Tocolo Cantina

This place did a great job of sharing how poor of an experience it would be before we were ever seated. And ultimately we weren’t which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 7:40 PM on a Thursday evening the restaurant is half full. We came in a party of 5 without a reservation. Poorly managed tables with a band in one booth a party of 1 in a booth for 6 and another booth directly under a blaring concert speaker. I should’ve taken a picture of the two couples sitting by the band cupping their ears leaning over the table trying to have a conversation. Thirty minutes later, after a promise of 10 – 12 minutes and we had to leave. I get it, if it’s a 30 minute then so be it I can decide if I want to stay or not. Even a mediocre place would have to the courtesy to acknowledge the wait at some point. Instead you’ll see excuses I’m sure. Don’t waste your time.

Tex Mex at its finest. The food is top notch with fresh ingredients. Everything I tried was perfection. I passed this place a million times on my Starbucks runs and never noticed the place. Finally yesterday I had lunch here with a group of friends. I am still drooling over the chicken burrito I had and the plantains yum. Our waiter was fabulous very friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. I also had the vegetarian tostada which was very good. I really loved the interior of the place which was sexy beach setting. I had such a great time here and will absolutely be coming back.

Visited just this past Saturday night. We made reservations before but still had to wait. The hostess, bless her heart, definitely did everything she could to ensure we were seated as soon as a table opened. And as soon as we sat, she made sure to bring the chips & guac as we said we were super hungry!
I had the mango margarita and it was good & strong. We didn’t order any apps and I ordered the chicken tacos with the sweet plantains for my meal. I wasn’t crazy about the chicken tacos at all. I liked the flavors they used but I didn’t like the cut of chicken they used. It wasn’t white meat at all & I’m weird about the cut of meat that I eat which is why it’s always chicken for me since I feel it’s a safe bet. I would get the veggie next time. My friends loved their paella & beef tacos respectively.
The service & atmosphere were great. It’s just in a weird-​ish «shopping mall» spot so I’m not nuts about the location. Maybe I’ll try again another time.

The food was pretty good but the menu was limited and way overpriced. We have been out to nicer Mexican restaurants and had as good if not better food for much less. Their small house Margarita was $ 11! Yikes! The food was pretty good, just really overpriced. It was a one and done for us.

We came here on a lazy Sunday afternoon in search of good food and a relaxing meal. It took about 15 minutes for a server to take our order after we were seated.
If you come expecting to have a quite meal, forget about it. It’s noisy, especially when the garage door is open for «patio» dining. Most bothersome is the way the chairs squeak on the concrete floor if pushed the wrong way. Kind of like fingernails scratching a chalkboard.
For starters, we ordered the classic guacamole: it was flavorful and the chips were fresh. My mango margarita was delicious but a little light on the alcohol.
Although I read the review about the smallness of the fish tacos, i decided to order them anyway, figuring that this would be improved based on the response to the review by the manager. Not so. The pieces of fish on the tacos were still disappointingly small.
When our meal was over, out plates were promptly cleared from the table, but the server took forever to bring us the check. We must have waited close to 15 minutes before we were able to finally get her attention and ask for the check.
Bottom line is that the prices are high for the quality and quantity of food we got. Service was nothing to write home about either.
Not likely to go back or recommend this place based on the initial experience.

Been there once or twice. Liked It. But it seems like management got real unprofessional and rude all of a sudden. The hostest were rude and didn’t really try to help with what we requested. My advice is don’t spend money on this place you get get great Mexican food and better customer service somewhere else. They need to improve and do better.

Cute place. I stopped by the other day for a quick lunch on my own.
I sat near the door but close to the «gate» that opens? (I don’t know what to call the wall opens up like a garage door) and I could feel the wonderful breeze coming from outside. I felt like I was on vacation. It wasn’t dead but it was annoyingly busy either. Which was great.
The food was yummy
The décor is modern.
I loved it.
My waitress was cute and sweet
I’ll be back for those sweet plaintains and cream sauce.
4 stars cause there was only 1 waitress on staff for like 8 tables.

Tocolo has a great atmosphere for spring and summer nights. The storefront has a garage door which can be pulled up so that the restaurant integrates with the outside.
I enjoyed their sangria and mojito. I would recommend the mojito. It had a good balance of flavors.
We only stayed for some drinks and chips. I would certainly recommend both the guacamole and the salsa. The salsa comes with three different varieties: a salsa verde, a pistachio salsa, and a red chili salsa. My favorite was the red chili salsa which I believe was made with ancho chills. It had a smokey start and a spicy finish.
The service was superb. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Mike was a great server!

Came here one evening with my girlfriend to celebrity her co-worker’s promotion. There was no wait and the place is lovely, very spacious. Both the waiter and waitresses were very nice and attentive. There was a coat check which was nice because who what their coat taking up space when trying to enjoy a group dinner. I did not drink, so I can’t speak on the cocktails but the hot-​cocoa was rich and creamy and perfect for that cool evening. I had the fish tacos which was okay, but the best part of dinner for me was dessert… the tres leches. I love tres leches but it’s so hard to find a place that makes it half as good as my first experience in Venezuela. But the tres leches here was perfect and I would go back just for that.

I didn’t want to stop by on a Saturday because I was nervous the place would be mobbed. We drove by and saw tables open so we stopped in.
The décor is modern and really nice. The walls are brass colored with a tint of turquoise that fades in from the bottom. Feels like they took the decaying walls of the Titanic. It’s actually really pretty.
We sat down immediately and one of the bar backs came over to fill glasses of water for us. The waitress Jessica came over to greet us and she was happy and professional when she spoke. She offered lunch hour drink specials and when asked about recommendations for the food; she told us about the lunch special: appetizer and lunch entrée for a fixed priced I think it was $ 17. Awesome.
We ordered a lunch special that we split between two. And ordered another appetizer to try them out. Two Sangrias white and red. Quesadilla; steak burrito and the wings.
The menu states that lunch is 45 min or maybe they recommend it for people who have a 45 min break. The food was out in like 10 min. Awesome again.
The quesadilla was delicious it had a spicy tint to it. The flour wrap they use is purple and didn’t fall apart or feel mushy. The wings are also spicy. They left a nice fire taste in your mouth after you eat them. They’re served with a green sauce that I recommend you dip your quesadilla in. Lol. Both were good portion sizes.
The burrito was delicious. We shared one between the both of us. Super filling and the steak just falls apart the way it should. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
So full we declined dessert but she brought over the cutest little hot chocolates! So cute and delicious. Three different creams and a hint of chili powder is what she said.
Overall the experience was amazing, the waitress was too cool and the ambiance was tranquil and my meal was exquisite. I can’t believe this place has bad reviews but then again maybe I just got lucky on a dead lunch date.

My day was going pretty sucky so to cheer me up my coworker suggested we go out for lunch. Man am I happy we did!
I recall driving past this place on a different day so I suggested we try it out and it was super delicious.
The wait staff was very nice and they had outdoor seating on this beautiful day.
Since it was lunch time, the outdoor seating was all taken but inside was just as nice. We got the chicken blue corn quesadilla for the appetizer which was amazing. I got the Mexican Cobb salad since I’m SUPPOSED to be on a diet and my coworker got tacos which looked so delicious.
Overall the service and food was great and I would definitely come back possibly on date night so I can try their cocktails

Let me start off with saying that Nikki (I think that was her name) is the best server. First time I went to tocolo she was our server and literally the best human being.
First time I went I had the fish tacos and was not satisfied with my meal. It was so bland and so heavy because of the corn tortillas. Fish tacos at Houlihans are better.
Guac the first time was really good. All the other tacos were pretty bad too– good quality bad taste, lacks flavor for a Mexican place. My friends had the steak and it tasted so good when I tried it but then the second time I went things were different.
Second time:
We got the mango guacamole the second time we went. That was absolutely phenomenal. We did a prefixed that included app/​entrée/​dessert.
I got the wings– not saucy and not the best but they were fried really well and had that crunch.
Sister got the tortilla soup that Nikki suggested and it was better than expected. My cousin got Paella as her entrée and it was big enough to feed two people! Heavy, but good. It was well seasoned and yummy. My sister and I got the steak thinking it would be amazing since I felt that way the first time I went. We were kind of disappointed. It ended up being bland and kind of basic. The fries were coated in like this lime salt which gave them a nice kick but nothing too amazing.
Dessert we got the chocolate bread pudding and Churros. Chocolate bread pudding was really heavy and may make you feel a little queasy if you’re not used to eating heavy desserts. The Churros though, those were so good!!! I was ready to drink the caramel it came with.
Basically if you go, order the mango guac, paella if you like seafood, and Churros. Their drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) are good too. They’re cool and you should give them a try @ $ 3!
99% of the reason that I’m giving this 3 stars instead of 2 is because of our server. She’s the best, really sweet and funny! I hope Nikki was her name– I’m almost certain it is.

I actually feel like I just got robbed. Had the brunch which is ordered off of a small menu
Of options that pretty much all looked good and comes with 1 drink of choice. I ordered the chicken enchiladas. For $ 20 you get 2 enchiladas and a drink that’s it. The brunch menu prices the enchiladas at $ 17. That is nuts for 2 enchiladas with no side or anything. Highway robbery and not even good. Oh also I saw a roach crawl up the wall and behind the picture next to the garage door. Yummmm

The food was good! I enjoyed the shrimp tacos and the margarita which used grilled limes. I agree with other reviewers that the guacamole needed more heat. They should offer to make it spicy.
I will remember next time to make it extra spicy. I will def return.

Went here for lunch today. The guacamole was delicious, highly recommend ordering it as a starter. I had the pork burrito, my cousin had the chicken, both were good, the arugula on the side was a nice touch (the citrus on the peppery arugula was a nice contrast to the hearty burrito)
After the meal we were offered little samples of their Mexican hot chocolate and it was amazing, next time I go I’ll definitely get that full sized.
Our waiter was very attentive and overall we had a great meal!

3.5 stars. I’ve been wanting to check this place out for awhile now and came here for lunch yesterday. Good atmosphere (love the sinks in the washrooms), good service and some tasty food. My friend and I ordered the yucateco guac (half portion) which was a pretty large order. From the lunch menu, you can order and first and second course for $ 15 or a la carte. We went with the special and I got the Mexican corn (elote) and my friend the vegetarian toastada. Both were really good. The corn had good spice to it but was a little cold. The toastada was good but nothing compared to the tostadas I order in Jackson heights, queens.
For the main course I got the torta with brisket (think Mexican sandwich) and my friend the quesadilla (vegetarian). There is a surcharge to add meat to the quesadilla so I do find that it can add up depending on what you want to order. Overall the food was good, the prices I felt were a tad pricy. I was a bit disappointed the lunch menu did not have the lamb tacos. I guess I have to come back again. Their brunch pics look amazing.

If you read my reviews you know I frequently eat Mexican food.
After doing some shopping at Roosevelt Field Mall during the Christmas season my boyfriend and I were driving down Old Country Road looking for a place to eat when we stumbled upon Tocolo. There was a wait for a table but we found two seats at the bar where we decided to eat as we watched some college football.
The menu had so much variety. I am sorry that I am writing this a month later and cannot remember everything that jumped out at us. But, I do recall the pistachio salsa. I am a pistachio lover so seeing that I needed to order it and let me tell you it was delicious.
For the main course we split a trio of meats and made our own tacos. We had chicken steak and Barbacoa (lamb). The meat was FANTASTIC. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to just the right temperatures for each meat. My boyfriend regarded it as one of the best Mexican restaurants we have ever been to and I can’t say I disagree with him. The food was a little pricey but it was worth it — we had so much leftover we took it home and had it for lunch the next day.
I did not drink this time but I did see that they had tequila flights and many different cocktail. I will be trying one next time.

This restaurant’s décor is beautiful! Turquoise with splashes of colour even gorgeous picture art in all three loos. **nods head** yes all three, the female, the unisex and male, I checked.
On my visit, Tocolo Cantina was practically empty, yet the hostess chose to escort me to a wee lil table at the far back where my bumcee couldn’t even fit in the seat. If they were full I would understand this injustice but nah. I took myself up and chose another more comfortable seat. On seeing me move a staff member said «that’s okay, sit wherever you like» duuuuh.
Service wasn’t spectacular. Look I’m being kind, service was piss poor.
My plan was to have one drink as I checked out the spot. Their recommended margarita made me want to try more. I loved how they made that drink!
I tried their wings (server said wings were in high demand hence the reason they added the best tasting wings to their menu). She lied. Spicy or peppery does not a tasty dish make. Leave that trick for an incompetent «cook» like me to try.
I didn’t enjoy their guacamole. It was nicely presented but covered in some herbs that hid any actual avocado taste.
I wanted to sample something else because I thought surely, they can’t be all bad? The server though, her attitude made me feel rushed and unwelcomed so I just hurried up and left.
My experience here wasn’t close to amazing or even good. I’ve had much better at that man with the white beard.
Likes: Décor and magaritassss.
I wanted to fall completely in love with you so badly.
The End.

I like this place. We stopped in because it’s conveniently in the shopping plaza so we walked over after doing some errands.
The décor really caught my eye. Beautiful, summery interior. The weather was nice so we sat outside.
My mom and I shared an order of guacamole. It’s impossible to mess up guac because avocados are delicious and go with literally everything. That being said, the guac was good, fresh, very bland, but still good because it is an avocado after all. It wasn’t flavorful at all so we asked for some lime to squeeze over it. That made a huge difference. Regardless, the portion was big. Definitely a plus if you’re sharing.
I enjoyed my chicken tacos. My mom liked her fish tacos as well. Well seasoned, fresh ingredients, not too heavy. An order comes with two small tacos (not three). The portion size was perfect for us but I could see it easily being too small for others.
Service was great. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive and we didn’t have to wait too long for our meal.
The food isn’t anything crazy (there are definitely better Mexican spots around) and I wouldn’t go out of my way to return but would definitely stop in locally.

I went here after a friend said they had good, cheap eats tacos. So my expectations was good, affordable tacos.
We went their during an off hour, midweek. The place was almost empty. There was only one waiter who worked very hard running around trying to attend everyone’s needs.
We ordered the fish tacos and the beef tacos. Both tacos were tiny but the fish was literally the size of my thumb. I had to take a pic and will upload it. Tasted like a fish stick. Definitely one of my least favorite fish taco.
We ordered a coke and sweet plaintains that never came. But the waiter was really nice and did the right thing.
The arugula salad wasn’t good as well.