Caught happy hour here on Sunday. The service was ok and the decor is great. Very nice looking place. The portions of the food are terrible. Even for happy hour they are very small. I had a Margarita and it was really strong, a plus for alot of people, but a negative for me. Overall I probably won't ever come back. Just not for me, better places to go to.
Review Source:I just want to preface this review by pointing out that I'm talking about Canteen at night instead of Canteen during the day. I do have every intention of seeing what it's like when it isn't being another Mill Ave club, but that's a review for another day.
Canteen just really isn't my scene. The music's a touch too loud inside, so it's impossible to hear anyone speak. And the whole $10 card minimum sucks if all you want is a shot. And, to be completely honest, I prefer the patio to the inside of the bar.
Which isn't to say that Canteen's a bad place. Their margaritas are delicious and while $9 is a little much to pay for a shot of Patron, it also isn't the most I've paid for one.
This is pretty much the only place on Mill Ave. I can tolerate. Â I've been here a handful of times and feel the food is pretty good and the margaritas are REALLY good. Â The price is reasonable for good Tequila. Â The downside for me, being that I don't like bars on Mill Ave. was that this place turned into a club around about 10pm on Friday night. Â The music was turned up and we could no longer hear each other speak. Â Knowing this I will probably just stick to earlier hours and avoid the weekends all together....
Review Source:I had heard good things about Canteen, so a group of us decided to try it out before our show at the Improv. Â It being summer and all we had no intention of sitting outside, but we had no idea that Canteen doesn't have real tables inside! Â They are set up more like a lounge; there are benches with what I guess they intend to be tables about foot off the ground between all the benches. Â This is fine if you are just going or some drinks, but as we were going for dinner, this made things quite complicated. Â Tacos can be a messy food to eat, with sauces and toppings dripping out of the shell, so the lack of a proper table posed a problem! Â In months where the temperature here is below 90 degrees, there are plenty of patio tables, that are of normal height, just not sure what the intention is on the inside?
With all that being said, the food was actually really good, we tried a variety of tacos, a torta and the enchiladas and everyone like the food. Â We didn't really get into any drinks because we were going to the Improv and they have a drink minimum, but their selection was wide.
I am not sure I will have a chance to try Canteen again, as the hostess told us they are closing next month...maybe they are remodeling...regular tables...or maybe they are closing? Â Not sure, but either way, I won't gamble until it is patio weather.
We all need to be honest with ourselves: Canteen is just not very good. We have been lying to ourselves about its quality for far too long and we all need an intervention or something.
We all want Canteen to be good, because it has helped usher in a slightly more upscale version of Mill with fare that is not your usual college bar. We can agree to give it points for that, but little else. Nothing about Canteen justifies its absurdly-priced margaritas, as 9 bucks for tequila-tinged kool-aid is a farce. We all have had better margaritas and we all know that Canteen's margs spend all day marinating in a pre-mixed jug. The beer selection is hardly impressive (even for Mill) and the staff is a synapse or two above catatonic.
We don't really like Canteen's happy hour anyways, because Z Tejas' is better. We've all had better tacos just about anywhere, because we live in Arizona, a place where tacos rain down on us like a rap video. We don't like Canteen's dance floor or its patio, because both are poorly designed, overcrowded, and noisy to the point of making Nine Inch Nails seem timid. We want to like Canteen, because its better than Zuma, but everything is better than Zuma. I once drank a forty at a bus stop and it was better than Zuma. We have to be willing to accept Canteen as a gateway to a better Mill Ave, but not a truly good bar.
I know we can do this together, Tempe. We have to stop pretending that Canteen is a quality establishment and we have to do the right thing: drink tequila at real tequila bars.
Canteen is a pretty good bar, and one of my favorites on Mill. Â The house shots and margaritas are reasonably priced and reasonably tasty, and if you want to spend a little more money, the selection of tequila is quite vast. Â Last time I was there I used my check-in offer of a free house margarita which I found to feel a little more potent than it tasted.
The downside for me is the club scene that inevitably comes with the late hour. Â College students swarm in, the middle seating gets cleared out for a dance floor, and the music gets louder. Â I feel like an old lady complaining about it, but hey, I like to hear the conversations with my friends! Â If I wanted a club and dancing, I probably wouldn't have come to Mill.
The decor is modern and interesting, and I always like the drunk people staring at the light fixtures hanging over the tables. Â There's seating on the back patio and a small area that runs behind the bar, open to the outside. Â Easy access to a bartender, fresh air, and a good view of the Mill Avenue people and their antics always makes for a good time.
Unfortunately, I have not tried any food yet. Â I've heard nothing but good things though, so I'm still hoping to catch a Happy Hour for some tacos soon!
The place caught my attention from the outside. A modern looking tequila bar? On Mill Ave? I'm in!!!
Saw the patio seating and grabed one right on the corner. Excellent spot. The place had a great selection of drinks to choose from. Food choices looked pretty solid too (but I didn't eat). Pretty much down hill from there. The prices were a bit steep. I saw a great sounding margarita...$9!! To be fair it was one of the more expensive drinks on the menu.But for that I was expecting something reeeeeeeaally good. It was reeeeeeeeally average. Had a drink and then waited for probably 40 minutes for the check. Not a waiter or waitress in sight. This was even after the waitress said she'd bring the check.....
Too many choices in this town to go back. Sorry.
Canteen is refreshing among the "strictly-a-bar" bars on Mill Avenue. They serve food, and pretty good food at that. It's evident they are making a good effort to not just be another place for the frat boys to get sloshed on Fridays, but to be a good place to day drink or have a happy hour snack.
My friend and I come to Canteen often during the school year to have a margarita and tacos after class. The service has always been really good, the bartenders know how to make a good drink, and the outside patio is pleasant with misters and even purse hooks under the bar (which I got wayyyy too excited about the first time).
I've been once or twice on a weekend night, and the bouncers were surprisingly nice for Mill Avenue, the bartender efficient, the drinks just as good as their non-rushed counterparts, and while the dance floor is small, the DJ was pretty good and everyone was having a blast.
I was surprised by the quality of the food and beverages! This is not a "glossy looking club with crap food."
Canteen has great food and homemade quality drinks!
The service was even good?!
Reason we go to Mill instead of usually avoiding it: It is walking distance from my fiance's house.
So if I find myself on Mill-- this is 1 of 4 places that has great food that is affordable.
Canteen is a great place for happy hour and to meet up with a large group of friends! They have an awesome large patio with a bar outside that makes it great to enjoy the weather at night. You can't go wrong with their margaritas, guacamole, and chips! You can come here for a happy hour on a Friday night, end up staying way later than you thought, and dance on the dance floor. They have an awesome dj that plays top 40 music! It's a great place to enjoy your friends and many drinks!
Review Source:This is the best place on mill for happy hour! The service is hit or miss sometimes it is awesome but other times it can be slow and rude. It really doesn't keep me away since the drinks are great and it very spacious so you can enjoy with large groups. My friends and I have had tons of birthdays, happy hours and party events here just because of the location and prices!
Review Source:This a great place to stop for a margarita or a shot of tequila! Â The selection on tequila alone is awesome. Â Great patio setting, so definitely come here and enjoy the surrounding when the weather is beautiful. Â I work near by so our work team will frequent her for happy hour. Â They have a decent HH special and if you are a YELPER...make sure you check in! Â They give great Yelp specials when show them your yelp check in. Â The staff has always been friendly and very accommodating especially for our large work group.
Review Source:AMAZING. I've been to Canteen a few times but this last time was the best experience ever. Olivia is a star! I go to Canteen because they have the best margaritas (the paloma is my all time fav) and the best chilled steak salad. Their steak tacos are also amazing. This last time, Olivia made me feel right at home and I can't even find the words to describe how amazing her service was. I tipped her in cash and a cupcake! That's how grateful I was! She recommended great margaritas, great food, and socialized with us. She was super busy but didn't show it and she performed excellently under pressure. I will definitely be back for more!
Review Source:The food at Canteen was so-so; steak tostadas and a chipotle relleno were interesting. Â The onion rings and chicken skewers were fine. Â And, the fried fish tacos were pretty light (not in a good way).
But I liked the bartenders, I liked the sex appeal, I liked the music, and I LOVED $2 16-oz. drafts of light beer during happy hour. Â In fact, the prices for everything during happy hour were great, and then you add in good-looking people and 82-degree temperatures...maybe it's the $2.50 domestic bottles talking, but I enjoyed myself, to say the least. Â I probably won't go back...oh, wait a minute, last night we turned down the apparent sausage-fest at World of Beer to get a second round of drinks at the bar last night after an ASU game nearby!!
Pretty nice bar on Mill. There is a full bar on the inside, as well as the outside. On Fridays and weekends, the inside dance floor is so packed. There are two lines outside that are pretty long. The free line, which of course is super long; and the VIP line which is only like $5 to get in and is way faster so I suggest doing that.
Review Source:One cent shot was fun. I went there with my friend when I was visiting her in Phoenix. We ordered for a chicken dish, but the server got it mixed up and we ended up with shimp. I dont like shrimp. Anywho, she gave us free shots. Food is ok, if I go there again, I would only go for the happy hour. Margaritas are awesome btw.
Review Source:I really like the nighttime madness that goes down on a Friday or Saturday night. Yet I'm always happy to roll out on a Sunday for some great arizona style Mexican food. Its nice to be able to enjoy the sun on the patio while scarfing down some tasty tacos. Sometimes the wait time is a little long due to the understaffing
Review Source:The best attribute to this place is the patio. Â There's a great fire pit in back with couches. Â The music is good.
I like it. Â I've only been after 10 so keep that in mind. Â This place is always packed on the weekends when school is in session... beware.... a lot of kids are in adult baby mode after midnight. Â I remember my first beer.
The bartenders aren't super attentive. Â I usually just stick with beer but I've heard some good things about the margaritas. Â Then again, can you mess up a margarita at a tequila bar? Â Their house shot is pretty tasty as well.
The dance floor gets packed. Â Not exactly Tempe's finest either but it's fun to watch. Â Go to the bathroom before hand though... the women's restroom is impossible to reach when it's crowded.
Stick to the patio.
I remember when this place was first opening up... there was a lot of hype around it but when things started to die down, it turned out to be just another forgettable bar.
I've been here under 5 times, but each time, the service was poor (as recent as summer 2012). This is a shame because there is a lot of potential on this piece of real estate. The chic patio area stretches along the entire restaurant on the street side (6th, not Mill) which makes the place seem very appealing. If you're looking for tequila, they'll certainly have the right one for you, but I just don't think the whole concept was properly executed. When I spend time here, I feel that at some point there was a vision for what this bar was going to be, but the vision become diluted to satisfy the crowd this place attracts.
That all being said, this place isn't THAT bad. There are still good times to be had and delicious shots to try. Each time I have been there, the experience improved so I think as Canteen finds it place in Tempe, it'll be more of a 4 star business.
Meh...meh and more meh...decor is nice but its way overpriced and both times I've been the service was terrible. Once on a weekday once on a Sat night, then they took over a month and a half to charge my debit card! Who does that?! If you must go here get a good shot of tequila (they do have that so there's the reason they get 2 stars), pay cash, and go somewhere else.
Review Source:What the hell happened to this place!? Man, what a dump it has become. The service is absolutely awful. It was freezing in there the entire time, so much, that I had to wear my jacket for the painful hour I was in there. Our drinks came out about 20 minutes after we ordered them. Our appetizer came out first and we had A)No drinks B)No water C)No silverware. You would have thought it was our waitress' first night on the job - it was terrible. I will not be going back any time soon. And seriously, fix your decorations! They look like crap and they're falling apart. PS, the food was not great either. Such a bummer, I used to like this place.
Review Source:When they shy away from shots, I always tell my friends that it doesn't matter how they feel about tequila. It's just something you have to learn how to do as part of a successful, complete life. But with Canteen in the mix, even the wussiest drinkers can find something that works for them.
Step your game up and get some MEZCAL. It's not sold at many bars, and my Del Maguey Crema had a sweet, smoky burn on the way down. Yum. I'll be back for the margaritas, and maybe even lunch some time. If Canteen were any more legit, you'd find a worm at the bottom of your glass.
I like this place for the decor and seating set up. There were high tables, lounge tables, couches, indoor/outdoor, etc, and the indoor pergola was kind of cool.
The happy hour menu is pretty good too. M-F 4-6:30 they offer drink and app specials, as well as deals on their tacos.
I sampled some of their tequilas, which you can order various ways: as a shot, in a snifter glass, over rocks, etc. We also tried the grilled fish tacos and mushroom tacos were very good and you get three for around $7.50.
We even checked in on yelp (aw yeah) and got 4 penny shots (there were four of us) of the featured shot-which was sex on the beach.
My negatives were more service based. Our server made an error on one of our drinks, forgot to bring another drink entirely and failed the water test miserably. We not only asked her for more water, but another staff member who came by and checked on us. Both of them never returned with any water so we had to go to the bar and get it ourselves!
it was the wife's happy hour social time for her birthday. and we kind of figured we'd try Mill Ave since school was not in session and we'd have less college kids to deal with. besides, we'd always wanted to try Canteen.
the 3 stars reflect primarily service, not food. off the happy hour menu, i ordered the portobello mushroom tacos. they come in 3's. i was impressed as they were very well done. the wife had the grilled fish tacos and she said they were very tasty. we also ordered the chips and pico de gallo. the chips were warm, thin, crispy....very good.
the patron silver tequila was tasty and smooth. the house margarita....also very tasty, not too sweet like many pre-mixes. i ordered another tequila, but was brought a patron anejo (i did not order that one)...i did not enjoy it but our dinner companions did.
our server was not mean. she was actually very friendly but just not prompt. they failed the water glass miserably. i asked 3 times for water, and finally had to go to the bar myself to have more water. later, another server asked if we needed anything and we all said "more water" and it just never showed up. anytime our server asked if we needed anything, she didn't stick around long enough to wait for me to swallow the mouthful of food i was chewing on. one of the tequila's i ordered was the wrong one, and our dinner companion had to ask 3 times for a tequila he ordered.
also, as we were seated next to the patio door, we asked if the door could be closed since it was cold. our server said no, something about fire code. however, when another party sitting behind us asked their server, she said sure and closed the door. anyhoo....
but probably the funniest was when we asked our server about the chile rellenos happy hour item. she didn't know what they were and pronounced it phonectically (sounding out the double L). i just assumed you should know a little more about the product you are selling.
we will probably come back because the food and tequila's were good and the happy prices were reasonable. maybe we'll get a different server next time.
Met some friends here for happy hour and fundraiser. Prices were good & we had great service the whole time we were there. Started out sitting on the patio on a semi-chilly night. The lit up the heaters for us, as soon as they saw us getting cold, and without us asking. It got really windy, so we asked our waitress if we could move inside. She was very helpful and got us a table right away, no attitude about closing out our bills, at all.
The setting both indoors & out is very casual. Love the big open booths with the cushy seating...more like comfy conversation areas. I've heard they take some of the tables out & have dancing there later. We left early, but will have to come back to see what that's all about next time!
Canteen isn't a glowing review type of place. One doesn't gush about Canteen, but one is always grateful for its existence: good food, good happy hour, nice staff. It's no-fuss and easy ... easily found, easy to get to (walkable from Light Rail) straightforward menu. It's all sort of under-the-radar, in a good way.
By way of Mill Ave. offerings, it's my happy hour of choice for food, drinks and atmosphere (I like La Bocca too but this is a bit more lively and bar-like). And kudos for surviving in what should be a prime location when several others could not (which is odd ... how hard is it to follow Duck Soup??)
In any case, here's my pat on the back and "Nice work" for Canteen.
Decided to do some pregaming before a Sundevil basketball game. Â As we wandered around mill contemplating which establishment to frequent, we spotted Canteen Modern Tequila Bar.
We opted for the Happy Hour menu, so this review will be based on that. Â The prices were pretty decent. Â We had ordered different food items from skewers to tostadas to tacos. Â Their HH items are a tad on the small side, I know its HH but I have seen some decent portions for HH elsewhere. However,everything was flavorful, so they made up for it with taste. Â We also had the house margaritas at a bargain of $4, and wow my margarita was strong and tasty.
Service was really slow at first. After we got our waiters attention, he was on top of it from then on out.
The atmosphere was great, I really wanted to chill on the patio but there was a wait for it. Â The music inside was a little loud, which made the patio even more appealing. Â The decor was cool with a bit of class.
Definitely a place I would come back to.
Came here for happy hour the other day with family before the asu basketball game. Yes I said asu even though I hate the devils.lol.
The happy hour menu was really good with $4 house margaritas which were really strong. We unlocked a penny shot upon checking in which was good as well. Ordered a variety of items including chicken skewers, steak tostadas, chips and salsa and pork tacos and carne asada tacos. All came out great and was more than enough food for the 4 of us. The service was a little slow at first but I think that was because the server was tied up with another group. After he came around he was great though.
The scene was chill for happy hour with good music playing in the background. It was during the art festival so seating was slammed outside which would have been nice. We sat inside and had a good time though.
I would come back here, especially for the pork tacos! They were my personal favorite. I've walked past here on a weekend night and saw that it gets packed! So if you go on a weekend night come early!
This was my second stop on my first tour of Tempe. I came here after I had visited Fat Tuesday around 10 p.m on a Friday night.
I really liked the setup of this place. Plenty of space to move around despite the large crowd, and there's a nice seating area in the back and on the side. All of the tables were taken unfortunately, but that was expected since there was a lot of people that night (this past Friday).
The music wasn't too loud so you could have a decent conversation. I showed up here a bit early, so there wasn't a whole lot of dancing (interesting that the dance floor was semi-roped off in the middle of the bar) but the music was putting me in the mood to get on the floor.
I didn't stay too long because when I asked what drink the bartender recommended she made me a margarita which was way too strong for me to down, and the cost made me think I needed to come back here during happy hour and not afterwards ($7.50). I drank about half and called it quits. Almost tasted like straight up tequila.
I'll definitely come back again during happy hour to see what else they have on the menu, both food an alcohol wise. Hopefully they won't make it as strong as the first time around.
We picked this place for my friends Birthday. Â The decor is nice, very low tables inside and high tables in the Patio. We had around 10 people in our party and were sited in the middle of the restaurant in a kind of 'living room' setting. Very comfortable. The waiter was nice and attentive.
They offered chips and salsa right away and refilled it when it was gone. Generous portion with 3 types of salsa. But be careful, they will charge every time. ($6 each)
We also ordered
-House Margaritas (Some strong, some watered down... Overall Good taste)
-Hibiscus Margaritas (Make sure you stir the syrup on the bottom) Good
-Pineapple upside down shots YUMMY!!! Excellent!
-Buttery nipple shots (Mehh Ive had better, tasted like straight Kalua)
-House pineapple infused tequila shots (Very Good)
We also got the Assortment Small Bites. $16 NOT WORTH IT!
The chicken, steak and shrimp skewers are tasty, but VERY small (2 of each). Â I have never seen quesadillas SO SMALL in my LIFE! Â I think they use the tortillas meant for tacos al Carbon LMAO (google it), cut it in 4 pieces. Â The onion rings are not good. The batter is cheap and really greasy, and it just does not go with the Mexican food.
I would come back during happy hour. Â It is a nice place to hang out and have a drink, but the food is overpriced and portions are minimal.
I went on a Saturday around 3:30PM being drawn in by the allure of shade and outdoor misters. All of the front outdoor seats in the shade were already taken so I sat out back, near the bar. The inside decor is very hip and much more urban than I'd expected.
I ordered a trio of mini tacos which were divine and a house margarita. (Ok, make that two margaritas.) I almost fell of the chair when the bill came for a whopping $16. Happy hour specials apply even to table seating - not just for those seated at the bar.
My server was chipper as was the manager on duty who went out of their way to point out travel suggestions. Highly recommend!
I came for lunch. I had to wait for a table and the place was literally less than 1/3 full (I can't help it, I counted seats - I'm anal that way). Â Funny, I heard one server walking by saying it was a slow day.
 Once seated, my server (Sasha I think) was friendly and quick to take my order.
 The decor/environment was nice. Very trendy - hip latin - exposed ceiling, raw wood, oranges, advocado. and yellows.
The tacos were not all that great. Most taco places let you mix and match three tacos, but here, they do not. My fiancé asked to have three different types, and they said they couldn't do it. Every other place does a mix and match combo. Don't know why this place is the exception.
Also, their sign out front says they have "Lunch Specials." So when I went in, took a seat, and then inquired about the lunch specials, I was disappointed when the waitress told me that they don't have "Lunch Specials" on food. The "Lunch Specials" are for drinks only. What kind of a "Lunch Special" is that? Completely bogus. When you say "Lunch Special" on your sign, I'm assuming there is a discount on food. Alas, there was not.
I will not be returning to this place.
Let's start with the positive: The food and drinks tasted great.
WORST SERVICE I HAVE HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME. We ordered three margaritas and two orders of tacos, and the bartender charged us for six margaritas and four orders of tacos--plus he charged us for the beer of the guy next to us. When I tried to get him to fix it, he came back with the wrong amount a second time (still over charging us), and the the third time he just ran my credit card without allowing me to see the itemized bill. I was mortified, and he extremely rude.
Also, the people next to me gave their credit card, and when they attempted to get it back, they were told by this same bartender that they never gave him their card. They insisted for thirty minutes, and which point he said to them," NO ONE HERE HAS YOUR CREDIT CARD. YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU GAVE IT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND YOU DIDN'T" When another bartender gave them back the card a few minutes later, there was no apology.
Z Tejas is right across the street. The food is delicious and the bartenders are phenomenal. I was just there and without my even saying anything, when the food took over twenty minutes to come out, they comped our entire meal!
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