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    Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop

    3.7 (156 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop Takeout or Delivery

    Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop Photos

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    PANCHO'S CANTINA & ROOFTOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop

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    Priya K.

    What a cute spot for happy hour! The rooftop is nicely decorated, but location wise there's no view. You look over a pretty dirty shorter rooftop with garbage on it lol. We stopped in for some happy hour margs and a snack. Got chips and salsa, a couple classic and spicy margs and then a soft serve watermelon marg. Our waitress even brought us an extra shot of tequila with the soft serve, which was nice because it didn't really taste like there was any alcohol in it. For $10, the margs were pretty standard. Not very strong. The classic had a bit too much lime--was overly tart. The place was pretty full and the service was a tad slower than we'd have liked. We likely would've gotten an extra round before HH ended if we were checked on a bit more frequently. Overall, the food at nearby tables looked good too so I'd be curious to come back and try some.

    Happy hour menu 7/26
    Kamilah S.

    We came here to celebrate my bff's birthday, she lives in China and is here visiting for a few weeks. Fatima, our waitress was swamped, she had at least 19 tables, bless her heart, she was trying. We had a reservation for 20 people, but after 30 minutes, restaurant policy, if your full party is not there, they have to start taking table and chairs, understandable. As soon as Fatima took the tables and chairs, our party arrived. Maybe because our waitress was swamped, she was unable to remove empty dishes from the table and they started piling up. The tables are already small, so space is limited. I had the borracho barbacoa fries, tasty, the barbacoa was a little bland for me, but with the cheese, guacamole, jalapeños and tomatoes, they were okay. The guava margarita and the passion fruit margarita were very weak. I tasted 4 different mango margaritas ordered by our party and they all tasted different, some were too sweet, some were weak and some were just right. No separate checks and only 1 card... HORRIBLE. Overall, I doubt if I come back. Chicago has far too many rooftop and Mexican restaurants for subpar service, drinks and atmosphere.

    Caroline W.

    Food: 4/5 Service: 2.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 I'd heard so much about Pancho's and their famous soft serve margaritas, so I was excited to finally try it. My boyfriend and two of my friends joined me for happy hour. One of my friends and I decided to split the strawberry mango soft serve margarita, which was $16, and we also ordered a raspberry mojito along with the passionfruit, watermelon, and strawberry margaritas on the rocks from the happy hour menu. The soft serve margarita was definitely fun and Instagram-worthy, but I was a little disappointed with how it was served. The tequila comes as a separate shot for you to pour in yourself, and once it's added, the soft serve loses its consistency almost immediately and turns into more of a liquid, similar to a melted smoothie. Because the tequila isn't mixed in, it can also be difficult to get an even flavor throughout the drink. It was still good, just not quite as great as the hype made it seem. The raspberry mojito was refreshing, and the happy hour margaritas were flavorful and a much better value. It's worth noting that the soft serve margarita and mojito are not included in the happy hour specials. For food, we shared the Elote Bites and chips with queso. The Elote Bites were flavorful with a great balance of crema, cotija cheese, paprika, and lime, and they were easily the highlight of the meal. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, especially if you're looking for a fun spot downtown. However, the service left a lot to be desired. We found the staff to be less friendly than expected, and the overall experience didn't feel particularly welcoming. The bathroom location was also a little awkward, as it's tucked behind the area where servers are entering and placing orders. One thing that stood out was the reservation policy. They require a credit card to hold your reservation and have a strict 10-minute grace period before giving away your table. Because of that, it was surprising when we arrived on time and still had to wait because our table wasn't ready. It wasn't a long wait, but it felt a little odd given how strict the reservation rules are. Overall, Pancho's is a fun place to check out at least once, especially if you've been curious about the soft serve margarita. The drinks and atmosphere were enjoyable, but the service and reservation experience kept it from fully living up to the hype for me.

    Margarita
    Jordan D.

    First come, first serve vibe with reservation attitude. I had high hopes for this spot because it's in my neighborhood and could be a cool regular patio spot however was disappointed. Starters, the host wasn't welcoming. I went on a Sunday, all day happy hour, and it was completely booked for the day. The host advised we could wait by the bar and if a table opened up she'd come to get us. We stood by the bar for a good 15 mins and were able to get a seat. A few tables opened up so we thought she'd grab us soon, so we just got a drink to start. As more tables opened, she never came so we just ordered food. There were tables with "reserved" signs open the entire time were there, never was offered a table. The food was typically bar food, nothing special. They have a seasonal soft serve margarita that everyone was ordering but it's not on any menu and no one mentioned it to us. We tried it eventually and it's the only good thing on the menu. Seems like they are just understaffed and can't keep up with the rush, maybe they'll get it together in the future but I wouldn't rush to get there.

    Chicken Nachos
    Vanity H.

    Came here for their soft serve margarita and I'd have to say it was just okay. We started with a combo - burrito & a marg for $20 not bad! The burrito was really good - I got al pastor. It was very cheesy & creamy and I always appreciate that. The marg was tasty but didn't really hit like I expected. We moved on to the soft serve margarita which I heard mixed reviews about. As a drinking expert I can tell you that it's pretty much just a fruity soft serve. That's why they give you a shot on the side. It was tasty though! We were super full from our meal & marg though so we barely finished them. I took off another star because they should absolutely open their indoor space on 95 degree weather days. Everyone was on the rooftop burning up! They kept spraying a mister from the roof shingles that went all over us and our food/drinks. Pretty unsanitary if you ask me.

    Carne Asada Fries
    Tailah J.

    This place has been on my "must-try" list ever since I heard they had soft serve margaritas, and let me just say this: PANCHOS DID NOT DISAPPOINT! It came with a shot on the side for those that wanted theirs stronger. I didn't indulge because it was perfect just the way it was presented, in my opinion. I would go back, order 10 soft serve margaritas, and leave happily. The service was great and the food was good. I tried the elote bites and carne asada fries. The elote bites were sweeter than I expected, but I'm not sure if that was a good or bad thing tbh. The carne asada fries were spicier than I thought and I was pleasantly surprised by that. However, I wish the presentation was better. I'd suggest pico de gallo on top and a lime wedge on the side to brighten up the dish, add a touch of freshness, and take this dish from good to great! Overall, I had a pleasant experience. I would definitely come back and try something new! That soft serve margarita, however, will forever be ordered so long as it's available for purchase.

    espresso martini soft serve
    Jeruby M.

    Went here for my birthday and I have to say, 10/10 experience! The soft serve ice cream was sooo good I could not stop eating it. I also ordered carne asada fries (not pictured) and they were also extremely good. The service was fast and they even gave me a birthday shot which I honestly was not expecting but it was cute and fun. Definitely need to come back and enjoy the vibes of the rooftop again!

    Soft serve margarita
    Diamond H.

    Came for the soft serve margarita launch day (4/18). Drinks are strong but lack any real fruit flavor--both the margarita and strawberry Long Island tasted mostly like mix and tequila. Service was slow, but the food was hot and really good. The rooftop vibe and music are a plus, so I'd come back for that. Be prepared--it gets very crowded. The bar area was packed with barely any room to move, which felt like a safety issue.

    Inside
    Dennis X.

    Came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of seating. The servers are helpful and the vibes are awesome. There are plenty of seatings both at the bar and along the wall of windows. The music is lively. The views are cool and there are heaters to keep you warm on those cold days. I didn't try any food but the cocktails looked awesome! I got the Tamarindo Cantarito and it tasted like a Mexican candy! Super delicious and aesthetically pleasing for social media! Crazy enough, if you take a pic and share it to Socials and tag Pancho's, you'll get a free shot of tequila! Come check it out and have fun with it!

    Menu
    Julia S.

    Drinks are great -- the tamarindo cantarito is sweet and tart with just the right amount of chamoy. The classic cantarito was stronger and a little more acidic / bitter but good nonetheless. Interestingly, when we walked in Spanish music was playing and when we were sat, it immediately stopped. There was an eclectic mix of country music and indie sounds being played. With songs sometimes being cut off in the middle. Pancho's is loud; service was slow the day we visited; and the vibes are by no means traditional.

    Big drinks, nothing but juice...
    Dominique B.

    This review is ONLY about the drinks. Waitress was amazing and food was ok. Went here for Mother's Day brunch and there is NO way these big ass drinks had more than a shot in them, if even that. For $15 a piece I should have felt at least something but two in and the group consensus was there was little to no alcohol in there

    Burnt churros
    Alysha H.

    Our visit started off shaky. We were first in line but somehow seated behind everyone in said line. We were seated in a frigid area and asked for the heaters to be turned on; they obliged for a while then turned them off again. Of course the wait was 15 minutes longer to be served after everyone. We ordered a sangria and peach margarita, guacamole and chips, elote, carne asada tacos dinner, steak fajitas, and churros. When we received our meal, I can't say it made up for the poor service. The standouts were the drinks: the sangria and peach margarita were excellent. The carne asada tacos were also pretty good. Everything else was barely edible. It's a nice place to go for drinks...maybe.

    Creamarita
    Janelle V.

    We went to Pancho's to try the viral soft serve margarita. It was pretty but it was just ice cream and you had to pour a shot into it but it didn't mix until it was fully melted. We did get the carne asada fries which were better than they looked. The service was just poor. They are clearly understaffed.

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    Page 1 of 4

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