We've been here a few times now. It's a great halfway point to meet our in-laws at! It's very helpful that there is a large parking lot, not an easy thing to find in the area. The staff are all pleasant and attentive. We've never gotten to sit outside but I'm sure it would be lovely with the brook down below. All the food we have had has also been delicious. The only downfall of the food itself is that you have to pay extra if you want more chips and salsa. Due to that we just get multiple appetizers, which have all been fantastic. This most recent time we tried to queso and got the fries to go along with them which was a great idea, they paired wonderfully. We've also had the nachos and the street corn which are both delicious as well. For our meal my husband and I both get the carne asada which is fantastic. It comes with a chipotle butter and the steak itself is more of a classic strip steak rather than what you typically get for a carne asada. I love the way they make it here! The beans, rice and cheese enchilada are the perfect complement to the steak and the vegetables soak up all the steak juice and chipotle butter. They're also very well seasoned with garlic as is. We forgot to take photos of the steak because we were so excited to eat it! Lastly, the margaritas are delicious as well of course! Highly suggest this place to anyone looking for good Mexican in the area! read more

The Bear Cantina - Queso and Fries - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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Service was good and quick, restaurant was clean and quiet, beautiful location. A mockery of Mexican food. I would never go back to this place because it fails on the most basic things. I ordered a shot of casamigos and got no salt and a lime wedge that still had the pith. Maybe good for squeezing, but not to bite into after a shot. Then, I ordered the tacos al pastor and I got guacamole, salad, sour cream and cheese for some reason, but no salsa or limes. I got asked if I wanted hot sauce, but I don't know why I'd want to add that instead of a green or red salsa. I didn't even worry about asking for salsas because I could only eat my first taco out of politeness. Pastor was sweet, beans and rice were super salty and somehow it still tasted very bland, the tortilla was cold and it did not taste like a taco al pastor at all. I did not have high hopes for this place but once I saw the staff I assumed it would be at least acceptable. It wasn't. Total bill with food for my partner was 88 after tip with a shot, a margarita, an enchilada and these "tacos". read more

The Bear Cantina - Lime wedge for a tequila shot - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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We were deciding between this place and Silvia for our last night of dinner in the Catskills. Bear Cantina did not disappoint! I got the burrito rico with impossible meat. There are many vegetarian options. Everything was very flavorful, from the complimentary salsa with plenty of cilantro, to the perfectly salted chips, to the hearty burrito. They provide homemade habanero sauce to add spice, and it was so good I wanted to take the bottle home! There was outdoor seating near the creek with a nice view, although many bugs. We are from the NJ area, and this was some of the best texmex we've ever had. Highly recommend for a fun and satisfying dinner. read more

The Bear Cantina - Guacamole $14 - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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Delicious food - a must for vegans when in the area. The vegan fajitas made for two meals for me, given the hearty portion of rice and beans it comes with. Super kind staff! Very cute place even though we ordered take out. read more

Next time you're in the mood for Mexican food and you're in the Woodstock area, def give Bear Cantina a try. We ordered quite a few things cause we were so hungry after our hike and EVERYTHING sounded good.....and it was! The taco salad was tasty with a crispy flour shell bowl, elote was full of flavor, jalapeño poppers def brought the spice, and the red enchiladas reminded me of Mexican food back home in CA. My hubby got the fajitas and he enjoyed every last bit of them. We even ordered extra beans to make our own bean and cheese burritos for the following day. Oh and don't forget to order a slice of tres leches! read more

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We sat outside along the stream in a festive atmosphere. We are thrilled to say that the food, the generous portions, and the service were fantastic read more

Very good, food with authentic flavors. The shrimp ceviche is very good, salsa, chips, very good. Large portions with solid service and beautiful decor. read more

I have visited The Bear Cantina many times over the years. The food is always consistently delicious. The staff is very friendly. The service is attentive and efficient. The prices are fair. The restaurant is clean and festive. This is our goto restaurant for Mexican food.. There are other Mexican restaurants in the area more popular but none better in every way! read more

I came here before a show at the Bearsville Theater and it couldn't have been more convenient as the theater is literally next door! They also have a nice outdoor patio that overlooks a creek, so my boyfriend and I decided to sit outside. It was so peaceful! They brought us some chips and salsa as soon as we sat down, which was incredible and so fresh. I started with the Mango Suave margarita with a salt rim. It was served in a cute glass with a cactus on it and it hit the spot! For our entrees, I ordered the Shrimp & Chicken Fajitas and my boyfriend ordered the three chorizo taco platter. Both entrees came with rice and beans, and guacamole and pico de gallo. Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious! I feel like rice and beans at most Mexican restaurants are an afterthought and that wasn't the case here. Everything we tried was fantastic and the service was great. Next time I'll leave room for dessert. read more

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Used to always go with my family! They've become SO STINGY with their portions as of late. I'm afraid they've lost long time costumers with us. I swear when I went last they gave me half a spoon of rice with my rice and beans. Everything is half the size it used to be and so expensive for what you're getting. I remember what it used to be. It's such a shame because the food, staff and atmosphere was great. But it's just not worth it anymore. :( read more

I had an absolutely fantastic experience! The location was perfect--convenient and beautiful, which added to the overall charm. The food was nothing short of amazing--every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. What truly stood out, though, was the service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. read more

The Bear Cantina - Vegetable Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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Came up from the Bronx to visit an animal sanctuary nearby. We dined here on a Saturday afternoon & had a great experience! We got a beautiful unexpected view outside by the water! We got the impossible enchiladas and vegan tacos. Our waitress was very attentive and the food was delicious & so fresh! Usually when I get rice & beans from a Latin establishment, it tastes like an after thought, but I was really surprised by the quality of the entrees here. My mango margarita even had real mangoes blended in. Complimentary chips and salsa was brought out right away and I will say that it didn't blow me away. But it's been 2 days & I'm still thinking about those enchiladas!!! The portions were huge! Idk if I'll ever be in the area again but I'm hoping so just to come back here!! read more

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The service was super-friendly and welcoming, the creekside location is great, and the food was solid. Zero complaints.

Amazing food! Great ambience! The service was great as well. Will definitely be back for more!

Nice staff, cute spot on the river. Food was really good, didn't order anything too crazy but the salsas were great for the chicken tacos, and the chicken was seasoned well. Rice and beans were great, always nice to come across refried beans in the area. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to stop by this place when we were in the area looking for food. This was not our original choice for dinner but the restaurant we wanted to go to was closed so we stumbled upon this place which was a huge plus for us. The place itself was super cute with big indoor seating space and a cute outdoor seating space as well. Since it was a nice day we decided to sit outside where majority of the people were sitting anyways. They had a variety of different options for dinner. We decided to get the Tacos Al Pastor which were absolutely amazing. The flavors were amazing - the meat was so perfectly seasoned and flavored without being overdone. It also came with a side of rice, beans, cheese and gauc which paired perfectly with the tacos and made it a hearty and filling meal. We also got a chicken with cheese quesadilla which was equally amazing - it was perfectly crispy and it had a smokey flavored to it and it was perfection. It also came with a side of rice, beans, cheese and guac. Both dishes were a hit and we could not figure out which one we liked more. For a side we got the elote which I have to say I was disappointed in - it was way too sour for my liking and I felt like the sourness took away from the actual flavors that I was expecting. Overall - great place for dinner and I highly recommend it. read more

Despite the demise of exclusive (New) American Bear Café in this same Woodstock address that shut down due to mismanagement of sorts, Bear Cantina was born. We've been coming to the former for the last umpteen years so their shut down struck us hard when the vibe was off the last time we visited that restaurant a few years ago. Bear Cantina is the brand spanking new Mexican restaurant on the block on Tinker St. The restaurant is huge with dining rooms on either side, a bar/lounge in between and a lot of empty space. Inside structure and some original wooden beams remain, except for new turquoise walls, some light blue ones and random Mexican ceramic masks and sombreros decorating Cantina's space. Chips and Salsa were plentiful and tasty- so was the Guacamole. Our on-the-rocks Margaritas lacked strength- but kudos to Cantina for using real Watermelon juice in mine. Hubs' steak and shrimp Fajitas had that char he always loves and said it was seasoned nicely. My Seared Garlic Shrimp with mushrooms were quite tasty also- but didn't expect bland rice for a Mexican restaurant. Servings were generous though. It's nice that a manager(?) checked on tables during our Wednesday night dinner- but her way of doing it felt like a drill sergeant making her rounds especially with the table next to ours and constantly hawked at 2 young ladies having an easy-going conversation. With the exception of our cheery server Briana- who was fire, everyone else seem inexperienced and weren't flawless. Briana for the win! read more

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Came here for an early dinner around 4:00 on a Thursday. We were the only people in the restaurant. Service was good and food came fast. The food was so tasty! This restaurant sits on a small creek so it's very scenic too. read more

The Bear Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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Food was great. View was awesome. Loved the drinks. The servers were fun. We went on the early side so there wasn't too much people.

We. Love. This. Place! The chimichanga is truly divine. All of their ingredients and sauces are fresh and excellent quality. All homemade. They are real chefs. By far the best Mexican/Tex-Mex in the area. They also have an epic outdoor seating deck right on the river. One of our favorite spots in the entire Catskills. On top of all that, they are super sweet and friendly people. Bear Cantina rules! read more

The food is mediocre, the music is too loud, but the greatest fault with this restaurant is the service, which is horrible. We waited more than 30 minutes for our food (one appetizer, a soup and a main dish). When we finally received our food we had to ask for utensils. This place needs to train their servers or hire more experienced staff. It's a disaster. They get two stars for the food. read more

Nice location with a large parking lot. Great service with kind staff. The margarita was pretty strong! The food came out quick and was tasty. Nice ambiance overall too with fireplace inside. Would recommend if you're in the area! read more

We came here when it was something else and it was okay. It's now this place and we loved it. It was the perfect last meal on our last night of vacation. Just amazing food and nice views. My son loved it and that's always a plus. Definitely go here if in town then Nancy's next door for a perfect night out. read more

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There's so many cute and trendy restaurants in this area, especially on this little plot of land right next to the Bearsville Theater. We were really craving nachos, and I have to say that the steak was a 10/10. The nachos were so evenly spread out which is a MUST for nachos. Y'all know how annoying it can be to get a lonely naked chip. The seafood fajitas were so well seasoned and tasted so fresh. It's easy to overcook seafood but this wasn't at all. I will say I feel like there coulda been more fish. For $30, it's OKAY but I felt a little skimped. The salad was crunchy and flavorful. Regular salad. Not anything too extraordinary here. Drinks are made with fresh juice (not nasty purées) which I LOVE. read more

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They need handicapped parking closer to the entrance and a ramp. The stone steps by the front door are of uneven height and will cause falls. The food is mediocre with Woodstock high prices. There really isn't anywhere affordable to dine in Woodstock and now there is another. $24 for one pork chop is outrageous! The margaritas are good and so is the salsa and guacamole. Maybe when the bar or outside is open we'll go back and enjoy just that. There are so many other great Mexican places in the area to eat that this is off the list for now. Soupy beans and dried up rice just doesn't justify the price. No tacos! read more

The Bear Cantina - Good high priced margaritas! - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

Came here mid-afternoon before a show at Levon's with no expectations and proceeded to have one of the best meals I've had in ages. Incredibly fresh ingredients prepared with evident care, and all so flavorful. Wonderful, friendly service, everyone ready to talk informatively about the food. The pride taken in providing a good all-around experience is obvious. An extraordinarily pleasant surprise. An abs must if you're in the area. read more

Amazing food, definitely a bit on the pricier side but lovely view and interior. Service was great and timely.

Great views, but mediocre food. $20 for a small burrito is crazy, the tofu was barley cooked and overall my burrito didn't have much flavor. I would not go here again. read more

The Bear Cantina - Veggie Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York

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Consistently good food in a peaceful environment. Great people working here and strong drinks! A great night out during the week.

The place is in an amazing location! Right next to a river and the atmosphere here is phenomenal. Food is good, quick and priced right. I just love seasoning so asked for salt and pepper. The service and staff is very friendly and accommodating. Definitely coming back here once I will be in the area again. Drove 35 minutes from where I was staying at Scribner's Lodge and definitely worth it. I would recommend this place for sure and next time if I am not driving would definitely try their cocktails as well. read more

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Came back again and service was fabulous and food and drinks still consistently delicious! I'll definitely be back again and again. read more

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Great food, ambiance and great service. Beautiful view with a stream passing by. Outside seating available

Sadly a horrible experience. The outside deck is lovely, and we wanted casual outside dining so we went for it. The food took 90 minutes!! to come out after we ordered. We received our food after 9pm and we were sat at 7:15pm. There is no reason to explain how this happened. They never came over to explain the delay or apologize or anything. We went 2 times to ask what was going on. They brought us complimentary quac and chips after an hour and 15 minutes. They offered drinks or dessert and we didn't want either so we asked for a discount on the $120 bill for 4 people (1of which is a child) and they reluctantly gave us $12 off. The food was horrible, the service was a mess and the wait was torture. We would have left but calculated that by the time we went somewhere else to get food we wouldn't have been eating anytime sooner. I'll never go back and that's a shame because I still like the setting and Mexican is always a family fave. read more

Very pleasant setting, food and service. Sitting by a stream in the early evening is wonderful

Solid Takeout (have never eaten there) - always fast and friendly service and tasty food.

Delishhhhhhh So good. Shrimp enchiladas are to die for. And the fact that they have Tamarind Jarritos. Amazing. read more

My favorite new restaurant in Woodstock! I've been 3 times now and I approve! As a Mexican-American from Los Angeles, I like to think I'm a good judge of Mexican foods and The Bear Cantina nailed it, for me! I always judge a Mexican food place by their nachos and fajitas and both are delicious at Bear Cantina! Brunch is great here too! Go for it read more

I made an account to tell you this was the worst mexican food I've ever had. I ordered the burrito and it came out cold, the rice was mushy and not cooked properly. It also had no flavor whatsoever. The servers didn't even remove the empty chips and salsa until I payed for the meal (it sat on the edge of table the entire time). The decor was nice and so was the view, but nothing can make up for the horrible decision to eat at this restaurant. read more

Waited for our table for 30 minutes. Was seated and ordered our dinner. 90 minutes later, we still had no food. They were awful, no apologies no nothing. Horrible! read more

This was the cutest Mexican spot. Amazing views, atmosphere and a super friendly staff. The food was amazing and so filling I think I will be full for the rest of the night! read more

The Bear Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Woodstock, New York