Tequila Cocina + Cantina — Restaurant in Phoenix

Not too busy when we stopped in, which made for a nice, chill vibe. The atmosphere walks that moody-modern line with dim lighting with bold pops of color and the music stayed at a good volume (read: I didn’t have to yell over my queso fundido). It looks like there’s patio seating, but we weren’t offered it.

We came for happy hour, which is fairly limited: four apps, tacos, cheesecake, and four cocktails. But hey, $5 margaritas? I’m not mad.

Mayahuel – tequila, St. Germain, lime, agave, pineapple chunks. Not too sweet, nice and balanced. It’s definitely a tequila-forward drink, so if agave’s not your amigo, this might not be your jam. Bonus points for the pineapple wedge, because who doesn’t love their fruit pre-soaked in liquor?

Lemon Drop Martini – vodka, Cointreau. This one missed the mark for me. Way too sweet, with barely any lemon, and the sugar rim overpowered everything. Also, a plastic martini glass for these prices? That was a buzzkill.

Cantarito – tequila, fresh OJ, lime, Squirt. Dangerously drinkable. Bright, fizzy, refreshing. I’d like to officially file a complaint that these are only $8 during happy hour, because I would absolutely drink four without noticing. 9/10, would sip irresponsibly.

Quesabirria Tacos – The birria was chef’s kiss. Tender, juicy, rich: exactly what you want when you’re wrist-deep in consomé. That broth? Deep red, glossy, and packed with deep beefy flavor. My only beef (pun intended) is that the cheese was tucked inside instead of crisped up on the outside. Also, who decided to garnish tacos on top with raw onions?

Carne Asada Tacos – Grilled skirt steak, two per order. No cheese crust, no cheese inside, just cheese vibes, apparently. My husband liked them, but I found them pretty forgettable. The avocado slice felt more like a peace offering than a flavor booster.

Queso Fundido – We added chorizo because of course we did. It was fine. Super oily, and the cheese didn’t melt well and it separated fast. Hot tortillas and the smoky salsa on the side helped save it, but overall it was a little meh.

Service was decent, drinks were solid, and the food wasn’t bad, but nothing really wowed us. Between the limited happy hour and the regular menu prices, we’re not in a rush...

My husband and I went in Saturday January 20 for a date night and it was not a good experience. I had made a reservation days prior and had confirmed it with the restaurant, when we arrived the host said she couldn’t find my reservation. Options were either be seated at a corner by the car or wait for a table, we chose the small table by the bar. It took the waitress about 10 minutes to come up to us to get our drink order. We placed an order for drinks and appetizer, that took about another 30 minutes to arrive. Waitress kept telling us it would be just a few more minutes. Ordered the queso fundido which I do recommend. We then placed our order for entree and ordered 2 carne asada plates and again 2 more drinks. That took so long to arrive. Waitress checked on us 1 time other than the times she took our order. We asked her for new silverware to eat our carne asada plate and she never came back with it. We sat waiting for it to eat our entree- we then had to ask the bartender for new silverware because our food was now cold. She then showed up with the silverware but we had already asked the bartender. We never once complained to her- she then gave me a martini she said on her- I’m assuming she knew service or wait time has been horrible. Our total bill was $180. We paid too much money for horrible service and carne asada plate wasn’t all that great. The restaurant inside is nicely decorated, women bathroom is super small and the parking lot is tiny. I would not recommend this restaurant and have told all my family and friends about...

My boyfriend and I chose to celebrate Valentine's Day at this restaurant after reading numerous glowing reviews. We booked our reservation a month in advance, anticipating the crowds that typically accompany this special day. Upon arrival, the restaurant was extremely full, and parking was scarce, but we expected that and did not mind walking. After a short walk, we were greeted by the warm atmosphere inside, complete with heart balloons on the walls and roses adorning the tables; a lovely touch that added to the romantic ambiance. The service was excellent, and the staff efficiently managed the packed dining area. Our food was delicious and very filling; we enjoyed an appetizer followed quickly by our entrees, which was understandable given the back-to-back bookings. The special Valentine's Day cocktails were a highlight, with some featuring an entertaining smoke and fog show that added a whimsical touch to our evening. Although we were too full for dessert, we left eager to return and explore more of the menu. The restaurant clearly put effort into making the evening special for all the couples and families celebrating. However, the quick service, while appreciated, sometimes felt a bit rushed. This was understandable given the volume of bookings, but it would have been nice to have a slightly more relaxed pace between courses. Overall, I highly recommend it for its great food, quick service, and festive atmosphere. It's a perfect spot for any type of occasion, and we look forward to our...