La Cantinita — Restaurant in Town of Oyster Bay

Went there for my daughter's birthday and made a reservation. Reservation part of it was very easy but make sure you pick the right location since they have two and for some reason it made a reservation for Levittown instead or Massapequa, put i don't know why if I wasn't even looking at the Levittown location. But anyways the place is very vibrant full of colors and on Friday there was a dj and he was playing very good music. Put for a Spanish restaurant that dj wasn't playing enough spanish music if u as me. I'm hispanic and if I go to a spanish spot I expect spanish music period.. If I go to a American cuisine restaurant then I would expect American music. It's just what you would expect. But beyond that place was very nice, clean, and from my experience well staffed because we didn't wait long to be served our food and waitress was very attentive to our table. Drinks were good not really to brag about. I asked for a spicy margarita and it was disappointing as far as spicy. It had not spicy to it except for the two pieces of jalapeños in it. But as far as the spicy tequila they use it just doesn't do it for me sorry. Food was hot and the appetizers were ok. Wing had a good flavor and also the empanadas. But the nachos had not seasoning on the meat whatsoever. Like mi gente ( my people) u let me down on that one. Moving on me and my wife order the parrillada for the menu and it being the most expensive thing there we figured it would be the place best dish. More than enough for two, yes. Maybe even 3 people can eat from the plate. The only thing that had flavor on the plate was the shrimp and the beans that come with the platter. The meat and chicken once again had no seasoning At all on it. It was so under season that I had to add salt and pepper to it to give it some sabor. Now I Love Mexican food big time but I don't know if this is the norm or just a bad night but very disappointed on the flavor of the food and drink. And after seeing a bill almost $500 dollars for a party of 6. That's some expensive tacos. And some expensive weak drinks. Of course we didn't eat tacos but place is expensive for what they serve. I would not go back, this was a one and done for me. And the rest of my family said the same thing. I got better food at the corner taco spot. But hey, they all can't be hits because...

I hate to leave a bad review but I would like to offer my insights on my recent dining experience at this newly established Mexican restaurant. While I appreciate the effort put into creating an appealing ambiance, characterized by tasteful decor, inviting lighting, and a well-appointed bar, I must share my candid observations about the overall experience.

Allow me to begin by acknowledging the commendable service provided by our waitress. Her attentiveness and professionalism were evident throughout the meal. Regrettably, my culinary expectations were not met as I sampled the cuisine. The sense of anticipation that had built due to the restaurant's favorable reputation was, unfortunately, met with a huge degree of disappointment. Another issue is the size of this location. It is extremely cramped. But I understand that the business cannot do much about that.

My first disappointment was with the empanadas. They were wet by an excessive drenching in oil, an issue exacerbated by the scant filling they contained. Similarly, the tacos I selected were underwhelming and laden with more oil than deemed suitable, detracting from the anticipated flavors. This lack of quality in both cuisine and beverage left me disheartened, particularly considering the price of each item. You are paying a premium price for what I feel is lower quality cuisine.

A prime example of this disparity was the pina colada I ordered. Far from the standard of excellence one anticipates, it lacked the proper consistency due to seemingly insufficient blending with ice. The end result resembled a drink that was left out for a while to melt away. It was extremely loose and lacked adequate flavor.

Though my inclination is to offer constructive feedback rather than critique, it is necessary to underscore my expectations were not met during this visit. Consequently, a rating of two stars is conferred, a nod to the exceptional service rendered by our waitress. Regrettably, the overall experience left much to be desired, and as such, I am unable to confidently extend my recommendation to others.

It is my sincere hope that this feedback is received in the spirit of constructive improvement, facilitating a refinement of the dining experience for...

I give everything 5 stars! Food, service, atmosphere. The waitresses are very attentive, they even refill your water without asking! Out of all the taco/mexican restaurants in massapequa this restaurant is hands down the best! You can tell the chef cooks with their heart. The food is so flavorful and scrumptious. Very authentic. The music is great too! From being seated, getting our meal, and paying for the check — one hour! That’s how great and fast working the staff is. After receiving our check they gave us a sample of their new cocktail! How sweet of them. Please come experience this restaurant! Your Mexican food craving won’t be disappointed. I know I’m coming back at least 199492 more times! 🥰

-pumpkin spice margarita (such a fall vibe) -birria tacos (the BEST in town, I PROMISE) arrachera a la mexicana (skirt steak, so yummy & cooked to perfection just the way I asked) cuatro leches cake...