly better Mexican food sources with better prices and accessibility. Just wish there were more/better night-time options in downtown Tampa........otherwise all those GOP conventioneers will be pushed to Ybor where they may get in trouble.... ON CAMERA!!!
(2)
Dave H.
Upon entering the urban cantina restaurant in down town tampa you enter into your standard run of the mill mexican restraunt.The waitresses are very attentive and made sure we where well taken care of.We have been to the urban cantina twice now and the food is pretty good.The chips are hot the salsa could use a little color beyond the standard diced tomatoes look.I don't know why all of these mexican restraunts use the same blah salsa.I had grilled chicken tacos and they had fresh veggies on them and the rice and beans where rice and beans. My wife had the vegetarian black bean tacos and they where good as well.Out of the generic mexican chains such as vallarta's,estellas,and tias this is the best one of them.
(3)
Patrick Q.
I really want to give this place a 5 star rating. Just for the food alone. However, it is in a spot where the only opportunity I have to go there is during lunch. The first time, it took up my whole lunch, but I was able to get back to work on time. The second time I was 15 minutes late. If you have some flexibility in your lunch, this place is fine, for me it's worth a gamble once in a while, but not on the regular. If you are open for lunch... in a downtown spot... you have to have the timing down. I would hate to see this place slide in popularity because it takes them 45 minutes to make 4 tacos. I can make tacos at home from scratch (tortillas and all) in less time. Now that I got that off my chest- the food is amazing. The tacos are some of the best around. Perhaps better than La Cabana Del Tio. The Holy Mole is awesome, the Tinga is also pretty darn good. I would say give it a try, it may just be worth the while for you!
(3)
Emily V.
I tried this place out one day for lunch when I was in town for work. I started with salsa and queso with chips. Umm, yum! I particularly liked the queso a lot. The chips are fresh and fried and very crunchy, very good. I tried two tacos after that - the chuletas (crispy pork chops sauteed in green verde salsa) and the carne asada. Honestly, I don't remember the difference between the two of them that much, but I remember liking both of them a lot. Beans and rice were better than average. Gets really loud during lunch! But I liked it a lot and I would go back next time I'm in town!
(4)
Jesse B.
STAY AWAY!! I went here last weekend and there was a big piece of fried paper mixed in with my side of fries! What's worse is the waitress didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her about it and did nothing to offer to make up for it! No wonder this place was closed by the city for food care code violations and roaches in their kitchen! It's a shame they're allowed to reopen, clearly things aren't any better there. I'll NEVER be back here again. Go to Miguel's on the corner of Kennedy and Macdill if you want good Mexican food.
(1)
Kim H.
Overall the food was very good. I had two Hole Moly Taco's and one fish taco. There were fantastic. I love Mole sauce so I was super happy I could get it on a taco. My husband had three of the other varieties which I got bites of and they were delicious too. We were pleasantly full and the wait staff was very good. The waitress even fixed the table when it started to wobble. I would def eat here again.
(4)
Shawn J.
Had a wonderful lunch here. Everything was quick and delicious. Negro Modelo on tap makes me happy! Super burrito has french fries inside it and it was awesome. Wife had quesadillas that were very good also. Service was very good, but the restaurant was not at even half capacity. Afterwards we staggered across the street to a park in downtown among the skyscrapers and people watched the homeless who frequent the park (facinating).
(4)
Crystal P.
My family was looking for a new place to try out when we stumbled across this place. They had me with the Mexican wrestling masks and we went in to give it a try. The decor is quirky and I LOVED it. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a table by the window which was nice as I could watch the street traffic and relax. The menu had a wide food selection. Wanting to try a bit of this and a bit of that, I opted for the Street Corner Tacos. The platter included a taste of 5 different tacos- the al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, fish and pollo asado and a side of lime wedges, pico de gallo and homemade hot sauce. Being that there was only three of us at the table and one other table that came in after us. I was surprised at how long the food took to come out. We were kept occupied by the chips and salsa (which were great) the people watching, and were in no hurry so it really didn't bother me at the time. If I had been in a hurry or didn't want any chips...it would have concerned me. My tacos came out and everything was fresh and hot and really delicious. Each taco was dressed to perfection and had the right amount of filling. My favorite was the fish taco. Full of flavor with the fish crispy and cooked perfectly. In the end I was satisfied with my meal. We will be back to give this place a try again.
(3)
Robert G.
I walked here from the Tampa Bay Times Forum for a bite to eat before the Bruce Springsteen concert (I was headed to Moxies, actually, but forgot they closed for dinner). This place was really good! Authentic Mexican menu, great flavors, good portions. The chips were handmade from REAL tortillas (always a good sign) and served with a really fresh, bright tasting salsa. It might have had a touch too much cilantro (as did a lot of their food), but I really love the way cilantro can brighten up a dish, so it didn't bother me too much. My brother, on the other hand, who can't stand the sight of it every since I shoved a leaf of it up his nose back in our childhood days, was not too impressed. I wasn't a huge fan of the rice (it's almost like a Mexican fried rice, complete with carrots and peas....just not my thing). I suggest ordering the three tacos. Don't order the tacos meal, because then you will get three of the same kind. If you order them a la carte, you can mix and match! I'd like to come back and try a dessert and a mojito, because both of those looked INCREDIBLE. Their churros definitely looked tasty from afar. Be prepared to wait a little while for your food/the check. While the service was good, it did take quite a few strong "dagger glances" to get her to come back for refills/more chips/the check.
(3)
Marsha C.
Luhuv their tortilla soup. Its a meal in itself. Good flavor, love the rice in it. Their tacos are good too. Love to stop in here when visiting my daughter at UT.
(4)
Jennie W.
Great friendly service always! I have been here several times and its always good food and great atmosphere.
(5)
Bryan D.
We were walking around the city at night and decided to check this place out. We were promptly sat, the waitress was very friendly and helpful with a couple questions we had. I tried the assortment of tacos. The ranged from good to awesome. I forget what my wife got, it was good though. We will def go back next time we are in the area.
(4)
Cari E.
I am actually pretty surprised by the reviews on here. I really enjoy Urban Cantina. The wait staff has always been friendly. The food can be a little slow to come out but if you give me a bowl of their chips and some of their fresh and light salsa, I don't mind. I would like to preface my review by saying I would have given Urban Cantina 3 stars typically but I like that they are a location that is open at night downtown and I'm surprised by the lack luster reviews from my fellow yelpers. The decor is modern while still being Mexican. Multiple Mexican wrestling masks adorn the corrugated walls. They don't have a liquor license so I suggest steering away from margaritas or mojitos. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and they serve one of my favorite Mexican beers, Pacifico Light. The chips and salsa and delicious. I did get a batch of chips one time that tasted a little stale but I told the waitress and she brought out a new batch that were fresh and crunchy. I recommend the tortilla soup. It's nice and light. It comes with chicken, carrot, onion and other delicious things.
(3)
Jennifer L.
Love this place. I travel for work and eat here every time I am in Tampa, which is really frequently. The service is quick, they are great at accommodating groups, and they have lots of variety. I like their tacos and enchiladas. I've also had their cheesy super chimichanga which my friends and now just call "Creamy white sauce" (insert as many jokes as you can think of with that kind of name). We've gone there so often we just ask "Want some creamy white sauce?" and everyone knows what we're talking about. Margaritas are good but I have only had them once or twice. Another perk is that they are one of only a few places that stays open in downtown Tampa at night. Tampa is like a city after the zombie apocolypse so it is a nice place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. Really tasty chips and salsa.
(5)
Bill Z.
Came here on a Saturday for dinner. The service was slow, and the hostess sat both tables next to us with little kids in a half empty restaurant. We ordered tacos that, for how small they are, are over priced and dry. I DO NOT recommend this place and I won't be returning. Go to Tijuana Flats instead... Better food, service and prices
(2)
Samantha G.
Eh, it's alright. Can get pretty hopping during the lunch rush. Service was attentive, but not exactly friendly. Pretty good list of menu options. I had the El Chango, which was a combo platter of 1 taco, 2 enchiladas, and beans and rice. For $8, it was a tremendous amount of food. None of it was bad per se, but I didn't leave craving more either.
(3)
Rebecca V.
Went for lunch and they were very under staffed but were trying very hard for the staff they had. The food was delish, very fresh tasting, love being downtown so environment/area was good, margarita (shhh yes it was lunch, but come on its Mexican!) anyway margarita was very refreshing. They changed it up a little serving it in a mug. I was impressed and will return!
(4)
Amanda C.
Very good chips and salsa. I had the chimichanga which was deliciously cheesy and a friend I went with had three tacos which were also very yummy. There were a lot of different options to choose from!
(4)
Anthony S.
This place gets no stars at all. Horrible, awful food. I cant believe they serve this crap & call it authentic, if this is indeed what mexicans are eating(& i know there not) this is why the cross the border for better food. Taco bus has waaaay better food, & there are better places to eat around the corner like jerk hut, moxies, Fresh and others. Worst $25.46 spent ever. I had 2 shrimp tacos w/special sauce and overfried beans & rice. It sucked badly. Go to taco bell if u really want to waste ur money but have sone taste. I shouldnt have to request a plethora of sauces to spice/season your crap up. WILL NEVER EAT THIS SWILL AGAIN, server was nice...only thing
(1)
Rachel O.
Service was slow for my party and not friendly. Perhaps that's why it was pretty empty on a Friday night. Decor was nice though. Food was decent but for the price, could be bigger and better tasting. There's better mexican food out there.
(2)
Eric S.
I had been here a couple times when the restaurant first opened up and was pretty pleased with the overall quality. This has all changed with time though. The rice was bland and chewy, the chicken taco and enchiladas were bland and dry, and the chips seemed extremely stale. The only positive things that come to mind are the onions and cilantro were fresh and the last waitress who helped us (the first one disappeared) was very nice and pleasant. Can't envision going back here again.
(1)
Erica M.
Urban shitina. The service was so outrageously bad that I will never ever set foot in here again. The dimwitted waitress charged someone else's bill onto my credit card. then said she couldn't reprint an updated receipt after it was supposedly "corrected." and said "don't worry, it's taken care of." When I received my statement and there was no "Correction" the restaurant was called. Multiple attempts to get a manager on the phone finally found me listening to some asshat saying he can't retroactively credit a card. What kind of 1980s system are these people using!? So I was told a credit would be mailed to me. You think that happened? hell no. I look forward to hearing that this place has gone out of business- it's just a matter of time.
(1)
Gee. C.
Eat lunch here a couple times a week. Shrimp tacos all the way!!!
(4)
Marcos O.
Very good steak tacos! Reminded me of some Mexican taco's with authentic spices that I once had in California. Service is not the greatest as they could use another waiter during lunch hours but it wouldn't stop me from eating here again.
(3)
Philip R.
great food at a great price. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years and it's hard to find authentic tacos al pastor... this place has 'em! Muy rico y buen precio. Good location for night time walk around Tampa including Curtis Hixon park and walking distance from Tampa theater.
(4)
Jonathan B.
LOVE this place! The service is GREAT, the staff is hot, and the food is well-price AND delicious! I DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone in the area! :-)
(5)
Tiffany B.
Service is usually quick, food is great but, at times, inconsistent. I usually get the chimichanga, which is humungous and delicious. My only issue is that sometimes it's loaded with chicken (as it should be) and sometimes the chicken is scarce to find in a sea of beans. They need to work on their consistency, but other than that, the food is great! Update: Oh wow. No. I haven't visited Urban Cantina in a few months and my how it has changed! First- the service. It's horrible. But that's probably because all the servers there were bored looking high school girls. They had time to chat it up at the bar area and clean tables while no one bothered to even take our drink order and then had the nerve to get an attitude (remember: teenage girls) when we asked for our waitress because we were ready to order. First problem. Second, the queso dip was closer to cold than it was to hot. I can't even call it lukewarm. Third- I ordered the enchiladas and... I'm not exaggerating here... the enchilada sauce must have been straight out of a McCormick's packet and just mixed with water. Literally the most bland enchiladas I've ever tasted- soupy, unseasoned, tomato water, basically. Same goes with the rice and beans- not even salted, as if that requires any effort or culinary expertise. As my husband and I like to say: "This place has been banished". Bottom Line: Don't waste your time and money at Urban Cantina when there are plenty of Mexican restaurants with good food and great service, neither of which you'll find here.
(1)
Wes S.
The food was ok... Just ok. Definitely go to the one on Howard instead.
(3)
Jenn B.
I was a little disappointed when we asked about the drinks specials and they told us about the beer and margaritas and didn't mention that the margaritas are wine based. We had to ask what kind of tequila they had have to find out they only have their beer and wine license. I would have given the wine based margarita a chance (even though I would prefer tequila) if they told me up front. I was just a little thrown off when I found out on my own and ordered a beer. I fish tacos were really tasty! I was told by my boyfriend that the pork and chicken taco were dry. We both enjoyed the chicken enchilada. I would return just for the fish tacos! Plus it super close to home!
(3)
Don A.
So we wanted to give this place another try before going to Wicked and once again the same ole service issues. Place was pretty busy w a convention in town. We were told 10-15 minutes and couldn't help but notice 3 dirty tables that the staff just kept walking by? Needless to say we waited 15-20 minutes and once again were told it would be another 10-15 minutes LOL! High school employees didn't seem to worry or care much about the poor owners business obviously. Its a shame, we left and had tapas next door as well as 2 other parties that gave up waiting.....
(2)
Dave S.
We are from San Diego, and found this Mexican food very bland. I had the fish tacos and it was just OK. The other folks in our work group that ate had the same opinion that the food was OK but not exciting.
(2)
Keith S.
I immediately appreciated three things upon entering Urban Cantina. They were open on a Tuesday night, we were seated immediately, and their air conditioning was set to perfect levels. Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there, and not just because they didn't have their liquor license yet. I should start off by saying that the concept of the restaurant got me excited, from the postmodern luchador pastiche to the laudably laser-focused menu (when was the last time you ate at a Mexican restaurant that didn't hand you an annotated copy of "War and Peace" as a menu, with 20 various, no-substitutes "combinations"?). Unfortunately, the chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. Their guacamole really ruined the dinner for me. I don't know if something was off or I just don't know what guacamole was supposed to taste like, but there was this nagging, fermented zing to every bite that just didn't play well in my mouth. I thought about sending it back, but it was, well, a small side of guacamole. Me: "Is it tequila? Did they spike this with beer? It's not spoiled, is it? It couldn't be..." My dining partner: "Just stop eating it and move on." I moved on to fish tacos, which were passable, if not a bit like frozen fish sticks thrown into an otherwise authentic fish taco presentation. The sauce had an overly salty edge to it--kind of like Cool Ranch Doritos, to be honest--but the dish as a whole came out to a 6 out of 10. My partner's dinner was entirely too salty, and really uneven with the spice. One side of the burrito was mild and the other side inspired sweating and unintentional tears. I do have to say that the aura of chipotle in the burrito sauce was really nice. I would've given the place an extra star had it not been so terribly salty and ridiculously uneven with the spice. The sides were passable as well - beans and rice. Not the worst, not the best. Overall, this place comes across as really earnest and you can tell that the concept has promise and takes some gutsy leaps into a more modern take on Mexican food. However, "planning to be great" and "succeeding in being great" are two VERY separate things. I'll give them some time and try again in the future.
(2)
Steve C.
Great Mexican food at great prices. Good service, pleasant atmosphere. Would definitely eat here again. Just a short walk from the Marriott.
(4)
Eric M.
So walked by on a Thursday night, after eating at the great french restaurant across the street the night before. Not a real Margarita, but at least it was 2 for 1. Lame. Chips although homemade were greasy, totally unsalted, and a bit chewy, and the the salsa was bland. They at least do use queso fresco, enchiladas are ok, and tacos, were just ok. Too bad because the location and decor are well done!
(2)
Holly K.
Not bad, not great. The atmosphere was very cute and the service was wonderful. The "healthy" options menu was a welcome addition, but the dish I ordered was pretty ho-hum. Bland and not presented very well. I would like to go again just so I could try something from the regular menu.
(3)
Chris C.
Let me keep it simple defining this in one word "CRAP" Taco bell is better than this garbage guess its back to the bus i go
(1)
PT C.
We walked in because of the catchy graphics on the outside and it seemed like it should be a cool place to go for Mexican downtown. That's about where the originality ended. We walked in to a nearly empty, very dimly lit, strangely decorated, dining room. The first problem was the lack of alcohol. I was told by our waiter that the liquor license was coming soon but that one strike one for me. My companion ordered the tortilla soup and I ordered the carnitas. The soup came out and was not even close to what I would call tortilla soup. It was a chicken and rice soup with nary a strip of tortilla to be found. There was no flavor to it at all and the poor chicken died in vain. When we asked about it, the owner informed us that we were not educated enough to understand the nuances of the dish and asked if we had indeed ever been to Mexico. (we had, of course- extensively) but weren't in the mood to argue with him about it. The carnitas were probably very good a day or two before I ordered it but I should have brought some home in case I needed to plug a dam at some point. I probably could have stomached the rest of the meal had I had my usual Patrons and Negro Modelos before dinner, but what the hell. Our waiter was cool and explained that the menu was changing next week so I may give them a try after that (and the liquor license arrives) but for tonight's debacle I gave them one star plus one for the good service.
(2)
LaKesha C.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. The service is great. The food is good.
(3)
Chris P.
the food is mediocre at best. prices a little higher than they should be. the straw that broke the camels back was they didn't accept a gift certificate after we ordered appetizers. if u don't accept it anymore, then you should advertise that. I'm so glad the taco bus just opened up, because they will now get all of my Mexican food lunch money. enjoy going out of business soon!
(1)
Justin H.
Excellent authentic tacos!
(4)
Jenny S.
Went here for date night and loved it. The staff was very friendly and sat us by the window which was nice because we had a view of the bustle of the city. We were going to order the cheese dip but the waitress suggested the guacamole which came with a white cheese dip and it was sooo good. I ordered the enchiladas suizas and my husband ordered tacos and a burrito. We loved the food and will be coming back.
(4)
Wayne D.
Ate here tonight. Was crowded and it seemed like they were not prepared for a crowd. Took a long time to be seated even though there were tables empty that just needed to be cleaned. Wait staff was harried and hurried and didn't pay much attention. Finally ordered and it took forever for our food to come. I finally had to ask and a while later it was brought out. I had ordered a dinner that included rice and beans. My companion ordered tacos and rice ala carte. There was no rice. She explained that they "ran out." How does a "World Class" Mexican restaurant run out of rice?? She said she would bring it out when it was done. Okay. Never came. I had the Urban Carnitas and they were okay. Everywhere else I've had them they come with warm tortillas. These didn't. The beans were just canned pork and beans that were doctored up a bit. You could still taste the canned taste. Waitress also forgot to charge me for my beer. I had to remind her. Will pass on returning to this one.
(2)
Mark P.
I've been 2-3 times to Urban Cantina. It's definitely better than the other more popular Mexican option downtown. One time I went it was a ghost town and of course, service was better. Another time I went it was packed and in turn, service suffered. It took unusually long to get my order the last time but service great other time(s). The queso and made-from-scratch tortilla chips are addicting. The tacos are decent. The horchata was good...my server even gave me a free refill which was nice. Rice and frijoles are typical. The prices are higher compared to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican taco joints but not crazy high. The decor is cool with a lucha libre decor. It's a pretty nice option for Mexican food in the downtown area. I prefer to frequent other taquerias near me that are cheaper and better but if I'm already downtown, it's a place I would consider.
(4)
Laura L.
I've been here twice in the last month or so - both experiences were great. Though we sat at the bar, service was excellent. The bartenders were wonderful and offered several suggestions. Chips and salsa are complimentary and served right when you sit down. Good house margarita and Corona light on tap. Both times I ordered tacos: Carne asada, carnitas, shrimp and a tinga. The homemade tortillas were delicious and most had queso fresco on top - definitely a nice touch. All were good, but the tinga was by far my favorite. The shredded chicken was seasoned well and had a bit of a kick. Ask for their house hot sauces if you like some extra heat. If you can make it, they have a $2 Taco deal on Tuesdays. Overall a great spot with decent prices. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Lilian Y.
It was OK, I would not trek here from far. The only reason I didn't follow my Yelp-intuition was because it was getting late and I was really hungry. This spot was good but it closes early and doesn't have a changing table in the bathroom. No bueno for me, that's why if I'm ever back in the area this is a for sure skip and try something better kinda deal.
(3)
Melissa V.
I just went in for dessert because people told me that this place would offer me churros that were good since I couldn't find a restaurant that would serve these and my goodness were they delicious! It was definitely a plus when it came with vanilla ice cream all for $5! The only downfall is if you order online, they won't get it so when you go in there for your online to go order, they don't have it. It's kind of dumb to have the ability to order online but get there and your order was never placed. The only downfall for me besides not having lunch there and only dessert.
(3)
T2 B.
Wonderful food at very reasonable prices! Their queso is delicious and silky smooth The chips are thick, freshly fried, and have none of that hint of bitterness that always come with cheap chips. Portions are gargantuan. I had a filling dinner and enough leftover for two lunches. The dining room is simple but comfortable and the service was prompt and friendly. Parking downtown is always a minor hassle, but this place is worth it!
(5)
Cassandra S.
First time at the downtown location and it was a great experience. Awesome service. Delicious food. The house margarita, rocks, salt was awesome! My boyfriend loved his fajitas. Prices were reasonable. Great place to eat dinner in downtown Tampa.
(5)
Karen T.
The tinga tacos are rockin! If you like heat on your meat these will blow your mind. My lips are still tingling from the smokey hot goodness! Yum yum the carna asada tacos were also very good but put to shame by the tingas. I found the margaritas to be very average. .next time I would choose a cold beer instead. Check this place out...you won't be disappointed.
Oh ya baby- today I am a happy girl! If you read my reviews, you know I am a Mexican food lover/ snob with strong opinions and discerning taste. Tonight was a good night my friends; I found a new treasure! The run down: I grade my Mexican restaurants on three distinct factors: margaritas, tortillas and queso- the corner stone of Mexican cuisine. Urban Cantina did not disappoint! Margarita: served short with lots of tequila, lots of lime and very little sour mix! Tortillas:Chips were HAND MADE as were the corn tortillas for my tacos!! OMG if you have never had hand made corn tortillas, well you haven;t eaten good Mexican food. YUMM-O Queso: Queso al Fresco on the tacos and White queso dip for the yum-o chips. I pure Tex-Mex addition that I was so happy to get on rainy Monday! Server was a doll; ambiance was - well it was a Mexican restaurant; its always a little interesting.... $2Taco Tuesdays FTW; can't wait to go back!!
(4)
Mailoha A.
We placed a large order for pickup and not only did they get it all right but it was also all ready at the exact time they said it would be. It was easy to order, just emailed them our order, and they labeled it all for us, as we had requested. The food was also really good. Will be back for more for sure.
(5)
Andrea L.
Stopped here after a 2pm Saturday show at The Straz! Service was great, food was hot and staff was attentive. We had a fine experience!
(4)
Jasmine S.
Good food . Great prices. Nice staff . I'm not from the town but wandered in and I was pleasantly surprised their meals are delicious and a great portion .
(4)
Dillon K.
Have been here many times as the location is convenient for me. Never cared much for the chips as they are extremely hard unlike most Mexican restaurant chips. I would have given this place a higher rating if not for my last visit....or should I say attempted visit. A friend and I arrived at 8:50 and was told by the waitress that we couldn't be seated since they close at 9:00. I looked at my phone to check the time.....it was 8:50 not 9:00. The place was packed and I guess she wanted to get out of there and they must not need the extra business. I recommend they change their hours to close at 8:50 since that seems to be the time they stop accepting customers.
(2)
Cameron G.
I waited a long time to go here because there are a lot of other (better looking) places in downtown. But I'd nearly run out of new places, and it was time to give UC a shot. As I suspected, I haven't been missing much. I ordered a burrito, which was lukewarm at most, and it was otherwise bland. Three things brought this from a 2- to a 3-star experience. The first two are the the chips and salsa, which were free and great. The third was the size of my burrito. After the massive burrito and the chips and salsa, I left UC full -- and, for me, that's an exceptionally rare feeling.
(3)
Abe D.
Ok, My crew and I were doing an event in Tampa, finished early and looked for a quick bite. We ended up here because Lady M wanted to still drink beer and this place had beer. Place looked cool. Food decent, edible, nothing to really complain about. The service on the other hand was a horror story. Nothing really serious, just ditzy service. Wanted unsweet tea...got sweet tea. She brings me the unsweet...I ask for sweetener...2 more trips she doesn't bring it. Finally when she does....the whole dish is filled with regular sugar and only 2 packs of sweet n low! DUH. We get served our food yet no one has even brought us silverware yet. Definitely not worth coming back. But they did have beer.........
(3)
Todd B.
Big fan of Urban Cantina. We originally tried to get to their south Tampa location, only to discover it was closed for renovations, so we came to this one instead. Shame, because there is a CL Deal for it that we would have purchased had we knew we were coming to this spot. Oh well, and I digress. It's kind of a dingy little Mexican place, and I know that's a bad way of describing something, but I just mean it isn't a fancy restaurant. But one does not go here for the decor. The chips and salsa to start with are solid. Good, chunky delicious salsa. My girlfriend got 3 of their tacos. Not their street tacos or gringo tacos, and I don't recall which 3. She hasn't written her review yet, but when she does, check it out. You'll know it's hers because she will compare the tacos she got to her awesome amazing street tacos. All I remember about her meal is that she enjoyed it a lot. I got their gordito burrito with pork. It is a fat burrito. Ever get a burrito from Chipolte and load it with everything and wonder how you're going to fit a single bite in your mouth? Well, that's baby food by comparison. This thing was huge. I got mine with a ranchero sauce instead of queso on top - its offered both ways - and I suppose if you love cheese then you'd like the queso, but the ranchero sauce has to be the way to go. I normally don't get burritos in a new Mexican restaurant. I tend to stick with tacos or fajitas - my old standby. I went with the burrito because it sounded amazing and their tacos each had something strange about them that put me off. For example, I think the pork one had pineapple in it (don't quote me, this was a week ago and my memory is fuzzy and I can't be bothered looking up the menu right now). In any event, I don't regret the decision at all. I scarfed this thing down and then thought I would explode. Really delicious stuff. Solid solid solid Mexican food in downtown Tampa.
(4)
Vinny T.
I've been going to Urban Cantina regularly since moving to Downtown Tampa a few years ago. For Mexican in Downtown Tampa I believe they have a fresher quality product then Taco Bus. A creature of habit I typically get the Carne Asada Tacos with char-grilled skirt steak and topped with onions, cilantro, queso fresco and avocado. The avocado is what really does it for me with a squirt of lime. Everything on the menu is fresh and tasty and after numerous visits the service is consistently good. The only downside is the lack of a full liquor bar.
(4)
Debbie C.
$2 Taco Tuesdays plus $2 Coronas what's not to love! The tacos are delicious and so many filling choices that you'll have trouble narrowing your order down to a reasonable 3 or 4!
(5)
K.L. R.
Really good food... priced moderately! Cool atmosphere inside. The drinks are a little pricey (especially the margaritas) for the size you get. However, every waitress is really nice, prompt and have great personalities (especially Michelle - you rock!) As I've been frequenting downtown much more recently this has been a definite stop for lunch or dinner every other week! (also, they have CL deals all of the time - so half off is good!)
(4)
Alyssa S.
Stopped in for the first time after the Gasparilla parade. It is a cute little restaurant. We ordered a nacho to snack on before heading home. The nachos plate was smaller than expected, but delicious. It had the perfect amount of refried beans, quest, guacamole, lettuce and Pico de Gallo. The chips are freshly made here and tasty, however the nachos only had about 6-8 chips so we had to ask for more. Our server was doubling as the bartender today and did not check on us. If the service were better I would give it more stars. I will definitely give it another try though because I thoroughly enjoyed the food.
(3)
Patrick F.
Great little spot for a Mexican meal that's quick, cheap, and tasty! They have about anything you want, but tacos are the special of the house. I had a big burrito with ranchero sauce and it was delicious. And quick! I had barely ordered and it was already out! Small selection of beers on draft, but they're repping the Mexican beers correct! The decor is luchador to the hilt and there are plenty of TVs to catch the game, etc. I would definitely recommend you stop by if you're in the area!
(4)
Bob B.
Luchadores, chips, salsa, tacos, killer mole sauce, and rap music. This is about sums up the vibe I get from Urban Cantina downtown version. I have never been to the Hyde Park location so I can't compare, but I hope it is just like this one. It is awesome that right when you are seated, boom here comes the iced water, fresh tortilla chips, and homemade salsa hits the table before you can utter a word. You want more? They'll bring you more. Cost? Free. The tacos are all good. On this visit I pigged out and ordered 4 tacos ($9.99) a Chuleta Taco (Crispy pork chops sauteed in salsa verde), a Fish Taco (Lightly battered fish, cabbage, Pico de Gallo, secret sauce and topped with red onions), an Al Pastor Taco (chile rubbed pork grilled with pineapple and topped with onions, cilantro and queso), and a Crunchy Tinga Taco, (chipotle marinated chicken cooked in onions topped with lettuce, pico & queso). My favorites, in order, were the Chuleta (hands down winner), Crunchy Tinga, Al Pastor, and finally the Fish Taco. Betty ordered the Mole Poblano, a traditional, slightly spicy, chocolate sauce served over chicken and two enchiladas with rice and beans. I sampled this and it was really good, loaded with tons of shredded chicken and the sauce was phenomenal. Will definitely be back because of the service and the quality of the food.
(4)
Miriam C.
Wonderful authentic salsa chips needed salt but the shrimp tacos were great! the margaritas on the rocks delicious as well.
(5)
Michael P.
This place has good food. They serve tortilla chips that are so thick, you just know they are homemade. Their salsa is awesome and the tacos are really good as well. Our waitress was very friendly and she was quick. Food was piping hot and did not get cold before I was finished. A new frequent stop in downtown Tampa!
(5)
Melissa B.
Service was great! Margaritas were great! Chips, salsa and guacamole were awesome! A great place to stop for a great meal.
(5)
Robin K.
Really enjoy their food. Chips are perfect if you like a lot if crunch. Portions are large too. Have never been disappointed and have gone there at least 20 times.
(5)
Brittney C.
If you're looking for great Mexican food in downtown Tampa this is the place to go. Great service by an exceptionally attractive staff plus an awesome tequila selection.
(5)
Martin C.
got a living social deal so decided to give this place a try... Overall food was not bad but was not spectacular... Our server Anthony was very friendly and did his best to provide fast service even though they were understaffed. I definitely will give this place another shot, seems to have great potential.
(3)
Melissa Z.
What a nice little quirky Mexican restaurant we have right in downtown Tampa. It looks like it belongs in Ybor but some Mexican wrestler went and uprooted it and plopped it downtown. It has a casual, almost edgy atmosphere. We saw couples, loners, and families all here to eat some tacos and muse over the eclectic Mexican-wrestler theme whimsically placed along the walls. They are known for their Authentic Mexican Tacos. I tried the shrimp one, the black bean one and the fish one. All three were good. I think I like the shrimp one better though. I was disappointed how little avocado was on my bean taco. It was more like a garnish than a substantive flavor. That said, all of these tacos were generous portions. I love that you can order one type of taco so that you can enjoy a variety of tacos. Makes it a very affordable and enjoyable meal. They have plenty of options for everyone. They even have a special vegetarian menu which I will have to try when I return. If I can stay away from the tacos.
(4)
H L.
We went here for an early dinner one weekend. When I went to check in on Foursquare, I received an offer for free guac. When I told the waitress about it, she not only was aware of the offer but also told me that it was a smaller size appetizer, not their normal size and wanted to make sure it was enough for us (as there were four of us). It wasn't and we ordered the standard as well. This was appreciated especially since some businesses aren't aware of their Foursquare offers. The menu had a vegetarian section which I was thrilled with. Plenty for me to choose from. The food was very good and we all enjoyed some beers with our meal. I definitely would like to head back here for dinner soon. One thing to note- we have been in search of great brunch spots. We looked online and saw that they had brunch on weekends, but had no menu items listed on the site. We drove down there and when we walked in there was no menu posted to confirm this and there was only one waitress taking care of one table. She saw us and told us to sit anywhere. We told her we had a question and waited by the door. She was taking their orders and wasn't able to come over to help us, understandably. After a couple of minutes we assumed that they didn't actually offer brunch items and left. So no brunch, but we'll definitely be back for dinner.
(4)
Martic R.
First visit late Saturday night even though it looked busy most people had already ordered so our food came out very quickly and we were very thankful for it. We ordered the quesadillas, tacos and chips. I absolutely loved the Guacamole not so much the chips but that a personal preference. I would like to go back and try a few other things like the fajitas.
(4)
Brian A.
Great selection fun decor and good prices for a downtown restaurant. The chip and salsa are unique and the fish tacos are my favorite. If you order a burrito you'll wobble out.
(4)
Clayton L.
We stopped at Urban Cantina for a late lunch over the weekend. And while we were generally pleased, it's about a block away from the downtown Taco Bus, which has some of the best tacos in town. Urban Cantina, although a competitor of Taco Bus, does offer some different dining options. You can get meals w/beans and rice, they bring (very good) chips and salsa to the table, and they have other stuff (like massive chimichangas) that provide more of a restaurant vibe than the Taco Bus. Service was a little slow, but not terrible. And the wait staff seemed friendly. It's also worth noting that we were seated right away. Of course that might have something to do with us dining during off hours. In short, if you're stopping in for tacos, burritos or a torta then Taco Bus is a better option. But if you want a more robust dining experience with more food options then Urban Cantina is worth a try.
(3)
Jim M.
Great location and great food. I liked everything about this place. Most importantly is the food and the super chimichanga is the way to go. Everything on the dish was delicious. My girlfriend enjoyed a pineapple mimosa with her dish and she loves it. The atmosphere is great with good music and friendly staff. The overall look of the place is pretty cool and I love their logo. Definitely coming back here if I'm back in town.
(4)
Mae S.
Pros - love the interior decorating. The portions were large and the prices were good. The guy I was with couldn't even finish his rice bowl which never happens. I loved the complementary chips and salsa. The chips really were amazing. Cons - very crowded. They really packed in as many tables as possible. The food took a while, and my tortilla soup was just ok.
(3)
Maddie G.
I don't know how this only has 3 stars. The service was amazing, the food was amazing, and the location is great. Our waiter was very on top of everything and attentive. I ordered a burrito which was HUGE and delicious. It puts chipotle burritos to shame. Great place!
(5)
Jamie K.
Good energy, tasty food food for the price.
(4)
L.J. R.
Saw the ad in Creative Loafing for $2 taco Tuesday and dragged a couple friends with to try it. They try to make authentic Mexican street tacos, which are small, so I planned for that and ordered extra. Tried three different ones and I'd say the pulled pork and bean (vegetarian option) were my two favorites. You can ask for hard shell if you want, but I took whatever the menu description was. It was a cute place, the server was friendly, and things came pretty quick. We enjoyed our meal and didn't wait long for another round of drinks and more tacos. For the price, $2 coronas, and you don't pay a parking meter after 6pm, we will go back on another Tuesday.
(3)
Brandon A.
I ate at UC before I saw it on Yelp and I have to say when it loaded in the search results and I saw they were at three stars I thought to myself 'Eh, that may be generous but ok.' The best part about Urban Cantina is their exterior window decor, its essentially downhill from there. I had the taco lunch special -- The tacos were just ok, like others have said they weren't particularly remarkable in one direction or another. The service was on par with the food and not worth mentioning beyond that. What I will say is that for a 'special' I didn't feel like I got a whole lot of value out of my two tacos and rice with a soda for $12.50 -- I doubt I will be back.
(2)
Tony R.
A super solid Mexican option in downtown Tampa. The tortilla chips are homemade which is always a SUPER plus. They have a nice crunch and, the salsa is on point with just enough cilantro and lemon in it. The house margaritas were also pretty good and taste like they were handmade without the store bought mix overwhelming the flavor. We ordered Tacos and Enchiladas, my tacos were very good. The shrimp tacos might have been my favorite followed by the carnitas and chicken. Great flavor, nice use of queso fresco, red onions, and sauce. One complaint is that my homemade tortillas were falling apart and could not hold the flavor overload. Maybe a double corn tortilla would to the trick? Great visit, will be back.
(4)
Carter K.
Great service. Margarita's with patron were amazing. Great salsa and chips.We had quesadillas, tostada salad, steak and enchiladas and Chile rellano. All was wonderful. Do wish they had kid's menu. Will return again.
(4)
Heather S.
This place has fantastic tacos!! Tried the Tinga, the Mole and the Fish tacos... WOW!! We will definitely be back :D
(5)
Kathy O.
The food is just okay. The place is very loud and the service not anything to brag about
(3)
Brennan T.
Good Mexican food, but nothing too special. On my first visit I tried the tortilla soup and sopes. The soup was only okay - good, but not especially flavorful or anything, but I enjoyed the sope. On my second visit I had a carne asada burrito, which was warm and hit the spot. The burrito was the perfect size for lunch. Sometimes burritos in other places are too small, and that makes me mad. I also enjoyed the salsa and guacamole. The queso was really good. You could tell they used real cheese rather than just some junk from a can. Service was friendly, but nothing outstanding.
(3)
Heather P.
It was on the dirty dining list for having 19 cockroaches and food storage temperature violations :( I'll never go back now...but below is my original review. I ordered the chicken taco and the shrimp taco. I liked the shrimp taco, the salsa on it was good. The chicken meat was super flavorful in the chicken taco...but there was a lot of meat and the shell was extremely fried and overly crispy and hard. The guacamole was fine and my friend enjoyed his steak burrito. Service was so/so...i had to get the waitress's attention to ask for refills, more salsa, silverware, condiments...so she didnt stop by to check on us very much...which is ridiculous cuz the entire restaurant is a small open room. Would i return? Probably not. I have yet to find great mexican food in Florida. (I'm from Cali.).
(2)
Candyce B.
Loved this place! I pride myself on being a huge Mexican fan and this place has some really good food!!! Of course I started my meal with a margarita....so delicious and full of liquor just like I like them! The chips and salsa were amazing too...the chips came out hot and the salsa tasted so fresh. It had huge chucks of tomatoes, onion and cilantro! So tasty! I tried the tacos- 3 tacos rice and beans for only $7.49 was an awesome deal! I had the shrimp taco with fresh shrimp and slaw, a fish taco that included lightly breaded fish, and a cabbage mix and a Carne Asada taco with fresh cilantro. All came in a delicious soft tortilla and feta cheese! YUM. The rice and beans were a great addition to the meal and overall I enjoyed the entire experience. It's a cute place, tons of tvs and really nice staff! Do yourself a favor and stop by...you wont regret it!
(4)
Jeff F.
Not the best but certainly not the worst. Went here when I was staying downtown for a night prior to embarking on a cruise. Got the street tacos sampler which comes with 5 different types. The fish taco was the best one. Don't get me wrong -- the food was good but there wasn't anything that was not out of the ordinary. The chips seemed too dense and on the greasy side. Salsa was good with a nice spice to it. The decor was interesting. A lot of Mexican wrestling masks! Service was quick and friendly.
(3)
Jessica G.
Tried Urban Cantina when visiting Tampa. Honestly, wasn't too impressed. The food did not taste like gourmet mexican food {A bit bland -_-}. We ordered the guacamole and queso dip with chips. My main course was three tacos. I found the meat to be dry and lacking flavor. Our favorite part of the meal was the queso dip. It had a nice flavor and was made with white cheese, rather than the usual yellow cheese. As the three star rating says - just A-OK.
(3)
Blake G.
I stopped in for lunch with my friend because we both work in the downtown area. Overall it was just OK. The food was pretty good, the chips and salsa seem to be made in house and both taste good. I order the Al Pastor tacos for my entree. They were also pretty good, the rice was bland, while it resembled the color of Mexican rice it tasted like white rice. What I can't get over when I go to these Mexican restaurants that serve "authentic" tacos is the price. The Al Pastor tacos cost $10 and I can get the same tacos in Ruskin, that are 100% authentic and taste better for about $1.50 a taco. The service left something to be desired. While our waitress was polite our dinning experience took an hour and fifteen minutes, we only ordered two entrees. Most people in the downtown area are looking for a quick lunch (30 to 45 minutes) during their lunch hour. If you are looking for a quick taco for lunch I would recommend taco bus down the street.
(2)
William T.
Service was excellent. Food not so much... If a federal prison ever decided to do Mexican night I would imagine that it would taste a lot like this place. But service was great.
(3)
Melanie B.
Great location and good service. Love the queso, bean and rice! $2 Taco Tuesdays are awesome however we usually spend $60+ since we have so many! Love in this order: 1) chuletta 2) tinga 3) carnitas 4) carne 5) al pastor (a bit too sweet). If you arent able to make it on Tuesday, they have a CLDeal for $20 worth for $10... Get the XXL steak Chimichanga
(4)
Chris B.
I've been here a few times and it's pretty solid each visit. The portions are huge. I really enjoy the enchiladas, and for the price, it's a great deal. The restaurant is clean and spacious, and there are a few tv's scattered around. The chips and salsa are delicious as well. Service tends to be hit and miss and the happy hour could be better. Park on the street free after 6pm on weekdays and free all day on weekend (north of Kennedy).
(4)
Tim K.
We had lunch here our first day in Tampa along with my sister and her boyfriend. Initially we were going to find a Taco truck of some kind, but they had always wanted to try this place and after a brief once over of the menu on the outside door we decided to check it out. The decor there is pretty cool, but it verged a bit on the hipster side. I was a little disappointed with the placement of one of the Luchador Wrestlers they painted on the wall next to our table. Had they positioned it properly they could have utilized the bolts in the wall as the perfect nipples and it would have been hilarious. Their Tortilla Soup was really good, but could use more Avocado in it. There was only like two small slices in the bowl. The best thing they offered however was their chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and still had a little bit of hot oil sizzling on them and the salsa was really bright and flavorful. I tried a few different tacos as they were all relatively small and my favorite was the Holy Mole. It was messy to eat, but was very very tasty. The wifey had one of their Al Pastor tacos and was a bit hesitant to try it at first as it stated it had Pineapples in it. She was afraid they would be huge chunks, but they were cut up small and it was more of a Pineapple Salsa. Rice and beans were a nice accompaniment to our meals as well. As for drinks, this is were I was slightly let down. Everything that I wanted seemed to be out so I settled for just a plain old Coke. Also my sister ordered a Mango Margarita and let me try it and we both agreed it tasted overly artificial. Service was good though and we had no complaints. Our waitress was nice, informative and prompt with refills and even offered us to-go drinks if we wanted them. All in all our overall experience was fair to medium. If I lived in the area I don't think this would be an all the time go to place, but wouldn't be opposed to going there every once in awhile. One of the reasons was that their prices were a little high on the tacos with them being as small as they were. That's just my opinion though.
(3)
Colleen D.
Went in for lunch, first customers in at 11:00 am. We were attracted by the window decals, which, duh. Blown away by the service, freshness of food, prices, etc. I had a pork fajita plate and my friend had the 3 taco plate (fish, shrimp, and chicken). We were both very satisfied and if we ever come back to Tampa will attempt to make a visit again.
(5)
Esteban O.
Great tacos! Chips salsa, amazingly simple! Service great! Ambience fun, and competent! Food was simple, flavorful, not complicated! Enough said. Come here if you craving authentic Mexican food, they prove that amazing Mexican food does not need all the gimmicks.
(5)
Laura W.
I went to Urban Cantina after a movie at the Tampa Theatre. The restaurant was a bit dirty looking, especially when I walked back to the bathroom. As far as the food, the chips and salsa tasted good. However, my entree arrived with the cheese unmelted inside the tortilla. There was a spoonful of pico on the side, which did not look or taste fresh. For such a basic item as a quesadilla, I would have expected better. The food didn't taste good enough for me to take the left-overs with me. The service was good, even if the quesadilla was not. After seeing the lack of cleanliness in the restaurant, I will not return soon. Check out inspections of your favorite Florida restaurants by the Florida Department of Business and Professional at: myfloridalicense.com/wl1…
(1)
Nick S.
Urban Cantina was packed for lunch on a Friday, but we got seats at the bar and enjoyed our chips, queso, guacamole, taco, enchiladas, and torta. Anythony gave us excellent service. I requested a couple limes as I like the flavor on my Mexican food. Would go again. Like the fun and interesting decor and attention to detail.
(4)
Lori V.
This place used to be great. I stopped going because it lost its touch. Plus, I had a good look around and was grossed out by the dirty floor and dusty chairs. I used to order the chicken soup and tacos. I now prefer the soup at Chihuahua's. This place is ok if you need something but don't expect a great experience. It is still a good experience though.
(3)
Natasha P.
Great atmosphere and service, my friends and just had our Christmas dinner here and it was absolutely delicious. Hours later I'm still full. I had two yummy tacos and my son had a burrito. The price is very reasonable and location is perfect cause after we were done with dinner we walked to Down Town Tampa on ice and burn some calories.
(4)
Mike C.
Yummy yummy in my tummy. I love this place. I come here whenever I am in downtown tampa. I'm at a convention at the Hilton right now and I'll eat here every night.
(5)
Tami L.
Great food. AWFUL AWFUL selection of drinks. Worst tequila I've ever had. And snotty waitress
(2)
Christine H.
Found this randomly on Urbanspoon when visiting Tampa and loved it!!!' After living on the border of Texas and Mexico for 2 years, I can confirm that this is very authentic Mexican food. It tasted just like the deliciousness my husband and I used to get a few miles from the border in the Ro Grande Valley, and it was fresh and great quality. We both I got the 3 tacos w/ rice + beans option... The chicken mole is amazing, and I loved the vegetarian taco w/ corn, tomato and avocado. The chips and salsa seem homemade (yum!) and the margaritas were just right. We also had our 2 year old with us, who has a severe nut allergy, and they were amazingly accommodating of her (and made her a package of quick 90-second rice that we brought with us)... Thank you! Will definitely go back if we're in Tampa again.
(5)
Chi P.
Food was good, not great...but pretty good. Nothing came out hot. It was all lukewarm. That said, the food did have some flavor. We ordered veggie enchiladas, bean tacos, and tinga tacos (spicy shredded chicken). Everything was alright. We had flan and fried ice cream for dessert. Both were very good. Fried ice cream is a good size for two, maybe three people. Good to know ahead of time - the 3 taco plate means three of the same type of tacos.
(3)
Kim R.
Chips and salsa were fresh and delicious, guac was also delicious and satisfying. I had 2 black bean tacos w/ refried beans, also good. The staff was super friendly. The only negative is that I felt the margarita was too sweet. I'll definitely be back! (foursquare check in gets you free guac!)
(4)
Kelly F.
Love at first bite. Seriously. I had always driven by the Urban Cantina on the way from Clearwater to Brandon but just never had the opportunity to eat there. Until one time I forced myself to stop and pick up food for myself, the hubby and kids. (I just couldn't resist their fun name and logo!) That's right, the first time I ate here I didn't even eat...here. And we loved it. LOVE. My husband is half mexican, born and raised in California and has the hardest time finding Mexican food in Florida that is "genuine". He loved it. Since that fateful day we try and go whenever we can. Our toddlers love the flautas (on the menu as an appetizer but more than enough food for the boys) and think the Mexican wrestling mask decor is to die for. My own tried and true is the Super Chimicanga. Delicious. To the point that I have a hard time sharing it with my four year old. And believe me, it's big enough to share, it just brings out that little bit of selfishness in me that makes me want to keep it...all...for...myself. I've never had a problem with super slow service here that some other reviewers mention, but we're typically here at non peak times so I'm probably not the best judge. And if it were slow, I'd still recommend it. Urban Cantina makes my belly happy!
(5)
Whitney E.
Called in a togo order. When I got there thirty minutes later, they hadn't even started cooking it yet. When I finally got my salad (after another 20 minutes), it was soggy and missing half of the ingredients. 20 dollars for a corona and crappy salad.
(1)
Craig L.
4 tacos & a lemonade for $9.99. The food here was great. I cannot for the life of me understand the negative reviews. The bartender was great. Next time I am in Tampa...I will def be back.
(5)
Emily V.
I tried this place out one day for lunch when I was in town for work. I started with salsa and queso with chips. Umm, yum! I particularly liked the queso a lot. The chips are fresh and fried and very crunchy, very good. I tried two tacos after that - the chuletas (crispy pork chops sauteed in green verde salsa) and the carne asada. Honestly, I don't remember the difference between the two of them that much, but I remember liking both of them a lot. Beans and rice were better than average. Gets really loud during lunch! But I liked it a lot and I would go back next time I'm in town!
(4)
Mike S.
Unfortunately unimpressed, because this is one of the few eateries in downtown that is open at night. And judging by the few other patrons there with us on a weekday evening, it is not magnetic enough to draw customers at that hour....and we were lured by a coupon or special. The decor is spiffy and attractive, but we came to eat not just look. Regrettably the food was not special and the service a bit tepid. I am a soup lover, but disappointed by their bland tortilla soup (tomato-rice) Can't remember the entree that came with obligatory rice & re-fried beans....so that tells the story....not quite disgusting enough to warn against and not good enough to repeat or recommend. There are clearly better Mexican food sources with better prices and accessibility. Just wish there were more/better night-time options in downtown Tampa........otherwise all those GOP conventioneers will be pushed to Ybor where they may get in trouble.... ON CAMERA!!!
(2)
Dave H.
Upon entering the urban cantina restaurant in down town tampa you enter into your standard run of the mill mexican restraunt.The waitresses are very attentive and made sure we where well taken care of.We have been to the urban cantina twice now and the food is pretty good.The chips are hot the salsa could use a little color beyond the standard diced tomatoes look.I don't know why all of these mexican restraunts use the same blah salsa.I had grilled chicken tacos and they had fresh veggies on them and the rice and beans where rice and beans. My wife had the vegetarian black bean tacos and they where good as well.Out of the generic mexican chains such as vallarta's,estellas,and tias this is the best one of them.
(3)
Clyde S.
I was never a big Mexican foodie... I am Italian and actually have family members that own Mexican restaurants, but never got into it. We moved downtown and love to eat out, unfortunately, there are few places to go. Anyways. Long story short, it's a great place to eat. I enjoy the quesadillas, chimichangas and Soft tacos, they are delicious. I think some of the reviewers are overly critical. You can't please everyone, but to compare the food to Taco Bell... Come on. Some of you take Yelp way more serious than you should.
(5)
Patrick Q.
I really want to give this place a 5 star rating. Just for the food alone. However, it is in a spot where the only opportunity I have to go there is during lunch. The first time, it took up my whole lunch, but I was able to get back to work on time. The second time I was 15 minutes late. If you have some flexibility in your lunch, this place is fine, for me it's worth a gamble once in a while, but not on the regular. If you are open for lunch... in a downtown spot... you have to have the timing down. I would hate to see this place slide in popularity because it takes them 45 minutes to make 4 tacos. I can make tacos at home from scratch (tortillas and all) in less time. Now that I got that off my chest- the food is amazing. The tacos are some of the best around. Perhaps better than La Cabana Del Tio. The Holy Mole is awesome, the Tinga is also pretty darn good. I would say give it a try, it may just be worth the while for you!
(3)
Jesse B.
STAY AWAY!! I went here last weekend and there was a big piece of fried paper mixed in with my side of fries! What's worse is the waitress didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her about it and did nothing to offer to make up for it! No wonder this place was closed by the city for food care code violations and roaches in their kitchen! It's a shame they're allowed to reopen, clearly things aren't any better there. I'll NEVER be back here again. Go to Miguel's on the corner of Kennedy and Macdill if you want good Mexican food.
(1)
Kim H.
Overall the food was very good. I had two Hole Moly Taco's and one fish taco. There were fantastic. I love Mole sauce so I was super happy I could get it on a taco. My husband had three of the other varieties which I got bites of and they were delicious too. We were pleasantly full and the wait staff was very good. The waitress even fixed the table when it started to wobble. I would def eat here again.
(4)
Shawn J.
Had a wonderful lunch here. Everything was quick and delicious. Negro Modelo on tap makes me happy! Super burrito has french fries inside it and it was awesome. Wife had quesadillas that were very good also. Service was very good, but the restaurant was not at even half capacity. Afterwards we staggered across the street to a park in downtown among the skyscrapers and people watched the homeless who frequent the park (facinating).
(4)
Crystal P.
My family was looking for a new place to try out when we stumbled across this place. They had me with the Mexican wrestling masks and we went in to give it a try. The decor is quirky and I LOVED it. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a table by the window which was nice as I could watch the street traffic and relax. The menu had a wide food selection. Wanting to try a bit of this and a bit of that, I opted for the Street Corner Tacos. The platter included a taste of 5 different tacos- the al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, fish and pollo asado and a side of lime wedges, pico de gallo and homemade hot sauce. Being that there was only three of us at the table and one other table that came in after us. I was surprised at how long the food took to come out. We were kept occupied by the chips and salsa (which were great) the people watching, and were in no hurry so it really didn't bother me at the time. If I had been in a hurry or didn't want any chips...it would have concerned me. My tacos came out and everything was fresh and hot and really delicious. Each taco was dressed to perfection and had the right amount of filling. My favorite was the fish taco. Full of flavor with the fish crispy and cooked perfectly. In the end I was satisfied with my meal. We will be back to give this place a try again.
(3)
Samantha G.
Eh, it's alright. Can get pretty hopping during the lunch rush. Service was attentive, but not exactly friendly. Pretty good list of menu options. I had the El Chango, which was a combo platter of 1 taco, 2 enchiladas, and beans and rice. For $8, it was a tremendous amount of food. None of it was bad per se, but I didn't leave craving more either.
(3)
Robert G.
I walked here from the Tampa Bay Times Forum for a bite to eat before the Bruce Springsteen concert (I was headed to Moxies, actually, but forgot they closed for dinner). This place was really good! Authentic Mexican menu, great flavors, good portions. The chips were handmade from REAL tortillas (always a good sign) and served with a really fresh, bright tasting salsa. It might have had a touch too much cilantro (as did a lot of their food), but I really love the way cilantro can brighten up a dish, so it didn't bother me too much. My brother, on the other hand, who can't stand the sight of it every since I shoved a leaf of it up his nose back in our childhood days, was not too impressed. I wasn't a huge fan of the rice (it's almost like a Mexican fried rice, complete with carrots and peas....just not my thing). I suggest ordering the three tacos. Don't order the tacos meal, because then you will get three of the same kind. If you order them a la carte, you can mix and match! I'd like to come back and try a dessert and a mojito, because both of those looked INCREDIBLE. Their churros definitely looked tasty from afar. Be prepared to wait a little while for your food/the check. While the service was good, it did take quite a few strong "dagger glances" to get her to come back for refills/more chips/the check.
(3)
Cari E.
I am actually pretty surprised by the reviews on here. I really enjoy Urban Cantina. The wait staff has always been friendly. The food can be a little slow to come out but if you give me a bowl of their chips and some of their fresh and light salsa, I don't mind. I would like to preface my review by saying I would have given Urban Cantina 3 stars typically but I like that they are a location that is open at night downtown and I'm surprised by the lack luster reviews from my fellow yelpers. The decor is modern while still being Mexican. Multiple Mexican wrestling masks adorn the corrugated walls. They don't have a liquor license so I suggest steering away from margaritas or mojitos. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and they serve one of my favorite Mexican beers, Pacifico Light. The chips and salsa and delicious. I did get a batch of chips one time that tasted a little stale but I told the waitress and she brought out a new batch that were fresh and crunchy. I recommend the tortilla soup. It's nice and light. It comes with chicken, carrot, onion and other delicious things.
(3)
Jennifer L.
Love this place. I travel for work and eat here every time I am in Tampa, which is really frequently. The service is quick, they are great at accommodating groups, and they have lots of variety. I like their tacos and enchiladas. I've also had their cheesy super chimichanga which my friends and now just call "Creamy white sauce" (insert as many jokes as you can think of with that kind of name). We've gone there so often we just ask "Want some creamy white sauce?" and everyone knows what we're talking about. Margaritas are good but I have only had them once or twice. Another perk is that they are one of only a few places that stays open in downtown Tampa at night. Tampa is like a city after the zombie apocolypse so it is a nice place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. Really tasty chips and salsa.
(5)
Bill Z.
Came here on a Saturday for dinner. The service was slow, and the hostess sat both tables next to us with little kids in a half empty restaurant. We ordered tacos that, for how small they are, are over priced and dry. I DO NOT recommend this place and I won't be returning. Go to Tijuana Flats instead... Better food, service and prices
(2)
Rebecca V.
Went for lunch and they were very under staffed but were trying very hard for the staff they had. The food was delish, very fresh tasting, love being downtown so environment/area was good, margarita (shhh yes it was lunch, but come on its Mexican!) anyway margarita was very refreshing. They changed it up a little serving it in a mug. I was impressed and will return!
(4)
Amanda C.
Very good chips and salsa. I had the chimichanga which was deliciously cheesy and a friend I went with had three tacos which were also very yummy. There were a lot of different options to choose from!
(4)
Marsha C.
Luhuv their tortilla soup. Its a meal in itself. Good flavor, love the rice in it. Their tacos are good too. Love to stop in here when visiting my daughter at UT.
(4)
Jennie W.
Great friendly service always! I have been here several times and its always good food and great atmosphere.
(5)
Bryan D.
We were walking around the city at night and decided to check this place out. We were promptly sat, the waitress was very friendly and helpful with a couple questions we had. I tried the assortment of tacos. The ranged from good to awesome. I forget what my wife got, it was good though. We will def go back next time we are in the area.
(4)
Anthony S.
This place gets no stars at all. Horrible, awful food. I cant believe they serve this crap & call it authentic, if this is indeed what mexicans are eating(& i know there not) this is why the cross the border for better food. Taco bus has waaaay better food, & there are better places to eat around the corner like jerk hut, moxies, Fresh and others. Worst $25.46 spent ever. I had 2 shrimp tacos w/special sauce and overfried beans & rice. It sucked badly. Go to taco bell if u really want to waste ur money but have sone taste. I shouldnt have to request a plethora of sauces to spice/season your crap up. WILL NEVER EAT THIS SWILL AGAIN, server was nice...only thing
(1)
Rachel O.
Service was slow for my party and not friendly. Perhaps that's why it was pretty empty on a Friday night. Decor was nice though. Food was decent but for the price, could be bigger and better tasting. There's better mexican food out there.
(2)
Erica M.
Urban shitina. The service was so outrageously bad that I will never ever set foot in here again. The dimwitted waitress charged someone else's bill onto my credit card. then said she couldn't reprint an updated receipt after it was supposedly "corrected." and said "don't worry, it's taken care of." When I received my statement and there was no "Correction" the restaurant was called. Multiple attempts to get a manager on the phone finally found me listening to some asshat saying he can't retroactively credit a card. What kind of 1980s system are these people using!? So I was told a credit would be mailed to me. You think that happened? hell no. I look forward to hearing that this place has gone out of business- it's just a matter of time.
(1)
Eric S.
I had been here a couple times when the restaurant first opened up and was pretty pleased with the overall quality. This has all changed with time though. The rice was bland and chewy, the chicken taco and enchiladas were bland and dry, and the chips seemed extremely stale. The only positive things that come to mind are the onions and cilantro were fresh and the last waitress who helped us (the first one disappeared) was very nice and pleasant. Can't envision going back here again.
(1)
Gee. C.
Eat lunch here a couple times a week. Shrimp tacos all the way!!!
(4)
Tiffany B.
Service is usually quick, food is great but, at times, inconsistent. I usually get the chimichanga, which is humungous and delicious. My only issue is that sometimes it's loaded with chicken (as it should be) and sometimes the chicken is scarce to find in a sea of beans. They need to work on their consistency, but other than that, the food is great! Update: Oh wow. No. I haven't visited Urban Cantina in a few months and my how it has changed! First- the service. It's horrible. But that's probably because all the servers there were bored looking high school girls. They had time to chat it up at the bar area and clean tables while no one bothered to even take our drink order and then had the nerve to get an attitude (remember: teenage girls) when we asked for our waitress because we were ready to order. First problem. Second, the queso dip was closer to cold than it was to hot. I can't even call it lukewarm. Third- I ordered the enchiladas and... I'm not exaggerating here... the enchilada sauce must have been straight out of a McCormick's packet and just mixed with water. Literally the most bland enchiladas I've ever tasted- soupy, unseasoned, tomato water, basically. Same goes with the rice and beans- not even salted, as if that requires any effort or culinary expertise. As my husband and I like to say: "This place has been banished". Bottom Line: Don't waste your time and money at Urban Cantina when there are plenty of Mexican restaurants with good food and great service, neither of which you'll find here.
(1)
Wes S.
The food was ok... Just ok. Definitely go to the one on Howard instead.
(3)
Jenn B.
I was a little disappointed when we asked about the drinks specials and they told us about the beer and margaritas and didn't mention that the margaritas are wine based. We had to ask what kind of tequila they had have to find out they only have their beer and wine license. I would have given the wine based margarita a chance (even though I would prefer tequila) if they told me up front. I was just a little thrown off when I found out on my own and ordered a beer. I fish tacos were really tasty! I was told by my boyfriend that the pork and chicken taco were dry. We both enjoyed the chicken enchilada. I would return just for the fish tacos! Plus it super close to home!
(3)
Don A.
So we wanted to give this place another try before going to Wicked and once again the same ole service issues. Place was pretty busy w a convention in town. We were told 10-15 minutes and couldn't help but notice 3 dirty tables that the staff just kept walking by? Needless to say we waited 15-20 minutes and once again were told it would be another 10-15 minutes LOL! High school employees didn't seem to worry or care much about the poor owners business obviously. Its a shame, we left and had tapas next door as well as 2 other parties that gave up waiting.....
(2)
Dave S.
We are from San Diego, and found this Mexican food very bland. I had the fish tacos and it was just OK. The other folks in our work group that ate had the same opinion that the food was OK but not exciting.
(2)
Keith S.
I immediately appreciated three things upon entering Urban Cantina. They were open on a Tuesday night, we were seated immediately, and their air conditioning was set to perfect levels. Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there, and not just because they didn't have their liquor license yet. I should start off by saying that the concept of the restaurant got me excited, from the postmodern luchador pastiche to the laudably laser-focused menu (when was the last time you ate at a Mexican restaurant that didn't hand you an annotated copy of "War and Peace" as a menu, with 20 various, no-substitutes "combinations"?). Unfortunately, the chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. Their guacamole really ruined the dinner for me. I don't know if something was off or I just don't know what guacamole was supposed to taste like, but there was this nagging, fermented zing to every bite that just didn't play well in my mouth. I thought about sending it back, but it was, well, a small side of guacamole. Me: "Is it tequila? Did they spike this with beer? It's not spoiled, is it? It couldn't be..." My dining partner: "Just stop eating it and move on." I moved on to fish tacos, which were passable, if not a bit like frozen fish sticks thrown into an otherwise authentic fish taco presentation. The sauce had an overly salty edge to it--kind of like Cool Ranch Doritos, to be honest--but the dish as a whole came out to a 6 out of 10. My partner's dinner was entirely too salty, and really uneven with the spice. One side of the burrito was mild and the other side inspired sweating and unintentional tears. I do have to say that the aura of chipotle in the burrito sauce was really nice. I would've given the place an extra star had it not been so terribly salty and ridiculously uneven with the spice. The sides were passable as well - beans and rice. Not the worst, not the best. Overall, this place comes across as really earnest and you can tell that the concept has promise and takes some gutsy leaps into a more modern take on Mexican food. However, "planning to be great" and "succeeding in being great" are two VERY separate things. I'll give them some time and try again in the future.
(2)
Steve C.
Great Mexican food at great prices. Good service, pleasant atmosphere. Would definitely eat here again. Just a short walk from the Marriott.
(4)
Eric M.
So walked by on a Thursday night, after eating at the great french restaurant across the street the night before. Not a real Margarita, but at least it was 2 for 1. Lame. Chips although homemade were greasy, totally unsalted, and a bit chewy, and the the salsa was bland. They at least do use queso fresco, enchiladas are ok, and tacos, were just ok. Too bad because the location and decor are well done!
(2)
Holly K.
Not bad, not great. The atmosphere was very cute and the service was wonderful. The "healthy" options menu was a welcome addition, but the dish I ordered was pretty ho-hum. Bland and not presented very well. I would like to go again just so I could try something from the regular menu.
(3)
Chris C.
Let me keep it simple defining this in one word "CRAP" Taco bell is better than this garbage guess its back to the bus i go
(1)
Marcos O.
Very good steak tacos! Reminded me of some Mexican taco's with authentic spices that I once had in California. Service is not the greatest as they could use another waiter during lunch hours but it wouldn't stop me from eating here again.
(3)
Philip R.
great food at a great price. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years and it's hard to find authentic tacos al pastor... this place has 'em! Muy rico y buen precio. Good location for night time walk around Tampa including Curtis Hixon park and walking distance from Tampa theater.
(4)
Jonathan B.
LOVE this place! The service is GREAT, the staff is hot, and the food is well-price AND delicious! I DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone in the area! :-)
(5)
PT C.
We walked in because of the catchy graphics on the outside and it seemed like it should be a cool place to go for Mexican downtown. That's about where the originality ended. We walked in to a nearly empty, very dimly lit, strangely decorated, dining room. The first problem was the lack of alcohol. I was told by our waiter that the liquor license was coming soon but that one strike one for me. My companion ordered the tortilla soup and I ordered the carnitas. The soup came out and was not even close to what I would call tortilla soup. It was a chicken and rice soup with nary a strip of tortilla to be found. There was no flavor to it at all and the poor chicken died in vain. When we asked about it, the owner informed us that we were not educated enough to understand the nuances of the dish and asked if we had indeed ever been to Mexico. (we had, of course- extensively) but weren't in the mood to argue with him about it. The carnitas were probably very good a day or two before I ordered it but I should have brought some home in case I needed to plug a dam at some point. I probably could have stomached the rest of the meal had I had my usual Patrons and Negro Modelos before dinner, but what the hell. Our waiter was cool and explained that the menu was changing next week so I may give them a try after that (and the liquor license arrives) but for tonight's debacle I gave them one star plus one for the good service.
(2)
LaKesha C.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. The service is great. The food is good.
(3)
Chris P.
the food is mediocre at best. prices a little higher than they should be. the straw that broke the camels back was they didn't accept a gift certificate after we ordered appetizers. if u don't accept it anymore, then you should advertise that. I'm so glad the taco bus just opened up, because they will now get all of my Mexican food lunch money. enjoy going out of business soon!
(1)
Justin H.
Excellent authentic tacos!
(4)
Jenny S.
Went here for date night and loved it. The staff was very friendly and sat us by the window which was nice because we had a view of the bustle of the city. We were going to order the cheese dip but the waitress suggested the guacamole which came with a white cheese dip and it was sooo good. I ordered the enchiladas suizas and my husband ordered tacos and a burrito. We loved the food and will be coming back.
(4)
Wayne D.
Ate here tonight. Was crowded and it seemed like they were not prepared for a crowd. Took a long time to be seated even though there were tables empty that just needed to be cleaned. Wait staff was harried and hurried and didn't pay much attention. Finally ordered and it took forever for our food to come. I finally had to ask and a while later it was brought out. I had ordered a dinner that included rice and beans. My companion ordered tacos and rice ala carte. There was no rice. She explained that they "ran out." How does a "World Class" Mexican restaurant run out of rice?? She said she would bring it out when it was done. Okay. Never came. I had the Urban Carnitas and they were okay. Everywhere else I've had them they come with warm tortillas. These didn't. The beans were just canned pork and beans that were doctored up a bit. You could still taste the canned taste. Waitress also forgot to charge me for my beer. I had to remind her. Will pass on returning to this one.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Mark P.
I've been 2-3 times to Urban Cantina. It's definitely better than the other more popular Mexican option downtown. One time I went it was a ghost town and of course, service was better. Another time I went it was packed and in turn, service suffered. It took unusually long to get my order the last time but service great other time(s). The queso and made-from-scratch tortilla chips are addicting. The tacos are decent. The horchata was good...my server even gave me a free refill which was nice. Rice and frijoles are typical. The prices are higher compared to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican taco joints but not crazy high. The decor is cool with a lucha libre decor. It's a pretty nice option for Mexican food in the downtown area. I prefer to frequent other taquerias near me that are cheaper and better but if I'm already downtown, it's a place I would consider.
(4)Laura L.
I've been here twice in the last month or so - both experiences were great. Though we sat at the bar, service was excellent. The bartenders were wonderful and offered several suggestions. Chips and salsa are complimentary and served right when you sit down. Good house margarita and Corona light on tap. Both times I ordered tacos: Carne asada, carnitas, shrimp and a tinga. The homemade tortillas were delicious and most had queso fresco on top - definitely a nice touch. All were good, but the tinga was by far my favorite. The shredded chicken was seasoned well and had a bit of a kick. Ask for their house hot sauces if you like some extra heat. If you can make it, they have a $2 Taco deal on Tuesdays. Overall a great spot with decent prices. Will definitely be back.
(4)Lilian Y.
It was OK, I would not trek here from far. The only reason I didn't follow my Yelp-intuition was because it was getting late and I was really hungry. This spot was good but it closes early and doesn't have a changing table in the bathroom. No bueno for me, that's why if I'm ever back in the area this is a for sure skip and try something better kinda deal.
(3)Melissa V.
I just went in for dessert because people told me that this place would offer me churros that were good since I couldn't find a restaurant that would serve these and my goodness were they delicious! It was definitely a plus when it came with vanilla ice cream all for $5! The only downfall is if you order online, they won't get it so when you go in there for your online to go order, they don't have it. It's kind of dumb to have the ability to order online but get there and your order was never placed. The only downfall for me besides not having lunch there and only dessert.
(3)T2 B.
Wonderful food at very reasonable prices! Their queso is delicious and silky smooth The chips are thick, freshly fried, and have none of that hint of bitterness that always come with cheap chips. Portions are gargantuan. I had a filling dinner and enough leftover for two lunches. The dining room is simple but comfortable and the service was prompt and friendly. Parking downtown is always a minor hassle, but this place is worth it!
(5)Cassandra S.
First time at the downtown location and it was a great experience. Awesome service. Delicious food. The house margarita, rocks, salt was awesome! My boyfriend loved his fajitas. Prices were reasonable. Great place to eat dinner in downtown Tampa.
(5)Karen T.
The tinga tacos are rockin! If you like heat on your meat these will blow your mind. My lips are still tingling from the smokey hot goodness! Yum yum the carna asada tacos were also very good but put to shame by the tingas. I found the margaritas to be very average. .next time I would choose a cold beer instead. Check this place out...you won't be disappointed.
(4)Tia S.
After seeing this restaurant several times on my many trips downtown, I finally tried it when meeting my girlfriend for dinner. I am not usually a fan of downtown restaurants during the work day because parking is usually a bear but in the evening parking is free after 6. The restaurant is very casual which was perfect for our girl chat dinner outing. My friend ordered a salad so truthfully I refuse to review her entrée. But after contemplating a few menu items, at the suggestion of my server I ordered the super chimichanga. She said it was the most filling of the options I was considering so that was my choice since I was famished. The chimichanga was served with rice and beans on the side. The chimichanga was served with a trio of sauces on top. Of the three my favorite was the queso. The mole was a bit spicy for me but flavorful. I chose steak as my filling and it was exactly what I wanted. My only complaint (other than not having enough queso on top) was the overabundance of rice in the filling. The chimichanga seemed to be rice with a side of steak instead of the other way around. The prices were affordable and I am interested in trying the tacos on my next visit.
(4)Kristin R.
Oh ya baby- today I am a happy girl! If you read my reviews, you know I am a Mexican food lover/ snob with strong opinions and discerning taste. Tonight was a good night my friends; I found a new treasure! The run down: I grade my Mexican restaurants on three distinct factors: margaritas, tortillas and queso- the corner stone of Mexican cuisine. Urban Cantina did not disappoint! Margarita: served short with lots of tequila, lots of lime and very little sour mix! Tortillas:Chips were HAND MADE as were the corn tortillas for my tacos!! OMG if you have never had hand made corn tortillas, well you haven;t eaten good Mexican food. YUMM-O Queso: Queso al Fresco on the tacos and White queso dip for the yum-o chips. I pure Tex-Mex addition that I was so happy to get on rainy Monday! Server was a doll; ambiance was - well it was a Mexican restaurant; its always a little interesting.... $2Taco Tuesdays FTW; can't wait to go back!!
(4)Mailoha A.
We placed a large order for pickup and not only did they get it all right but it was also all ready at the exact time they said it would be. It was easy to order, just emailed them our order, and they labeled it all for us, as we had requested. The food was also really good. Will be back for more for sure.
(5)Andrea L.
Stopped here after a 2pm Saturday show at The Straz! Service was great, food was hot and staff was attentive. We had a fine experience!
(4)Jasmine S.
Good food . Great prices. Nice staff . I'm not from the town but wandered in and I was pleasantly surprised their meals are delicious and a great portion .
(4)Dillon K.
Have been here many times as the location is convenient for me. Never cared much for the chips as they are extremely hard unlike most Mexican restaurant chips. I would have given this place a higher rating if not for my last visit....or should I say attempted visit. A friend and I arrived at 8:50 and was told by the waitress that we couldn't be seated since they close at 9:00. I looked at my phone to check the time.....it was 8:50 not 9:00. The place was packed and I guess she wanted to get out of there and they must not need the extra business. I recommend they change their hours to close at 8:50 since that seems to be the time they stop accepting customers.
(2)Cameron G.
I waited a long time to go here because there are a lot of other (better looking) places in downtown. But I'd nearly run out of new places, and it was time to give UC a shot. As I suspected, I haven't been missing much. I ordered a burrito, which was lukewarm at most, and it was otherwise bland. Three things brought this from a 2- to a 3-star experience. The first two are the the chips and salsa, which were free and great. The third was the size of my burrito. After the massive burrito and the chips and salsa, I left UC full -- and, for me, that's an exceptionally rare feeling.
(3)Abe D.
Ok, My crew and I were doing an event in Tampa, finished early and looked for a quick bite. We ended up here because Lady M wanted to still drink beer and this place had beer. Place looked cool. Food decent, edible, nothing to really complain about. The service on the other hand was a horror story. Nothing really serious, just ditzy service. Wanted unsweet tea...got sweet tea. She brings me the unsweet...I ask for sweetener...2 more trips she doesn't bring it. Finally when she does....the whole dish is filled with regular sugar and only 2 packs of sweet n low! DUH. We get served our food yet no one has even brought us silverware yet. Definitely not worth coming back. But they did have beer.........
(3)Vinny T.
I've been going to Urban Cantina regularly since moving to Downtown Tampa a few years ago. For Mexican in Downtown Tampa I believe they have a fresher quality product then Taco Bus. A creature of habit I typically get the Carne Asada Tacos with char-grilled skirt steak and topped with onions, cilantro, queso fresco and avocado. The avocado is what really does it for me with a squirt of lime. Everything on the menu is fresh and tasty and after numerous visits the service is consistently good. The only downside is the lack of a full liquor bar.
(4)Todd B.
Big fan of Urban Cantina. We originally tried to get to their south Tampa location, only to discover it was closed for renovations, so we came to this one instead. Shame, because there is a CL Deal for it that we would have purchased had we knew we were coming to this spot. Oh well, and I digress. It's kind of a dingy little Mexican place, and I know that's a bad way of describing something, but I just mean it isn't a fancy restaurant. But one does not go here for the decor. The chips and salsa to start with are solid. Good, chunky delicious salsa. My girlfriend got 3 of their tacos. Not their street tacos or gringo tacos, and I don't recall which 3. She hasn't written her review yet, but when she does, check it out. You'll know it's hers because she will compare the tacos she got to her awesome amazing street tacos. All I remember about her meal is that she enjoyed it a lot. I got their gordito burrito with pork. It is a fat burrito. Ever get a burrito from Chipolte and load it with everything and wonder how you're going to fit a single bite in your mouth? Well, that's baby food by comparison. This thing was huge. I got mine with a ranchero sauce instead of queso on top - its offered both ways - and I suppose if you love cheese then you'd like the queso, but the ranchero sauce has to be the way to go. I normally don't get burritos in a new Mexican restaurant. I tend to stick with tacos or fajitas - my old standby. I went with the burrito because it sounded amazing and their tacos each had something strange about them that put me off. For example, I think the pork one had pineapple in it (don't quote me, this was a week ago and my memory is fuzzy and I can't be bothered looking up the menu right now). In any event, I don't regret the decision at all. I scarfed this thing down and then thought I would explode. Really delicious stuff. Solid solid solid Mexican food in downtown Tampa.
(4)Alyssa S.
Stopped in for the first time after the Gasparilla parade. It is a cute little restaurant. We ordered a nacho to snack on before heading home. The nachos plate was smaller than expected, but delicious. It had the perfect amount of refried beans, quest, guacamole, lettuce and Pico de Gallo. The chips are freshly made here and tasty, however the nachos only had about 6-8 chips so we had to ask for more. Our server was doubling as the bartender today and did not check on us. If the service were better I would give it more stars. I will definitely give it another try though because I thoroughly enjoyed the food.
(3)Debbie C.
$2 Taco Tuesdays plus $2 Coronas what's not to love! The tacos are delicious and so many filling choices that you'll have trouble narrowing your order down to a reasonable 3 or 4!
(5)K.L. R.
Really good food... priced moderately! Cool atmosphere inside. The drinks are a little pricey (especially the margaritas) for the size you get. However, every waitress is really nice, prompt and have great personalities (especially Michelle - you rock!) As I've been frequenting downtown much more recently this has been a definite stop for lunch or dinner every other week! (also, they have CL deals all of the time - so half off is good!)
(4)Patrick F.
Great little spot for a Mexican meal that's quick, cheap, and tasty! They have about anything you want, but tacos are the special of the house. I had a big burrito with ranchero sauce and it was delicious. And quick! I had barely ordered and it was already out! Small selection of beers on draft, but they're repping the Mexican beers correct! The decor is luchador to the hilt and there are plenty of TVs to catch the game, etc. I would definitely recommend you stop by if you're in the area!
(4)Bob B.
Luchadores, chips, salsa, tacos, killer mole sauce, and rap music. This is about sums up the vibe I get from Urban Cantina downtown version. I have never been to the Hyde Park location so I can't compare, but I hope it is just like this one. It is awesome that right when you are seated, boom here comes the iced water, fresh tortilla chips, and homemade salsa hits the table before you can utter a word. You want more? They'll bring you more. Cost? Free. The tacos are all good. On this visit I pigged out and ordered 4 tacos ($9.99) a Chuleta Taco (Crispy pork chops sauteed in salsa verde), a Fish Taco (Lightly battered fish, cabbage, Pico de Gallo, secret sauce and topped with red onions), an Al Pastor Taco (chile rubbed pork grilled with pineapple and topped with onions, cilantro and queso), and a Crunchy Tinga Taco, (chipotle marinated chicken cooked in onions topped with lettuce, pico & queso). My favorites, in order, were the Chuleta (hands down winner), Crunchy Tinga, Al Pastor, and finally the Fish Taco. Betty ordered the Mole Poblano, a traditional, slightly spicy, chocolate sauce served over chicken and two enchiladas with rice and beans. I sampled this and it was really good, loaded with tons of shredded chicken and the sauce was phenomenal. Will definitely be back because of the service and the quality of the food.
(4)Michael P.
This place has good food. They serve tortilla chips that are so thick, you just know they are homemade. Their salsa is awesome and the tacos are really good as well. Our waitress was very friendly and she was quick. Food was piping hot and did not get cold before I was finished. A new frequent stop in downtown Tampa!
(5)Miriam C.
Wonderful authentic salsa chips needed salt but the shrimp tacos were great! the margaritas on the rocks delicious as well.
(5)Melissa B.
Service was great! Margaritas were great! Chips, salsa and guacamole were awesome! A great place to stop for a great meal.
(5)Brittney C.
If you're looking for great Mexican food in downtown Tampa this is the place to go. Great service by an exceptionally attractive staff plus an awesome tequila selection.
(5)Robin K.
Really enjoy their food. Chips are perfect if you like a lot if crunch. Portions are large too. Have never been disappointed and have gone there at least 20 times.
(5)Martin C.
got a living social deal so decided to give this place a try... Overall food was not bad but was not spectacular... Our server Anthony was very friendly and did his best to provide fast service even though they were understaffed. I definitely will give this place another shot, seems to have great potential.
(3)Melissa Z.
What a nice little quirky Mexican restaurant we have right in downtown Tampa. It looks like it belongs in Ybor but some Mexican wrestler went and uprooted it and plopped it downtown. It has a casual, almost edgy atmosphere. We saw couples, loners, and families all here to eat some tacos and muse over the eclectic Mexican-wrestler theme whimsically placed along the walls. They are known for their Authentic Mexican Tacos. I tried the shrimp one, the black bean one and the fish one. All three were good. I think I like the shrimp one better though. I was disappointed how little avocado was on my bean taco. It was more like a garnish than a substantive flavor. That said, all of these tacos were generous portions. I love that you can order one type of taco so that you can enjoy a variety of tacos. Makes it a very affordable and enjoyable meal. They have plenty of options for everyone. They even have a special vegetarian menu which I will have to try when I return. If I can stay away from the tacos.
(4)Mae S.
Pros - love the interior decorating. The portions were large and the prices were good. The guy I was with couldn't even finish his rice bowl which never happens. I loved the complementary chips and salsa. The chips really were amazing. Cons - very crowded. They really packed in as many tables as possible. The food took a while, and my tortilla soup was just ok.
(3)Maddie G.
I don't know how this only has 3 stars. The service was amazing, the food was amazing, and the location is great. Our waiter was very on top of everything and attentive. I ordered a burrito which was HUGE and delicious. It puts chipotle burritos to shame. Great place!
(5)Jamie K.
Good energy, tasty food food for the price.
(4)H L.
We went here for an early dinner one weekend. When I went to check in on Foursquare, I received an offer for free guac. When I told the waitress about it, she not only was aware of the offer but also told me that it was a smaller size appetizer, not their normal size and wanted to make sure it was enough for us (as there were four of us). It wasn't and we ordered the standard as well. This was appreciated especially since some businesses aren't aware of their Foursquare offers. The menu had a vegetarian section which I was thrilled with. Plenty for me to choose from. The food was very good and we all enjoyed some beers with our meal. I definitely would like to head back here for dinner soon. One thing to note- we have been in search of great brunch spots. We looked online and saw that they had brunch on weekends, but had no menu items listed on the site. We drove down there and when we walked in there was no menu posted to confirm this and there was only one waitress taking care of one table. She saw us and told us to sit anywhere. We told her we had a question and waited by the door. She was taking their orders and wasn't able to come over to help us, understandably. After a couple of minutes we assumed that they didn't actually offer brunch items and left. So no brunch, but we'll definitely be back for dinner.
(4)Martic R.
First visit late Saturday night even though it looked busy most people had already ordered so our food came out very quickly and we were very thankful for it. We ordered the quesadillas, tacos and chips. I absolutely loved the Guacamole not so much the chips but that a personal preference. I would like to go back and try a few other things like the fajitas.
(4)Brian A.
Great selection fun decor and good prices for a downtown restaurant. The chip and salsa are unique and the fish tacos are my favorite. If you order a burrito you'll wobble out.
(4)Clayton L.
We stopped at Urban Cantina for a late lunch over the weekend. And while we were generally pleased, it's about a block away from the downtown Taco Bus, which has some of the best tacos in town. Urban Cantina, although a competitor of Taco Bus, does offer some different dining options. You can get meals w/beans and rice, they bring (very good) chips and salsa to the table, and they have other stuff (like massive chimichangas) that provide more of a restaurant vibe than the Taco Bus. Service was a little slow, but not terrible. And the wait staff seemed friendly. It's also worth noting that we were seated right away. Of course that might have something to do with us dining during off hours. In short, if you're stopping in for tacos, burritos or a torta then Taco Bus is a better option. But if you want a more robust dining experience with more food options then Urban Cantina is worth a try.
(3)Jim M.
Great location and great food. I liked everything about this place. Most importantly is the food and the super chimichanga is the way to go. Everything on the dish was delicious. My girlfriend enjoyed a pineapple mimosa with her dish and she loves it. The atmosphere is great with good music and friendly staff. The overall look of the place is pretty cool and I love their logo. Definitely coming back here if I'm back in town.
(4)L.J. R.
Saw the ad in Creative Loafing for $2 taco Tuesday and dragged a couple friends with to try it. They try to make authentic Mexican street tacos, which are small, so I planned for that and ordered extra. Tried three different ones and I'd say the pulled pork and bean (vegetarian option) were my two favorites. You can ask for hard shell if you want, but I took whatever the menu description was. It was a cute place, the server was friendly, and things came pretty quick. We enjoyed our meal and didn't wait long for another round of drinks and more tacos. For the price, $2 coronas, and you don't pay a parking meter after 6pm, we will go back on another Tuesday.
(3)Brandon A.
I ate at UC before I saw it on Yelp and I have to say when it loaded in the search results and I saw they were at three stars I thought to myself 'Eh, that may be generous but ok.' The best part about Urban Cantina is their exterior window decor, its essentially downhill from there. I had the taco lunch special -- The tacos were just ok, like others have said they weren't particularly remarkable in one direction or another. The service was on par with the food and not worth mentioning beyond that. What I will say is that for a 'special' I didn't feel like I got a whole lot of value out of my two tacos and rice with a soda for $12.50 -- I doubt I will be back.
(2)Tony R.
A super solid Mexican option in downtown Tampa. The tortilla chips are homemade which is always a SUPER plus. They have a nice crunch and, the salsa is on point with just enough cilantro and lemon in it. The house margaritas were also pretty good and taste like they were handmade without the store bought mix overwhelming the flavor. We ordered Tacos and Enchiladas, my tacos were very good. The shrimp tacos might have been my favorite followed by the carnitas and chicken. Great flavor, nice use of queso fresco, red onions, and sauce. One complaint is that my homemade tortillas were falling apart and could not hold the flavor overload. Maybe a double corn tortilla would to the trick? Great visit, will be back.
(4)Carter K.
Great service. Margarita's with patron were amazing. Great salsa and chips.We had quesadillas, tostada salad, steak and enchiladas and Chile rellano. All was wonderful. Do wish they had kid's menu. Will return again.
(4)Heather S.
This place has fantastic tacos!! Tried the Tinga, the Mole and the Fish tacos... WOW!! We will definitely be back :D
(5)Brennan T.
Good Mexican food, but nothing too special. On my first visit I tried the tortilla soup and sopes. The soup was only okay - good, but not especially flavorful or anything, but I enjoyed the sope. On my second visit I had a carne asada burrito, which was warm and hit the spot. The burrito was the perfect size for lunch. Sometimes burritos in other places are too small, and that makes me mad. I also enjoyed the salsa and guacamole. The queso was really good. You could tell they used real cheese rather than just some junk from a can. Service was friendly, but nothing outstanding.
(3)Kathy O.
The food is just okay. The place is very loud and the service not anything to brag about
(3)Heather P.
It was on the dirty dining list for having 19 cockroaches and food storage temperature violations :( I'll never go back now...but below is my original review. I ordered the chicken taco and the shrimp taco. I liked the shrimp taco, the salsa on it was good. The chicken meat was super flavorful in the chicken taco...but there was a lot of meat and the shell was extremely fried and overly crispy and hard. The guacamole was fine and my friend enjoyed his steak burrito. Service was so/so...i had to get the waitress's attention to ask for refills, more salsa, silverware, condiments...so she didnt stop by to check on us very much...which is ridiculous cuz the entire restaurant is a small open room. Would i return? Probably not. I have yet to find great mexican food in Florida. (I'm from Cali.).
(2)Candyce B.
Loved this place! I pride myself on being a huge Mexican fan and this place has some really good food!!! Of course I started my meal with a margarita....so delicious and full of liquor just like I like them! The chips and salsa were amazing too...the chips came out hot and the salsa tasted so fresh. It had huge chucks of tomatoes, onion and cilantro! So tasty! I tried the tacos- 3 tacos rice and beans for only $7.49 was an awesome deal! I had the shrimp taco with fresh shrimp and slaw, a fish taco that included lightly breaded fish, and a cabbage mix and a Carne Asada taco with fresh cilantro. All came in a delicious soft tortilla and feta cheese! YUM. The rice and beans were a great addition to the meal and overall I enjoyed the entire experience. It's a cute place, tons of tvs and really nice staff! Do yourself a favor and stop by...you wont regret it!
(4)Jessica G.
Tried Urban Cantina when visiting Tampa. Honestly, wasn't too impressed. The food did not taste like gourmet mexican food {A bit bland -_-}. We ordered the guacamole and queso dip with chips. My main course was three tacos. I found the meat to be dry and lacking flavor. Our favorite part of the meal was the queso dip. It had a nice flavor and was made with white cheese, rather than the usual yellow cheese. As the three star rating says - just A-OK.
(3)Jeff F.
Not the best but certainly not the worst. Went here when I was staying downtown for a night prior to embarking on a cruise. Got the street tacos sampler which comes with 5 different types. The fish taco was the best one. Don't get me wrong -- the food was good but there wasn't anything that was not out of the ordinary. The chips seemed too dense and on the greasy side. Salsa was good with a nice spice to it. The decor was interesting. A lot of Mexican wrestling masks! Service was quick and friendly.
(3)Blake G.
I stopped in for lunch with my friend because we both work in the downtown area. Overall it was just OK. The food was pretty good, the chips and salsa seem to be made in house and both taste good. I order the Al Pastor tacos for my entree. They were also pretty good, the rice was bland, while it resembled the color of Mexican rice it tasted like white rice. What I can't get over when I go to these Mexican restaurants that serve "authentic" tacos is the price. The Al Pastor tacos cost $10 and I can get the same tacos in Ruskin, that are 100% authentic and taste better for about $1.50 a taco. The service left something to be desired. While our waitress was polite our dinning experience took an hour and fifteen minutes, we only ordered two entrees. Most people in the downtown area are looking for a quick lunch (30 to 45 minutes) during their lunch hour. If you are looking for a quick taco for lunch I would recommend taco bus down the street.
(2)William T.
Service was excellent. Food not so much... If a federal prison ever decided to do Mexican night I would imagine that it would taste a lot like this place. But service was great.
(3)Melanie B.
Great location and good service. Love the queso, bean and rice! $2 Taco Tuesdays are awesome however we usually spend $60+ since we have so many! Love in this order: 1) chuletta 2) tinga 3) carnitas 4) carne 5) al pastor (a bit too sweet). If you arent able to make it on Tuesday, they have a CLDeal for $20 worth for $10... Get the XXL steak Chimichanga
(4)Chris B.
I've been here a few times and it's pretty solid each visit. The portions are huge. I really enjoy the enchiladas, and for the price, it's a great deal. The restaurant is clean and spacious, and there are a few tv's scattered around. The chips and salsa are delicious as well. Service tends to be hit and miss and the happy hour could be better. Park on the street free after 6pm on weekdays and free all day on weekend (north of Kennedy).
(4)Nick S.
Urban Cantina was packed for lunch on a Friday, but we got seats at the bar and enjoyed our chips, queso, guacamole, taco, enchiladas, and torta. Anythony gave us excellent service. I requested a couple limes as I like the flavor on my Mexican food. Would go again. Like the fun and interesting decor and attention to detail.
(4)Lori V.
This place used to be great. I stopped going because it lost its touch. Plus, I had a good look around and was grossed out by the dirty floor and dusty chairs. I used to order the chicken soup and tacos. I now prefer the soup at Chihuahua's. This place is ok if you need something but don't expect a great experience. It is still a good experience though.
(3)Tim K.
We had lunch here our first day in Tampa along with my sister and her boyfriend. Initially we were going to find a Taco truck of some kind, but they had always wanted to try this place and after a brief once over of the menu on the outside door we decided to check it out. The decor there is pretty cool, but it verged a bit on the hipster side. I was a little disappointed with the placement of one of the Luchador Wrestlers they painted on the wall next to our table. Had they positioned it properly they could have utilized the bolts in the wall as the perfect nipples and it would have been hilarious. Their Tortilla Soup was really good, but could use more Avocado in it. There was only like two small slices in the bowl. The best thing they offered however was their chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and still had a little bit of hot oil sizzling on them and the salsa was really bright and flavorful. I tried a few different tacos as they were all relatively small and my favorite was the Holy Mole. It was messy to eat, but was very very tasty. The wifey had one of their Al Pastor tacos and was a bit hesitant to try it at first as it stated it had Pineapples in it. She was afraid they would be huge chunks, but they were cut up small and it was more of a Pineapple Salsa. Rice and beans were a nice accompaniment to our meals as well. As for drinks, this is were I was slightly let down. Everything that I wanted seemed to be out so I settled for just a plain old Coke. Also my sister ordered a Mango Margarita and let me try it and we both agreed it tasted overly artificial. Service was good though and we had no complaints. Our waitress was nice, informative and prompt with refills and even offered us to-go drinks if we wanted them. All in all our overall experience was fair to medium. If I lived in the area I don't think this would be an all the time go to place, but wouldn't be opposed to going there every once in awhile. One of the reasons was that their prices were a little high on the tacos with them being as small as they were. That's just my opinion though.
(3)Colleen D.
Went in for lunch, first customers in at 11:00 am. We were attracted by the window decals, which, duh. Blown away by the service, freshness of food, prices, etc. I had a pork fajita plate and my friend had the 3 taco plate (fish, shrimp, and chicken). We were both very satisfied and if we ever come back to Tampa will attempt to make a visit again.
(5)Esteban O.
Great tacos! Chips salsa, amazingly simple! Service great! Ambience fun, and competent! Food was simple, flavorful, not complicated! Enough said. Come here if you craving authentic Mexican food, they prove that amazing Mexican food does not need all the gimmicks.
(5)Laura W.
I went to Urban Cantina after a movie at the Tampa Theatre. The restaurant was a bit dirty looking, especially when I walked back to the bathroom. As far as the food, the chips and salsa tasted good. However, my entree arrived with the cheese unmelted inside the tortilla. There was a spoonful of pico on the side, which did not look or taste fresh. For such a basic item as a quesadilla, I would have expected better. The food didn't taste good enough for me to take the left-overs with me. The service was good, even if the quesadilla was not. After seeing the lack of cleanliness in the restaurant, I will not return soon. Check out inspections of your favorite Florida restaurants by the Florida Department of Business and Professional at: myfloridalicense.com/wl1…
(1)Natasha P.
Great atmosphere and service, my friends and just had our Christmas dinner here and it was absolutely delicious. Hours later I'm still full. I had two yummy tacos and my son had a burrito. The price is very reasonable and location is perfect cause after we were done with dinner we walked to Down Town Tampa on ice and burn some calories.
(4)Mike C.
Yummy yummy in my tummy. I love this place. I come here whenever I am in downtown tampa. I'm at a convention at the Hilton right now and I'll eat here every night.
(5)Tami L.
Great food. AWFUL AWFUL selection of drinks. Worst tequila I've ever had. And snotty waitress
(2)Christine H.
Found this randomly on Urbanspoon when visiting Tampa and loved it!!!' After living on the border of Texas and Mexico for 2 years, I can confirm that this is very authentic Mexican food. It tasted just like the deliciousness my husband and I used to get a few miles from the border in the Ro Grande Valley, and it was fresh and great quality. We both I got the 3 tacos w/ rice + beans option... The chicken mole is amazing, and I loved the vegetarian taco w/ corn, tomato and avocado. The chips and salsa seem homemade (yum!) and the margaritas were just right. We also had our 2 year old with us, who has a severe nut allergy, and they were amazingly accommodating of her (and made her a package of quick 90-second rice that we brought with us)... Thank you! Will definitely go back if we're in Tampa again.
(5)Chi P.
Food was good, not great...but pretty good. Nothing came out hot. It was all lukewarm. That said, the food did have some flavor. We ordered veggie enchiladas, bean tacos, and tinga tacos (spicy shredded chicken). Everything was alright. We had flan and fried ice cream for dessert. Both were very good. Fried ice cream is a good size for two, maybe three people. Good to know ahead of time - the 3 taco plate means three of the same type of tacos.
(3)Kim R.
Chips and salsa were fresh and delicious, guac was also delicious and satisfying. I had 2 black bean tacos w/ refried beans, also good. The staff was super friendly. The only negative is that I felt the margarita was too sweet. I'll definitely be back! (foursquare check in gets you free guac!)
(4)Clyde S.
I was never a big Mexican foodie... I am Italian and actually have family members that own Mexican restaurants, but never got into it. We moved downtown and love to eat out, unfortunately, there are few places to go. Anyways. Long story short, it's a great place to eat. I enjoy the quesadillas, chimichangas and Soft tacos, they are delicious. I think some of the reviewers are overly critical. You can't please everyone, but to compare the food to Taco Bell... Come on. Some of you take Yelp way more serious than you should.
(5)Kelly F.
Love at first bite. Seriously. I had always driven by the Urban Cantina on the way from Clearwater to Brandon but just never had the opportunity to eat there. Until one time I forced myself to stop and pick up food for myself, the hubby and kids. (I just couldn't resist their fun name and logo!) That's right, the first time I ate here I didn't even eat...here. And we loved it. LOVE. My husband is half mexican, born and raised in California and has the hardest time finding Mexican food in Florida that is "genuine". He loved it. Since that fateful day we try and go whenever we can. Our toddlers love the flautas (on the menu as an appetizer but more than enough food for the boys) and think the Mexican wrestling mask decor is to die for. My own tried and true is the Super Chimicanga. Delicious. To the point that I have a hard time sharing it with my four year old. And believe me, it's big enough to share, it just brings out that little bit of selfishness in me that makes me want to keep it...all...for...myself. I've never had a problem with super slow service here that some other reviewers mention, but we're typically here at non peak times so I'm probably not the best judge. And if it were slow, I'd still recommend it. Urban Cantina makes my belly happy!
(5)Whitney E.
Called in a togo order. When I got there thirty minutes later, they hadn't even started cooking it yet. When I finally got my salad (after another 20 minutes), it was soggy and missing half of the ingredients. 20 dollars for a corona and crappy salad.
(1)Craig L.
4 tacos & a lemonade for $9.99. The food here was great. I cannot for the life of me understand the negative reviews. The bartender was great. Next time I am in Tampa...I will def be back.
(5)Mike S.
Unfortunately unimpressed, because this is one of the few eateries in downtown that is open at night. And judging by the few other patrons there with us on a weekday evening, it is not magnetic enough to draw customers at that hour....and we were lured by a coupon or special. The decor is spiffy and attractive, but we came to eat not just look. Regrettably the food was not special and the service a bit tepid. I am a soup lover, but disappointed by their bland tortilla soup (tomato-rice) Can't remember the entree that came with obligatory rice & re-fried beans....so that tells the story....not quite disgusting enough to warn against and not good enough to repeat or recommend. There are clearly better Mexican food sources with better prices and accessibility. Just wish there were more/better night-time options in downtown Tampa........otherwise all those GOP conventioneers will be pushed to Ybor where they may get in trouble.... ON CAMERA!!!
(2)Dave H.
Upon entering the urban cantina restaurant in down town tampa you enter into your standard run of the mill mexican restraunt.The waitresses are very attentive and made sure we where well taken care of.We have been to the urban cantina twice now and the food is pretty good.The chips are hot the salsa could use a little color beyond the standard diced tomatoes look.I don't know why all of these mexican restraunts use the same blah salsa.I had grilled chicken tacos and they had fresh veggies on them and the rice and beans where rice and beans. My wife had the vegetarian black bean tacos and they where good as well.Out of the generic mexican chains such as vallarta's,estellas,and tias this is the best one of them.
(3)Patrick Q.
I really want to give this place a 5 star rating. Just for the food alone. However, it is in a spot where the only opportunity I have to go there is during lunch. The first time, it took up my whole lunch, but I was able to get back to work on time. The second time I was 15 minutes late. If you have some flexibility in your lunch, this place is fine, for me it's worth a gamble once in a while, but not on the regular. If you are open for lunch... in a downtown spot... you have to have the timing down. I would hate to see this place slide in popularity because it takes them 45 minutes to make 4 tacos. I can make tacos at home from scratch (tortillas and all) in less time. Now that I got that off my chest- the food is amazing. The tacos are some of the best around. Perhaps better than La Cabana Del Tio. The Holy Mole is awesome, the Tinga is also pretty darn good. I would say give it a try, it may just be worth the while for you!
(3)Emily V.
I tried this place out one day for lunch when I was in town for work. I started with salsa and queso with chips. Umm, yum! I particularly liked the queso a lot. The chips are fresh and fried and very crunchy, very good. I tried two tacos after that - the chuletas (crispy pork chops sauteed in green verde salsa) and the carne asada. Honestly, I don't remember the difference between the two of them that much, but I remember liking both of them a lot. Beans and rice were better than average. Gets really loud during lunch! But I liked it a lot and I would go back next time I'm in town!
(4)Jesse B.
STAY AWAY!! I went here last weekend and there was a big piece of fried paper mixed in with my side of fries! What's worse is the waitress didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her about it and did nothing to offer to make up for it! No wonder this place was closed by the city for food care code violations and roaches in their kitchen! It's a shame they're allowed to reopen, clearly things aren't any better there. I'll NEVER be back here again. Go to Miguel's on the corner of Kennedy and Macdill if you want good Mexican food.
(1)Kim H.
Overall the food was very good. I had two Hole Moly Taco's and one fish taco. There were fantastic. I love Mole sauce so I was super happy I could get it on a taco. My husband had three of the other varieties which I got bites of and they were delicious too. We were pleasantly full and the wait staff was very good. The waitress even fixed the table when it started to wobble. I would def eat here again.
(4)Shawn J.
Had a wonderful lunch here. Everything was quick and delicious. Negro Modelo on tap makes me happy! Super burrito has french fries inside it and it was awesome. Wife had quesadillas that were very good also. Service was very good, but the restaurant was not at even half capacity. Afterwards we staggered across the street to a park in downtown among the skyscrapers and people watched the homeless who frequent the park (facinating).
(4)Crystal P.
My family was looking for a new place to try out when we stumbled across this place. They had me with the Mexican wrestling masks and we went in to give it a try. The decor is quirky and I LOVED it. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a table by the window which was nice as I could watch the street traffic and relax. The menu had a wide food selection. Wanting to try a bit of this and a bit of that, I opted for the Street Corner Tacos. The platter included a taste of 5 different tacos- the al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, fish and pollo asado and a side of lime wedges, pico de gallo and homemade hot sauce. Being that there was only three of us at the table and one other table that came in after us. I was surprised at how long the food took to come out. We were kept occupied by the chips and salsa (which were great) the people watching, and were in no hurry so it really didn't bother me at the time. If I had been in a hurry or didn't want any chips...it would have concerned me. My tacos came out and everything was fresh and hot and really delicious. Each taco was dressed to perfection and had the right amount of filling. My favorite was the fish taco. Full of flavor with the fish crispy and cooked perfectly. In the end I was satisfied with my meal. We will be back to give this place a try again.
(3)Robert G.
I walked here from the Tampa Bay Times Forum for a bite to eat before the Bruce Springsteen concert (I was headed to Moxies, actually, but forgot they closed for dinner). This place was really good! Authentic Mexican menu, great flavors, good portions. The chips were handmade from REAL tortillas (always a good sign) and served with a really fresh, bright tasting salsa. It might have had a touch too much cilantro (as did a lot of their food), but I really love the way cilantro can brighten up a dish, so it didn't bother me too much. My brother, on the other hand, who can't stand the sight of it every since I shoved a leaf of it up his nose back in our childhood days, was not too impressed. I wasn't a huge fan of the rice (it's almost like a Mexican fried rice, complete with carrots and peas....just not my thing). I suggest ordering the three tacos. Don't order the tacos meal, because then you will get three of the same kind. If you order them a la carte, you can mix and match! I'd like to come back and try a dessert and a mojito, because both of those looked INCREDIBLE. Their churros definitely looked tasty from afar. Be prepared to wait a little while for your food/the check. While the service was good, it did take quite a few strong "dagger glances" to get her to come back for refills/more chips/the check.
(3)Marsha C.
Luhuv their tortilla soup. Its a meal in itself. Good flavor, love the rice in it. Their tacos are good too. Love to stop in here when visiting my daughter at UT.
(4)Jennie W.
Great friendly service always! I have been here several times and its always good food and great atmosphere.
(5)Bryan D.
We were walking around the city at night and decided to check this place out. We were promptly sat, the waitress was very friendly and helpful with a couple questions we had. I tried the assortment of tacos. The ranged from good to awesome. I forget what my wife got, it was good though. We will def go back next time we are in the area.
(4)Cari E.
I am actually pretty surprised by the reviews on here. I really enjoy Urban Cantina. The wait staff has always been friendly. The food can be a little slow to come out but if you give me a bowl of their chips and some of their fresh and light salsa, I don't mind. I would like to preface my review by saying I would have given Urban Cantina 3 stars typically but I like that they are a location that is open at night downtown and I'm surprised by the lack luster reviews from my fellow yelpers. The decor is modern while still being Mexican. Multiple Mexican wrestling masks adorn the corrugated walls. They don't have a liquor license so I suggest steering away from margaritas or mojitos. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and they serve one of my favorite Mexican beers, Pacifico Light. The chips and salsa and delicious. I did get a batch of chips one time that tasted a little stale but I told the waitress and she brought out a new batch that were fresh and crunchy. I recommend the tortilla soup. It's nice and light. It comes with chicken, carrot, onion and other delicious things.
(3)Jennifer L.
Love this place. I travel for work and eat here every time I am in Tampa, which is really frequently. The service is quick, they are great at accommodating groups, and they have lots of variety. I like their tacos and enchiladas. I've also had their cheesy super chimichanga which my friends and now just call "Creamy white sauce" (insert as many jokes as you can think of with that kind of name). We've gone there so often we just ask "Want some creamy white sauce?" and everyone knows what we're talking about. Margaritas are good but I have only had them once or twice. Another perk is that they are one of only a few places that stays open in downtown Tampa at night. Tampa is like a city after the zombie apocolypse so it is a nice place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. Really tasty chips and salsa.
(5)Bill Z.
Came here on a Saturday for dinner. The service was slow, and the hostess sat both tables next to us with little kids in a half empty restaurant. We ordered tacos that, for how small they are, are over priced and dry. I DO NOT recommend this place and I won't be returning. Go to Tijuana Flats instead... Better food, service and prices
(2)Samantha G.
Eh, it's alright. Can get pretty hopping during the lunch rush. Service was attentive, but not exactly friendly. Pretty good list of menu options. I had the El Chango, which was a combo platter of 1 taco, 2 enchiladas, and beans and rice. For $8, it was a tremendous amount of food. None of it was bad per se, but I didn't leave craving more either.
(3)Rebecca V.
Went for lunch and they were very under staffed but were trying very hard for the staff they had. The food was delish, very fresh tasting, love being downtown so environment/area was good, margarita (shhh yes it was lunch, but come on its Mexican!) anyway margarita was very refreshing. They changed it up a little serving it in a mug. I was impressed and will return!
(4)Amanda C.
Very good chips and salsa. I had the chimichanga which was deliciously cheesy and a friend I went with had three tacos which were also very yummy. There were a lot of different options to choose from!
(4)Anthony S.
This place gets no stars at all. Horrible, awful food. I cant believe they serve this crap & call it authentic, if this is indeed what mexicans are eating(& i know there not) this is why the cross the border for better food. Taco bus has waaaay better food, & there are better places to eat around the corner like jerk hut, moxies, Fresh and others. Worst $25.46 spent ever. I had 2 shrimp tacos w/special sauce and overfried beans & rice. It sucked badly. Go to taco bell if u really want to waste ur money but have sone taste. I shouldnt have to request a plethora of sauces to spice/season your crap up. WILL NEVER EAT THIS SWILL AGAIN, server was nice...only thing
(1)Rachel O.
Service was slow for my party and not friendly. Perhaps that's why it was pretty empty on a Friday night. Decor was nice though. Food was decent but for the price, could be bigger and better tasting. There's better mexican food out there.
(2)Eric S.
I had been here a couple times when the restaurant first opened up and was pretty pleased with the overall quality. This has all changed with time though. The rice was bland and chewy, the chicken taco and enchiladas were bland and dry, and the chips seemed extremely stale. The only positive things that come to mind are the onions and cilantro were fresh and the last waitress who helped us (the first one disappeared) was very nice and pleasant. Can't envision going back here again.
(1)Erica M.
Urban shitina. The service was so outrageously bad that I will never ever set foot in here again. The dimwitted waitress charged someone else's bill onto my credit card. then said she couldn't reprint an updated receipt after it was supposedly "corrected." and said "don't worry, it's taken care of." When I received my statement and there was no "Correction" the restaurant was called. Multiple attempts to get a manager on the phone finally found me listening to some asshat saying he can't retroactively credit a card. What kind of 1980s system are these people using!? So I was told a credit would be mailed to me. You think that happened? hell no. I look forward to hearing that this place has gone out of business- it's just a matter of time.
(1)Gee. C.
Eat lunch here a couple times a week. Shrimp tacos all the way!!!
(4)Marcos O.
Very good steak tacos! Reminded me of some Mexican taco's with authentic spices that I once had in California. Service is not the greatest as they could use another waiter during lunch hours but it wouldn't stop me from eating here again.
(3)Philip R.
great food at a great price. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years and it's hard to find authentic tacos al pastor... this place has 'em! Muy rico y buen precio. Good location for night time walk around Tampa including Curtis Hixon park and walking distance from Tampa theater.
(4)Jonathan B.
LOVE this place! The service is GREAT, the staff is hot, and the food is well-price AND delicious! I DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone in the area! :-)
(5)Tiffany B.
Service is usually quick, food is great but, at times, inconsistent. I usually get the chimichanga, which is humungous and delicious. My only issue is that sometimes it's loaded with chicken (as it should be) and sometimes the chicken is scarce to find in a sea of beans. They need to work on their consistency, but other than that, the food is great! Update: Oh wow. No. I haven't visited Urban Cantina in a few months and my how it has changed! First- the service. It's horrible. But that's probably because all the servers there were bored looking high school girls. They had time to chat it up at the bar area and clean tables while no one bothered to even take our drink order and then had the nerve to get an attitude (remember: teenage girls) when we asked for our waitress because we were ready to order. First problem. Second, the queso dip was closer to cold than it was to hot. I can't even call it lukewarm. Third- I ordered the enchiladas and... I'm not exaggerating here... the enchilada sauce must have been straight out of a McCormick's packet and just mixed with water. Literally the most bland enchiladas I've ever tasted- soupy, unseasoned, tomato water, basically. Same goes with the rice and beans- not even salted, as if that requires any effort or culinary expertise. As my husband and I like to say: "This place has been banished". Bottom Line: Don't waste your time and money at Urban Cantina when there are plenty of Mexican restaurants with good food and great service, neither of which you'll find here.
(1)Wes S.
The food was ok... Just ok. Definitely go to the one on Howard instead.
(3)Jenn B.
I was a little disappointed when we asked about the drinks specials and they told us about the beer and margaritas and didn't mention that the margaritas are wine based. We had to ask what kind of tequila they had have to find out they only have their beer and wine license. I would have given the wine based margarita a chance (even though I would prefer tequila) if they told me up front. I was just a little thrown off when I found out on my own and ordered a beer. I fish tacos were really tasty! I was told by my boyfriend that the pork and chicken taco were dry. We both enjoyed the chicken enchilada. I would return just for the fish tacos! Plus it super close to home!
(3)Don A.
So we wanted to give this place another try before going to Wicked and once again the same ole service issues. Place was pretty busy w a convention in town. We were told 10-15 minutes and couldn't help but notice 3 dirty tables that the staff just kept walking by? Needless to say we waited 15-20 minutes and once again were told it would be another 10-15 minutes LOL! High school employees didn't seem to worry or care much about the poor owners business obviously. Its a shame, we left and had tapas next door as well as 2 other parties that gave up waiting.....
(2)Dave S.
We are from San Diego, and found this Mexican food very bland. I had the fish tacos and it was just OK. The other folks in our work group that ate had the same opinion that the food was OK but not exciting.
(2)Keith S.
I immediately appreciated three things upon entering Urban Cantina. They were open on a Tuesday night, we were seated immediately, and their air conditioning was set to perfect levels. Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there, and not just because they didn't have their liquor license yet. I should start off by saying that the concept of the restaurant got me excited, from the postmodern luchador pastiche to the laudably laser-focused menu (when was the last time you ate at a Mexican restaurant that didn't hand you an annotated copy of "War and Peace" as a menu, with 20 various, no-substitutes "combinations"?). Unfortunately, the chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. Their guacamole really ruined the dinner for me. I don't know if something was off or I just don't know what guacamole was supposed to taste like, but there was this nagging, fermented zing to every bite that just didn't play well in my mouth. I thought about sending it back, but it was, well, a small side of guacamole. Me: "Is it tequila? Did they spike this with beer? It's not spoiled, is it? It couldn't be..." My dining partner: "Just stop eating it and move on." I moved on to fish tacos, which were passable, if not a bit like frozen fish sticks thrown into an otherwise authentic fish taco presentation. The sauce had an overly salty edge to it--kind of like Cool Ranch Doritos, to be honest--but the dish as a whole came out to a 6 out of 10. My partner's dinner was entirely too salty, and really uneven with the spice. One side of the burrito was mild and the other side inspired sweating and unintentional tears. I do have to say that the aura of chipotle in the burrito sauce was really nice. I would've given the place an extra star had it not been so terribly salty and ridiculously uneven with the spice. The sides were passable as well - beans and rice. Not the worst, not the best. Overall, this place comes across as really earnest and you can tell that the concept has promise and takes some gutsy leaps into a more modern take on Mexican food. However, "planning to be great" and "succeeding in being great" are two VERY separate things. I'll give them some time and try again in the future.
(2)Steve C.
Great Mexican food at great prices. Good service, pleasant atmosphere. Would definitely eat here again. Just a short walk from the Marriott.
(4)Eric M.
So walked by on a Thursday night, after eating at the great french restaurant across the street the night before. Not a real Margarita, but at least it was 2 for 1. Lame. Chips although homemade were greasy, totally unsalted, and a bit chewy, and the the salsa was bland. They at least do use queso fresco, enchiladas are ok, and tacos, were just ok. Too bad because the location and decor are well done!
(2)Holly K.
Not bad, not great. The atmosphere was very cute and the service was wonderful. The "healthy" options menu was a welcome addition, but the dish I ordered was pretty ho-hum. Bland and not presented very well. I would like to go again just so I could try something from the regular menu.
(3)Chris C.
Let me keep it simple defining this in one word "CRAP" Taco bell is better than this garbage guess its back to the bus i go
(1)PT C.
We walked in because of the catchy graphics on the outside and it seemed like it should be a cool place to go for Mexican downtown. That's about where the originality ended. We walked in to a nearly empty, very dimly lit, strangely decorated, dining room. The first problem was the lack of alcohol. I was told by our waiter that the liquor license was coming soon but that one strike one for me. My companion ordered the tortilla soup and I ordered the carnitas. The soup came out and was not even close to what I would call tortilla soup. It was a chicken and rice soup with nary a strip of tortilla to be found. There was no flavor to it at all and the poor chicken died in vain. When we asked about it, the owner informed us that we were not educated enough to understand the nuances of the dish and asked if we had indeed ever been to Mexico. (we had, of course- extensively) but weren't in the mood to argue with him about it. The carnitas were probably very good a day or two before I ordered it but I should have brought some home in case I needed to plug a dam at some point. I probably could have stomached the rest of the meal had I had my usual Patrons and Negro Modelos before dinner, but what the hell. Our waiter was cool and explained that the menu was changing next week so I may give them a try after that (and the liquor license arrives) but for tonight's debacle I gave them one star plus one for the good service.
(2)LaKesha C.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. The service is great. The food is good.
(3)Chris P.
the food is mediocre at best. prices a little higher than they should be. the straw that broke the camels back was they didn't accept a gift certificate after we ordered appetizers. if u don't accept it anymore, then you should advertise that. I'm so glad the taco bus just opened up, because they will now get all of my Mexican food lunch money. enjoy going out of business soon!
(1)Justin H.
Excellent authentic tacos!
(4)Jenny S.
Went here for date night and loved it. The staff was very friendly and sat us by the window which was nice because we had a view of the bustle of the city. We were going to order the cheese dip but the waitress suggested the guacamole which came with a white cheese dip and it was sooo good. I ordered the enchiladas suizas and my husband ordered tacos and a burrito. We loved the food and will be coming back.
(4)Wayne D.
Ate here tonight. Was crowded and it seemed like they were not prepared for a crowd. Took a long time to be seated even though there were tables empty that just needed to be cleaned. Wait staff was harried and hurried and didn't pay much attention. Finally ordered and it took forever for our food to come. I finally had to ask and a while later it was brought out. I had ordered a dinner that included rice and beans. My companion ordered tacos and rice ala carte. There was no rice. She explained that they "ran out." How does a "World Class" Mexican restaurant run out of rice?? She said she would bring it out when it was done. Okay. Never came. I had the Urban Carnitas and they were okay. Everywhere else I've had them they come with warm tortillas. These didn't. The beans were just canned pork and beans that were doctored up a bit. You could still taste the canned taste. Waitress also forgot to charge me for my beer. I had to remind her. Will pass on returning to this one.
(2)Mark P.
I've been 2-3 times to Urban Cantina. It's definitely better than the other more popular Mexican option downtown. One time I went it was a ghost town and of course, service was better. Another time I went it was packed and in turn, service suffered. It took unusually long to get my order the last time but service great other time(s). The queso and made-from-scratch tortilla chips are addicting. The tacos are decent. The horchata was good...my server even gave me a free refill which was nice. Rice and frijoles are typical. The prices are higher compared to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican taco joints but not crazy high. The decor is cool with a lucha libre decor. It's a pretty nice option for Mexican food in the downtown area. I prefer to frequent other taquerias near me that are cheaper and better but if I'm already downtown, it's a place I would consider.
(4)Laura L.
I've been here twice in the last month or so - both experiences were great. Though we sat at the bar, service was excellent. The bartenders were wonderful and offered several suggestions. Chips and salsa are complimentary and served right when you sit down. Good house margarita and Corona light on tap. Both times I ordered tacos: Carne asada, carnitas, shrimp and a tinga. The homemade tortillas were delicious and most had queso fresco on top - definitely a nice touch. All were good, but the tinga was by far my favorite. The shredded chicken was seasoned well and had a bit of a kick. Ask for their house hot sauces if you like some extra heat. If you can make it, they have a $2 Taco deal on Tuesdays. Overall a great spot with decent prices. Will definitely be back.
(4)Lilian Y.
It was OK, I would not trek here from far. The only reason I didn't follow my Yelp-intuition was because it was getting late and I was really hungry. This spot was good but it closes early and doesn't have a changing table in the bathroom. No bueno for me, that's why if I'm ever back in the area this is a for sure skip and try something better kinda deal.
(3)Melissa V.
I just went in for dessert because people told me that this place would offer me churros that were good since I couldn't find a restaurant that would serve these and my goodness were they delicious! It was definitely a plus when it came with vanilla ice cream all for $5! The only downfall is if you order online, they won't get it so when you go in there for your online to go order, they don't have it. It's kind of dumb to have the ability to order online but get there and your order was never placed. The only downfall for me besides not having lunch there and only dessert.
(3)T2 B.
Wonderful food at very reasonable prices! Their queso is delicious and silky smooth The chips are thick, freshly fried, and have none of that hint of bitterness that always come with cheap chips. Portions are gargantuan. I had a filling dinner and enough leftover for two lunches. The dining room is simple but comfortable and the service was prompt and friendly. Parking downtown is always a minor hassle, but this place is worth it!
(5)Cassandra S.
First time at the downtown location and it was a great experience. Awesome service. Delicious food. The house margarita, rocks, salt was awesome! My boyfriend loved his fajitas. Prices were reasonable. Great place to eat dinner in downtown Tampa.
(5)Karen T.
The tinga tacos are rockin! If you like heat on your meat these will blow your mind. My lips are still tingling from the smokey hot goodness! Yum yum the carna asada tacos were also very good but put to shame by the tingas. I found the margaritas to be very average. .next time I would choose a cold beer instead. Check this place out...you won't be disappointed.
(4)Tia S.
After seeing this restaurant several times on my many trips downtown, I finally tried it when meeting my girlfriend for dinner. I am not usually a fan of downtown restaurants during the work day because parking is usually a bear but in the evening parking is free after 6. The restaurant is very casual which was perfect for our girl chat dinner outing. My friend ordered a salad so truthfully I refuse to review her entrée. But after contemplating a few menu items, at the suggestion of my server I ordered the super chimichanga. She said it was the most filling of the options I was considering so that was my choice since I was famished. The chimichanga was served with rice and beans on the side. The chimichanga was served with a trio of sauces on top. Of the three my favorite was the queso. The mole was a bit spicy for me but flavorful. I chose steak as my filling and it was exactly what I wanted. My only complaint (other than not having enough queso on top) was the overabundance of rice in the filling. The chimichanga seemed to be rice with a side of steak instead of the other way around. The prices were affordable and I am interested in trying the tacos on my next visit.
(4)Kristin R.
Oh ya baby- today I am a happy girl! If you read my reviews, you know I am a Mexican food lover/ snob with strong opinions and discerning taste. Tonight was a good night my friends; I found a new treasure! The run down: I grade my Mexican restaurants on three distinct factors: margaritas, tortillas and queso- the corner stone of Mexican cuisine. Urban Cantina did not disappoint! Margarita: served short with lots of tequila, lots of lime and very little sour mix! Tortillas:Chips were HAND MADE as were the corn tortillas for my tacos!! OMG if you have never had hand made corn tortillas, well you haven;t eaten good Mexican food. YUMM-O Queso: Queso al Fresco on the tacos and White queso dip for the yum-o chips. I pure Tex-Mex addition that I was so happy to get on rainy Monday! Server was a doll; ambiance was - well it was a Mexican restaurant; its always a little interesting.... $2Taco Tuesdays FTW; can't wait to go back!!
(4)Mailoha A.
We placed a large order for pickup and not only did they get it all right but it was also all ready at the exact time they said it would be. It was easy to order, just emailed them our order, and they labeled it all for us, as we had requested. The food was also really good. Will be back for more for sure.
(5)Andrea L.
Stopped here after a 2pm Saturday show at The Straz! Service was great, food was hot and staff was attentive. We had a fine experience!
(4)Jasmine S.
Good food . Great prices. Nice staff . I'm not from the town but wandered in and I was pleasantly surprised their meals are delicious and a great portion .
(4)Dillon K.
Have been here many times as the location is convenient for me. Never cared much for the chips as they are extremely hard unlike most Mexican restaurant chips. I would have given this place a higher rating if not for my last visit....or should I say attempted visit. A friend and I arrived at 8:50 and was told by the waitress that we couldn't be seated since they close at 9:00. I looked at my phone to check the time.....it was 8:50 not 9:00. The place was packed and I guess she wanted to get out of there and they must not need the extra business. I recommend they change their hours to close at 8:50 since that seems to be the time they stop accepting customers.
(2)Cameron G.
I waited a long time to go here because there are a lot of other (better looking) places in downtown. But I'd nearly run out of new places, and it was time to give UC a shot. As I suspected, I haven't been missing much. I ordered a burrito, which was lukewarm at most, and it was otherwise bland. Three things brought this from a 2- to a 3-star experience. The first two are the the chips and salsa, which were free and great. The third was the size of my burrito. After the massive burrito and the chips and salsa, I left UC full -- and, for me, that's an exceptionally rare feeling.
(3)Abe D.
Ok, My crew and I were doing an event in Tampa, finished early and looked for a quick bite. We ended up here because Lady M wanted to still drink beer and this place had beer. Place looked cool. Food decent, edible, nothing to really complain about. The service on the other hand was a horror story. Nothing really serious, just ditzy service. Wanted unsweet tea...got sweet tea. She brings me the unsweet...I ask for sweetener...2 more trips she doesn't bring it. Finally when she does....the whole dish is filled with regular sugar and only 2 packs of sweet n low! DUH. We get served our food yet no one has even brought us silverware yet. Definitely not worth coming back. But they did have beer.........
(3)Todd B.
Big fan of Urban Cantina. We originally tried to get to their south Tampa location, only to discover it was closed for renovations, so we came to this one instead. Shame, because there is a CL Deal for it that we would have purchased had we knew we were coming to this spot. Oh well, and I digress. It's kind of a dingy little Mexican place, and I know that's a bad way of describing something, but I just mean it isn't a fancy restaurant. But one does not go here for the decor. The chips and salsa to start with are solid. Good, chunky delicious salsa. My girlfriend got 3 of their tacos. Not their street tacos or gringo tacos, and I don't recall which 3. She hasn't written her review yet, but when she does, check it out. You'll know it's hers because she will compare the tacos she got to her awesome amazing street tacos. All I remember about her meal is that she enjoyed it a lot. I got their gordito burrito with pork. It is a fat burrito. Ever get a burrito from Chipolte and load it with everything and wonder how you're going to fit a single bite in your mouth? Well, that's baby food by comparison. This thing was huge. I got mine with a ranchero sauce instead of queso on top - its offered both ways - and I suppose if you love cheese then you'd like the queso, but the ranchero sauce has to be the way to go. I normally don't get burritos in a new Mexican restaurant. I tend to stick with tacos or fajitas - my old standby. I went with the burrito because it sounded amazing and their tacos each had something strange about them that put me off. For example, I think the pork one had pineapple in it (don't quote me, this was a week ago and my memory is fuzzy and I can't be bothered looking up the menu right now). In any event, I don't regret the decision at all. I scarfed this thing down and then thought I would explode. Really delicious stuff. Solid solid solid Mexican food in downtown Tampa.
(4)Vinny T.
I've been going to Urban Cantina regularly since moving to Downtown Tampa a few years ago. For Mexican in Downtown Tampa I believe they have a fresher quality product then Taco Bus. A creature of habit I typically get the Carne Asada Tacos with char-grilled skirt steak and topped with onions, cilantro, queso fresco and avocado. The avocado is what really does it for me with a squirt of lime. Everything on the menu is fresh and tasty and after numerous visits the service is consistently good. The only downside is the lack of a full liquor bar.
(4)Debbie C.
$2 Taco Tuesdays plus $2 Coronas what's not to love! The tacos are delicious and so many filling choices that you'll have trouble narrowing your order down to a reasonable 3 or 4!
(5)K.L. R.
Really good food... priced moderately! Cool atmosphere inside. The drinks are a little pricey (especially the margaritas) for the size you get. However, every waitress is really nice, prompt and have great personalities (especially Michelle - you rock!) As I've been frequenting downtown much more recently this has been a definite stop for lunch or dinner every other week! (also, they have CL deals all of the time - so half off is good!)
(4)Alyssa S.
Stopped in for the first time after the Gasparilla parade. It is a cute little restaurant. We ordered a nacho to snack on before heading home. The nachos plate was smaller than expected, but delicious. It had the perfect amount of refried beans, quest, guacamole, lettuce and Pico de Gallo. The chips are freshly made here and tasty, however the nachos only had about 6-8 chips so we had to ask for more. Our server was doubling as the bartender today and did not check on us. If the service were better I would give it more stars. I will definitely give it another try though because I thoroughly enjoyed the food.
(3)Patrick F.
Great little spot for a Mexican meal that's quick, cheap, and tasty! They have about anything you want, but tacos are the special of the house. I had a big burrito with ranchero sauce and it was delicious. And quick! I had barely ordered and it was already out! Small selection of beers on draft, but they're repping the Mexican beers correct! The decor is luchador to the hilt and there are plenty of TVs to catch the game, etc. I would definitely recommend you stop by if you're in the area!
(4)Bob B.
Luchadores, chips, salsa, tacos, killer mole sauce, and rap music. This is about sums up the vibe I get from Urban Cantina downtown version. I have never been to the Hyde Park location so I can't compare, but I hope it is just like this one. It is awesome that right when you are seated, boom here comes the iced water, fresh tortilla chips, and homemade salsa hits the table before you can utter a word. You want more? They'll bring you more. Cost? Free. The tacos are all good. On this visit I pigged out and ordered 4 tacos ($9.99) a Chuleta Taco (Crispy pork chops sauteed in salsa verde), a Fish Taco (Lightly battered fish, cabbage, Pico de Gallo, secret sauce and topped with red onions), an Al Pastor Taco (chile rubbed pork grilled with pineapple and topped with onions, cilantro and queso), and a Crunchy Tinga Taco, (chipotle marinated chicken cooked in onions topped with lettuce, pico & queso). My favorites, in order, were the Chuleta (hands down winner), Crunchy Tinga, Al Pastor, and finally the Fish Taco. Betty ordered the Mole Poblano, a traditional, slightly spicy, chocolate sauce served over chicken and two enchiladas with rice and beans. I sampled this and it was really good, loaded with tons of shredded chicken and the sauce was phenomenal. Will definitely be back because of the service and the quality of the food.
(4)Miriam C.
Wonderful authentic salsa chips needed salt but the shrimp tacos were great! the margaritas on the rocks delicious as well.
(5)Michael P.
This place has good food. They serve tortilla chips that are so thick, you just know they are homemade. Their salsa is awesome and the tacos are really good as well. Our waitress was very friendly and she was quick. Food was piping hot and did not get cold before I was finished. A new frequent stop in downtown Tampa!
(5)Melissa B.
Service was great! Margaritas were great! Chips, salsa and guacamole were awesome! A great place to stop for a great meal.
(5)Robin K.
Really enjoy their food. Chips are perfect if you like a lot if crunch. Portions are large too. Have never been disappointed and have gone there at least 20 times.
(5)Brittney C.
If you're looking for great Mexican food in downtown Tampa this is the place to go. Great service by an exceptionally attractive staff plus an awesome tequila selection.
(5)Martin C.
got a living social deal so decided to give this place a try... Overall food was not bad but was not spectacular... Our server Anthony was very friendly and did his best to provide fast service even though they were understaffed. I definitely will give this place another shot, seems to have great potential.
(3)Melissa Z.
What a nice little quirky Mexican restaurant we have right in downtown Tampa. It looks like it belongs in Ybor but some Mexican wrestler went and uprooted it and plopped it downtown. It has a casual, almost edgy atmosphere. We saw couples, loners, and families all here to eat some tacos and muse over the eclectic Mexican-wrestler theme whimsically placed along the walls. They are known for their Authentic Mexican Tacos. I tried the shrimp one, the black bean one and the fish one. All three were good. I think I like the shrimp one better though. I was disappointed how little avocado was on my bean taco. It was more like a garnish than a substantive flavor. That said, all of these tacos were generous portions. I love that you can order one type of taco so that you can enjoy a variety of tacos. Makes it a very affordable and enjoyable meal. They have plenty of options for everyone. They even have a special vegetarian menu which I will have to try when I return. If I can stay away from the tacos.
(4)H L.
We went here for an early dinner one weekend. When I went to check in on Foursquare, I received an offer for free guac. When I told the waitress about it, she not only was aware of the offer but also told me that it was a smaller size appetizer, not their normal size and wanted to make sure it was enough for us (as there were four of us). It wasn't and we ordered the standard as well. This was appreciated especially since some businesses aren't aware of their Foursquare offers. The menu had a vegetarian section which I was thrilled with. Plenty for me to choose from. The food was very good and we all enjoyed some beers with our meal. I definitely would like to head back here for dinner soon. One thing to note- we have been in search of great brunch spots. We looked online and saw that they had brunch on weekends, but had no menu items listed on the site. We drove down there and when we walked in there was no menu posted to confirm this and there was only one waitress taking care of one table. She saw us and told us to sit anywhere. We told her we had a question and waited by the door. She was taking their orders and wasn't able to come over to help us, understandably. After a couple of minutes we assumed that they didn't actually offer brunch items and left. So no brunch, but we'll definitely be back for dinner.
(4)Martic R.
First visit late Saturday night even though it looked busy most people had already ordered so our food came out very quickly and we were very thankful for it. We ordered the quesadillas, tacos and chips. I absolutely loved the Guacamole not so much the chips but that a personal preference. I would like to go back and try a few other things like the fajitas.
(4)Brian A.
Great selection fun decor and good prices for a downtown restaurant. The chip and salsa are unique and the fish tacos are my favorite. If you order a burrito you'll wobble out.
(4)Clayton L.
We stopped at Urban Cantina for a late lunch over the weekend. And while we were generally pleased, it's about a block away from the downtown Taco Bus, which has some of the best tacos in town. Urban Cantina, although a competitor of Taco Bus, does offer some different dining options. You can get meals w/beans and rice, they bring (very good) chips and salsa to the table, and they have other stuff (like massive chimichangas) that provide more of a restaurant vibe than the Taco Bus. Service was a little slow, but not terrible. And the wait staff seemed friendly. It's also worth noting that we were seated right away. Of course that might have something to do with us dining during off hours. In short, if you're stopping in for tacos, burritos or a torta then Taco Bus is a better option. But if you want a more robust dining experience with more food options then Urban Cantina is worth a try.
(3)Jim M.
Great location and great food. I liked everything about this place. Most importantly is the food and the super chimichanga is the way to go. Everything on the dish was delicious. My girlfriend enjoyed a pineapple mimosa with her dish and she loves it. The atmosphere is great with good music and friendly staff. The overall look of the place is pretty cool and I love their logo. Definitely coming back here if I'm back in town.
(4)Mae S.
Pros - love the interior decorating. The portions were large and the prices were good. The guy I was with couldn't even finish his rice bowl which never happens. I loved the complementary chips and salsa. The chips really were amazing. Cons - very crowded. They really packed in as many tables as possible. The food took a while, and my tortilla soup was just ok.
(3)Maddie G.
I don't know how this only has 3 stars. The service was amazing, the food was amazing, and the location is great. Our waiter was very on top of everything and attentive. I ordered a burrito which was HUGE and delicious. It puts chipotle burritos to shame. Great place!
(5)Jamie K.
Good energy, tasty food food for the price.
(4)L.J. R.
Saw the ad in Creative Loafing for $2 taco Tuesday and dragged a couple friends with to try it. They try to make authentic Mexican street tacos, which are small, so I planned for that and ordered extra. Tried three different ones and I'd say the pulled pork and bean (vegetarian option) were my two favorites. You can ask for hard shell if you want, but I took whatever the menu description was. It was a cute place, the server was friendly, and things came pretty quick. We enjoyed our meal and didn't wait long for another round of drinks and more tacos. For the price, $2 coronas, and you don't pay a parking meter after 6pm, we will go back on another Tuesday.
(3)Brandon A.
I ate at UC before I saw it on Yelp and I have to say when it loaded in the search results and I saw they were at three stars I thought to myself 'Eh, that may be generous but ok.' The best part about Urban Cantina is their exterior window decor, its essentially downhill from there. I had the taco lunch special -- The tacos were just ok, like others have said they weren't particularly remarkable in one direction or another. The service was on par with the food and not worth mentioning beyond that. What I will say is that for a 'special' I didn't feel like I got a whole lot of value out of my two tacos and rice with a soda for $12.50 -- I doubt I will be back.
(2)Tony R.
A super solid Mexican option in downtown Tampa. The tortilla chips are homemade which is always a SUPER plus. They have a nice crunch and, the salsa is on point with just enough cilantro and lemon in it. The house margaritas were also pretty good and taste like they were handmade without the store bought mix overwhelming the flavor. We ordered Tacos and Enchiladas, my tacos were very good. The shrimp tacos might have been my favorite followed by the carnitas and chicken. Great flavor, nice use of queso fresco, red onions, and sauce. One complaint is that my homemade tortillas were falling apart and could not hold the flavor overload. Maybe a double corn tortilla would to the trick? Great visit, will be back.
(4)Carter K.
Great service. Margarita's with patron were amazing. Great salsa and chips.We had quesadillas, tostada salad, steak and enchiladas and Chile rellano. All was wonderful. Do wish they had kid's menu. Will return again.
(4)Heather S.
This place has fantastic tacos!! Tried the Tinga, the Mole and the Fish tacos... WOW!! We will definitely be back :D
(5)Kathy O.
The food is just okay. The place is very loud and the service not anything to brag about
(3)Brennan T.
Good Mexican food, but nothing too special. On my first visit I tried the tortilla soup and sopes. The soup was only okay - good, but not especially flavorful or anything, but I enjoyed the sope. On my second visit I had a carne asada burrito, which was warm and hit the spot. The burrito was the perfect size for lunch. Sometimes burritos in other places are too small, and that makes me mad. I also enjoyed the salsa and guacamole. The queso was really good. You could tell they used real cheese rather than just some junk from a can. Service was friendly, but nothing outstanding.
(3)Heather P.
It was on the dirty dining list for having 19 cockroaches and food storage temperature violations :( I'll never go back now...but below is my original review. I ordered the chicken taco and the shrimp taco. I liked the shrimp taco, the salsa on it was good. The chicken meat was super flavorful in the chicken taco...but there was a lot of meat and the shell was extremely fried and overly crispy and hard. The guacamole was fine and my friend enjoyed his steak burrito. Service was so/so...i had to get the waitress's attention to ask for refills, more salsa, silverware, condiments...so she didnt stop by to check on us very much...which is ridiculous cuz the entire restaurant is a small open room. Would i return? Probably not. I have yet to find great mexican food in Florida. (I'm from Cali.).
(2)Candyce B.
Loved this place! I pride myself on being a huge Mexican fan and this place has some really good food!!! Of course I started my meal with a margarita....so delicious and full of liquor just like I like them! The chips and salsa were amazing too...the chips came out hot and the salsa tasted so fresh. It had huge chucks of tomatoes, onion and cilantro! So tasty! I tried the tacos- 3 tacos rice and beans for only $7.49 was an awesome deal! I had the shrimp taco with fresh shrimp and slaw, a fish taco that included lightly breaded fish, and a cabbage mix and a Carne Asada taco with fresh cilantro. All came in a delicious soft tortilla and feta cheese! YUM. The rice and beans were a great addition to the meal and overall I enjoyed the entire experience. It's a cute place, tons of tvs and really nice staff! Do yourself a favor and stop by...you wont regret it!
(4)Jeff F.
Not the best but certainly not the worst. Went here when I was staying downtown for a night prior to embarking on a cruise. Got the street tacos sampler which comes with 5 different types. The fish taco was the best one. Don't get me wrong -- the food was good but there wasn't anything that was not out of the ordinary. The chips seemed too dense and on the greasy side. Salsa was good with a nice spice to it. The decor was interesting. A lot of Mexican wrestling masks! Service was quick and friendly.
(3)Jessica G.
Tried Urban Cantina when visiting Tampa. Honestly, wasn't too impressed. The food did not taste like gourmet mexican food {A bit bland -_-}. We ordered the guacamole and queso dip with chips. My main course was three tacos. I found the meat to be dry and lacking flavor. Our favorite part of the meal was the queso dip. It had a nice flavor and was made with white cheese, rather than the usual yellow cheese. As the three star rating says - just A-OK.
(3)Blake G.
I stopped in for lunch with my friend because we both work in the downtown area. Overall it was just OK. The food was pretty good, the chips and salsa seem to be made in house and both taste good. I order the Al Pastor tacos for my entree. They were also pretty good, the rice was bland, while it resembled the color of Mexican rice it tasted like white rice. What I can't get over when I go to these Mexican restaurants that serve "authentic" tacos is the price. The Al Pastor tacos cost $10 and I can get the same tacos in Ruskin, that are 100% authentic and taste better for about $1.50 a taco. The service left something to be desired. While our waitress was polite our dinning experience took an hour and fifteen minutes, we only ordered two entrees. Most people in the downtown area are looking for a quick lunch (30 to 45 minutes) during their lunch hour. If you are looking for a quick taco for lunch I would recommend taco bus down the street.
(2)William T.
Service was excellent. Food not so much... If a federal prison ever decided to do Mexican night I would imagine that it would taste a lot like this place. But service was great.
(3)Melanie B.
Great location and good service. Love the queso, bean and rice! $2 Taco Tuesdays are awesome however we usually spend $60+ since we have so many! Love in this order: 1) chuletta 2) tinga 3) carnitas 4) carne 5) al pastor (a bit too sweet). If you arent able to make it on Tuesday, they have a CLDeal for $20 worth for $10... Get the XXL steak Chimichanga
(4)Chris B.
I've been here a few times and it's pretty solid each visit. The portions are huge. I really enjoy the enchiladas, and for the price, it's a great deal. The restaurant is clean and spacious, and there are a few tv's scattered around. The chips and salsa are delicious as well. Service tends to be hit and miss and the happy hour could be better. Park on the street free after 6pm on weekdays and free all day on weekend (north of Kennedy).
(4)Tim K.
We had lunch here our first day in Tampa along with my sister and her boyfriend. Initially we were going to find a Taco truck of some kind, but they had always wanted to try this place and after a brief once over of the menu on the outside door we decided to check it out. The decor there is pretty cool, but it verged a bit on the hipster side. I was a little disappointed with the placement of one of the Luchador Wrestlers they painted on the wall next to our table. Had they positioned it properly they could have utilized the bolts in the wall as the perfect nipples and it would have been hilarious. Their Tortilla Soup was really good, but could use more Avocado in it. There was only like two small slices in the bowl. The best thing they offered however was their chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and still had a little bit of hot oil sizzling on them and the salsa was really bright and flavorful. I tried a few different tacos as they were all relatively small and my favorite was the Holy Mole. It was messy to eat, but was very very tasty. The wifey had one of their Al Pastor tacos and was a bit hesitant to try it at first as it stated it had Pineapples in it. She was afraid they would be huge chunks, but they were cut up small and it was more of a Pineapple Salsa. Rice and beans were a nice accompaniment to our meals as well. As for drinks, this is were I was slightly let down. Everything that I wanted seemed to be out so I settled for just a plain old Coke. Also my sister ordered a Mango Margarita and let me try it and we both agreed it tasted overly artificial. Service was good though and we had no complaints. Our waitress was nice, informative and prompt with refills and even offered us to-go drinks if we wanted them. All in all our overall experience was fair to medium. If I lived in the area I don't think this would be an all the time go to place, but wouldn't be opposed to going there every once in awhile. One of the reasons was that their prices were a little high on the tacos with them being as small as they were. That's just my opinion though.
(3)Colleen D.
Went in for lunch, first customers in at 11:00 am. We were attracted by the window decals, which, duh. Blown away by the service, freshness of food, prices, etc. I had a pork fajita plate and my friend had the 3 taco plate (fish, shrimp, and chicken). We were both very satisfied and if we ever come back to Tampa will attempt to make a visit again.
(5)Esteban O.
Great tacos! Chips salsa, amazingly simple! Service great! Ambience fun, and competent! Food was simple, flavorful, not complicated! Enough said. Come here if you craving authentic Mexican food, they prove that amazing Mexican food does not need all the gimmicks.
(5)Laura W.
I went to Urban Cantina after a movie at the Tampa Theatre. The restaurant was a bit dirty looking, especially when I walked back to the bathroom. As far as the food, the chips and salsa tasted good. However, my entree arrived with the cheese unmelted inside the tortilla. There was a spoonful of pico on the side, which did not look or taste fresh. For such a basic item as a quesadilla, I would have expected better. The food didn't taste good enough for me to take the left-overs with me. The service was good, even if the quesadilla was not. After seeing the lack of cleanliness in the restaurant, I will not return soon. Check out inspections of your favorite Florida restaurants by the Florida Department of Business and Professional at: myfloridalicense.com/wl1…
(1)Nick S.
Urban Cantina was packed for lunch on a Friday, but we got seats at the bar and enjoyed our chips, queso, guacamole, taco, enchiladas, and torta. Anythony gave us excellent service. I requested a couple limes as I like the flavor on my Mexican food. Would go again. Like the fun and interesting decor and attention to detail.
(4)Lori V.
This place used to be great. I stopped going because it lost its touch. Plus, I had a good look around and was grossed out by the dirty floor and dusty chairs. I used to order the chicken soup and tacos. I now prefer the soup at Chihuahua's. This place is ok if you need something but don't expect a great experience. It is still a good experience though.
(3)Natasha P.
Great atmosphere and service, my friends and just had our Christmas dinner here and it was absolutely delicious. Hours later I'm still full. I had two yummy tacos and my son had a burrito. The price is very reasonable and location is perfect cause after we were done with dinner we walked to Down Town Tampa on ice and burn some calories.
(4)Mike C.
Yummy yummy in my tummy. I love this place. I come here whenever I am in downtown tampa. I'm at a convention at the Hilton right now and I'll eat here every night.
(5)Tami L.
Great food. AWFUL AWFUL selection of drinks. Worst tequila I've ever had. And snotty waitress
(2)Christine H.
Found this randomly on Urbanspoon when visiting Tampa and loved it!!!' After living on the border of Texas and Mexico for 2 years, I can confirm that this is very authentic Mexican food. It tasted just like the deliciousness my husband and I used to get a few miles from the border in the Ro Grande Valley, and it was fresh and great quality. We both I got the 3 tacos w/ rice + beans option... The chicken mole is amazing, and I loved the vegetarian taco w/ corn, tomato and avocado. The chips and salsa seem homemade (yum!) and the margaritas were just right. We also had our 2 year old with us, who has a severe nut allergy, and they were amazingly accommodating of her (and made her a package of quick 90-second rice that we brought with us)... Thank you! Will definitely go back if we're in Tampa again.
(5)Chi P.
Food was good, not great...but pretty good. Nothing came out hot. It was all lukewarm. That said, the food did have some flavor. We ordered veggie enchiladas, bean tacos, and tinga tacos (spicy shredded chicken). Everything was alright. We had flan and fried ice cream for dessert. Both were very good. Fried ice cream is a good size for two, maybe three people. Good to know ahead of time - the 3 taco plate means three of the same type of tacos.
(3)Kim R.
Chips and salsa were fresh and delicious, guac was also delicious and satisfying. I had 2 black bean tacos w/ refried beans, also good. The staff was super friendly. The only negative is that I felt the margarita was too sweet. I'll definitely be back! (foursquare check in gets you free guac!)
(4)Kelly F.
Love at first bite. Seriously. I had always driven by the Urban Cantina on the way from Clearwater to Brandon but just never had the opportunity to eat there. Until one time I forced myself to stop and pick up food for myself, the hubby and kids. (I just couldn't resist their fun name and logo!) That's right, the first time I ate here I didn't even eat...here. And we loved it. LOVE. My husband is half mexican, born and raised in California and has the hardest time finding Mexican food in Florida that is "genuine". He loved it. Since that fateful day we try and go whenever we can. Our toddlers love the flautas (on the menu as an appetizer but more than enough food for the boys) and think the Mexican wrestling mask decor is to die for. My own tried and true is the Super Chimicanga. Delicious. To the point that I have a hard time sharing it with my four year old. And believe me, it's big enough to share, it just brings out that little bit of selfishness in me that makes me want to keep it...all...for...myself. I've never had a problem with super slow service here that some other reviewers mention, but we're typically here at non peak times so I'm probably not the best judge. And if it were slow, I'd still recommend it. Urban Cantina makes my belly happy!
(5)Whitney E.
Called in a togo order. When I got there thirty minutes later, they hadn't even started cooking it yet. When I finally got my salad (after another 20 minutes), it was soggy and missing half of the ingredients. 20 dollars for a corona and crappy salad.
(1)Craig L.
4 tacos & a lemonade for $9.99. The food here was great. I cannot for the life of me understand the negative reviews. The bartender was great. Next time I am in Tampa...I will def be back.
(5)Emily V.
I tried this place out one day for lunch when I was in town for work. I started with salsa and queso with chips. Umm, yum! I particularly liked the queso a lot. The chips are fresh and fried and very crunchy, very good. I tried two tacos after that - the chuletas (crispy pork chops sauteed in green verde salsa) and the carne asada. Honestly, I don't remember the difference between the two of them that much, but I remember liking both of them a lot. Beans and rice were better than average. Gets really loud during lunch! But I liked it a lot and I would go back next time I'm in town!
(4)Mike S.
Unfortunately unimpressed, because this is one of the few eateries in downtown that is open at night. And judging by the few other patrons there with us on a weekday evening, it is not magnetic enough to draw customers at that hour....and we were lured by a coupon or special. The decor is spiffy and attractive, but we came to eat not just look. Regrettably the food was not special and the service a bit tepid. I am a soup lover, but disappointed by their bland tortilla soup (tomato-rice) Can't remember the entree that came with obligatory rice & re-fried beans....so that tells the story....not quite disgusting enough to warn against and not good enough to repeat or recommend. There are clearly better Mexican food sources with better prices and accessibility. Just wish there were more/better night-time options in downtown Tampa........otherwise all those GOP conventioneers will be pushed to Ybor where they may get in trouble.... ON CAMERA!!!
(2)Dave H.
Upon entering the urban cantina restaurant in down town tampa you enter into your standard run of the mill mexican restraunt.The waitresses are very attentive and made sure we where well taken care of.We have been to the urban cantina twice now and the food is pretty good.The chips are hot the salsa could use a little color beyond the standard diced tomatoes look.I don't know why all of these mexican restraunts use the same blah salsa.I had grilled chicken tacos and they had fresh veggies on them and the rice and beans where rice and beans. My wife had the vegetarian black bean tacos and they where good as well.Out of the generic mexican chains such as vallarta's,estellas,and tias this is the best one of them.
(3)Clyde S.
I was never a big Mexican foodie... I am Italian and actually have family members that own Mexican restaurants, but never got into it. We moved downtown and love to eat out, unfortunately, there are few places to go. Anyways. Long story short, it's a great place to eat. I enjoy the quesadillas, chimichangas and Soft tacos, they are delicious. I think some of the reviewers are overly critical. You can't please everyone, but to compare the food to Taco Bell... Come on. Some of you take Yelp way more serious than you should.
(5)Patrick Q.
I really want to give this place a 5 star rating. Just for the food alone. However, it is in a spot where the only opportunity I have to go there is during lunch. The first time, it took up my whole lunch, but I was able to get back to work on time. The second time I was 15 minutes late. If you have some flexibility in your lunch, this place is fine, for me it's worth a gamble once in a while, but not on the regular. If you are open for lunch... in a downtown spot... you have to have the timing down. I would hate to see this place slide in popularity because it takes them 45 minutes to make 4 tacos. I can make tacos at home from scratch (tortillas and all) in less time. Now that I got that off my chest- the food is amazing. The tacos are some of the best around. Perhaps better than La Cabana Del Tio. The Holy Mole is awesome, the Tinga is also pretty darn good. I would say give it a try, it may just be worth the while for you!
(3)Jesse B.
STAY AWAY!! I went here last weekend and there was a big piece of fried paper mixed in with my side of fries! What's worse is the waitress didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her about it and did nothing to offer to make up for it! No wonder this place was closed by the city for food care code violations and roaches in their kitchen! It's a shame they're allowed to reopen, clearly things aren't any better there. I'll NEVER be back here again. Go to Miguel's on the corner of Kennedy and Macdill if you want good Mexican food.
(1)Kim H.
Overall the food was very good. I had two Hole Moly Taco's and one fish taco. There were fantastic. I love Mole sauce so I was super happy I could get it on a taco. My husband had three of the other varieties which I got bites of and they were delicious too. We were pleasantly full and the wait staff was very good. The waitress even fixed the table when it started to wobble. I would def eat here again.
(4)Shawn J.
Had a wonderful lunch here. Everything was quick and delicious. Negro Modelo on tap makes me happy! Super burrito has french fries inside it and it was awesome. Wife had quesadillas that were very good also. Service was very good, but the restaurant was not at even half capacity. Afterwards we staggered across the street to a park in downtown among the skyscrapers and people watched the homeless who frequent the park (facinating).
(4)Crystal P.
My family was looking for a new place to try out when we stumbled across this place. They had me with the Mexican wrestling masks and we went in to give it a try. The decor is quirky and I LOVED it. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated at a table by the window which was nice as I could watch the street traffic and relax. The menu had a wide food selection. Wanting to try a bit of this and a bit of that, I opted for the Street Corner Tacos. The platter included a taste of 5 different tacos- the al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, fish and pollo asado and a side of lime wedges, pico de gallo and homemade hot sauce. Being that there was only three of us at the table and one other table that came in after us. I was surprised at how long the food took to come out. We were kept occupied by the chips and salsa (which were great) the people watching, and were in no hurry so it really didn't bother me at the time. If I had been in a hurry or didn't want any chips...it would have concerned me. My tacos came out and everything was fresh and hot and really delicious. Each taco was dressed to perfection and had the right amount of filling. My favorite was the fish taco. Full of flavor with the fish crispy and cooked perfectly. In the end I was satisfied with my meal. We will be back to give this place a try again.
(3)Samantha G.
Eh, it's alright. Can get pretty hopping during the lunch rush. Service was attentive, but not exactly friendly. Pretty good list of menu options. I had the El Chango, which was a combo platter of 1 taco, 2 enchiladas, and beans and rice. For $8, it was a tremendous amount of food. None of it was bad per se, but I didn't leave craving more either.
(3)Robert G.
I walked here from the Tampa Bay Times Forum for a bite to eat before the Bruce Springsteen concert (I was headed to Moxies, actually, but forgot they closed for dinner). This place was really good! Authentic Mexican menu, great flavors, good portions. The chips were handmade from REAL tortillas (always a good sign) and served with a really fresh, bright tasting salsa. It might have had a touch too much cilantro (as did a lot of their food), but I really love the way cilantro can brighten up a dish, so it didn't bother me too much. My brother, on the other hand, who can't stand the sight of it every since I shoved a leaf of it up his nose back in our childhood days, was not too impressed. I wasn't a huge fan of the rice (it's almost like a Mexican fried rice, complete with carrots and peas....just not my thing). I suggest ordering the three tacos. Don't order the tacos meal, because then you will get three of the same kind. If you order them a la carte, you can mix and match! I'd like to come back and try a dessert and a mojito, because both of those looked INCREDIBLE. Their churros definitely looked tasty from afar. Be prepared to wait a little while for your food/the check. While the service was good, it did take quite a few strong "dagger glances" to get her to come back for refills/more chips/the check.
(3)Cari E.
I am actually pretty surprised by the reviews on here. I really enjoy Urban Cantina. The wait staff has always been friendly. The food can be a little slow to come out but if you give me a bowl of their chips and some of their fresh and light salsa, I don't mind. I would like to preface my review by saying I would have given Urban Cantina 3 stars typically but I like that they are a location that is open at night downtown and I'm surprised by the lack luster reviews from my fellow yelpers. The decor is modern while still being Mexican. Multiple Mexican wrestling masks adorn the corrugated walls. They don't have a liquor license so I suggest steering away from margaritas or mojitos. I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and they serve one of my favorite Mexican beers, Pacifico Light. The chips and salsa and delicious. I did get a batch of chips one time that tasted a little stale but I told the waitress and she brought out a new batch that were fresh and crunchy. I recommend the tortilla soup. It's nice and light. It comes with chicken, carrot, onion and other delicious things.
(3)Jennifer L.
Love this place. I travel for work and eat here every time I am in Tampa, which is really frequently. The service is quick, they are great at accommodating groups, and they have lots of variety. I like their tacos and enchiladas. I've also had their cheesy super chimichanga which my friends and now just call "Creamy white sauce" (insert as many jokes as you can think of with that kind of name). We've gone there so often we just ask "Want some creamy white sauce?" and everyone knows what we're talking about. Margaritas are good but I have only had them once or twice. Another perk is that they are one of only a few places that stays open in downtown Tampa at night. Tampa is like a city after the zombie apocolypse so it is a nice place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. Really tasty chips and salsa.
(5)Bill Z.
Came here on a Saturday for dinner. The service was slow, and the hostess sat both tables next to us with little kids in a half empty restaurant. We ordered tacos that, for how small they are, are over priced and dry. I DO NOT recommend this place and I won't be returning. Go to Tijuana Flats instead... Better food, service and prices
(2)Rebecca V.
Went for lunch and they were very under staffed but were trying very hard for the staff they had. The food was delish, very fresh tasting, love being downtown so environment/area was good, margarita (shhh yes it was lunch, but come on its Mexican!) anyway margarita was very refreshing. They changed it up a little serving it in a mug. I was impressed and will return!
(4)Amanda C.
Very good chips and salsa. I had the chimichanga which was deliciously cheesy and a friend I went with had three tacos which were also very yummy. There were a lot of different options to choose from!
(4)Marsha C.
Luhuv their tortilla soup. Its a meal in itself. Good flavor, love the rice in it. Their tacos are good too. Love to stop in here when visiting my daughter at UT.
(4)Jennie W.
Great friendly service always! I have been here several times and its always good food and great atmosphere.
(5)Bryan D.
We were walking around the city at night and decided to check this place out. We were promptly sat, the waitress was very friendly and helpful with a couple questions we had. I tried the assortment of tacos. The ranged from good to awesome. I forget what my wife got, it was good though. We will def go back next time we are in the area.
(4)Anthony S.
This place gets no stars at all. Horrible, awful food. I cant believe they serve this crap & call it authentic, if this is indeed what mexicans are eating(& i know there not) this is why the cross the border for better food. Taco bus has waaaay better food, & there are better places to eat around the corner like jerk hut, moxies, Fresh and others. Worst $25.46 spent ever. I had 2 shrimp tacos w/special sauce and overfried beans & rice. It sucked badly. Go to taco bell if u really want to waste ur money but have sone taste. I shouldnt have to request a plethora of sauces to spice/season your crap up. WILL NEVER EAT THIS SWILL AGAIN, server was nice...only thing
(1)Rachel O.
Service was slow for my party and not friendly. Perhaps that's why it was pretty empty on a Friday night. Decor was nice though. Food was decent but for the price, could be bigger and better tasting. There's better mexican food out there.
(2)Erica M.
Urban shitina. The service was so outrageously bad that I will never ever set foot in here again. The dimwitted waitress charged someone else's bill onto my credit card. then said she couldn't reprint an updated receipt after it was supposedly "corrected." and said "don't worry, it's taken care of." When I received my statement and there was no "Correction" the restaurant was called. Multiple attempts to get a manager on the phone finally found me listening to some asshat saying he can't retroactively credit a card. What kind of 1980s system are these people using!? So I was told a credit would be mailed to me. You think that happened? hell no. I look forward to hearing that this place has gone out of business- it's just a matter of time.
(1)Eric S.
I had been here a couple times when the restaurant first opened up and was pretty pleased with the overall quality. This has all changed with time though. The rice was bland and chewy, the chicken taco and enchiladas were bland and dry, and the chips seemed extremely stale. The only positive things that come to mind are the onions and cilantro were fresh and the last waitress who helped us (the first one disappeared) was very nice and pleasant. Can't envision going back here again.
(1)Gee. C.
Eat lunch here a couple times a week. Shrimp tacos all the way!!!
(4)Tiffany B.
Service is usually quick, food is great but, at times, inconsistent. I usually get the chimichanga, which is humungous and delicious. My only issue is that sometimes it's loaded with chicken (as it should be) and sometimes the chicken is scarce to find in a sea of beans. They need to work on their consistency, but other than that, the food is great! Update: Oh wow. No. I haven't visited Urban Cantina in a few months and my how it has changed! First- the service. It's horrible. But that's probably because all the servers there were bored looking high school girls. They had time to chat it up at the bar area and clean tables while no one bothered to even take our drink order and then had the nerve to get an attitude (remember: teenage girls) when we asked for our waitress because we were ready to order. First problem. Second, the queso dip was closer to cold than it was to hot. I can't even call it lukewarm. Third- I ordered the enchiladas and... I'm not exaggerating here... the enchilada sauce must have been straight out of a McCormick's packet and just mixed with water. Literally the most bland enchiladas I've ever tasted- soupy, unseasoned, tomato water, basically. Same goes with the rice and beans- not even salted, as if that requires any effort or culinary expertise. As my husband and I like to say: "This place has been banished". Bottom Line: Don't waste your time and money at Urban Cantina when there are plenty of Mexican restaurants with good food and great service, neither of which you'll find here.
(1)Wes S.
The food was ok... Just ok. Definitely go to the one on Howard instead.
(3)Jenn B.
I was a little disappointed when we asked about the drinks specials and they told us about the beer and margaritas and didn't mention that the margaritas are wine based. We had to ask what kind of tequila they had have to find out they only have their beer and wine license. I would have given the wine based margarita a chance (even though I would prefer tequila) if they told me up front. I was just a little thrown off when I found out on my own and ordered a beer. I fish tacos were really tasty! I was told by my boyfriend that the pork and chicken taco were dry. We both enjoyed the chicken enchilada. I would return just for the fish tacos! Plus it super close to home!
(3)Don A.
So we wanted to give this place another try before going to Wicked and once again the same ole service issues. Place was pretty busy w a convention in town. We were told 10-15 minutes and couldn't help but notice 3 dirty tables that the staff just kept walking by? Needless to say we waited 15-20 minutes and once again were told it would be another 10-15 minutes LOL! High school employees didn't seem to worry or care much about the poor owners business obviously. Its a shame, we left and had tapas next door as well as 2 other parties that gave up waiting.....
(2)Dave S.
We are from San Diego, and found this Mexican food very bland. I had the fish tacos and it was just OK. The other folks in our work group that ate had the same opinion that the food was OK but not exciting.
(2)Keith S.
I immediately appreciated three things upon entering Urban Cantina. They were open on a Tuesday night, we were seated immediately, and their air conditioning was set to perfect levels. Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there, and not just because they didn't have their liquor license yet. I should start off by saying that the concept of the restaurant got me excited, from the postmodern luchador pastiche to the laudably laser-focused menu (when was the last time you ate at a Mexican restaurant that didn't hand you an annotated copy of "War and Peace" as a menu, with 20 various, no-substitutes "combinations"?). Unfortunately, the chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. Their guacamole really ruined the dinner for me. I don't know if something was off or I just don't know what guacamole was supposed to taste like, but there was this nagging, fermented zing to every bite that just didn't play well in my mouth. I thought about sending it back, but it was, well, a small side of guacamole. Me: "Is it tequila? Did they spike this with beer? It's not spoiled, is it? It couldn't be..." My dining partner: "Just stop eating it and move on." I moved on to fish tacos, which were passable, if not a bit like frozen fish sticks thrown into an otherwise authentic fish taco presentation. The sauce had an overly salty edge to it--kind of like Cool Ranch Doritos, to be honest--but the dish as a whole came out to a 6 out of 10. My partner's dinner was entirely too salty, and really uneven with the spice. One side of the burrito was mild and the other side inspired sweating and unintentional tears. I do have to say that the aura of chipotle in the burrito sauce was really nice. I would've given the place an extra star had it not been so terribly salty and ridiculously uneven with the spice. The sides were passable as well - beans and rice. Not the worst, not the best. Overall, this place comes across as really earnest and you can tell that the concept has promise and takes some gutsy leaps into a more modern take on Mexican food. However, "planning to be great" and "succeeding in being great" are two VERY separate things. I'll give them some time and try again in the future.
(2)Steve C.
Great Mexican food at great prices. Good service, pleasant atmosphere. Would definitely eat here again. Just a short walk from the Marriott.
(4)Eric M.
So walked by on a Thursday night, after eating at the great french restaurant across the street the night before. Not a real Margarita, but at least it was 2 for 1. Lame. Chips although homemade were greasy, totally unsalted, and a bit chewy, and the the salsa was bland. They at least do use queso fresco, enchiladas are ok, and tacos, were just ok. Too bad because the location and decor are well done!
(2)Holly K.
Not bad, not great. The atmosphere was very cute and the service was wonderful. The "healthy" options menu was a welcome addition, but the dish I ordered was pretty ho-hum. Bland and not presented very well. I would like to go again just so I could try something from the regular menu.
(3)Chris C.
Let me keep it simple defining this in one word "CRAP" Taco bell is better than this garbage guess its back to the bus i go
(1)Marcos O.
Very good steak tacos! Reminded me of some Mexican taco's with authentic spices that I once had in California. Service is not the greatest as they could use another waiter during lunch hours but it wouldn't stop me from eating here again.
(3)Philip R.
great food at a great price. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years and it's hard to find authentic tacos al pastor... this place has 'em! Muy rico y buen precio. Good location for night time walk around Tampa including Curtis Hixon park and walking distance from Tampa theater.
(4)Jonathan B.
LOVE this place! The service is GREAT, the staff is hot, and the food is well-price AND delicious! I DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone in the area! :-)
(5)PT C.
We walked in because of the catchy graphics on the outside and it seemed like it should be a cool place to go for Mexican downtown. That's about where the originality ended. We walked in to a nearly empty, very dimly lit, strangely decorated, dining room. The first problem was the lack of alcohol. I was told by our waiter that the liquor license was coming soon but that one strike one for me. My companion ordered the tortilla soup and I ordered the carnitas. The soup came out and was not even close to what I would call tortilla soup. It was a chicken and rice soup with nary a strip of tortilla to be found. There was no flavor to it at all and the poor chicken died in vain. When we asked about it, the owner informed us that we were not educated enough to understand the nuances of the dish and asked if we had indeed ever been to Mexico. (we had, of course- extensively) but weren't in the mood to argue with him about it. The carnitas were probably very good a day or two before I ordered it but I should have brought some home in case I needed to plug a dam at some point. I probably could have stomached the rest of the meal had I had my usual Patrons and Negro Modelos before dinner, but what the hell. Our waiter was cool and explained that the menu was changing next week so I may give them a try after that (and the liquor license arrives) but for tonight's debacle I gave them one star plus one for the good service.
(2)LaKesha C.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. The service is great. The food is good.
(3)Chris P.
the food is mediocre at best. prices a little higher than they should be. the straw that broke the camels back was they didn't accept a gift certificate after we ordered appetizers. if u don't accept it anymore, then you should advertise that. I'm so glad the taco bus just opened up, because they will now get all of my Mexican food lunch money. enjoy going out of business soon!
(1)Justin H.
Excellent authentic tacos!
(4)Jenny S.
Went here for date night and loved it. The staff was very friendly and sat us by the window which was nice because we had a view of the bustle of the city. We were going to order the cheese dip but the waitress suggested the guacamole which came with a white cheese dip and it was sooo good. I ordered the enchiladas suizas and my husband ordered tacos and a burrito. We loved the food and will be coming back.
(4)Wayne D.
Ate here tonight. Was crowded and it seemed like they were not prepared for a crowd. Took a long time to be seated even though there were tables empty that just needed to be cleaned. Wait staff was harried and hurried and didn't pay much attention. Finally ordered and it took forever for our food to come. I finally had to ask and a while later it was brought out. I had ordered a dinner that included rice and beans. My companion ordered tacos and rice ala carte. There was no rice. She explained that they "ran out." How does a "World Class" Mexican restaurant run out of rice?? She said she would bring it out when it was done. Okay. Never came. I had the Urban Carnitas and they were okay. Everywhere else I've had them they come with warm tortillas. These didn't. The beans were just canned pork and beans that were doctored up a bit. You could still taste the canned taste. Waitress also forgot to charge me for my beer. I had to remind her. Will pass on returning to this one.
(2)