Cantina Frida — Restaurant in Beverly Hills

UPDATED May 2022:

You can read my review below to know my main thoughts on the food/price, but I had to update my review to a 1 star after my awful experience last night.

My birthday is on cinco de mayo, and I had booked a party of 12 on April 7th, nearly a month in advanced. I understand Cinco De Mayo is obviously a popular day for a Mexican restaurant, so I wasn't going to be disappointed with a slight wait for our table, however we ended up leaving after waiting for 45 minutes with no end in sight. Original reservation was 7:15, we left at 8 PM.

We explained to the multiple hosts up front that we were waiting to celebrate my birthday with a party of 12 and were continuously told "There's nothing we can do, people aren't getting up to leave.".

After speaking with one of the hosts again he explained a table of 4 had not gotten up after being there since before 5:30 PM, so it had been 2.5 hours at this point. (The table next to them was empty and would have been ours to accommodate the whole party.)

I asked him to kick them off but he refused to because a lady had ordered another glass of wine. He explained "I wouldn't kick you out", and I told him "Then you're wrong because if I was taking up a table for 2.5 hours and there were people waiting to use it you are doing a disservice to your next customers".

I was happy this restaurant had opened despite not being crazy about the food, but I can't say that I will be coming back after they essentially ruined my birthday dinner plans by not simply asking the people at the table to leave and comping them a drink at the bar if they wished to stay. It's not rocket science to know that if you have a party of 12 waiting, you kick the table of 4 out that had been there for 2.5 hours.

You guys ended up choosing a glass of wine over a party of 12, a reservation you had in your system for nearly a month.

Completely idiotic and poorly run.

Review from January 2022: I think the restaurant itself is beautiful and well done. I love that they have a bar with TVs which really not enough places in the area offer that.

The food is good enough, but the main thing really is the price is just a bit more than what it should be.

It's certainly not the best "high end" Mexican in LA, but I also get they're in a location that makes them have to price the food the way it is. Rent isn't cheap.

I'd definitely go back and try some other things, but also wouldn't go out of...

A Jewel in the Heart of Beverly Hills — Cantina Frida

If I could give more than five stars, I would. Cantina Frida is more than just a restaurant—it's an experience, a sanctuary of warmth and flavor tucked into the heart of Beverly Hills. From the moment you walk through the doors, you are embraced not just by the vibrant ambiance and inviting aromas, but by the people—every single person who works here treats you like family.

There’s something inexpressibly beautiful about the service here. It’s not forced or scripted—it’s genuine, loving, and full of soul. The kind of hospitality you rarely find anymore. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, they remember you, they welcome you, and they care for you as if you belong to them.

And then there’s the food—exquisitely delicious doesn’t even begin to describe it. Every dish is a celebration of Mexican heritage, refined with elegance and heart. Each bite carries the love and passion of the kitchen staff, and you can feel it. The flavors are bold yet balanced, creative yet comforting. It's a feast not only for the palate but for the spirit.

Cantina Frida is my favorite restaurant in all of Beverly Hills—not just because of the food, but because of the people, the atmosphere, and the sincere joy I feel every time I’m there. The owner, a dear friend, has created something truly special here—something that cannot be manufactured or imitated.

To anyone reading this: come not just to eat, but to feel what it's like to be welcomed, cherished, and nourished in every sense of the word. Cantina Frida is a treasure, and I am forever...

Very poor service including the manager. We were sat, the waiter came over, took our drink order and we ordered guacamole. The guacamole came out within 10 minutes but not our drinks. We couldn't wait and started on the guacamole. 20 minutes goes by with no drinks and the waiter never came by after the guacamole to even see if we wanted to order dinner. We get the busboy to get the waiter and ask about our drinks and say that after 20 minutes we should get the drinks for free and even pointed to the bar which there was one bartender just chatting with guests and the other was working. He leaves and another 10 minutes goes by and no drinks. I went to the front and asked for the manager. I told him about the situation, as it was now 30 minutes. He went to the bar, spoke to the waiter at the bar and never spoke to us about it. He just walked right by our table after without even saying he handled it, no "I'm sorry," he just walked past the table. When the waiter finally came with our drinks, he did not say sorry or anything to address it. He drops the drinks off and we had to stop him from leaving the table because we wanted to order dinner. At the end, he said they would take care of our desert, but never a sorry and the manager who is supposed to be the team leader never offered an apology or even a visit to our table to see how everything else was after. It's the lack of caring. That's the disappointment. They just...