Cantina del Centro - Kelowna

We stopped in on a whim after reading some positive reviews on this restaurant. While it isn’t terrible, it certainly has a lot to improve on. The restaurant itself is fairly clean, nice decor, and modern. It doesn’t feel very authentic - very Americanized-Mexican. This is not a bad thing as it contributes to the overall experience, however it seems very corporate. The biggest downside here was the service. Incredibly slow, awkward, and unfriendly. There was around 4 front of house staff working (excluding the bar) and we were barely acknowledged. They could have gotten another two drinks out of us had they been able to check in on time. Not sure if this was due to scheduling/being busier than expected, however it was a Friday night and half empty, so it didn’t feel justified. Our server, while polite, was not around much, and did not seem very comfortable in her position. The food was tasty, although fairly small portions for value. I believe this is due to the fact it is in a high traffic area which justifies the price, and while the food is certainly edible it is not as fantastic as the price and atmosphere would lead you to believe. We would be open to trying this restaurant again in the future, however we will not be hurrying back based on the slow and impersonal service and the price v. quality offered

The food and atmosphere were amazing! Excellent enchiladas and wings. Service was pretty good. Would have benefited from a host to seat guests and if not, reservation signs might help for guests to know what tables are available. We noticed some customers were disappointed about seating availabilty/lack of signage. But mostly everyone seemed to be having a great time.

"Cantina del Centro" delivers a laid-back and inviting atmosphere that pairs perfectly with its great Mexican food. The informal setting creates a comfortable space where you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your meal without any pretenses. The restaurant's charm lies in its ability to make you feel right at home, allowing you to savor your favorite Mexican dishes in a casual and welcoming environment. So, if you're in the mood for fantastic Mexican flavors without the fuss, this informal gem is the place to be.

Really great option for dinner and drinks in downtown Kelowna. There were lots of patio seats and even though it was a busy summer Friday night we got a table for 3 on the patio without a wait. Food was great. They use fresh flavourful ingredients. No frozen margs or pina coladas, the pina colada had real coconut shavings and I think fresh juice.

The food was amazing, hands down one of the best authentic Mexican food places I’ve been to. Our waiter was awesome and he was super friendly/accommodating. The atmosphere inside and out is perfect for relaxing with your family. My kids could not get enough of the food either, they scarfed it down and even asked for more because of how good they said it was.

Portions were a little small for the price, but food was still good. Our waitress, upon guiding our party of four to the table and throughout our lunch, did not seem happy to be speaking to us. Seemed tired of interacting with us from the get-go and didn't smile once. Maybe she had been having a hard morning, but it definitely put a damper to our mood and how we felt about the service. It also took quite some time to have our orders taken; we had to take the initiative after about 5 to 7 minutes of waiting passively. My friend seated across from me noted she caught sight of a server gathering a stack of dishes near the cash register counter, looked at the dishes, and swept off something before taking it somewhere (most likely a table but can't be certain). this was a little questionable.. but overall, I wish our experience here would have been better. Visited for lunch in late August.