La Cantinita — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

I had a lackluster experience here this past “Taco Tuesday” where they promote their taco specials, however, their tacos on taco Tuesday are NOT it. We ordered chicken tacos that came as mini sized and the waiter did not tell us until the disappointing tacos were already at our table. He offered us another order and told us the “taco Tuesday” tacos were smaller than their regular menu tacos. If he had communicated this with us at ordering, we would have ordered the regular menu tacos and paid their price. It was mostly tortilla (they still used 2) with the tiniest scoop of chicken ever. Please do not promote taco specials when what you give is a cheap, mini version of your regular tacos. That is NOT a special. Besides that, we ordered the elote and the chicken quesadilla. No complaints on those. The restaurant had no Diet sodas available (waiter mentioned they were out of Diet Pepsi, the only diet drink they carry) and they also do not carry any light beers. No Corona light, Heineken light etc. They have a full bar but no light beer options? Terrible. The wait time for the food was also ridiculously long for a table of 3 and it was early so it was empty-ish when we got there (it did fill up more as we were leaving). They seem understaffed. In my opinion they are less food focused and more focused on the party aspect (dim lights, loud music, neon signs etc) but their customer service and food options leave a lot to be desired. This place used to be the old Escorza’s (now in Wantagh) and that is a place with a similar vibe to this that I 100% recommend. Skip this spot and head...

I usually don't like write review on business, but i feel the need to voice my experience because it left a bad vibe with me . Saturday 13,2025 I was there late with my wife and 2 friends having a few drinks and put experience was a very good one. First thing it wasn't busy and the bar staff ignored us for close to 15 minutes,and when we did get serve our expresso martin was straight up Bailey's with 3 coffee been on top, when I mention to the bar tender it not what I wanted he did replace it with the correct stuff. After finishing our drinks and food we requested the bill and we was over charged by more that $50 when I queries it the bar guy said to me well you have to pay for the 2 martini that we return and there was some other cost that I didn't recognize and I ask for the manager he changed the bill a pretty much give me the same price except this time the bill just has numbers no items showing on the bill, after a few minutes if back and forth he did reduce their bill but the next day I checked my bank account and I was charged the original price that I was disputing. I think it wasn't a mistake the was assuming we wouldn't check the bill and just pay so in my opinion the purposely add extra. I will never return there and will continue giving this...

WE DECIDED TO TRY THIS PLACE AND WE ENDED UP VERY DISAPPOINTED. FIRST WE SAT AT THE BAR AND THERE WAS A QR CODE IN FRONT OF US AND 2 BARTENDERS WHO JUST STOOD THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NEVER GREETED US OR SAID ANYTHING UNTIL WE ORDERED DRINKS, THEN ORDERED AN APPETIZER; AFTER ORDERING THE BARTENDER TOLD US ABOUT THE SPECIALS BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE ASKED; WE ARRIVED BEFORE 10 PM ON A THURSDAY AND THE PLACE WAS PRETTY EMPTY AND HE SAID THE SPECIALS WERE ONLY UNTIL 10 PM; AGAIN HE NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING NOR IT WAS ADVERTISED ANYWHERE; WE HAD 2 BEER, A $16 COCKTAIL (SAME PRICE AS MANHATTAN WITH THE VIEW OF HEMPSTEAD TPKE INSTEAD OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING). AND NACHOS. WE GOT THE CHECK AND WERE CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR THE NACHOS ($18) EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ON SPECIAL THAT NIGHT AND WE ARRIVED BEFORE 10PM AND THE CHECK ALSO HAD A 20% SERVICE CHARGE ON TOP (JUST FOR 2 PEOPLE AT THE BAR). THE MANAGER NEVER SAID HELLO OR CAME ARIUND TO CHECK ON ANYONE AT THE BAR. I WORKED AS A MANAGER AND BARTENDER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IF YOU HAVE A NEARLY EMPTY PLACE DURING THE WEEK YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!!! TO MAKE SURE THEY COME BACK AND THELL THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF A NEGATIVE REVIEW. SAD WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS. SAD TO SAY...