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    Playa Betty’s

    3.6 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, American, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Playa Betty’s Takeout or Delivery

    Playa Betty’s Photos

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    PLAYA BETTY’S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Playa Betty’s

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    Interior
    Holly R.

    This a great relaxed spot ro watch the World Cup, plus it's so pretty with all the flowers and rainbow flags. The restaurant is clean and comfortable and the service friendly. Plus, the frozen Paloma is a great treat on a hot day. I had the lunch special: 2 tacos and a salad. The salad was fresh. I liked the fish taco better than the shrimp taco. The slaw with the shrimp had no flavor. The Mexican coke beef tasted fine. But I didn't care for the light tomato crema on the enchiladas. The yellow rice and black beans were excellent.

    Pork and steak tacos
    Amanda M.

    The good: An amazing happy hour frozen paloma and some delicious rice & beans (add a couple shakes of hot sauce!) The bad: Unfortunately some of the worst meat I've ever had on a taco. The pork tasted like it had been reheated 7 times - just beyond dry and crusty. The steak was extremely grisly/chewy. I spit half of the taco out into my napkin because I couldn't chew through the meat. Would recommend avoiding these and trying seafood or veggies tacos instead!

    Shrimp tacos
    Karen S.

    Came here for I'm a most a breakfast. It was fabulous. Had shrimp tacos had pork taco tacos you name it. The service was awesome. They count checking in on us all the time and the ambience was such a fun brunch crowd. It was definitely a place where you wanna go in and really enjoy it with your friends.

    Keittisha W.

    Jordan F..... was the host with the most!!!!! He made sure we was good while being seated, very professional but did his job the the max. I say give him a raise. It was my 1st time there and believe me, you....it won't be the last. It was 1 of my Sistah Circle's Birthday. We've been friends for 20 + years. The food was so good everyone enjoy their meal. The ambiance is a laid back chilled mode....not expensive for a night out but will come back for afterwork Happy Hour.

    Cola taco
    Marisa M.

    This is a cute casual place. It kinda is a beach theme, but also has movie posters. It's a little corny but it's a nice laid back vibe and the service is excellent. Everyone was so friendly and the food came out fast. Food is expensive for the portion size but it was tasty. The Coca Cola short rib tacos were excellent. On the small side but the meat was super flavorful and sweet from the cola, very tender. The fish tacos were okay, pretty soggy and not very crispy. Def get the cola taco if you come here! Nice to go to before or after a show at the beacon theater. I also like how they give complimentary chips, and the chips were very good, salty but not too salty.

    Chips and guac
    Tifane R.

    This is one of my most favorite Mexican restaurants. The service is always friendly and welcoming. You never have to wait long for your food to come out fresh and delicious. This is the first place I've had pomegranates with my tacos-such an amazing flavor combo!! I love eating outside in the warmer weather. I highly recommend coming here & can't wait to go back soon!

    Guacamole
    Denisa W.

    Great ambiance and pretty good food; wacky margaritas. I really enjoyed the experience here, but if you're ordering a pitcher of margaritas (we ordered as a large group since it was cheaper than individual) I would advise against it. Perhaps it is the quality of the tequila or marg mix but they really did taste off. Had the fish tacos which were delicious and the rice and beans were also great. Guac was alright. Definitely like the ambiance in here and the service was prompt. I just really wish the margaritas were good!

    Linda S.

    Came here on Memorial Day and was pretty busy. The three stars is for the food only...the guacamole comes deconstructed and def lacked flavor and salt. The sauces, dips, and tacos were ok. The beans def needed more love and seasoning. However, our server was awesome! Quick and very friendly. He gets six stars!

    Inside
    Ashley M.

    Actually a really great Mexican spot. It's very loud and crowded, so not a great place for an intimate dinner, but fun with a group and food is really impressive! Usually I'm not a fan of queso, but this one is great! Chips are crunchy and salty. The enchilada was soo good - I loved the sauce. And fun rice too! I'd definitely come here again. We were stuffed!

    Frozen paloma
    Yessenia F.

    Fantastic food, vibe, and area!! I came to Playa Betty to have dinner before a show at the Beacon Theatre (it's right across the street.) I was a bit worried since it was happy hour and the place was PACKED. I opted to sit at a table instead of the bar since it was crowded. I was seated quickly, and my food arrived quickly as well! I didn't have as much of a wait time as I feared. I drank two Palomas (shoutout to the server who came back to check in on me before happy hour ended!!) and a taco dinner, which comes with any 3 tacos of your choice and a side of rice and beans. My three taco choices were: - The Al Pastor (this place has got to have the BEST Al Pastors I've ever had - a personal favorite) - The Carne Asada - The Marley They were all delicious. Playa Betty is a MUST whenever I am in the Upper West Side.

    3 tacos platter with rice and beans.
    Moz C.

    I had trouble deciding and I didn't think tacos by themselves would be enough so I got the 3 taco platter with rice and beans. Pricey for what it was. Yellow rice and black beans were fine, if pedestrian. Tacos were good! Loud restaurant for a Thursday night. I wore earplugs.

    Anna S.

    Stopped here for a quick bite as we were short on time. It was very packed (Friday evening) but we got high table for 2 right away, looked like larger parties had a longer wait but they do take reservations. Ordered guacamole, tacos and margaritas and informed our waitress that we're pressed for time. Food came out quick, plating is casual, guacamole was fresh (had to add salt) and tacos were good. Margaritas were ok, not very flavorful, which was a let down. Waitress made sure we got our check & could leave as soon as we're done which we appreciated. Good prices.

    TOT-CHOS
    Rolanda B.

    Playa Betty's is a great spot for After work drinks. The staff are friendly and attentive and the space is fun. It's almost beach themed. The food is not the best Mexican I ever had, but it's solid. You can go there and get some pretty filling things for a good prices considering it's on the upper west side. They also always have a good frozen cocktail

    GUACAMOLE 2.0

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    10 days ago

    Food is delicious and cheap! Happy hour drinks are great, got the frozen paloma! Would highly recommend great atmosphere as well.

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    17 days ago

    Packed loud avg mex food but they do have a good happy hr deal even on Fri and Sat. Not a destination but fine for a HH marg and snack.

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    Page 1 of 30

    Playa Betty’s Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Playa Betty’s

    What time is happy hour?

    What's Up Michele? So we're rockin' Happy Hour 7 days a week from 4-7pm!

    Are you taking reservations? I called but only vm?

    Hi - we do not offer reservations but we suggest adding yourself to the waitlist when you plan on coming to reserve a spot! https://www.sevenrooms.com/waitlist/playabettys

    When are bottomless drinks available?

    Hi Julia, Thanks for reaching out. We offer our Brunch menu and Bottomless cocktail from 12-2:30 Mon-Fri and 11-2:30 Saturday-Sunday.

    Do you have heated outdoor dining?

    Hi Emily, Thanks for reaching out.Yes we do have heaters for our cafe tables.

    Are there happy hour specials on Wednesdays?

    They have some type of happy hour every day. I was there on the weekend and they had at least one beer and specialty drinks at happy hour prices. This was about two months ago.

    Is it possible to host an event? I have emailed and left 2 messages and no one has returned a call or email.

    Hi Steven - Absolutely! Please email Todd at t.cederholm@chefdriven.com. He will take care of this for you!

    Would the outdoor seating be able to accommodate a larger group (approx. 7)?

    Whats up Sam? The cafe unfortunately can only accommodate a party up to 4 guests. We are unable to seat parties larger than 4 on cafe. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!… Read more

    Is Happy Hour still from 4 to 8 p.m. everyday except Tuesday?

    Hi George, We offer Happy Hour from 4-8 Wednesday -Sunday. On Monday we feature "Margarita Monday's" with $6.00 Margaritas, $6.00 Chef Special Burritos and $3.00 Frito… Read more

    Is it possible to have a large group of people at the bar area?

    Absolutely, the bar area is a huge U shape and you can stand 2 deep around it..There are a million tables and there are many tables that surround the bar. All of the seats and areas are open and spacious. It's a bright and colorful place.

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    Valerie

    Valerie

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Came for Brunch on a Sunday . Great food (try the shrimp &…read moreGrits- different but really good). Live music is fabulous (Danny Lipsitz) and the drinks are perfect. Of all the places to go In New York, Glad we stopped here . The attentive service (Bar and Restaurant) made the experience even better. Great job Valerie's !!

    Came here for a slightly early dinner after a Broadway show with a party of 4 on a Sunday evening…read more We had a reservation, but it didn't seem like we would have needed one, but I suppose better safe than sorry. The ambiance feels straight of the golden age, which is an aesthetic I'm certainly a sucker for. Even their robust cocktail menu fits the bill and is one of the prettiest menus I've ever had the joy of perusing. Staff was able to sit us a little bit ahead of our reservation which was also much appreciated. Wait staff was also very helpful and attentive, I don't think I've ever had my water glass so topped off! Starting off with cocktails, this place is a gin bar through and through and you'd be making a mistake if you didn't try one of their many options. I went with the 10,000 words, which you simply just give a spirit of your choice (I picked gin of course) and whether you antes) wanted your drink shaken or stirred and the bartender does the rest, so a bit of a surprise! I wound up with their version of The Last Word which was delightfully citrusy but I was hoping I'd wind up with something a little more adventurous app things considered. My girlfriend got the blackberry G&T, which was not only very pleasing to look at but delicious to boot. For food, we started with splitting some zucchini blossoms and beef cheek bao buns (both come in portions of 3). Both were tasty, but I love a good bao bun and these were so light and pillowy, I could have just went for an order of those for my main course. For the entree I went for the roasted half chicken, perhaps the most unassuming choice on the menu but this was maybe the best roast chicken I've ever had. Prepared perfectly, cooked to perfection, excellent portion size, and the kicker of it all was the stunning gravy that I was tempted to lick my plate for. Chicken is very easy to screw up, and they nailed it on all fronts here. My girlfriend went for the Valerie Signature burger with white cheddar and this thing did not mess around! A very rich patty, cooked to her temperature of choice served alongside some garlic truffle fries that made an American classic feel just a little more elevated. Our experience was delightful and I'd love to comeback here again, especially to check out more of the cocktail menu and soak in more of that golden age aura the place gives.

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    Valerie
    Valerie
    Valerie

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    Friedman's

    Friedman's

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Had reservations for 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We got there about three…read moreminutes late, but they seated us within 5 minutes in a booth. It was our first time eating at a Friedman's location. It had a nice diner feel to it, with a mix of booths and tables. The brunch menu has a variety of breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and burgers, starters, and entrees (fish tacos, grain bowl, fried chicken). I like that several of the items are naturally gluten free, and some can be made gluten free by request. We decided to go with three breakfast items from the brunch menu: I got the shakshuka, my sister got the Nova Benny, and we got the lemon ricotta pancakes to share. All 3 dishes were great. The shashuka came with grilled ciabatta, perfect for dipping into the sunny side eggs and tomato sauce. My sister loved that the poached eggs and smoked salmon of the Nova Benny came on top of a crispy potato latke. The pancakes were fluffy and the lemon ricotta and lemon zest elevated their flavor. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he asked us if we had any allergies when he took our order. He came by several times to check on us and refill water. I would return to Friedman's when I'm in the Herald Square area, or check out one of their other locations in the city.

    Love the look of Friedman's. Nice dining room that they pack in comfortably. Came for an early…read morebreakfast and the dining room filled so fast that I was happy we got there early before the rush. I got myself delicious sunny side up eggs with the pastrami hash. I was impressed by the chunks of pastrami throughout. Very hearty and very delicious! My husband indulged in the Nova Benedict. They packed on the lox. He didn't even finish but found it amazingly delicious. Service was okay. Nothing too spectacular. I almost felt an inconvenience to the server but we didn't have a fussy order nor was it busy (we ordered before the rush). Maybe she was preparing for the rush. Lol either way, it wouldn't stop me from returning.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Vanilla Cafe Latte

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    Vanilla Cafe Latte
    La Pecora Bianca

    La Pecora Bianca

    4.2
    (605 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    This is a great place for italian food. It has an upscale feel and friendly staff. The white lamb…read moretheme is recurring in the decor. We got their garganelli, tagliatelle, and ravioli pastas. For dessert, the iconic tiramisu. Garganelli- This has a nice, arugula pesto sauce that has a rich garlicky finish. It's enhanced with roasted mushrooms and sharp pecorino. Tagliatelle- You get a rich pork and beef bolognese. The house made pasta is cooked to perfection. Pretty satisfying! Ravioli- This is a light, seasonal dish with pumpkin, brown butter, and sage. The sauce complements the sweet pumpkin and the brown butter adds a nuttiness. Tiramisu- This dessert was too cute to eat! It was decorated with a meek looking model of their namesake lamb. Nobody wanted to ruin its face so we slowly ate this from the outside in. The espresso it strong, complemented by the creamy marscapone layers. Textures and flavors were perfectly balanced. Great experience overall!

    We were a party of nine looking to have one last (memorable) meal before visiting relatives from…read moreEurope were headed back across the pond and we decided The White Sheep (thank you, Duolingo!) across from Bryant Park was the place to go. From the outside it didn't look like much but after passing through the two sets of glass doors... It's packed. And lively. And (really) loud. And it was only a Tuesday night?! (How are all of these people living so high on the hog, without a care in the world?!) We were escorted off to a little tucked-away enclave near the back, but the restaurant was just too boisterous and we had to shout just to talk to people at the other end of the table. We got our menus and there was a bit of 'sticker shock' on my part, I can't lie. "We're in NYC, what did you expect?" - the Mrs. whispered when she saw my eyes go wide. But $38 for chicken parm? (Which is what I went with after seeing it had its own little "parm-fection" hype on the menu.) And $36 for the Branzino (which consisted of one fillet on a small bed of wilted spinach)? Our table dabbled all over the place and for the most part everyone really enjoyed their meals. The food they're knocking out is legit, for sure. But the bill came out to over $60 a person (including the tip, but we didn't have apps or dessert and half of us just had water), which hurts when you're a cheap-o like myself. Our waitress was awesome (and she didn't even seem fazed when I tried to rattle her that we were going to split the check onto nine different credit cards... but we only used one). And Bryant Park (right across the street) was the perfect nightcap on a lovely spring evening.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Vodka pasta
    Vodka pasta
    Lavender Spritz

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    Lavender Spritz

    Playa Betty’s - mexican - Updated July 2026

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