Cantina Rooftop — Restaurant in New York

We came here because of TikTok. Like many others, we saw the trendy videos, the aesthetic vibe, and the presentation of the food and drinks that made it seem like an unforgettable experience. But what we got instead was a complete letdown — and to be honest, we felt like we were duped by social media hype. Prices were nearly four times what we expected. Yes, you read that right. TikTok might’ve sold the vibe, but it absolutely did not prepare us for the outrageous bill or the lackluster service.

To start, we were seated right next to the front door, where the space was so tight that my friend kept getting hit by passing chairs. Not once, not twice — but multiple times. Instead of accommodating us better, they left us there like an afterthought. It immediately felt like unless you were a party of six or more, you were not going to be prioritized. It was clear they cater only to large groups or influencer-looking tables they assume will promote them. Small parties are practically ignored.

Throughout our visit, I had to get up FIVE different times just to locate our server or flag someone down for basic things — water, ordering, a drink refill, even asking for the check. It was honestly embarrassing to keep having to leave my seat just to receive service that should be standard at any restaurant. There was no manager interaction, no staff member checking in, no effort made to ensure we were okay — just complete indifference.

As for the food: overpriced is an understatement. Tacos came with nothing on the side. Neither did the French toast — not even a garnish or fruit. We expected some sort of value, but everything is served a la carte, without warning. The menu is extremely limited, especially considering the premium pricing. Options felt generic and lacked creativity. For a place that brands itself as “elevated,” the food felt more like bar bites dressed up with slick marketing.

Then came the drinks. The first round? $17 each — which, again, was never communicated beforehand. But the kicker was that refills were also charged full price without any notice. That’s $34 for two rounds of a basic cocktail, not even something premium or unique. At those prices, you’d expect high-quality service, top-tier presentation, or at the very least, a heads-up. We got none of that.

Another red flag: the gratuity was automatically included, even though our service was poor. I want to stress that I tip generously when it’s deserved — but to force a tip without earning it? That doesn’t sit right. When I politely asked about the service charge, they brushed it off and said it’s standard. It felt like they knew the service wouldn’t be good, so they secured their tip regardless. That alone speaks volumes.

At one point, I even let them know I’m a Google reviewer and that I leave honest feedback on experiences. I didn’t expect special treatment — just an acknowledgment or at least some accountability. But nothing changed. It was as if my feedback didn’t matter. I was just another customer they could cycle through.

To be clear: this was my first time here, and it will absolutely be my last. TikTok really set us up for disappointment with this one. It’s all smoke and mirrors — great lighting, curated clips, trendy background music — but none of the actual hospitality, value, or substance you’d expect from a place with that level of attention.

If you’re reading this and thinking of coming because you saw it on your feed, save your money. There are plenty of spots in the city with better food, better vibes, better service, and prices that actually make sense. Don’t let social media trick you into thinking this is worth it. It’s not.

UPDATE: Ive emailed as they requested and received...

Went to Cantina Rooftop for Taco Tuesday, and honestly, it was disappointing.

We had a reservation for 3 at 8:30 PM but weren’t seated until close to 9 PM. What’s the point of having a reservation system if you’re going to make guests wait 15-30 minutes after their scheduled time? I had to go up and ask twice why we hadn’t been seated, especially when I saw people who arrived after us getting tables. Eventually, the manager stepped in and got us seated after hearing how long we’d been waiting.

Unfortunately, the service didn’t get any better from there. After finishing our first round of tacos, we placed a second order… and then waited. And waited. After 30 minutes with no food and no updates, our waitress came by to clear the table. I mentioned we were still waiting on our order, and she casually said, “It’s almost here,” but also mentioned they were backed up with other tables. A few minutes later, the manager walked by and told me to “Talk to me.” I explained we’d been waiting over 30 minutes, and another 10-20 minutes after that, he finally brought out HALF of what we ordered (a random mix of tacos) and some fries “on the house.”

Then an older man came over and gave us one of the strangest excuses I’ve ever heard at a restaurant. He said they canceled our order (without telling us) because we had ordered “too much” and they thought we wouldn’t be able to finish it. For the record, we had already finished everything we ordered before, so that assumption was completely wrong. And even if they had concerns, they could’ve just told us—not silently canceled our order and made us wait around wondering what was going on.

To top it all off, when we got the bill, there was an automatic 20% gratuity added. After all that waiting and terrible service, they definitely didn’t earn that. We recalculated it and left 10%, which honestly felt generous considering the experience. Meanwhile, our waitress was more focused on socializing with another table, even taking sips of their drinks and asking them, “Is it OK if I drink this?”—incredibly unprofessional.

The place seemed completely understaffed for their Taco Tuesday deal. The whole night felt chaotic, disorganized, and frustrating.

The only positive: they’re generous with the meat on their tacos. But is it worth the wait and the hassle? In my...

Me and my 2 gal pals are single and we’re celebrating our second Valentine’s Day dinner together and this time of year can be tricky for us single ladies so it was nice to have the awesome Seraphino serving our drinks and food. Besides the little bit of a wait to be seated, ( I understand this holiday is extra busy, so the hostess was doing her best), grateful one of the managers seated us once he realized we’d been waiting. Once seated our server Seraphino greeted us with a warm smile. He was amazing and very attentive. When I noticed my fork was a little dirty, he replaced it immediately. When it came to ordering drinks my friends let him decide and since they didn’t have Aperol to make my drink I settled for a mezcalrita which is a margarita but with mezcal replacing tequila and it was perfect. My friends liked their drinks too. One of my friend’s drink had a beautiful rose in a circular clear ice cube like thing and also tasted good ( my friend let me have a sip). Music played by the dj was so loud it felt like we’re in a nightclub. It kept us dancing in our seats. It was so loud though that it was sometimes hard to hear each other during our conversations. The place is selfie/Instagram ready. The place is casual so it was nice to not feel pressure to dress up, but some people were dressed up a little bit I assume because of the Valentine’s Day holiday. But I highly recommend being picture ready just in case since you’re gonna wanna look cute because you will more than likely take lots of photos and video for every corner is beautifully decorated for the Valentine’s holiday. They went all out with decorations and my friends and I took full advantage. Serephino( hope i’m spelling his name correctly)took the picture of all three of us when we asked him. Also a couple got engaged in front of one of the main decorated stations. The only complaint I have was the bathroom. Despite there being a bathroom attendant, (the lovely Maria)out of the I think six or seven bathroom stalls, only two were working, including the handicap bathroom which for a place as big as Cantina that could provide a problem with a long line of customers waiting to use the restroom. Other than that me and my friends celebrated our Valentine’s Day and we had a good time and would come back again...