Get transported from South Duke Street to South Beach with a visit to The Cantina, a vibrant restaurant atmosphere cultivated right in downtown York. Taking its inspiration from Miami, it offers an enticing menu, nightlife, and more. Now a part of O.N.E. Hospitality Group, The Cantina became the second of two restaurants that Allison Witherow and Toni Calderone founded through their Taste Test Restaurant Incubator in 2017. As it had grown from a pop-up to its current brick and mortar space in 2019, its outdoor origins allowed it to hang tight in 2020.
Witherow says, “The Cantina emerged from a leisurely trip to Miami and gained footing in research and development trips back to the city.” Upon entering though, the vibe is effortlessly cool. This is accomplished through colorful décor, neon green picnic tables, tropical plants, bamboo, and one of downtown York’s only outdoor greenspaces.
The Royal Square Arts District of York is the ideal location for such a concept. Witherow describes the neighborhood as having a collective energy, especially on nights like First Fridays where patrons walk from place to place for the sake of art. The murals from the city streets spill into the restaurant, where local artists came together for a project to capture the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami, known for its large-scale public art installations and abundant colorful murals.
1 of 2
2 of 2
The courtyard, open May through October, is an architectural celebration of the local community. Once you pass through the restaurant, The Cantina opens into a collective space with access to Artemis Vintage, a vintage and handmade marketplace, and Collusion Tap Works, a local brewing company. It is even possible to order wood-fired pizza to the courtyard from The Cantina’s sister restaurant, Avianos Corner Trattoria.
The Cantina’s menu takes its inspiration from the melting pot of cultures that is Miami with a heavy leaning towards Latin American and Cuban cuisine. The showcase of bright, light, and occasionally spicy flavors is meant to take the customers taste buds on vacation. Share a few small plates with friends or order a few for yourself, such as the street corn with garlic aioli, cotija cheese, chili, and cilantro.
For those looking to be a bit more adventurous, there’s chicarrones, pieces of pork belly with chili lime sauce, or soft-shell crab. For those looking to keep it simple, tortilla chips can be served with guacamole, queso, or salsa, and the shrimp skewers and crispy potatoes offer options that are the perfect mix of garlicky and buttery. Witherow’s personal favorite are the shishito peppers, which she says serve as a fun and satisfying “snacktivity”.
Tacos and burritos are the crowd favorites. Additionally, salad, rice and beans, and chips all serve as a base for the main event. Choose to pile on combinations of slow braised beef tips with diced avocado, pork al pastor with pineapple salsa, chipotle pulled chicken with lime sour cream, or marinated sushi tuna. For a vegetarian option, the cauliflower packs a flavorful punch.
1 of 5
2 of 5
3 of 5
4 of 5
5 of 5
The cocktail menu is a vacation in itself. Choose from the house margarita, or spice it up caliente style with jalapeño infused tequila. The Cotijo is a fresh blend of spiced rum, cream of coconut, lime, mint, agave, and soda. Wine lovers can cool things off with a glass of Frosé. End the evening on a sweet note with fried ice cream or cinnamon sugar churros, paired with a delectable hot chocolate dip.
The atmosphere and menu are not the only Miami-inspired aspects of the Cantina. In diversifying the nightlife of York, The Cantina offers a weekly line-up of entertainment for a wide audience, often centered around music. On Wednesdays, kids under ten eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. There’s karaoke, open mic nights, Latin American nights, live music Fridays, DJ parties each Saturday, and drag brunch one Sunday a month. No matter what is taking place on the Tikki Stage, Happy Hour happens every day, with select drinks and menu items set to half off between 4-6pm.
The Cantina has made itself a gathering place for everyone and has become a very special place for people in the community. It seeks not just to take those who enter on a temporary vacation, but to create a space that is uniquely York, while weaving the electrifying vibe of Miami into everyday life here. Witherow wants The Cantina’s customers to leave feeling more than just full of exciting and delicious food, but refreshed and full of life.
The Cantina
105 S Duke St, York PA 17401
717-456-0218
