JEA.M NYC
We randomly walked by and heard the music, and it immediately caught our attention. We originally stopped in for a couple of drinks,but ended up trying some tacos too. Their happy hour selections are great,every day from 4pm–6pm with select cocktails and $3 mini tacos.
The drinks were solid, especially for happy hour. From the food menu, I tried the Calabaza Crema taco (zucchini) and loved it ,such an amazing vegetarian option! The guacamole was also great, though the tortilla chips were a bit too salty.
Overall, we had a good experience and would come back again!
… moreEl Chelle
I was honestly shocked at how affordable this place is, especially for being right in the heart of Manhattan. The prices are incredibly reasonable, and the food tastes amazing. I ordered a margarita and the chef’s tower everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The food was so good that I ended up ordering tacos and quesadillas to take home, plus their street corn, which is a must try. The restaurant itself is clean and has a nice, casual atmosphere. My only small complaint is that after my order was taken, I didn’t see my waiter again and had to flag down another server for help. Other than that, I have zero complaints. Overall, if you’re in Manhattan and looking for a budget friendly spot with great food and generous portions, I’d definitely recommend this place. You’ll be pleasantly surprised
… moreDebbie DelValle
I was excited to try Bar Mexicana, the new sister restaurant to Mermaid Oyster Bar, which is one of my longtime local favorites. Naturally, I was delighted to see this spot open right next door to Mermaid’s Times Square location.
Bar Mexicana’s menu is concise, featuring staple, authentic Mexican dishes and classic cocktails. As expected, every item is made with simple, fresh ingredients, and the quality really shines through.
For our first visit, we ordered quite a spread: Birria Empanadas, Pozole, Guacamole, Pollo Asado, Carne Asado, Birria Tacos, and the Carne Asado Burrito. We also tried the Cadillac Margarita and Mojitorita.
• The Birria Empanadas were incredibly flavorful, and the consommé was perfection.
• The Pozole was light, refreshing, and comforting—especially nice after coming in from the cold.
• The tacos were generously filled, and the meats were tender and delicious.
• The drinks were well-made, tasty, and refreshing.
We genuinely enjoyed every dish. The staff was attentive, friendly, and accommodating. They even moved us to a larger table to ensure we had enough room for all the food we ordered.
That said, the overall maintenance and cleanliness of the restaurant could use some attention.
• Our first table was wobbly, and although the staff quickly fixed it with a coaster, it wasn’t the most comfortable start.
• When we moved to the new table, the chair I sat on was noticeably wobbly as well, which made the furniture feel a bit cheap for a new establishment.
• The biggest disappointment was discovering gum stuck underneath the table, which is very off-putting, especially just as you’re settling in to eat.
These issues didn’t overshadow the excellent food and service, but they’re worth noting. With better attention to cleanliness and sturdier furniture, Bar Mexicana has the potential to be just as beloved as its sister restaurant.
Overall, I’d definitely give it another try. The food is authentic, fresh, and flavorful, and the staff is wonderful so I’m hopeful they’ll tighten up the maintenance as they get settled in.
… morechristine talbot
This authentic Mexican gem right in the heart of Times Square! The food is incredibly flavorful and clearly made with care, the atmosphere is lively and welcoming, and the service is truly superior. On top of that, the value is outstanding for such a prime location. A must-visit especially if you are a large family!!!!
… moreKarim Nuri
The Cantina Nachos were soooo good. We got it with steak. The sauces and steak were incredible. The steak quesadilla was also 10/10. Very cheesy and lots of steak pieces. Very nice atmosphere. Kind staff. Reasonably priced.
… moreRandall Talbot
The Margaritas and tacos are amazing in this heart of Time Square gem. Great value like no other restaurant in Manhattan….. My two daughters shared the burrito, It was so big. My son had the quesadilla said it was the best he had ever had…. Best place to dine before the Broadway show….
… moreRandy Talbot
This local “Hot Spot” has the best Margarita’s in Times Square. The Food is exceptionally Awesome!!! The staff is very accommodating as well…..
… moreYvette Millan
The food and drinks are amazing and reasonable price. I had a special chilaquiles divorciadas with steak, it had so much flavor. Yhe staff was very friendly. I’m definitely coming back.
… moreHarvey Messing
The image in the photo seen above showing a restaurant with a huge lamp shade was not on display when I was there. See my photos.
I ordered the “Fajitas Carne” (medium), the meat was tender and tasty. The surrounding cooked sweet peppers on that plate had little to no taste. The refried beans were not to my liking and the rice had no noticeable taste. It was not busy at all, almost no one in the restaurant at 2:15 in the afternoon, but the service was VERY POOR before and after I received the food at my table. Another issue was the mobile credit card charger. My bill should have shown on the charger an amount of $25.05 with an option to choose a 18% or 20% or customize a tip. Instead, the mobile charger highlighted the dollar total reflecting a 20% tip, leaving a quick look impression that highlighted dollar amount was what I owed. People in a hurry or not paying close attention might press that button, unaware of the facts. On another issue, I had a reservation there through OpenTable, I was supposed to get OpenTable points for that dine, but because of incompetence at the restaurant, I did not, even though I went back there and complained.
… moreCarlos Loochee
First complain is our waitress, Alex (short for Alejandra I assume). She took close to 10 minutes to approach our table, took our order (the only highlight from her). For drinks, we ordered michelada, rum cocktail, and horchata for our daughter and while the bartender did an amazing job making them in under 5 minutes, our waitress kept passing by our drinks but continued to take drinks to two other tables that came in after us and after exactly 12 minutes, yes we timed it, I went to the bar to retrieve our own drinks but the bartender said I had to wait. So I reached out to the bus boy and he immediately went to get our drinks which by that time, the rum cocktail and horchata was watered down and the michelada was warm. Now the food…it lacked authenticity, but being in NYC, the tourists and locals wouldn’t know the difference between authentic Mexican cuisine, unless they’re from Mexico, Texas or California. It still had decent flavor but please don’t call it authentic. Pozole lacked even the simplest ingredient….salt! Beef and chicken overcooked and the highlight was the side tostadas which were actually very good. During our whole dining experience, never did our waitress Alex come to our table to ask if we needed refills or anything else. She did come at the end to take our payment, which she had the audacity to say I didn’t leave a tip . I told her I will tip cash to our bus boy who was the one who actually waited on us and basically did the job for her. Kudos to the bus boy who was on top of his game, not only for us, but for all diners. Really enjoy watching people take pride in their work and that kid did an amazing job.
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