Mekenita Cantina

Restaurant Review: MekenitaStepping into Mekenita felt like being transported into someone's Mexican grandmother's living room. The warm, cozy ambiance and the inviting aroma of spices instantly set the tone for a memorable evening.The service was absolutely top-notch--attentive, friendly, and made us feel right at home. The drinks and cocktails were a highlight, perfectly balanced and incredibly delicious.We started with the egg rolls, and they were bursting with flavor, followed by a fresh, vibrant salad that was perfectly dressed. The pasta was the ultimate star of the night--so rich, flavorful, and satisfying. Every dish was a testament to the care and creativity of the kitchen.We can't wait to go back to Mekenita to relive this experience. It's a place that feels like a warm hug, paired with incredible food and drinks. Highly recommend!

The service is great, the food fresh and yummy, cute space. Close to the zoo. Seasoned chips, yummy Guacamole.

Obsessed with the ambience of this place and love that they don't claim to be an authentic Mexican restaurant, but rather Pacific based and fresh. I believe that they achieved just that. The margarita pitcher was failed to the brim and enough for 4 cups. The taste was on point and definitely left us with a buzz. The house made guacamole was a great addition and they have amazing flavored chips. My only downside was the pasta. I felt like it was missing a layer of flavor, but I'm unsure of what exactly that could have been. I would come back to try other dishes though and grab drinks. This place also had great service!

My friend and I were looking for a great place to have lunch and then she recommended Makenita. Chips and the 3 salsas were crunchy and yummy, the fried Brussel sprouts were to die for. The horchata drinks ( mine was alcohol free and my friend's had some) were very good. I ordered the enchiladas with salsa verde and beans. I ate so much . The place is cozy, great food and friendly service. I will come back!!!

This place never disappoints! The best craft cocktails. Delicious guacamole and salsa. So authentic. I love the enchiladas! Citrus grilled chicken tonight. With refried beans, rice and a lovely side salad. Our server was so attentive and sweet. I love that's it's right in my hood. I've even ridden my bike before.

This cantina checks most of the boxes. One of the best place to eat in Seminole Heights comprehensively (considering value, food quality, service and ambiance). Ambiance is great with a beautifully designed space. Tiles at bar are a nice touch. Free parking in their small lot and on side streets. Prices are fair for quality of food. Service was good and moved at a laid back pace which suited us. The tiger shrimp salad was absolute perfection, the flavors were a spectacular combination. Margaritas were good especially if you are a fan of orange juice in your margaritas. Chips and salsa are $2.50 and worth every penny. Hot chips and authentic salsa. Nothing to complain about here. Crowd was small for a Friday night and we didn't have a wait at 5:30p. Restaurant is a stand out for the area.

Nachos come to the table burned. I asked for a different basket and the waitress was none too pleased. Had to ask for straws to drink the warm tap water. Sadly disappointed by the food as well. I had to put out an APB to find my shrimp under all of the mess that was loaded on top. Asked for soft shell flour tortillas and still can't understand why they are hard. Oh, yeah, a few sprinkles of cheese toasted on the soft shell. If you want good or at the very least half way decent food, don't come here. If someone says "you can't go wrong with Mexican food", well that's a lie.I had a bite of the burrito and well... it's a no too.The shrimp were buried in there somewhere. I definitely would not recommend this spot. Go to Wawa...

My partner and I have been looking for a new Mexican place to try (he told me my standards were way too high when I said Miguel's was "just okay"), and we were both really glad we chose Mekenita Cantina!I got the crab enchiladas and he got the chicken one. I was really excited to try a more unique kind of enchilada, and these definitely didn't disappoint-- the filling was so creamy and had the perfect kick to it. My partner's only words about his were, "I don't want it to end." Make of that whatever you will. I asked for refried beans with mine and he asked for black beans with his, but they accidentally switched ours. While I didn't mind at all, I love and accept any and all kinds of beans, the staff were so nice and actually gave us extra servings of beans! Both tasted wonderful!Aside from the food, the staff as I mentioned were lovely, and the interior is super warm and cozy. We were happily greeted by everyone upon entering, and I loved the lighting and decor of the place. It's surprisingly hard to find a nice, sit-down style Mexican restaurant in Tampa, so this was a great experience for the both of us. We will definitely be back soon!

This place has been open in Seminole Heights since 2018 & I am upset that I didn't know about this place sooner! I actually just saw it driving by & decided to stop in. Started off with the Cantina Salsa Trio -Charred Guajillo, Salsa Verde, and Pineapple Papaya Salsa. The pineapple papaya salsa was so fresh & amazing I was wowed by the flavor. Their chips are chili dusted corn tortillas which are tasty all alone.My partner had the Ancho Grilled Angus Steak Tacos & loved them. I had the Smoked Chicken & Black Bean Egg Rolls. I only wish it came with more of the chipotle crema! Everything was so flavorful & I felt like my tastebuds were in Mexico. I can't wait to go back & try other things off the menu.

Rediscovered this amazing restaurant a few months ago. The food is great, the drinks are great.