Fresco's Cantina: A Vibrant Mexican and Latin Fusion Experience in Astoria

Fresco's Cantina Introduce

Fresco's Cantina: More Than Just a Meal, It's an Experience

Fresco's Cantina is a celebrated Mexican and Latin fusion restaurant that has become a vibrant hub in the Astoria, Queens community. This isn't your average dining spot; it’s a destination that buzzes with energy, color, and a truly welcoming spirit. More than just a place to eat, Fresco's Cantina identifies as a Black-owned, Latino-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned business, creating a safe and inclusive space that’s as diverse as the city itself. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of casual and trendy, with chill beats and a decor that feels both cozy and exciting, making it a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

The menu at Fresco's Cantina is a creative and delicious fusion of traditional Mexican dishes with influences from other Latin American and even Asian cuisines. This "Mexican reinvented" approach results in unique and flavorful dishes that keep people coming back for more. From delicious tacos and burritos to hearty entrées and an impressive array of drinks, there’s something for every palate. The commitment to amazing food, outstanding service, and a lively atmosphere makes Fresco's Cantina a top choice for a memorable lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. The genuine warmth and attentiveness of the staff, including the owner himself, make every customer feel like a welcome guest in their home.

Location and Accessibility

Fresco's Cantina is conveniently situated at

12-14 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11106, USA

, a bustling and popular street in the heart of Astoria. This location makes it a neighborhood gem that's easily accessible for residents and a worthwhile trip for those coming from other boroughs. The restaurant's presence on a lively avenue ensures it's a prominent and easy-to-find spot.

The restaurant prioritizes accessibility, offering a **wheelchair accessible entrance, restroom, and seating**, ensuring a comfortable dining experience for all patrons. Public transportation is a great way to reach the location, with the N and W subway lines and various bus routes serving the area. For those driving, free street parking is available, which is a significant convenience in a dense urban neighborhood.

Services Offered

Dine-in: Enjoy the full experience in the trendy and cozy indoor seating, which includes a lively bar and a magical garden area.
Outdoor Seating: When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio offers a perfect spot to enjoy your meal and drinks in a relaxed setting.
Delivery & No-Contact Delivery: Fresco's Cantina brings its delicious food and drinks right to your door with convenient delivery options.
Takeout & Curbside Pickup: You can easily place an order and pick it up at your convenience, with a curbside option for a quick and seamless process.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner: The restaurant serves a full menu throughout the day, including a highly popular brunch on weekends.
Catering: For events and parties, Fresco's Cantina offers catering services to bring their amazing flavors to your next gathering.
Accepts Reservations: Reservations are accepted and highly recommended, especially for brunch, to ensure you get a table during busy times.

Features and Highlights

LGBTQ+ Owned and Friendly: Fresco's Cantina is a proud LGBTQ+ owned business and a transgender safe space, fostering an incredibly inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.
Great Cocktails and Happy Hour: The bar is known for its excellent selection of cocktails, especially the "killer margaritas" made with fresh ingredients. They also offer great happy hour deals on both food and drinks.
Mexican-Fusion Cuisine: The menu stands out with its creative fusion of Mexican, Latin, and even Asian flavors, with dishes like the Jerk Chicken Tacos and Cantina Chaufan (fried rice).
Fast and Outstanding Service: Customers consistently praise the friendly, attentive, and fast service, with many highlighting the genuine and sweet nature of the staff.
Great Atmosphere and Vibe: The restaurant has a unique, cozy, and trendy atmosphere with chill music, making it a great place to hang out with friends or for a date night.
Kids' Menu and Family-Friendly: Fresco's Cantina is good for kids, offering a dedicated kids' menu and high chairs, making it a great spot for families.
Late-Night Food: The restaurant is a perfect spot for late-night cravings, serving up delicious comfort food well into the evening.

Contact Information

Address: 12-14 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11106, USA
Phone: (347) 808-7338

What Is Worth Choosing

Fresco's Cantina isn't just a place to satisfy your craving for Mexican food; it's a true community hub with a distinct personality. The restaurant's essence is captured by the passion of its owners and staff, who make every person feel like they're walking into a friend's house. The genuine hospitality is a major reason why this spot has built a loyal following. The ambiance, with its great music and fun decor, provides the perfect backdrop for a casual, celebratory, or romantic night out.

When it comes to the food, the diverse menu is the star of the show. While classics like the **Cantina Nachos** and **Guacamole** are crowd-pleasers, it's the more unique offerings that truly impress. The **Jerk Chicken Tacos**, for example, are a must-try and are frequently praised for being seriously delicious. The **Hang-Over Quesadilla** is a popular brunch item for its generous size and hearty combination of steak, chicken, and pork. And for those who love a good drink, the cocktails are a highlight. The **Margaritas** are a top seller, praised for being made with fresh ingredients and a perfect balance of flavors. The fact that you can even get "Grande" sized cocktails to-go is a fantastic and unique offering.

The combination of a creative menu, a welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding service makes Fresco's Cantina a true gem in Astoria. Whether you're coming in for a celebratory group dinner, a casual meal with friends, or just a drink at the bar, you're guaranteed to have a good time. It’s a place that perfectly captures the spirit of New York's vibrant and diverse food scene while making a strong, positive statement about community and inclusivity. The food is amazing, the drinks are great, and the people are even better—making Fresco's Cantina a destination that is absolutely worth the trip.

Fresco's Cantina Menu

Grande Cocktails To-Go - 34Oz (Alcohol)
Caminito - Rocks - Grande $25.00
El Matrimonio - SangRita - Grande $30.00
Classic Mimosa - Grande $25.00
Cantina Colada - Grande $30.00
Margarita - Frozen - Grande $30.00
La Secreta - Sangria - Grande $30.00
Mojito - Grande $32.00
Margarita - Rocks - Grande $32.00
Mighty Mimosa - Grande $30.00
"Birth child" of Mimosa & Screw Driver - Grey Goose Vodka / Champagne / Triple Sec and Orange juice
Cantina Mule - Grande $30.00

Brunch Food
Lomo Al Caballo $28.00
Peruvian Style Stir Fry of Grilled Steak, French Fries, Onions and Tomato topped off with 2 fried eggs
Hang-Over Quesadilla $24.00
12 inch Flour Tortilla filled with with our Three Cheese Blend and Roasted Pork, Grilled Chicken and Steak
Churro French Toast $22.00
French bread French toast tossed in cinnamon-sugar and drizzled with Nutella-Dulce de Leche served with scrambled eggs & bacon
Breakfast Burrito $24.00
Scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, sausage, peppers, onions and cheese all wrapped up in a flour tortilla - Served with french fries
Salmon Salad $26.00
8oz Grilled Salmon over a bed of mixed greens drizzled with our house-made honey-citrus dressing
Brunch Burger $24.00
10 oz Black Angus beef burger topped with smashed sweet plantain, sliced avocado and crispy apple-wood bacon on a toasted jumbo English muffin with black bean spread served with French Fries.

Kids Menu
Kids Meal $11.00
Pollito Y Papas $10.00

Salad
Cantina Insalata $12.00
Hearty Spring Mix, sliced avocado, onions, tomato sprinkled with corn and our home house-made Citrus dressing

Taco / Burrito / Bowl
BISTEC ENCEBOLLADO (Steak N' Onions) $18.00
Grilled skirt steak, caramelized onions & tropical chimichurri
P.B.A (Vegan) $15.00
TEQUILA TIPSY TACO (NEW) $18.00
Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steak, Shredded Red Cabbage topped with our Bacon-Chipotle and Fresh Cilantro
CHICKEN PARM $16.00
Crispy Panko Breaded Chicken breast, topped with melted 4 cheese blend, our home-made marinara sauce and fresh basil
CUBANO AL PASTOR (Pork) $16.00
Pulled Pork/Pineapple marmalade/Cilantro crema/fresh cilantro
EL BOSQUE (Vegan) $15.00
Sautéed pepper trio & onions, Cuban black beans and guacamole
SURF N TURF (Steak/Shrimp) $20.00
Grilled skirt steak and shrimp with sautéed pepper trio and onions topped with tropical chimichurri
PLAYA DEL CARMEN (Baja Fish) $17.00
Beer Battered Mahi Mahi/Red Cabbage/Cantina Sauce/Cilantro
SESAME-GINGER CHICKEN $17.00
Grilled chicken smothered in our Sesame-Ginger sauce with julienne peppers and onions topped with sesame seeds
ROPA VIEJA (Shredded Beef) $18.00
Cuban style shredded beef topped with caramelized onions, diced tomatoes and fresh cilantro
POLLO ROBADO (Chicken) $16.00
Grilled or Crispy Chicken/Lettuce/Chipotle Mayo/Cilantro Crema
JERK CHICKEN (NEW) $18.00
Grilled Jamaican Jerk seasoned chicken breast topped with shredded red cabbage, carmelized pineapple, jerk aioli and fresh cilantro
PHUKET (Shrimp) $17.00
Grilled Shrimp/Shredded lettuce/Thai sweet chili sauce/Cilantro Crema/Fresh cilantro
TOP SELLERS (NEW) $15.00
ENJOY OUR TOP 3 SELLING TACOS: PERFECT FOR WHEN YOU CAN'T DECIDE!! POLLO ROBADO (CRISPY CHICKEN), PLAYA DEL CARMEN (FISH) AND PASTELON (GROUND BEEF & CHEESE)
PASTELON (Ground Beef) $17.00
Caribbean Seasoned Ground Beef/Sweet Plantain/Three Cheese Blend/Lettuce/Secret Sauce
DOS COCHINITAS (Pork Belly) $18.00
Pork Belly / Pico de Gallo / Purple Cabbage / Bacon Chipotle Sauce / Fresh Cilantro
CHICKEN TINGA (SPICY CHICKEN) *NEW $17.00
Slow cooked, shredded chipotle chicken, shredded lettuce, chipotle mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese & pickled onions

Cold Beverages To-Go
Jarritos Pineapple $3.00
Diet Coke $3.00
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
Ginger Ale $3.00
Coke $3.00
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that America loves.
Passion Juice $4.00
Jarritos Grapefruit $3.00
Lemonade $4.00
Jarritos Tamarind $3.00
Topo Chico - Sparkling $4.00
Sparkling mineral water, sourced and bottled in Monterrey, Mexico, offering a refreshing and crisp taste.
Virgin Mojito $6.00
Strawberry Juice $4.00
Sprite $3.00
The cold, refreshing flavors of lemon and lime, perfectly blended.
Fruit Punch $4.00
Guava Juice $4.00

Entrees
CANTINA CHICKEN SANDWICH $20.00
Panko crusted Chicken Breast, topped with our melted 4 cheese blend, crispy applewood- bacon, pickled purple cabbage and Bacon-Chipotle Mayo in a toasted brioche bun - served with our famous fries
FAJITA PLATTER $24.00
Sauteed pepper trio and onions (protein optional) served with corn tortillas accompanied by Cilantro rice and Cuban Black beans
EL NORTENO (SALMON) $28.00
Pan Seared 8oz Atlantic Salmon topped with our Guava-Chili sauce and lime zest on a bed of our sautéed pepper trio & onions - served with Peruvian cilantro rice, Cuban black beans and fried sweet plantains.
CARNE ASADA (STEAK) $34.00
Tamarind Marinated grilled skirt steak - served with Peruvian cilantro rice, Cuban black beans, fried sweet plantains and our Tropical chimichurri sauce
CANTINA CHAUFAN (FRIED RICE) $26.00
Peruvian style fried rice with chicken, steak, peppers, onion, egg and sweet plantains - topped with sesame seeds and tortilla strips
CHULETA AL CABALLO (PORK CHOP) $28.00
10oz & Thick Cut Pork Chop - seasoned and cooked to perfection, topped with a fried egg - served with Peruvian cilantro rice, Cuban black beans and fried sweet plantains.
CHICKEN TINGA ENCHILADA (NEW) $28.00
Chicken Tinga stuffed enchiladas topped with our salsa verde and four cheese blend - served with cilantro rice and Cuban black beans
ROPA VIEJA (SHREDDED BEEF) $28.00
Cuban style stredded beef topped with carmelized onions and diced tomatoes - served with Peruvian cilantro rice, Cuban black beans and fried sweet plantains
PANCHO VILLA BURGER $22.00
100% Angus Beef Burger - topped with 4 cheese blend, applewood bacon and sliced avocado - served with our famous fries

Fast Food Menu W/ To Go Drinks
Michoacan Guacamole $0.00
3 - Phuket Tacos $12.00
3 - Cubano Tacos $14.00
3 - Fish Tacos $14.00
3 - Pastelon Tacos $14.00
Cantina Wings $8.00
Crispy, yet juice jumbo party wings smoother in your choice of sauce or have them naked..
3 - Steak N Onions Tacos $15.00
3 - Grilled Chicken Tacos $14.00
Esquites Al Fresco $12.00
Our version of Mexican Street corn served off the cobb in a bowl. Roasted corn and onions smothered in our chipotle mayo and cotija cheese topped with cilantro crema.
3 - Crispy Tacos $14.00
3 - PBA Tacos $13.00
Empanadas Duo $8.00

Appetizers
CANTINA NACHOS $15.00
Crispy chips/Black beans, nacho cheese, sour cream/Guacamole/Fresh cilantro with choice of topping
TAMAL DE FRIDA $13.00
Creamy corn polenta topped with our slow roasted shredded pork, cantina mole, sour cream and cotija cheese
ESQUITES AL FRESCO $13.00
Our version of Mexican Street corn served off the cobb in a bowl. Roasted corn and onions smothered in our chipotle mayo and cotija cheese topped with cilantro crema.
GUACAMOLE $0.00
Ripe Avocado/Diced Onions/Tomato/Lime juice/fresh cilantro
FLAUTAS "TAQUITOS" $14.00
Crispy deep fried rolled chicken tacos topped with melted cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream and cotija cheese.
TRES AMIGOS $13.00
Trifecta of skewers - Chicken, Steak and Shrimp
MUMBAI EMPANADAS (SPECIAL) $9.00
TIKKA MASALA MEETS SAMOSA MEETS EMPANADAS TRY THEM NOW FOR A LIMITED TIME
CROQUETAS DE POLLO (NEW) $14.00
SPANISH-STYLE CHICKEN CROQUETTE MADE WITH GROUND CHICKEN BREAST, DICED PEPPERS & ONIONS & OUR 4 CHEESE BLEND
QUESADILLA $12.00
12 inch Flour Tortilla filled with with our Three Cheese Blend and your filling of choice.
BANG BANG SHRIMP (NEW) $14.00
Mexican Tiger Shrimp wrapped in Apple-wood bacon topped w/ pico de Gallo and chipotle mayo atop a garlic toasted crostini
CANTINA WINGS $17.00
Crispy, yet Juice jumbo party wings smoother in your choice of sauce or have them naked..
AREPITA TRIO $14.00
MINI COLOMBIAN AREPA TOPPED WITH ROPA VIEJA / CHICKEN TINGA / CUBANO AL PASTOR
EMPANADA DUO $9.00
A New Dynamic Duo is in town!!! El Chileno (Steak, Ground Beef, Caramelized onions, Egg & Parsley & La Domincana (Shredded Chicken, Sweet Corn and Four Cheese Blend) - Served with Chipotle Mayo, Pico de Gallo & Mojo

Beer / Chelas To-Go
CORONA LIGHT $7.00
STELLA $7.00
MODELO ESPECIAL $7.00
LAGUNITAS IPA $7.00
DOS X $7.00
PACIFICO $7.00
MODELO NEGRA $7.00
CORONA $7.00

Cocktails To-Go - 12Oz (Alchohol)
Rosemary Lime-Ade - 12oz - DEL $14.00
Matrimonio - SangiRita - 12oz - DEL $14.00
Margarita - Frozen 12oz - DEL $14.00
Mighty Mimosa - 12oz - DEL $12.00
Cantina Mule - 12oz - DEL $12.00
Grey Goose Vodka / Lime Juice / Passion Fruit / Home-Made Ginger Syrup and Ginger Beer
Margarita - Rocks 12oz - DEL $14.00
Leblon Caipirinha - 12oz - DEL $16.00
Frozen Cantina Colada - 12oz - DEL $12.00
El Rey - 12oz - DEL $12.00
Caminito On Rocks - 12oz - DEL $12.00
Mezcal-Rita - 12oz - DEL $14.00
Classic Mimosa - 12oz - DEL $9.00
Mojito - 12oz - DEL $14.00
La Secreta - Sangria 12oz - DEL $10.00

Dessert
Tres Leches $9.00
Traditional Three milks sponge cake
El Volcano $9.00
Chocolate Lava cake topped with scoop of vanilla ice cream, raspberry syrup and whipped cream
Mini Churros $9.00
Delicious Mini Churros tossed in Cinnamon-Sugar and filled with chocolate
LOVE IN JAR - SPECIAL $10.00
Mexico City $9.00
Banana Caramel Cheesecake inside of Egg Roll wrapper - tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with vanilla ice cream

Sides / Add-On
CHIPS - SALSA & CHEESE $9.00
SWEET PLANTAINS $6.00
CHIPS & SALSA $6.00
GUACAMOLE - SIDE $2.00
WARM TORTILLAS $4.00
CHIPS & CHEESE $7.00
FRENCH FRIES $6.00
SALSA CRIOLLA "CHIP" $4.00
CILANTRO CREMA - SIDE $1.50
FRESH TORTILLA CHIPS $3.00
QUESO COTIJA - SIDE $2.00
CUBAN BLACK BEANS $6.00
JALAPENO - SIDE $2.00
PERUVIAN RICE $6.00
YUCA FRIES $7.00
SOUR CREAM - SIDE $1.50
NACHO CHEESE $4.00
SAUTEED PEPPER TRIO $8.00
CHIPOTLE MAYO - SIDE $1.50
PICO DE GALLO - SIDE $2.00

Taco Trays
12 - Grilled Chicken Tacos $50.00
12 - Steak & Onions Tacos $55.00
12 - Baja Fish Tacos $55.00
12 - Crispy Chicken Tacos $50.00
12 - Cubano Al Pastor (Pork) Tacos $50.00
12 - Dos Cochinitas (Pork Belly) Tacos $55.00
12 - Bosque (Vegan) Tacos $40.00

Fresco's Cantina Details

From the business
Identifies as Black-owned
Identifies as Latino-owned
Identifies as LGBTQ+ owned

Service options
Outdoor seating
Curbside pickup
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service
Great beer selection
Great cocktails
Serves local specialty

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Happy hour drinks
Happy hour food
Hard liquor
Late-night food
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Trendy

Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Planning
Brunch reservations recommended
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Kids' menu

Parking
Free street parking

Pets
Dogs allowed outside

Fresco's Cantina Photos

Fresco's Cantina Location

Fresco's Cantina

New York Queens County Astoria 31st Avenue

12-14 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11106, USA

Fresco's Cantina Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 485 user reviews.

brunchdrinksmargaritasdrag queenstipgemmojitodrag showbingohappy hour

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Vibes: ExcellentBeats: ChillStaff: Outstanding (Thanks Bam!)Food: Amazing!Jerk Chicken Tacos and the Esquites. Seriously delicious. Worth the trip.
September 12 · Joe Jankoski
I had come into Astoria to check out the neighborhood to consider it for somewhere to live and I stopped into this restaurant. The owner happened to be my server! He was so amazing, such a sweet and genuine guy and he definitely assisted me a lot with recommendations for the area which I appreciate more than anything.For the food….it was amazing!!!! I only ate half of it because it was such a huge burrito with so much in it!When I move to Astoria I can see me and my friend at this restaurant frequently!I can’t recommend this enough!!
March 01 · Rose Grieco
I stopped in to Frescos unknowing of how the food would taste, however I was grabbing food for my friend and I. I got the loaded nachos and the steak with rice & beans dinner. I’ll have to say that food absolutely tasted soooo good I was almost disappointed I didn’t get 2 dinners.However, as my friend and I picked at both the nachos and the steak dinner we became full very fast and hardly put a dent into both meals. We ended clearing some space lol, and ate the rest of the food that solidified the meals greatness.The atmosphere was cute and date like in the evening time that I was there. It wasn’t as busy as I’d expect with great service and food like this, however it was a Tuesday night if I’m not mistaken.The server whom I forgot his name already because it took me too long to write this review was an amazing experience. He explained their menu with specials they had that night and intentionally cooked up some convo which was cool.As I waited for my food the customer at the bar began to talk me up as well and there it was, a fluctuation of good vibes, a drink and good character to let me know that I’d return their again to stay and sit down for a meal and drink this time.
September 17 · Mikhail Anderson
This place is so nice. I went here after going to the museum. I wasn't planning to go here but I'm so glad that I did. The restaurant is so charming. It's perfect for if you're going out with friends, family, or going for a date night. The vibe is so nice. The food is delicious. The flavors and textures are just perfect. I had the fish tacos and the nachos. I live so far from here but let me tell you I went home still feeling happy from eating such good food. Tomas was so kind to us. There's art all over the restaurant. Even going into the bathroom, the bathroom was nice and smelled so clean. If I lived closer I would probably just eat nachos and tacos here every week. I was told they also have Sunday brunch. This is an inclusive place, which I think is very cool of them.
August 24 · Melissa P
Overpriced and unplessant food experience. Bland food that tasted old. When we got the bill they automatically included an 18% gratuity for a party of 3 and on top of that they charged a “technology fee” added automatically to the check. So my bill was $140 for very bland and tasteless steak fajitas, two orders of tacos, one dessert, and no drinks.I will not be returning or recommending this restaurant to any one!!
July 19 · C B