Esquina Cantina first opened in 2009 and is located in the historic Round Corner Hotel & Bar building that was built in 1864. (The building is on the corner of 38th & Butler Streets, and "Esquina" means "corner.") My husband and I ate one dinner here as part of a Yelp Experience. (I reviewed my free meal under the listing for that event.) My husband is not a Yelper, so he paid for his meal. Guacamole and tostadas - 4.5 stars - This appetizer was a large size. The tostadas were nicely crispy and had the perfect amount of salt. The guacamole was fresh. My husband said that it was probably the best value that we have even gotten for chips and guacamole at any restaurant. Carne-asada street tacos - 3.5 stars - Again, the serving size was large. The tortillas reminded me a bit of my husband's Mexican grandma's tortillas. As for the carne-asada meat, my husband said, "I don't know what that was supposed to be." Eek! However, he added, "The beans and rice are very good. There's definitely a Mexican in that kitchen." Well, I do not know who the chefs are, but I hope that they accept that last comment as a compliment. These two menu items cost $42 plus tax and tip. read more

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Arrived a few minutes after they opened up and snagged a seat right at the bar. Not that it was very busy inside as a lot of the people coming in were going to the outside seating area. The bartender was great and so friendly. I ordered their house margarita, queso and quesadilla. Loved that they used tostadas as chips. The quesadillas cheese pull was insane. read more

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Service was the worst I've ever experienced. Our waitress kept avoiding our table and we later learned she forgot to put in the order. Two hours with no food for a table of 9 people is totally unacceptable and then she had attitude when we asked about our food! Manager apologized and handled it well but the waitress never apologized and basically continued to ignore us the rest of the night. Food was bland. read more

Highly recommend their happy hour, especially on Taco Tuesday! $5 tacos at the front bar, $10 tacos (2) sitting anywhere else. $6 house marg, $8 other margs, and there's another deal I'm forgetting. I do wish they made the happy hours more apparently since I had to wait until my visit to see all the specific details with prices. The carnitas tacos were so tender and delicious. Sitting on their patio is so nice during the summer!! read more

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Another great night on the patio catching up with friends. We enjoyed some happy hour margaritas and then some food menu items. The salad with shrimp was a secret gem on the menu. It was a massive portion. The service was super friendly and I can't wait for my next visit. read more

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Always a great place to catch up with friends or for a local date night! The staff is very efficient and friendly. I love the back patio, margs on a patio is the best combination. I got the salad last night and it was delicious, but the shrimp I added was a bit tough. The tacos, guac, queso, salsa, and rice & beans are always a hit with me and everyone I bring! read more

Esquina Cantina - Ensalada - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

small portions, expensive, nice atmosphere. over wouldn't come back but fun to try. Yup

Always great street tacos, guac and drinks. Here's a raspberry agua Fresca. Can always rely on the friendly folks and excellent authentic fresh Mexican food. Wonderful neighborhood vibe. Gracias!! read more

Esquina Cantina - Raspberry aqua fresca!! - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Another amazing meal at Esquina! The birria tacos are always delicious - crispy, melty and full of flavor. The side of sauce and consommé are a great addition. Happy hour means $6 (as opposed to $10) house margaritas that are some of the best in town and $2 off their other cocktails. The cocktail I had today was bubbly, fruity but also earthy. So good! read more

Esquina Cantina - Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Fantastic cocktails. The patio is the perfect place to start or end an evening out in Lawrenceville. Service is prompt and the bartenders are super friendly. read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great tacos and vibes! Went here with a few friends for dinner and we enjoyed it a lot. First of all, the plating is adorable. I'm obsessed with the color scheme of the plates -- the pink is so cute! The food was honestly pretty good for Pittsburgh Mexican food. We got queso to share and each got two tacos. The chicken tacos were really flavorful and topped with fresh ingredients. The vibe and decor inside is really hip and trendy, and feels kinda like a bar. I don't remember having any complaints about the service. Would definitely come back and would recommend if you're looking for a place for a casual dinner but in a really chill vibey environment! read more

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The name has been updated but the vibe remains the same! We went for drinks and the staff is always so helpful. We love sitting on the patio out back! read more

Esquina Cantina - Outdoor Bar - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tacos are very very average and overpriced. Don't much filling, not seasoned the best and the shells were dry. In the hipster Lawrenceville scene they can def get away with this and people think it's fine Our waitress wasn't very attentive to us and she forgot our diet pops Def won't be returning and can assure you there are quite a few better spots in Pittsburgh for tacos read more

Esquina Cantina - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

this was my first time at round corner cantina and it was a really cool atmosphere and vibe! there are "4" sections of the restaurant and it still isn't that big. You enter to bar seating, then a small oasis of dining tables then an outdoor space with heaters and then an outdoor chalet which is where we ended up. My only complaint was the aggression of the bartender at first when we sat at a high top but they were for a reservation (how would we have know when the hostess said you can go to the chalet!) after that, all was fine when we grabbed seats at the bar! We ordered the tres aperitizos which was salsa, guac and queso. The salsa gave off a tomato soup taste and was really good. The queso was filled with onion, jalapeño and mushroom - yum! And the guac was guac! I ordered the pollo asado tacos - they were filled with grilled chicken and delicious! They do take reservations for the indoor small dining space and outdoor chalet! The location is in Lawrenceville so you def have to give yourself time to find street parking if you aren't ubering etc! read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mexican restaurant located in Lawrenceville, right on Butler Street.  Round Corner Cantina is evolving into Esquina Cantina, located on the corner, in an old hotel building- Round Corner Hotel & Bar.  Walk into their amazing bar space with barstool seats ad high top tables.  Amazing drinks and incredible tequila selection.  Indoor guest seating is available throughout, and the back patio is gorgeous and such a vibe!  Within the Patio are tables and cabanas which are cute and perfect for a smaller intimate group.  Their food is incredibly carefully selected with handmade items.  Tried the arroz con macha and added chicken- super flavorful and delicious.  Friendly and attentive wait staff!  Great spot for a girls dinner! read more

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The outdoor patio is lovely, and the tacos are great! Came in with two friends for dinner on a weekday evening and were able to be seated immediately at the outdoor patio. The decor was so charming and perfect for a summer day. We ordered chips and guac (note: the guacamole is market price), calamar, carne asada, and carnitas tacos. I thought the squid ink tortillas were so creative, and the calamar was delicious. There was a lot of depth in flavor, and I would consider this one of my favorite Mexican taco places in Pittsburgh. My friends also wanted to add their own thoughts on their orders: In the carne asada tacos, the grilled steak and cool cheese came together in perfect union, bringing to mind the complex meeting of land and sea. As Melville writes, "Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself?" the carnitas tacos were yummy but dripped a lot and were a little bit dry at the same time. but overall they were pretty good. also i like that the onions were on the side because not everyone wants stinky breath (unlike me) Overall, I think this is a lively stop for a summer outing. read more

Esquina Cantina - Carne asada, carnitas, calamar - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We SO wanted to like this place- while everything looked fantastic, it all seriously lacked flavor. On a good note- LOVED the margarita. Started with the queso fundido which literally tasted like straight butter? No spice, no flavor, no cilantro, no nothing. Another good note- the chips were great! Now for the mains... the carne asada tacos were cold and tasted like they were 3 weeks old. No flavor. The birria were a bit better, definitely lacked in seasoning and flavor. Then the al pastor, which were fine. The meat was questionable to me and again flavorless. Price and quality do not align at all here. The restaurant itself was confusing? You have to walk through the whole place to get to the hostess. We sat on the patio which was cute and has a full bar outside, but it was a little cramped. Service was ehh, to me it matched the food. Overall, come for happy hour drinks and chips, don't stay for a meal. Final ranking: 1. Birria tacos 2. Al pastor.... 9. Carne asada... 32. Queso fundido read more

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Tequila selections were great, company was fantastic. Could have wished I had tried a full meal but was on a tequila tasting spree was an excellent bartender and the music was on point in the patio. Great atmosphere and energy. read more

The decor is nice and inviting, original early tile mosaic style floor. We came on a Tuesday evening, and the bartender, though I didn't get their name, was great. I had the chorizo quesadilla. It was good, but the chorizo needed drained. Either way, it was still very tasty, and nothing a few napkins couldn't fix. Happy hour was till 6, and house margaritas were $6. The house sauce on the side was also amazing. Would definitely stop again, but it is overpriced. read more

Esquina Cantina - Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Haven't been in several years and was excited to return to what was one of our favorite places before COVID. This was one of the most disappointing (and expensive) meals I've ever eaten in Pittsburgh. We got 4 orders of tacos (was disappointed that you couldn't mix and match but not a dealbreaker). Carne Asada: the meat had clearly not been cooked long enough to breakdown to the texture you would expect and was severely under seasoned. What ended up in the taco tasted similar to boiled meat. very tough to chew. Birria: again, flavorless. I've never had birria tacos but I'm certain this is not how they were supposed to taste. The meat was very bland and the dipping liquid tasted like chili powder boiled in water. Calamar: the squid was horribly overcooked and dry and there was a small dot of sauce on one side. The result was an incredibly dry taco with rubbery calamari. Picture attached Shrimp Tempura: these were the best of the bunch and I have no complaints. By comparison to the other 3, they were pretty good. We also got the trio of dips. The guac was good, salsa meh, and the queso completely flavorless. I will say that the service was top notch and the wait staff were all very friendly and attentive. I'm not one to typically post negative reviews without first trying to remedy the situation at the restaurant but there is no way they were going to re-cook the meat in a way that would make it flavorful. For $139 with tip (we had 1 beer and 1 margarita as well), this was a thoroughly disappointing experience. read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We stopped in for one drink, and we ended up staying for three and an appetizer. We sat in the bar area and the bartenders were wonderful! The whole building was great and the place has cute little touches by signs, walk through areas, and the heated outside patio. We had some guacamole with chips...no extra jalapeños...and it was great! The chips were homemade and wonderful read more

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I really like round corner, well now called Esquina Cantina! I always get the birria tacos and are pretty good. The salsa they give isn't spicy though. All my friends have their go to meal here already and it's a common place where we get together. "La cantina" is basically their margarita with splash of orange juice and so good. Sometimes we ask for guava in there and it's even better! Reservations are good to have because sometimes they have no tables. There is a bar area in the front that you can sit at. Overall, do recommend! read more

Very fun food and beverage options. Creative and tasty. Service is excellent, despite how busy this place usually is when I go. Quick and kind. Fun vibes. Best on a nice day when they've got the doors propped open. read more

Went here for happy hour and sat inside since it was a little cooler than the patio, although the patio is cute! The house margs were $2 off and the chips and salsa were only $2. I also ordered a plate of the Sopas which was delicious! read more

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Went for a late dinner with my friends and loved the entire set up of the restaurant! Got to sit outside on the back patio, it wasn't cold but they had heaters set up, very accommodating. Waiter was super patient with us not knowing what we wanted and everything was delicious and fresh! read more

Esquina Cantina - Birria Tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I went here for my birthday dinner with my family this weekend! It was soooo so so good! The entire menu is gluten free! The corn tortillas are made from scratch. The black tortillas are squid ink. We ordered guac, queso, and salsa to start! They kept bringing chips out we cleaned out all of the bowls everything was so good! I ordered the carne asada (steak) tacos and my friend ordered the camaron (breaded shrimp) tacos and they were both so good we split them! My sister ordered the mahi tai tacos and also liked them a lot. We ordered a side of rice (a plate) and added chicken and it might've been the best rice I've ever had. We also ordered black beans and everyone said they were very good (I don't like them lol). We also ordered a multitude of drinks, alcoholic and non, and they were all so good. The service was excellent. They were quick and very attentive with us. The vibe of the restaurant was so cool. We sat on the patio, which is covered, and it was just really nice and cute and vibey. The inside was very cool too. This place was awesome and I will definitely be coming back for more!! read more

Esquina Cantina - Carne Asada - taco - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Ensenada was very good. I had it with chicken and shrimp. I would differently get it again. Two thumbs up.

My favorite taco spot ever!! Their Birria tacos are my life and I constantly get them to go or in the restaurant. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. I love their mocktail options as well! read more

Esquina Cantina - Birria - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I'm shocked I haven't reviewed the cantina yet! Love popping by this cozy bar for cocktails, chips & salsa during the cold weather months and the patio our back is perfect for warm weather visits! Recently we were invited to try their new spring menu items and...wow! I normally wouldn't opt for vegan dishes on my own but these were wonderful - bursting with fresh flavors if you couldn't already tell by the vibrant colors. The fish tacos were great too! DRINKS (available now) Sparkling Lavender Lemonade - non-alcoholic option, sweet & refreshing! Herbaria - gin, housemade orgeat, bergamot, angostura orange bitters, vegan egg white ... beauty, grace, & balance in the prettiest little coupe glass. FOOD (launching soon keep an eye out) Atún: seared ahi tacos, salsa macha, cabbage, picked onions, cilantro - amazing with a little kick Chileajo: vegan - green bean, carrot, potato, salsa de chileajo, pickled carrot & onion - the rice...SO good with the veggies! Tacos Dorados: vegan - black bean and corn rolled tacos, crispy mushrooms, cabbage, arugula, pico, salsa verde, salsa arbol, pickled onions ... my favorite! Really satisfying. We also tried a few dishes not pictured here, so stay tuned bc I'll likely do a photo carousel soon to highlight them all. The Cantina is such a staple spot to grab cocktails in the cozy bar or out on the cute back patio in the warm weather. I was honored to come try these new dishes and will almost certainly be back again soon! Check this restaurant out on your next trip to Lawrenceville. read more

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A Pittsburgh gem. They have lots of delicious options. The inside and outside seating both have great vibes. Employees are helpful and nice. read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Recently there was a randomly 70 degree day in February & Round Corner opened their patio so we had to go! I only got a margarita and the group had chips, salsa and guacamole. Everything was great! I don't even like tequila and my drink was amazing. Our server was really friendly despite being slammed because like I said, 70 degrees in Feb. The patio is a cute spot to hang out. We got there right at opening time of 5pm on a Thursday & I was the first one out there so I was able to snag a table, the place did fill up quickly. I have to go back soon to try the food and more margs! read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The tacos were average, but overpriced. The service was horrible. We had to flag down the waiter to take our appetizer order, bring utensils, take our main order and bring drinks. They also added a 20% tip for a party of 6 after this experience. I will not be visiting again and suggest you avoid it as well. read more

Previously known as round corner cantina. Had no idea they rebranded. Writing a review to say our waitress Simone was incredible! Someone in our group has an unusual allergy and Simone personally went to look at all the seasonings AND spoke to the chef to find out what marinades use this ingredient. I've never seen a waitress go to those lengths; it was very caring. She also gave great recommendations and seemed happy to be working there. Overall the food and drinks were good but i feel they are overpriced for the portions. $18 for two small tacos (no side) in Pittsburgh is a bit much, along with $13-15 drinks. Also, there was an issue with our reservation. It was showing up on our end as reserved but the restaurant didn't have it on their system. Luckily there was a table available but not very reassuring for next time. read more

Good margaritas. Good guacamole. Cute server. Good server. Good chips. Good price. read more

Esquina Cantina - Some is delicious - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We only had salsa and drinks here, but the experience was very enjoyable. Their back patio is perfect for summer, it is tucked away and adorable. Our drinks were very good as well, they have a variety of margaritas to choose from. I would come back here to try the food next time. read more

Esquina Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Was back at Round Corner for a friend's birthday brunch. It also happened to be Cinco de Mayo. We had a larger party and was seated in the patio area. It's definitely a vibe out there. The reservation was for noon (when they opened). The brunch menu was limited that day to 2-3 dishes. We placed our order around 12:45. About 6 people ordered the same brunch special. The waitress came back a few minutes later to say that they only had one more of that brunch dish available. That was wild to me because they were supposed to be serving brunch all afternoon, but they ran out of one of dishes within the first hour? It did not seem particularly busy and most people had been ordering drinks and/or apps. Other than that, the experience was okay. A couple hours later, we were told we would be getting our checks because another party reserved the area. Which is fine and totally understandable. Overall the experience was fine, but a little annoying about the brunch. read more

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What happened to the Cantina that we loved? The few items I ordered off the new menu were not great. We started out with the trio of salsas and guacamole. Instead of it coming with chips, it said tostadas. No problem - sounds good to dip still! What we got instead were ripped up, stale pita pieces. They were okay as soon as you ate one, but after sitting for a few minutes were immediately stale tasting. Also they tasted un salted - very boring. The guac was yummy and so were the salsas, but we had so much left over due to the lack of chips/dippers. The lovely meter-maid drink has always been my favorite. It is super grapefruit-y and refreshing. I was glad that drink was still on the menu.  Then it was time for tacos. I ordered the squid taco. The black tortilla was cool, but the tortilla was very soggy and fell apart quickly. It seemed like two tortillas needed to be stacked. The octopus was tasty and I wish there would have been another piece. The other taco I ordered was the "campesino" taco. The description says assorted mushroom, corn, cauliflower, cilantro-pickled red onion, avocado-tomatillo salsa, mole tortilla, but it tasted mostly like the small spoonful of corn and not much of the other flavors. Overall disappointing for our whole group that used to frequent this spot. read more

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Overpriced food and drinks. Food was bland and bartender was rude. Ambiance was a bunch of stuck up staff behind the bar with weird techno blasting in the background. read more

Very cool ambiance. Can get pricy by all worth it! Very good tasting food . Try the outdoor sections when the weather breaks. The bartenders are very efficient and effective so are the servers. read more

Came here for the first time this past weekend, having never heard of it before - invited by friends. Overall the food is just "okay" but somewhat pricey. I ordered the birria after quickly peeking at suggestions and it was mildly tasteful and visibly greasy like a "taco" from fast food burger places like Carl's Jr. (which are less than a couple dollars), but these two tacos were $16. Possibly the lowest value I've gotten for food in a handful of years. Three salsa trio was $28 and came with a small amount of chips, so you had to ask for more multiple times. Service was fine enough and the back patio seemed cool. There are better places to go that are run by Mexican folks that are a fraction of the price, and I cannot recommend this place for the blandness and excessive prices. read more