Playa Betty's Reviews

We visited Playa Betty’s on the recommendation of a friend. It is a fun and very popular restaurant with a really cool vibe. We were seated promptly and the service throughout was friendly and attentive. The food is very good, particularly the cauliflower bites which are incredible! What we really liked is that you can order Tacos individually so you can try different flavours. This is also good if you are very hungry and want to order more, or just want a light bite. The prices are also very reasonable and they cater for vegans. It is very busy and noisy in the restaurant, so it might not be the right choice if you are looking for a quiet meal. The tables are also pushed very close together. We really enjoyed though and if we are in the area again would return.

Jess was awesome! We had a great experience. Playa Betty’s is always a great time and the service was fantastic.

Playa Bettys bills itself as California Mexican, which while not 100% accurate (since much California Mexican is pretty authentic). To them it means tacos, enchiladas, queso and many drink options. It's a fun place to come, especially before a show at the Beacon, which is right down the street. Service attentive. We had the tacos, which our server said were the most popular menu items. Many options for vegetarians and vegans. The fish and tuna tacos were both good, with a nice slaw. They were sold individually or as a platter of 3. Pretty small in size, so judge your appetite. We would go back, but expect that tables are close together and it gets loud. More of a bar atmosphere. We actually left without lingering to find a quieter spot before the show. Service is quite quick, so that is a plus as well. Reasonably priced.

We went to Playa Betty's because we were seeing a show at the Beacon and were looking for good, fast and inexpensive food beforehand. The place has a fun informal vibe. It's quite noisy and I don't think I could take it for a night out, but for an hour it's manageable and invigorating. I had three delicious tacos and a margarita and my wife had a salad bowl with faro, spinach and salmon. The food came promptly and our waiter was a real pro.

This is a great place to get a quick bit to eat and drinks, before seeing a show around the corner at the historic Beacon Theater. The food is good, and the prices are reasonable.

We were seated quickly and the food was very good (we had fish, al pastor and short rib tacos) and they were excellent. Our food was ready quickly but it took us a while to get our order in because our server kept forgetting to bring us a kids menu (we asked 3 times before she brought it) that was a bit annoying.

Just a nice place along Amsterdam Avenue. Good tacos for reasonably prices and guacamole made to your liking. Great atmosphere and patio on top of good service.

We decided to get some food and take it to central park. We got a mix of shrimp, tuna and chicken tacos which were all delicious. We ordered the guacamole as well which comes with a mix of toppings you can add yourself to suit your own preference. We really enjoyed this!

Went with a couple of friends and had dinner, had two of the tacos, they were just okay, it's like they're trying to hard to be funky but don't focus on quality. Meh.

Had a reunion dinner here, it was loud but we could still hear each other. The drinks were great and so were the tacos!! Everything except the guacamole (which was pretty bad) was great! Service was super friendly

Outstanding service, food and drinks.!RICO C provided exemplary service! Chips and guac were tasty and fresh! Burrito was very good!

The guac and queso were amazing. We were there during happy hour and the strawberry margarita was very good. Prompt service and beautiful weather to eat outside.

Large indoor and outdoor seating area. The restaurant doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not a good choice for Mexican and drinks in festive loud environment. Not very clean nor is the food special in any way. Good service

Three of us decided to try Playa Betty's instead of Gabriella, our usual spot for margaritas (what a mistake!). Well, there is a limited selection of margaritas and they are tiny. We decided to eat and asked the hostess for a table for three. She said give her a few minutes. After a wait for some time, I noticed that all of the back section was empty. So I asked could we sit in the back section. She said, give her a few minutes and the tables are reserved for groups. We waited for some time that seems like eternal and she decided to sit us in a back corner. Of course we were not pleased. The waiter came and we shared that we were not happy being stuck in a back corner. Her second comment was she likes sitting in back corners and walked away. I was appalled. Just because a waiter likes being in a back corner of a restaurant, should we like it too. We decided to leave, because we were afraid that something would be done to our food. I will never go back to that restaurant after spending nearly $60 in drinks and being treated like an after thought.

I stopped here for a bite to eat and a drink and was lured in with the presumed setting. I'm from California so I was expecting some great flavors in a relaxed setting accompanied by tasty drinks that don't break the bank. Unfortunately I didn't really experience any of that including a very hurried server from the moment we got seated at our table. The place filled up very quickly and created a very loud setting jammed with people. We ordered tacos and buffalo cauliflower - neither of which was really that edible. The drinks were just OK. Not a place I would return to visit sorry to say and for those that haven't yet been to California - this by no means is what its like.

Here is the deets! Sauvignon blanc, 11, if there were complaints, I didn’t hear them Gato Negro, cocktail, 13, like a Negroni with mescal and tequila, I liked it, but the Campari could cancel out the flavors of the other ingredients, get it if you like a Negroni Ceviche tostada, 6, the GF was pleased; the tostada was warm and was probably baked; I didn’t think it was deep fried. The ceviche was fine. Beachfire chicken, corn tortillas, with four pieces of grilled corn, 20, the star of the evening. Nice presentation, delicious whole chicken, butterflied. BONUS: the leftovers were tasty too. Pastor taco, 4, a lot of tortilla, some tasty meat Veracruz taco, 5, the GF liked it! I'll always prefer Urban Taco or Fuel City, both in Dallas, or that taco stand at the back of the convenience store on Avenue K and Park Boulevard in Plano TX. BONUS – the tortillas – corn, of course – tasted fresh-made to us BONUS - nice outdoor seating

Playa Betty's is a fun place to drink margaritas with a big group on the Upper West Side. I went to Playa Betty's for Taco Tuesday and it was a great experience from atmosphere to food and drinks. They don't offer Happy Hour Menu on Taco Tuesday but if you buy a drink Tacos are $3 each + $8 frozen palomas It is surprisingly large (especially for NYC!) with high ceilings and fake palm trees, surf boards...really makes you feel like you are in Southern California =] Drinks: *Frozen Paloma: traditional frozen margarita with grapefruit flavor (very yummy!) *Cool as a cucumber: very fresh a good choice for summer *Oaxaca Mule: good but might be too sweet for some, not sure if is the Fever Tree Ginger Beer that adds the extra sweetness. I have never tried fever tree ginger beer before which is sweeter and not as spicy as regular ginger beer Food *Tacos (they are small so we tried a few): we tried carne asada, short rib, rock 'n roll shrimp, the markey and al pastor (short rib and the rock 'n roll shrimp were probably the best of all). Definitely not the best tacos I've ever eaten nor the best in NYC but worth a try (and especially on Tuesday for $3) *Mexican Grilled Corn - a must order not too spicy as Jamaican corn but enough flavor to make you want more *"Tot" Chos: a "classic" nachos made with tater tots also very good *Queso (dip with chips): good appetizer and a generous size perfect for sharing *Venice beach fries: fries with a "spicy twist" also good for sharing Dessert: *Churro Ice Cream Sandwich: DELICIOUS! I will definitely go back there just for this deliciousness in form of a dessert. I don't have sweet tooth but the combo of sweet churros with creamy ice cream is just perfect! We were there at the busiest time (around 7pm) and service gets a bit chaotic at times but food will definitely make up for it. Like a said is a fun place to catch up with friends over some drinks but if you are looking for a more intimate (quiet) place this is probably not for you.

Had dinner here with family and friends before a show at the Beacon. The queso dip was very tasty and it was fun to be able to mix up our guacamole the way we like it. Beers were cold and tasty. All the entrees were delicious. We had a burger, an assortment of tacos, an enchilada and a Dharma bowl. None of us had room for dessert and all of us enjoyed our meal. Service was friendly and attentive. The plates were all clean!

After a day at The Met, we stumbled upon Playa Betty's. It was $3 taco night so we decided to go in. The place was packed and noisy but we were able to get one of the last tables. The queso dip was very good. We had to order the "Tot"chos which is tater tots covered in cheese, beef chilli, guac and sour cream. It was good. We also ordered a bunch of tacos and they were all good. My favorite was the Tac-O-Fella which is their take on Oysters Rockefeller. Overall it was a good meal but there are too many good restaurants in NYC for us to make a return trip to Betty's.

We visited Playa Betty’s (California style beach food) on a Monday night with our two teenage sons. Lucky for us it was Margarita Monday, so 2 Betty’s, 1 Mango & 1 Strawberry margarita later... and dinner we left very glad we stopped off. We were ably assisted by Chrissy G who was attentive and very helpful. Without her attention we would have had less of an experience. The place is buzzing and fun with an eclectic mix of staff and patrons. Wings, Guacamole starters followed by Carnitas, Mexican short ribs and Tacos (with one Chirro Ice Cream) we rolled out of the place. Give it a try - don’t expect a quiet romantic evening.

Stopped here for quick lunch. Kid friendly, loud, crowded and busy. Had a fish taco and avocado taco with chips. Guacamole was good as was my fish taco. Avocado was OK needed great deal of salsa to pick up flavor. Corn pancakes for granddaughter looked nice but very sweet. She passed them over. Service, they work hard but are short staffed.

This has become a favorite stop for us during our visits to Manhattan. The menu is pricier than some comparable faire but we like the unique options and atmosphere. They have a sidewalk patio and the restaurant opens up to it so you can sit by a window, enjoy the AC and feel like you are outside. We loved the fried chicken tacos (best street taco I have had and you can get all the tacos for $3 each on Taco Tuesdays). They have daily happy hour drinks from 4-8 which we didn’t try. My husband is vegetarian and loved the Hang 10 burrito with French fries and substituting portobello mushroom. You have to purchase the chips ($8 for the chips with salsas) but they were delish and came with a red, green, and ranch style salsa. There are other options like guacamole and queso also.

i have shared my review of this place everywhere that I can, because I don't want others to suffer the way I have. I went on 7/20 evening and I'm still sick on 7/22. I have copied my review from Yelp below, with some tweaks. I found another review on Yelp from someone who visited the same day as I did and spoke with this person, and this person reported their girlfriend is also suffering from severe food poisoning. Go here at your own risk, as it appears their cooks have no idea how to cook proteins safely or correctly. I was the only one in our group who got the shrimp taco and the mushroom taco, and have been violently ill with severe stomach pains since 4am 7/21 morning (went 7/20 at about 8:30 pm). I can't keep anything in and I'm in so much pain. For more context, I had my normal breakfast at around 8am on Saturday and ate nothing else that would cause this kind of reaction (I had some newly opened Stacy's pita chips as well- and anything else I smacked on I shared with other people). No one else I was with was sick, and I was the only one who had the two above described nachos. So disappointing. And I haven't stopped crying from the pain. I used to love this place and I loved their tater tot nachos but I am never coming here again. The tacos were covered in so much dressing/sauce/mayo that I couldn't tell if the shrimp (what I believe was the culprit) to be undercooked. They also blocked me on Instagram for reporting that I got food poisoning after eating here. Classy / what a great way to treat your customers! Don't worry though - I've reported them to the BBB and filed a complaint with the Health Department. To top it off, it's noisy as hell in here and you can't even hear the person next to you talk. The drinks aren't even that good. There are a thousand other places on the UWS way better than this.

Playa Betty's was full of... Some interesting favors, flavors I did not like. I can't quite describe it it was kind of smoky which I usually love and a little like eating coal it was that smoky. I got the tortilla soup and I think I can honestly say the chips were my favorite part of the whole meal and even they weren't great not salty and way to much oil. The salsa was also not amazing it was way to spicy and also had that smoky flavor. All together I did not love it .... At all 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌯🌯🌯

Went for brunch noisy, crowed, slow service. The food was OK but not worth the money or the trip to the restaurant

Came here on a rainy night and the food was better than I thought. Wasn’t a fan of the fish taco as the batter was a bit soggy and the fish too bland, but the beef and pork were really good, and worth returning for. Chips and salsas were fine (sadly no spicy salsa) and service was good.

Muy Bien! We loved it! You gotta love Playa Betty's! My friends and I showed up at around 6:00 pm on a Monday night and were surprised to see the place already had a big crowd, but we were seated right away. The place was buzzing and was soon filled to the brim with a diverse crew of westsiders. The menu is a good size with many things to choose from. When you go, be sure to say hi to Chris the waiter, he was terrific. The food was very tasty. For an appetizer, we had queso and chips-Austin sytle. We had some chili mixed in-a think of bowl of delicious cheese. The chips were very fresh, not too salty, and were very flavorful. As the night went on the restaurant became more crowded and a cool vibe set-in. For dinner, I had a chicken quesadilla which had beans in it---not my favorite especially because there were too many beans. MY friend got two tacos, the tacos are small, however they very fresh and tasty. This is great place to go before a show at the Beacon. The backdoor entrance to the Beacon is a block away. Best of all, the bill will not blow a hole in your wallet.

1st time here for Sat lunch. Chips and quac average. We ordered a number of different tacos. All were quite tasteless with the dominant tortilla taste. Hot sauces didn't help. My chicken tacos in particular were dry, hard pieces of dried chicken. Thunderous atmosphere, had to yell to each other, no service unless you waved for a minute. Why was it mobbed? Got me.

The food is alright - nothing really memorable. The service is attentive and helpful. The setting is good for groups or children. We’ll probably return with a group.

Playa Betty's It was last fall when I last visited the restaurant. I loved it than and even more now. The CA ambiance is there, the food was even better and my compliments to the bar tender. We shared 4 dishes: the beef "tot"chos-tater tots topped with cheese, guacamole, sour cream and pick de gallo. The chopped salad, a steak dharma bowl, and the seared ahi tuna taco. All are excellent and recommended. For desert we shared the churro ice cream sandwich yam... Glade we went back.

Sat outside for 10 minutes before I went inside to ask to see a waitress. They literally forgot about us! When we did order, the extremely small tortilla chips came fast but they weren’t good. The tortilla soup was warm, not hot. The half chicken came out fast and was obviously made hours before. I won’t be back.

First, the positive - it had a few good salsas. Now the rest.....Lucky for us we ordered the chips and 3 salsas. We used these salsas to give our entrees some flavor and they helped make the chicken edible. Both of us immediately noticed the d-r-y chicken. The margaritas tasted much like margarita mix -- maybe there was some tequila in it but it could not be tasted nor smelled. The menu looks creative, but none of the four entrees we ordered had any flavor except for the salsa I mentioned above. SERVICE WAS SO LAME, we both thought our server was on something. He came back because he could not find our order ticket, easy enough to get straightened out. Then, no return to our table until he came back with the ticket (someone else brought our food). Seriously, the place missed out on selling two more beers by simply not asking us-- just brought a check and left. THEN WE GOT HOME AND that's when we started noticing bogus charges on our credit card starting immediately after paying there. Kind of weird that one server took our credit card and another brought it back -- now we know.....

This is tex-mex and a solid casual resto. The staff is friendly, well-trained and knows how to not hover. The menu is really great, the tax selections range from basic to unexpected. The wine list is surprisingly good.

Next door to the Beacon Theater. We popped in before the WILCO show, it was jammed and jamming. Had guacamole, a dharma bowl and a couple of tacos. The fish taco was excellent, the bowl was a better value. The guac and the bowl had lots of choices and flexibility to make it exactly what you want. The venue itself was LOUD. We'd go back.

We came here for lunch before heading to the airport to catch our flight home. It's around the corner from where we stayed so we decided to give it a try. It boasts a different vibe (California). The decor reminds me remotely Ivy by the Shore. We order their signature dish - guacamole 2.0 which is like a build your own guac. The sides were on the light side - didn't have too much tomatoes or onions. I'm sure we could have asked for more but we didn't bother. To be honest, we felt this dish was our least favorite. We also order the seared ahi tuna taco which was very good and the Cali-style chicken club sandwich (which was our favorite). The chicken was super juicy and the potato tots were very good as well. Overall, a good meal.

We ordered guacamole and chicken enchiladas and I didn’t like it at all. I could feel that the avocado 🥑 was not fresh and worried that I could get a stomachache. Not authentic. Enchiladas was plain and wasn’t fresh either.

This restaurants serves delicious food in a high energy fun atmosphere. It was the perfect stop for a relatively quick meal. The server was charming and helpful and the food tasty. It will become one of our regular stops in NYC.

My wife was fully prepared to hate this place -- because it's essentially a bar (we're not drinkers), and it clearly caters to customers somewhat younger than ourselves. But it's close to the Beacon, where we had tickets to see Dylan, and the food wasn't bad at all. The carnitas were billed as the "best thing on the menu" -- no way to know if that's true (since I didn't order everything on the menu) or if they just wanted to boost carnitas sales -- but they were good. My wife's grilled salmon was undercooked, and we always hate to send undercooked things back, because they invariably come back overcooked -- but to the chef's credit, it came back just right. Soup & salad were very good as well. Reasonable prices (for NYC). Noisy!

I was recently injured at Playa Betty's when the restaurant served me lemonade with a lot of broken glass. I believe the restaurant ignored my complaint.

Lots of kids -- and the occasional non-service dog at the pickup counter well inside the restaurant -- but the posters of beach movies wall-papering the place, OK tropical music, and OK food made up for the lack of paper/plastic menus and the spotty service: example after we finished, with our table crammed full of finished plates, a new server came by and said "Are you ready to order?" Also our drinks arrived 15 minutes after our food.

Met some other people there on a Sunday evening at 6. The place was jammed and loud. My friends had gotten a table earlier and we sat in. The waiter had a follower which is good to see they are hiting but the service itself was not great. I had to order my dessert 3x before it got put into the system. The food was OK. Not bad but nothing special. The service was so so and the place was loud. I like going to this place when I see shows at The Beacon and I wll probably go back again but the place could be better. Maybe if it was less crowded.

What a refreshing place!! Great food and great service, what more can you ask for!! Nice outdoor eating area. Had the Baja fish taco, great flavor! Will definitely come back here! The manager Patty was so friendly! Customer service a 10!!

Great experience at Playa Betty’s with my coworkers! Best drinks and delicious food. Jess was the best waitress and was always attentive to our needs!

If you are in the mood for upbeat music, and people -that feelin' like there's something going on and you want to be a part of the scene...eating some average/good Cali/Mex food listening to Michael Jackson, and pretending you were actually in Malibu, then Betty's will fit the bill. It's a little pricey for what you get. And FYI there's no fruity frozen choices - the house margarita is a grapefruit Paloma...good but some prefer berry, mango etc. I enjoy it for what it is. And WYHBYP...you'll see when there.

We drove into the city on Friday around 6pm and needed a quick dinner because the kids were starving. This place looked fun with their outdoor and indoor seating, easy going atmosphere and kid-friendly tables, so we popped in. It was busy but moved fast thanks to quick service. There was a corner with parked strollers, a few high chairs and lots of other families with young kids. It was loud but we don't mind that in case our toddler starts being loud :) The fish tacos were wonderful, while the others were fresh, average tasting, and cost $4-5.

The decor is quite uplifting, the staff is friendly. They serve Mexican food which is good and reasonably priced. Their happy hour is around 5pm and cocktails are about $8. Would happily go again.

Delicious food, guacamole and cauliflower apps are great. Tacos are delicious, Ceasar salad with avocado very tasty, just needed a little extra dressing for my very generous portion and they were very happy to accommodate me. Would have given them 5 stars but we had a headache when we left from the rap music that was blasting! We asked for them to change it but the manager left and they couldn’t change the play list.

Based on other reviews me and my mom were super excited to visit and made this the first restaurant stop on our NYC trip. I got the chicken enchiladas and my mom got a salad. We also shared the queso and Buffalo cauliflower bites. Huge disappointment- food mediocre, service blah. Wouldn’t recommend and won’t be back.

While visiting NYC to see BONO at the Beacon theater, we found this place for lunch. I had the chicken quesadilla and my wife had the fish tacos. It was so good, we had to share. We highly recommend this place.

Club chicken sandwich was kind of slimy and rubbery. Fish tacos are ok but it takes them 30+ minutes at 2pm in the afternoon to make 5 tacos. The waitress also served someone else our lunch and tried to reserve it back to us.... that wasn't too sanitary.

We visited this place on a week night. It was crowded but the tables turn over quickly. Good so-cal menu of tacos, burritos, margaritas, etc. we got the guac that comes with the fixings to mix in yourself so you can customize it to your liking. I ordered 2 tacos, a portobello mushroom taco and a carne asada, both were great. One person in our part got the dharma bowl, and the hang or burrito. Everyone was pleased with their meals. Nothing fancy, fair pricing, festive atmosphere.

Rae, Abu, and Gina are the best bartenders around. We visit this place 1-2 times per week, just to see them! The drinks are excellent too, especially the frozen palomas! They have the best, build your own, guacamole and tasty tacos. This place is a must if you are in the area.

If you want south of the border cooking you'll find it here. A variety of dishes prepared fresh on site are reasonably priced with ample portions served. Taco Tuesdays are a good bargain!

By day this is a sleepy Mexican restaurant with tacos, salads, and grain bowls. By night this is a bar scene madhouse with lots of vibe.

Unfortunately we mis-ordered and ended up with 2 huge trays of tacos and various dishes to go alongside due to a mis-communication. When we explained this was not corrected or acknowledged. Rest of meal was nice.

We visited here for a family meal but after we had been seated and ordered drinks staff told us most of the menu - Including all beef chicken and burgers - were out of stock. We didn’t finish the drinks because we left to find somewhere to eat but we still had to pay and were then given short change. Staff were rude and unhelpful. Avoid.

We came across this place by chance, attracted by the tables outside and the lively atmosphere. The quality of the food was very low and I do not recommend it to Italian tourists.

Friendly neighborhood location - Walking distance to Central Park West and American Museum of Natural History. Good food and drinks. A comfortable place to meet and chat with friends over tacos and drinks.

This place is simple. Basic food good service. The choices on the menu are limited. Tacos are tiny so you can have them a small plate with beer. Beef taco was good. If you want a larger meal go for quesadilla. It is filled with cheese and black beans and beef or chicken are extra. The guacamole arrives with freshly fried nachos. The avocado is served plain with a variety of toppings served separately. So you can control the seasoning. It did not work very well for us.. the guacamole served with the dishes is better.

We had tickets to Andy/Cohen/Anderson Cooper and stopped here ( right next door) before for drinks and snacks, we sat at the bar, had delicious margaritas, tacos and chips and salsa, very busy but great service. So good we went back after the show. Thoroughly enjoyed our experience here and will go back for sure.

Food always good. Portions adequate. Service attentive. Only go if you have a reservation though; wait for brunch on weekends can be over an hour.

Totcho’s were soggy and despite bringing it to staff’s attention they were still on our bill. When asking what something meant they were unable to answer and overall disappointing experience.

Spotted this place down the block from the Beacon Theater and was attracted instantly! The decor and setup was great. the wait was long, however, you can order takeout to stay and sit along the wall no wait! The food was fast and great! You can customize your guacamole at the table and the steak tacos were delish! Great prices and atmosphere!

We had an early dinner here as a family group with ages ranging from 72 down to 4 years old. Both staff and menu was very child-friendly and the cocktails are also excellelnt for adults. The staff were happy to make up childrens' cocktails that were non-alcoholic but allowed ther children to pretend that they were sharing the occasion. The menu is Californian Mexican - and none the worse for that. Very tasty and not too spicy. Highly recommended

Love everything about this place, the decor, the food, the service, it was just great. The guacamole is awesome, they give you little cups of toppings so everyone can personalize their own guac which is fun. Oh and don't leave without getting the churro ice cream sandwich, it's AMAZING!

I love the laid back feeling and beach atmosphere especially in the dread of winter. While the noise level can sometimes be daunting it can also create a fun vibe and buzzy laid back atmosphere. The food is fresh and delicious. Guacamole is a family favorite with add ins such as sunflower seeds, onions and peppers. I get veggies to dip to avoid the delicious chips! The salad bowls are excellent and you can add protein if you like. We always taste a taco or two in addition to our entree. A big shout out to our server, table cleaner and menu advisor , William. I have never seen anyone constantly working : serving, busing and dealing with customers ,remaining calm and pleasant the entire time. Really refreshing to see someone with no attitude making customers happy. Thank you for enhancing our experience . I’m not a big consumer of alcohol but the drinks here and beer looked just as good as the food. Great place for a date, families , friends or even a couple from the neighborhood ( like us).

Came here for lunch, margaritas and guacamole were good but the tacos were a major let down. We have a FABULOUS taco place here in charlotte (cabo fish Taco) and I was expecting something along those lines. The tacos are tiny and the tortilla is gross. they weren't good at all and WAY overpriced for $5 a piece. Rating 3 stars for the guacamole, you mix in the add ons yourself and it was very good but overall, WAY too overpriced and not worth a return visit

Wonderful from beginning to end. Pretty much tried everything on the menu. Fish Tacos were great, loved the corn, love the guacamole and really loved the dessert. Drinks were wonderful too. Would definitely come back again

we sat at bar and the service was excellent. The bartender was on it. Great beach vibe throughout the place. Highly recommen

We had evening drinks here and it was a fun stop, like transporting to somewhere beachy. Service was super prompt, we sat at the bar. There were plenty of tables, but it was full at 11 pm. It was busy, energetic and had a crowd of mostly young, but not completely. In our 50's, we weren't the oldest (but nearly). This is a perfect stop for a post show drink (Beacon RIGHT there) or if you find yourself on a pub crawl on Amsterdam Ave.

We live in New York and have been to Playa Betty’s before, but this visit was all about bringing our teen nieces somewhere easy, fun, and low-stress after a long day of walking. It was exactly the right choice. The atmosphere is upbeat without being too loud, the menu is approachable, and everyone was able to find something they liked. It’s the kind of place that works well for groups with different ages and energy levels, and is casual, comfortable, and dependable. When you’re hosting visitors and just want a solid, enjoyable meal without overthinking it, Playa Betty’s always delivers. We’ll absolutely be back.

This restaurant is a must visit in Vegas! Great food and cocktails! Mimosa brunch was fun! This bar/restaurant has a great vibe

We live in the neighborhood and love great Mexican and good service. That’s why we avoid Playa Betty’s like the plague. Filled with attitude, the hostesses act like they’re working someplace other than a taco restaurant on the upper west side. They range between indifferent and rude depending on the evening. Food has some bright spots like their Dharma Bowls but the highly variable quality of the wait staff makes every experience dining roulette.

We wanted to try something different so we stopped for lunch. What a waste of calories! The atmosphere is good, fun! Service is very prompt and good. The food was, I was going to say okay, but no! It was food. Flavorless! The Queso was bland! Chicken Quesadillas, blend as heck! The Dharma bowel was okay. We should have just gone to Chipotle, their food has more more flavor. This reminds me of a tourist restaurant.

It was very difficult to have a conversation with someone sitting on the other side of the table, because it was so noisy inside the building. It would have been better to have sat in the outside seating area. The food has a different taste to it than I am used to in my Mexican cooking. The server we had did a good job of getting our order in to the cook quickly and the cook got it out to us very quickly as well. The rest of our group enjoyed the food more than I did.

Oh My Goodness! I was so hungry and wishing for a quick snack. I happened upon this vision of HAPPY amidst the last snow of the season called, Playa Betty’s!!! One step in and I was at the local beach at 5 O’Clock Somewhere!!! Definitely the all year round place to go for some R&R. The sweetest curly haired hostess greeted me and said those magic words…”It is Happy Hour…and it also happens to be Taco Tuesday!” I want to say Mezcal made me do it, but it was really my server, Jordan! He had me at Passion Fruit Margarita!!! Now I am 2 Margaritas and 1 frozen Paloma in and I think I am ready to brave the cold avian! Oh…also enjoyed the food…but I am so warm inside and ready for anything! Yay!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brunch was served with a good variety, well priced drinks and food that was as described, spicy and freshly prepared. Service first class

Nice food, tacos weren’t bad, but the tatter thot nachos were really good. The chicken tacos were just ok.

This was our second visit and I still like the atmosphere and food but we were really rushed -- in and out in 45 minutes. Our waitress asked us if we had "any questions" at least four times in five minutes so we finally just ordered to make her happy. The food literally came three minutes later, before they even served our drinks, and it was cold. These were tacos that had clearly not prepared for us and must have been sitting there waiting for someone else to order them. Despite all this I would go back, but not get the tacos, which must come off an assembly line.

My boyfriend and I stopped in one afternoon. We were able to sit outside in the sun. The beers were cold and the food was comforting. It was a fun lunch stop, the cauliflower bites were great! The service could have been a bit better but nothing horrible. If you're nearby it's worth a stop.

Tried to make an online reservation but it was not allowing reservation to go thru. So we went to the restaurant, and there were tables available and we were seated right away. (So why didn't the online reservation go thru??) Service was good and the food came out quickly. However, whether you are seated on the sidewalk or inside or by the bar, it is noisy throughout the restaurant. So if you are looking to have a conversation, expect to raise your voice. Expect to pay NYC prices. $14 for chips, salsa and (fresh) guacamole.

Very wonderful restaurant and good food. Nice staff, nice place a little bit noisy because I think it is a famous restaurant and it was full of people.

This spot is huge indoors and has ample outdoor seating, too. Service is kind and quick. Platters are large. We shared one vegan enchilada plate.

One of my favorite spots in this neighborhood solo or otherwise. Their Avocado Toast with a Michelada is the perfect lunch!! Friendly attentive staff and great value.

Where the locals eat, I eat. It doesn’t disappoint. Cross between a surfie bar and an Hawaiian bistro. The food is burger, salad ets. Lovely fresh citrus based salads, yummy. Some seafood and a selection of the usual beers. Eat in or eat out, the service is first class as is the food. Mid range in price for New York. I’ll be back.

Very nice service from Jade- make your own guacamole with many options in small bowls was very nice (fresh jalapeno, habanero, tomato, onion, pomegrante seed, pumpkin seed etc)- avocado taco very good (4$ each for small taco)- can become pricey if have big appetite- the tacos are very small- the chrurro ice cream sandwich was good sized and fresh- brunch menu a bit limited for taco selection, especially for someone who doesnt like eggs as most of the brunch tacos had scrambled eggs in them

A festive atmosphere, often noisy. Good tacos. A few unique options. Otherwise, the menu is not special.

Good and Fresh taco, guacamole etc. Very reasonably priced and served fast. Nothing fancy but good for quick grab.

Ashley was a amazing server. I was besitsnt about the burrito since it had French fries inside but wow it was truly amazing defiantly reminded me of LA

We had a party of 11 dine here before going to the Beacon for the FUV Holiday show. We had a great time and a good meal. We enjoyed the house guacamole and the Buffalo Cauliflower to start. I loved my Shortrib enchiladas. My wife loved her shrimp and short rib taco. In fact everyone was pleased with their entree. The server di a great job keeping everyone supplied with drinks. It was a great start to the evening.

This place is very instagram- friendly, and the decor is awesome but that's about it. The meal was below par, tacos tasted of nothing whatsoever and the pork and beef tasted the same. The chef's "special burrito" was one of the most boring flavourless things i have tasted with leftover chicken, rice, beans and lettuce. We both felt that the different meats we tried (beef, pork, chicken) in various dishes were seriously lacking in any sort of flavour. Service was very friendly and speedy but all in all save your money and go someplace where the food actually tastes nice.

Living in NYC we are not short on Mexican restaurants. I've been to the sister restaurant reunion surf bar and liked it so decided to stop in for a taco dinner (3 tacos of your choice with rice & beans). I had the tuna, mahi & Marley chicken. All of which was very tasty. If you're on the upper west side and looking for a place for happy hour this could be a good choice. Do keep in mind that the tables are close to each other and everyone's talking above the next table so it gets extremely loud. Mix that with the loud music overhead

We went before seeing Bob Dylan at the Beacon, which is about a 2 minute walk from Playa Betty. It's a decent size place, very crowded. You definitely have to make a reservation. Not because it's all that, but because it's cheaper, good food, drinks. You can be in and out, or you can sit and kill a little time. Before a show, I recommend it..

Came here with a bunch of friends before the Jackson Browne concert at the Beacon Theater. What a treat. The worst thing about this place is trying to decide what to order on the menue. EVERYTHING looks great and the 4 taco dinner that I finally decided on was outstanding. Delicious!!! The vibe is very cool and laid back. The service was fast and efficient. The prices great. Dont miss it, especially if you are going the the Beacon for a concert !!!

A bit better than average food. Good service although they didn’t notify my birthday in any way. Why is it asked in the booking phase if not notified? And I don’t even mean free treats or anything, you can just say Happy birthday. Also, we probably got the loudest table in the middle of the place even though there were much nicer tables and the place was nearly empty when we arrived.

really liked spending an afternoon for drinks at betty's. cocktails were very good, sandwiched as well.

As a lone female arriving for $3 Taco Tuesday and a drink, I was warmly greeted and served by Shannon the bartender. Convivial bar scene with other friendly solo diners.

There is a long wait to get a table, but the margaritas and tacos are worth the wait. The "add your own ingredients" guacamole was terrific.

Soulful and Delicious, Playa Betty serves up a mexi-Cali beach vibe! Enjoyed the warm hospitality and perfectly executed Shirt rib enchilada! Green sauce with red sauce on side was the right mix! Queso starter and epic margaritas, the Paloma was fantastic! Can’t wait to come again!

Stumbled upon this joint after walking in the NYC heat. Great Californian style food at an affordable price (by NYC standards)

Playa Bettys is now where one of my fave restaurants used to be, however is still Mexican. great staff and excellent cocktails, generally really nice food. my sister loved her fried chicken with churros and the sauce with that was fantastic. I made a bad choice with tempura avocado taco- just ok. loved mini Coronas very dangerous. we only have the full sized ones here (Sydney) I would go back as the menu has a lot great sounding items

The place is very nice, but the noise was unbearable, they also put us on a very small table attached to another table with people and asked to change because it was very uncomfortable. Very good food but slow and disorganized service.

I went there with one of my favorite professors. It was a very sunny day. Absolutely wonderful to sit outside. I wasn't hungry so I only had one teeny tiny taco (Oyster taco? Don't quite remember) but it was good. I loved the guacamole for sure. Will go back to try more different dishes.

We had a great time! Comfy, totally fun, delicious amd great price! The music and sound level was on point. We had the guacamole and added all the sides making a killer appetizer. Had the queso with chorizo, mexican short ribs, and the taco dinner. All were exactly what we needed. We will be back! Also make sure you get the iced Palermo!

Found this place near the Beacon Theater after a show, 11am, and they offered dinner still. Cool atmosphere, friendly staff and very good tacos! The queso was delish and the churro ice cream sandwich was heavenly! The prices were also decent, $16 for 3 different tacos of your choice with beans and rice. I'd definitely go back!

Had a wonderful dinner here right before heading to the Beacon Theatre which is close by. Totally recommend the tacos. Ordering a “taco dinner” provides you with a combo of 3 tacos plus rice and black beans - we had the mahi-mahi, tuna and carnitas and all were very fresh and nicely cooked. The 3 tacos should be enough for one person, but because we both wanted to try them we decided to split them and go for some guacamole too. The guacamole was very very good and comes in a big portion so in the end we weren’t able to finish it. So maybe we should have mixed the tacos with a smaller entree or dish. In the end, with a pint and a marguerita, it came down to ~50usd. Would return!

We came here after several disappointments in New York and we were pleasantly surprised by both the service and the food. Our server was Jason and he did a fantastic job of looking after us all. The food was fresh tasting and the drinks good. I would recommend the Santa Monica Salad. A great vibe in the restaurant.

Overall the restaurant was good! The service is what you would expect in NYC! The food is good although not truly a Mexican restaurant. Call it New Mexican/California

My husband, me and our 12 year old son enjoyed a flavorful and lively dinner before heading over to The Beacon Theater. We loved the decor as well as our delicious tacos and margaritas. It was a bit noisy, but we sat very close to the open doors which dulled a bit of the noise and enjoyed an early Spring alfresco dinner. We will definitely return to Playa Betty!

Wow! This place was a great find and after not being able to visit last year due to the snow we was not disappointed! We had brunch bottomless cocktail and tapas all was amazing! Service is fab, staff friendly! Would definitely recommend and can't wait to go back when next in NYC!!!!

Have eaten in a few taco beach bars in CA and FL and this does not compare. Had 3 tacos, the baja fish was good, others lacked taste including the jerk chicken. Others had dharma bowl with salmon which was average, the roast chicken which was very good an the other person getting the taco dinner said average also. Margaritas were OK at best.

We love their chips & queso!! The baja fish tacos and carne asado tacos are yummy too. We didnt like the churro ice cream samdwich. Pricey for the size of the dessert.

We found the brunch menu a little confusing tbh and the combination of fried chicken and sweet waffles was a bit unusual. However food was cooked nice and service was excellent.

Perfect tacos and margaritas. Skip the cauliflower fries. Good idea but over cooked and mushy. Could be much better.

We frequent this restaurant with our family since it’s in our neighborhood - always solid good food. There’s something for everyone from the very hungry (3-4 tacos) to a little hungry (1 taco). We love the Baja fish taco, carne asada taco, rockin’ shrimp tacos. We always get the guacamole and queso (our favorite!!). The corn is also delicious! And to top it off, we had the churro ice cream sandwich which we all fight for! The noise level is high so be aware - it’s a bit quieter outside but the ambiance is loud inside. The service is 95% good most of the time — today, however, we had a table for 5 reserved with our 8yr old son and were put at a high top communal table in the back on stools. I asked the hostess who took us to the table (Chloe) if we could get a non high top table since my son couldn’t sit on backless stools because he’d fall off. She proceeded to give me SO much attitude and was SUPER rude and told me there would be a wait for a low table (even though there seemed to be many open low tables around) and if we were at the high top, other people might be placed with us and she couldn’t guarantee that we’d get to sit alone. I saw stools with backs at a long table and she cut me off and says that was for another party coming. Seriously?!?! I asked her to see if there was another table while my family stood there waiting. We walked to the hostess stand where 2 other hosts were and I asked them if we could get a low table and they said with not a blink of an eye “no problem, let me go get a table ready for you right away.” Then another tall thin hostess seated us and was super nice and very polite - NO ISSUES. We had a great meal with a friendly server as we usually experience. Don’t know what Chloe’s deal was but she was probably the most unfriendly employee we have ever encountered at Playa Betty all these years we’ve been going there - hope it’s not a trend. She’s the reason for the 4 stars I gave - no restaurant should employ someone who outwardly hates customers - she should find another job.

My wife and I popped in for some lunch this weekend, and I am so glad we did. I ordered their Burrito, which had fries in it instead of rice.... Oh my goodness this works, reminded me of those sandwiches we made when we were younger on the beach, or as the English call them: Chip Butty. The restaurant has a very holiday feel to it as well, so you kind of feel like you're at a beach bar for a moment, which is always great.

Atmosphere was great. Great drinks and outside area. Food was average, tacos were really small not much on them definitely order 3 or 4 and with the meal deal with rice and beans. Note that the rice and beans are served in the same bowl.

We stopped at Playa Betty's for drinks and apps. We got the corn on the cob and queso and they were DELICOUS. The vibe is so fun and the outdoor seating was perfect for a summer afternoon!! We had a fun waiter and enjoyed our time!

Happened upon this restaurant while visiting the Upper West Side with family. This was not a typical NYC restaurant in a good way. It was pleasant and relaxed with good, fresh food and drinks. I would return.

Good food and wait service in this crazy busy place. We went on a Friday night and the joint was jumping. Loud music and crowds all trying to grab seats. We had reservations and only got a counter table but it’s really wherever they can sit you. Had make your own guacamole which was excellent. Carnitas a bit fatty but good sides. Excellent marinated chicken with corn on the cob. Reasonable prices too. Not a place to have a conversation but that’s ok.

We purely went to this place based on the fact that it was one of the first places open to serve Bellinis. We decided to try the cactus pear Bellini which was AMAZING! Great guac with many condiments to go with it.

The food is medium, very spicy for some dishes. Cocktails are very expensive. The server was unpleasant and tips are imposed at least 18%.

Stopped in for lunch, waitress was very friendly and helpful. Beer was cold and refreshing, chips and salsa was were delicious. The taco however were meh at best. Food was cold but presented well. Maybe it was a bad day in the kitchen.

Found Playa Betty round corner from our hotel and great Mexican restaurant. For starter we had a big bowl of guacamole where you added your own extras with onion, pepper, pomegranate and tomato. The enchiladas were tasty in a nice sauce. The Paloma margarita was so good we had two each. A little loud but a good evening and good food

I really loved the atmosphere here – it’s like being transported to a different corner of the earth. The hustle and bustle of NYC melts away and you are dropped into a laid-back, sunny locale. A very nice change of pace! I really enjoyed my Paloma and taco brunch. I especially loved the Baja fish tacos. Next time I visit I’ll definitely be getting bottomless brunch!

Have eaten a lite dinner here twice. Recommend the taco dinner with three tacos, beans and rice. Not fancy, a little loud, but the tacos were quite tasty. Friendly staff. Food was a bit slow coming to the table this time, but not a problem.

Third trip to the city in 6 months and each trip included brunch at Playa Betty's. Highly recommend the bottomless Cactus Pear Bellini and the Mexican Eggs Benedict was yummy!

Great dinner Sunday night - 3 tacos each, especially enjoyed the carnitas and the seared ahi tuna - but all were fantastic. Friendly fun service, and the rosé sangria was great too.

A great place to grab brunch if you are tired of the usual bagels and pancakes-we had tacos and huevos rancheros- spicy and tasty! Mike, our server was friendly and so helpful! Will be back!

Great California style Mexican food! The queso with chorizo was a standout, as well as the chicken enchiladas. Their frozen Palomas are also great, maybe a little strong!

Quick easy food. Noisy but great atmosphere. Staff very friendly. We loved the Guacamole and tortilla chips and the kids loved the ‘tot’chos.

Been to Playa Betty's 4 years ago and the food and service was good but not on this occasion. I booked a table for 6:15pm due to the fact I was travelling solo. When I arrived I was told table would be available shortly but quickly discovered by the people standing near reservation desk that they had been waiting some time for their tables. The music and people speaking loud over the music the girls at reservation desk were struggling to hear each other as were customers. Those with table reservations were getting annoyed and restless waiting for table, it seems pointless to have a reservation service but no seats available at time people arrive. I waited 20 mins before I got a table and was so glad it was outside. Waitress passed me several times before I had to shout to her for menu. I ordered the guacamole and chips which were great but the short rib enchiladas I ordered were awful. They had no taste, the black beans had not been strained so the enchiladas sat in their watery mess making them soggy and almost inedible plus meal was luke warm. I ordered a mojito and I'm sure it was made with tequila not rum although it was very nice. Everything seemed overpriced, it was the most expensive meal I'd had during my week in NYC and also the worst. i was glad to be outside as you could hear yourself think whereas inside the music loud and people were shouting or talking loudly to be heard around their tables. Next time I'm in NYC I'll be giving this place a miss.

Had wonderful tacos and ended up eating here three times during our 6 nights in the Upper Westside. Love our server Chrissy!

There aren't many "inexpensive" places to eat on the lower end of Upper West Side but Playa Betty fits the bill. The place is lively, fun, casual. The drinks are solid, especially the margaritas. The tacos offer a decent variety, and I'm sure you'll find one or two you really like, if not all of them. The service is fast, if frenetic at times. Because Playa Betty sits just around the corner from the Beacon Theater, it can be very crowded and noisy on show nights. So there definitely are better places to go if you're looking for intimate conversation to go with you meal. But if you want to eat well, cheaply and quickly, Playa Betty might be your best choice on the lower UWS.

This restaurant is reminiscent of a place you’d find next to a California beach. They claim that the tacos are like “street tacos,” whatever that means. They are all small and very flavorful, along with the rice-and-bean side dishes, etc. I had two fish tacos and a grilled chicken taco, all of which were very good. Our waitress was a real fireball…. very fun and active. This was a fun stop, and I highly recommend it.

We love this place and no trip to NYC is complete without making a stop here with or without our grandkids. It is a lively scene for cocktails and tacos or guacamole. grandkidsgrandkids.grandkidschildren.Guacamoleisalways our staring

Playa Betty is in a great spot near the Beacon Theater on the UWS. It's bright and loud and fun if you're with a group and aren't really interested in having a conversation. It was super crowded on a Saturday. You can go with friend and have drinks, or bring the kids. The food is inexpensive and just OK. We ordered the guacamole, and it was pretty tasteless. It comes out on a platter with various ingredients you can add to it, but none of them provided the kick needed. I ordered a few tacos. They're only $5 each, which is very inexpensive. They were all right, but nothing great.

I’m glad they have vegan and vegetarian options here. But boy are they awful. The queso was thin and had no flavor. The vegan enchiladas were also flavorless and came stuffed with almost raw chunks of vegetables that my knife had a hard time cutting. The rice and beans also tasted like they had no salt or flavor, and the rice was crunchy. At least the mango margarita was good. This was truly one of the worst meals I’ve had in a long time. Thanks for having vegan options, but find someone who knows how to make it delicious.

We recently went to Playa Betty's for a last minute dinner on a Tuesday night - - we live in the neighborhood but hadn't been back for several months for no particular reason. Our server's name was Jeanice C. She was SO GREAT and probably the best server we've had there. I was there with my 2 kids, husband and nanny and we were sitting inside. From the moment we sat down, Jeanice couldn't have been nicer, more helpful and all smiles. She explained the entire happy hour menu a couple times since my husband came a few mins late, she listened closely when my son who has a nut allergy explained how he wanted his tacos with no condiments and she reviewed the order fully before leaving our table. She specifically mentioned to my son that the quesadillas he ordered had other stuff inside besides just cheese and chicken which is all he wanted - - so thankfully, he had a lovely meal instead of being unhappy the whole time and not saying anything (he's 12yrs old). She was SUPER attentive, upbeat and really pleasant - - so much so that my nanny made sure I wrote this review for Jeanice. We will definitely return more frequently since we always liked the food but never had such great service - - we tend to frequent the places in our neighborhood where the staff knows us and our kids since it's more fun and pleasant. Thank you for a GREAT dinner!! It's rare to find a server like Jeanice C - hope she sticks around!

Go for the Guacamole! The adult beverages are tasty and the tacos are small but great! Two salads, two drinks one taco and guacamole, plus tip was $105! Ouch!

Looks like a great vibe happening, but service was slow and we thought we had been forgotten. Food was tasteless and cold. The wait staff did not seem to care and why must they crowd everyone into the same seating areas where the tabes are too small for your food Disappointed, especially after attending the film festival at The Beacon.

I went here when it first opened and I have to say that there were definitely operational issues. We waited waaaay too long for tacos and the people sitting next to us on the communal table in the back of the restaurant told us that he waited about an hour for chicken. The "guacamole", while it was a cute idea to provide sides of different things like diced onions, jalapenos, pomegranates etc. to mix in as you'd like, we basically got an avocado or two that saw 2-3 strokes of a fork before being served to us. Service also was somewhat questionable. Needless to say we walked away with not that great of a view of this place. Every time I walked by this place it seemed pretty crowded, so something had to have improved here. So after a long hiatus we went back today for brunch to give it another chance. I am glad to say that it wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be, and that the operational kinks have been worked out. We got our guacamole and food within good time. A word about the guacamole - there is now more work put into it, but it is almost too mushed, but atleast there was some effort put into it. There isn't much flavor at all and it is not really something to come back for. The meat in one of the beef tacos I got was really quite nice and the jerk chicken taco was not one I would order again. My dining companion got the burrito - IT IS HUGE! I still can't get over how big it is. And it has french fries instead of rice and came out with a nice somewhat crisp, but not too crispy burrito wrap. Nicely done.

Great lunch option on the Upper West side. Colorful tropical beach themed Mexican restaurant, this was a great place to grab a quick lunch. Nice seafood and vegetarian options. Tasty Mexican favorites fused with some Caribbean flair. Great service too.

So today we ate at Playa Betty's on Amsterdam Avenue and I had the best enchiladas ever! Authentic tasting & fresh. I was so happy & full that I literally forgot my ENTIRE bag at the table without noticing until our server Jade came running down the street just to give it back! I'm so grateful that she returned it to me & can't thank her enough. If you want great Mexican cuisine plus excellent service definitely try this place out :)

Reasonably priced, good food, fast, friendly service with a decent crowd. Nice atmosphere, good menu selection of Latin American favs, tasty margaritas.

I live just a few blocks from Playa Betty's and it's my go to patio spot when friends are in town. The Pomegranate margarita is so yummy and strong. The tacos are small so order 2-3 to satisfy your hunger. Their brunch tacos are pretty good. Chorizo, potato and egg is good, carne asada and al pastor are my favorites. I'm from Texas and California Mexican is definitely different that what I'm used to, but Playa Betty's knows Queso. Add ground beef for a tasty snack, or to drip on your tacos. All in all, I'm a fan.

Had a great time here meeting a friend for a drink and some great guacamole and tacos before heading to a show. I'd made an Open Table reservation, but they didn't seem to have a table ready for me until almost 15 minutes after my reservation. that's the only reason for any deduction in ratings. Service was flawless, food was delicious, and my drink was incredible! Will definitely go back to try other dishes out next time I'm on the Upper West side.

The crowd was young, but they seemed to be cool with older folks having a drink at the bar. We went to Playa Betty’s around 8pm on a Friday and it was packed. We squeezed in at the bar after putting our name in for a table, but ended up eating at the bar. The chips and guacamole were amazing. We also had a variety of tacos and they were all delicious. I especially liked the fish tacos. The bartenders were very accommodating and friendly. So glad we found this place. Yum!

Tacos are the primary food with plenty of choices. They are ok not much flavor. Nothing special. If I can make them this good at home the restaurant must not be that super. Margarita's for $12.00 were 1/2 filled with ice.

We returned after a year but it was a disappointment, the food was quite poor and the environment was noisy due to the music being too loud. We won't be back

Went to this restaurant on a recent trip to NYC. Food is exceptional! Fish tacos were delicious and my friend thought her hamburger was the best she had ever had. Next time want to try the guacomole appetizer and Buffalo cauliflower that the table beside us were enjoying!

Stumbled upon this inviting restaurant after an exhausting day. The interior had sort of an Island fantasy vibe with cool music and tiki interior. We ended up sitting outside as it was a beautiful night with lots of energy in the city. I was very hungry, so I ordered the steak and potatoes. My wife ordered the fish tacos. My steak was fantastic, but the portion was very small. There was a large knife that came with the entree which was much larger than the steak. The side of potatoes and cheese were good sized and delicious. Likewise, my wife's tacos were excellent but skimpy as well. This place is great for those without large appetites but for those who do, you will likely go away hungry.

The Mexican/California-style fare is just so-so, but at least reasonably priced. It’s more about the fun, beachy ambience—great service overall as well.

Won't be repeated. Only go there if you're young and hip and don't mind noise and food that nobody paid any attention to and "fun" is more important than food. Margaritas abound (probably the main attraction), but even those could come form a box with the same result. Avoid the kale salad. You could as well chew on a few pieces of cardboard with the same result for your tastebuds. It probably wins the competition for the least interesting meal. Blah. Why bother. My idea of fun includes good food, especially in a restaurant.

Dinner for 2 before show at Beacon Theater. I made a reservation for 7:30. We arrived at 7:25 and were seated promptly. We ordered the "make your own" guacamole. I comes on a tray with smashed avocado and about 7 items to add. We just added all of them and the guac was awesome. I got the Hang 10 Burrito...huge and tasty. Service was prompt and we were not rushed.

All that’s missing is the beach!!! The atmosphere definitely makes you feel the sun, sand and salt air are just outside the door. Especially when the delicious food arrives at your table. Great service and menu selection…

Just went to Playa Betty's this past Sunday. It is an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Great food. I chose the quesadillas and my husband had the sliders. Both were wonderful! The Betty's magarita was very good but the other drinks on the menu looked equally appealing. I would have loved to have tried the bottomless sangria, but knew I had a lot of walking to do so I passed on that. Service was great and unrushed. We could have stayed there for a much longer time, but our schedules did not permit that. Being there felt like a vacation within our vacation.

I had dinner with friends at Playa Betty's. We sat outside and enjoyed delicious Paloma Margaritas while visiting. We decided to order food to share, so we got guacamole, chicken enchiladas, southern girl taco, short rib taco and ahi tuna tacos. I loved the guacamole - nice and chunky and so so good. The ahi tuna taco was excellent! However I found the chicken enchiladas to be quite dry. My friend loved the southern girl taco. Our server, Sean, was great. He was quick, thoughtful, fun to chat with!

The tacos are AMAZING here! There is a wide selection of tacos with great drinks offered, at great prices. Reservation recommended. The only thing is that if you're sitting indoors on a Friday night, it gets loud and it can be hard having a conversation. The Guacamole 2.0 appetizer was the most fun, where you build your own guacamole with different ingredients offered.

All the food was even okay, we got the chicken wraps and the jerk chicken pasta. The pasta was kinda bland and needed something else. If it wasn’t for the sour cream the wraps would’ve been just wraps with chicken inside. The service was really good and they loved having a chat. The music was super loud and could barely hear the waiter which was frustrating but it is a bar after all

I liked this place with the beachy vibe but boy was it loud and crowded on a Monday night. I practically had someone in my lap. Seriously - tables were way too closely spaced and leaving my seat made me awkwardly close to several diners surrounding me. Plus I had the waiter stand to my left. And the table was tiny - with our entrees and the guac we had to move everything to the very edge of the table. Next time will scope out better seating. I think there were happy hour specials that the server neglected to mention but we were in a big rush. Kudos to servers for getting our order in and getting us out in a flash! had the caesar chavez salad (yes corny name - and salad does have roasted corn; $10) with avocado and chipotle caesar dressing with crispy tortilla strips. Salad was small - avocado was super fresh. Also had the guacamole ($12) which comes with fixings that you mix in. My dining companion had the taco dinner ($16) with three tacos of choice and rice and beans. And I had a Modelo canned ($5). When I have more time going back for a margarita and some more guac.

Very cute decor with an option to sit inside or outside. Service was excellent from our server Joho. We started with the guacamole which was the freshest we had ever tasted. They served all the extras on the side which made it easy to customize it to out liking and it was delicious. I had the vegan enchilada's which were great and my husband had the surf and turf burito which was fantastic. Margarita was very tasty and my husband was happy to see they served Corona light.

Food was ok, service was remarkably bad with distracted waitresses choosing to chat with one another 10 feet away from dining customers rather than give service. It was most pronounced when we had to call attention to: missing food we had ordered, bring the check please, and please take our payment. Each of these events requires us to wait 10 minutes to flag down a nearby, distracted waitress.

Playa Betty is a great place to grab a margarita and some good mexican food. We went to NYC for the US Open over the Labor Day weekend. Playa Betty's was close to the hotel and a relaxed place to go for good, relatively inexpensive food. Try the quacammole and chips, which is served almost deconstructed. The guac is plain, and served with dishes of onions, peppers, cilaantro and other toppings so each person can make it to their own taste (also, who knew pumpkin seeds would taste so good in guac?) The staff is friendly and attentive, they switched the tv to the tennis when we asked. When we found out during lunch that we had won the broadway direct lottery for theatre tickets, they celebrated with us, by comping us a round of drinks.

can't tell you about the food.. the front of house staff were so rude we left! no manners at all would never go back!