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Ivia Google

29 days ago

It's a nice place, we have been here many times. The food is unique, server was excellent, although the margaritas are too small for the price. The only reason I'm giving it a low review is because of the front of house upon arrival. I assume this is a policy of the Crown restaurants because it has happened to us at Crown Republic as well as Cantina. If you show up without a reservation they pretend there are no tables then 'oops, we do have one open', or they say there are no tables available. We literally check Open Table minutes before coming in and there are reservations available every 15 minutes. We are busy people, frequently dine out, and don't always know what our plans are until the last minute. They also require a credit card to hold a reservation, which we aren't willing to do for a mid priced restaurant. Fine dining in a major city, sure, but not here. This is not a good business plan. This is not NY, or even Chicago, you need to be accessible to people and not falsely snobbish. We have dined at most every nice restaurant in Cincinnati, they are the only restaurants we've to that pretend not to have openings because you don't have a reservation. It's on Open Table lol. There are many choices of good restaurants here that are easier to deal with. I worked in the industry for many years in fine dining, no restaurants did this.

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Gillian Wigleyvia Google

7 months ago

In town from Minnesota on a mini vaca with my mom. Initially came to the area for a different restaurant, but they were closed for an private event. Not wanting to hunt down something else, and/or do more driving than we already had, we stopped here, as the food smelt really good. Didn’t even know this place was 100% gluten free, that just happened to be a major bonus (my body sadly prefers when I don’t eat gluten)! Food was phenomenal, we both loved the homemade tortillas & tostadas, and the flan was heavenly!! Everything we ate was reasonably priced too, and the service was great! If we lived in the area, or even in the state, we would definitely be back often.

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Kathy Fesslervia Google

7 months ago

Food is incredible. We’ve always loved Cantina and it’s atmosphere. It’s translated well to the new location. However, the seating situation inside is unfortunate. There’s one small room that has 5 tables and on a Thursday night, we were all crammed in. It was uncomfortable as we had to adjust our seat a few times to let other tables sit. Additionally, my partner’s seat was directly over the AC vent from the ground. He was freezing. We’ll be back but will sit at the bar.

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Aely Arzuvia Google

8 months ago

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Cantina, the vibrant new Mexican restaurant that just opened its doors in downtown Cincinnati, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a warm, contemporary atmosphere that perfectly blends rustic Mexican charm with a modern, upscale twist. The décor is sophisticated yet inviting, with colorful tile accents, elegant lighting, and comfortable seating that makes you want to settle in and stay a while. The menu is an absolute standout—creative, authentic, and beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was bursting with fresh, bold flavors. The street tacos were perfectly seasoned, and the house-made guacamole was incredibly fresh. Service was exceptional as well. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, offering great recommendations and making sure every detail was just right. Whether you’re out for date night, celebrating with friends, or just craving outstanding Mexican cuisine, Cantina is a must-try addition to Cincinnati’s downtown dining scene. Highly recommended!

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Josievia Google

9 months ago

All I can say-WOW! This place was absolutely delicious. The ingredients were so so fresh and well paired together. We got the guacamole, the wedge salad, and we split the lamb and Baja fish tacos. Each dish had layers of unique flavors and textures. The pickled red onions and candied bacon on the wedge salad were superb. The guacamole was really elevated—it had a red sauce on top with different types of cooked down onions, corn, peppers, and cheese. The tacos were juicy and fresh. Even the rice and beans side was perfectly seasoned. Drinks were good. Our waitress was extremely kind as well. Overall so so pleasant. We sat outside and it was beautiful.