Loved our dinner here!! Drinks and food were amazing. Ivan was a great server and he was so attentive. We will be coming back 😁😁

Everything was delicious! Our server, as well as every other staff we came across, was great! Will definitely be back! Thank you for a wonderful dining experience for my family!

+1

Ivan was an incredible waiter. He was attentive and knowledgeable about the items on the menu. He went above and beyond to serve us. He was amazing and I can’t recommend this place enough!

We love eating at la Fortaleza!!! It's the best Mexican food in the area. Silvia was our waitress tonight she was on fire. She was quick fun friendly and so attentive to our needs. We definitely will be back.

There was a DJ on the night we visited, and we weren’t ready for how loud it would be, but had a great time regardless. Our server, Sylvia, was great - made our anniversary dinner memorable and fun!

The food is something different. Nothing like the Mexican food I’ve had around the area. Literally authentic. The gem of the night was our waitress, Silvia. She went above and beyond and incredible dining experience. Nothing beats great service along delicious tacos.

Daisy was absolutely the sweetest!! & so attentive. The food is amazing of course.

Beautiful, bright, and colorful restaurant; it boosts my mood everytime I walk in. Great atmosphere, good food, and amazing cocktails! I loved the Mexican Mudslide cocktail 🍸😋 and the Mexican street corn.

Food was SO tasty! i got the tacos gringa and wow not a single chewy bite of pork and the tortillas crisped to perfection and the flavor was awesome. my bf got the fajitas and couldn't say enough good things about it. Love the very colorful black light vibe and all of the mexican art! great for families too, we'll be back again :)

This was FUN! Food was good. Music playing. Lady singing. Cute photo spots. Kids were vibing the whole time.

Great experience and presentation. Would definitely come back. They do a Really good birthday surprise too!! Silvian the waitress who took care of us was really good and really professional 😎.

Our first time at La Fortaleza. We had a great time and ate excellent food. Our server Daisy was very welcoming, friendly and professional. We will definitely come back to enjoy more of this great food and service.

Silvia was amazing and friendly! Food was fantastic… Thank you!

Jackie was very nice great service!! This place is a vibe, good music, vibrant atmosphere, and most of all great food!!

All around an amazing experience! Jennifer was our server and she was the best! Highly recommend coming here for a delicious Mexican meal and good vibes!!

First time here and must say everything was amazing! Food, the restaurant was a nice vibe and very presentable. Our server Melanie was very great. Overall 10/10 experience!

been here 5 times now and have NEVER been disappointed. food is absolutley amazing and so is their service. you physically cannot be bored here the music is so loud and people are having too much fun. i love it here!

La Fortaleza was a awesome! I love all the cultural decor especially el chavo del ocho presentation lol. The appetizers were bomb and my tacos birrias were delicious! My husband enjoyed his grilled salmon. The service was a 10 out of 10, Ivan was a very sweet and charming waiter, he provided great service and an overall amazing experience.

Silvia was the best waitress, the food was amazing the atmosphere was out of this world and the drinks were superb! Shout out to the live DJ, had me ready to get up and dance from my seat!! 100/10 this is 5 star all inclusive resort dining!! We love La Fortaleza!!!!

Absolutely fantastic experience at Fortaleza! The food was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented — truly authentic Mexican cuisine that hits all the right notes. The standout, however, was the service. Ivan, our waiter, was exceptional. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, he made great recommendations and ensured everything was perfect from start to finish. His warm and welcoming attitude added a special touch to the meal. Can’t wait to come back!

Our server Diego was amazing! Absolutely made the experience more memorable. Highly recommend!

When thinking of a Mexican restaurant you'd think tacos but this place is beyond tacos!! The service by my beautiful waitress Daisy was espectacular welcomed me in with her lovely smile and attitude!! My food was so delicious I couldn't help myselfi from ordering some to go! The drinks don't get me started. I'm a sucker for good drinks and this place has more than just that, even the nonalcoholic beverages were so good especially the horchata. You can tell it was made with love and made fresh!! The atmosphere was amazing the vibes, the colors, the music!!!! I got lucky and came in when they had a live band in house!!! If I could dance I would've been on the dance floor but I know the drinks were trying to fool me! I just have to say this place is amazing and I'll be sure to come by every weekend!!

New to the area and dropped by for a quick bite after work. Loved the atmosphere and the food and drinks were both delicious and arrived quickly. Ivan provided great, inviting service and was a pleasure to chat with!

What an experience!!! I went here with my daughter and grandkids, and it was so fun! Amazing artwork throughout! The drinks and food were great and the service was fantastic! Our server Daisy could not have been better! We will be back for sure!

What a fun and tasty experience!!! Food was amazing. Not the average Mexican menu. So many colors and decorations! Go!!

Such a wonderful place to spend time with your family and have great authentic Mexican cuisine Silvia was an amazing host her charisma, and pleasant demeanor was all we needed to have have a great dinner with my family. Thank you again this place is a must go to..

Atmosphere, decor, food, service, etc was great. Baja fish tacos are a winner. Planning on returning!

Awesome service! Very attentive & helpful! The food was amazing including the hot sauces! Calamari appetizer was cooked to perfection! Margarita was yummy! Can't say anything bad about anything. Thank you!

Our waiter Ivan was the best, the food was great, presentation was unique, homemade tepache which is a fermentation of pineapple and cane sugar was very taste. The environment is based in Mexican culture. Overall an awesome experience, will be coming back!

+6

La Fortaleza was hands down the best way to spend a Friday night. Our food was amazing, our server Melanie was delightful, and the vibes were immaculate. This is a restaurant, sure, but first and foremost it is an experience. It is fun incarnate.

Love coming to La Fortaleza, it is always such an amazing time with great food and lovely atmosphere. Silvia is such a doll and was very attentive to what we needed. We will definitely be coming back. Can’t get enough of the mole poblano 😭

Awesome experience at this restaurant. The atmosphere and music were fantastic, and the food was wonderful. Our server, Diego, was great and very patient with us (we took forever deciding what we were eating!). Would definitely go again.

This is our regular spot to go for special occasions and the food and service have always been exceptional! Silvia was our server this time and she was honestly the sweetest. Would totally recommend to everyone!!

Melanie was such a great server. She was so fast and very friendly. She’s such a nice person and made sure that we were enjoying our meals during the experience. I would definitely come back here again and hope to have her as my server.

The place is extremely nice, food and service are fantastic. Cant wait to go again.

+6

Food and drinks were very good. The music, dancing and decorations were fun for my son to experience.

Amazing food, drinks nd service would go everyday if I could

+3

Had our first experience here for Valentine’s Day dinner. We were seated immediately and service was amazing and considerate. Very fun and lively atmosphere! The food was the star of the show. Thank you Silvia for an amazing first of many dining experience !!!

Silvia was one of the best servers I’ve had she provided friendly and prompt service. She is the epitome of what great customer service is. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for a fun filled dinner experience from music to food and service 10/10!!!!!

Oh my goodness gracious this place was beyond amazing. Melanie was our server for my brother Justin's party. She let us pay and sadly I could not put it all on my card and she took card by card and help split the bill evenly. Melanie is not only a kind beautiful soul inside and out she deserves to be manager as well !! The way she talk and interacts with the customers she made me feel comfortable. The rest of the staff beyond amazing kind and the food is chefs kiss. You can really taste the authenticity and the love in the food. I am so thankful for the expiernce I been having a rough go with things and being able to have fun and celebrate really reminded me this is what life is about. From the bottom of my heart thank you to the staff and once a gain BIG SHOUT OUT TO MELANIE !! YOU HAVE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE !!!

Ivan is awesome. My daughter has a terrible allergy and they go out of their way prepare chips in egg free fryer for her. The food is great. Atmosphere is great. Love it!!

Everything is nice about this place!! Food and service are on point! Highly recommended!

+1

We were more than pleasantly surprised with our recent experience from the moment we walked in. Such a fun, colorful, & interesting atmosphere. Warmly greeted, then saddled up to the bar to partake in an AmAzing, Enormous, Wednesday Burrito Bowl Lunch Special …still enjoying the leftovers 😄 Our server Daisy, was a delight to talk with, who also informed us of Karaoke & DJ nights . All the Best Wishes for continued success. Have already been spreading the word. Plans to return soon.

Jennifer Our Sever Was So amazing made my Sisters Birthday so special !!! Food was hot and Delicious amazing Flavors !! THE RESTAURANT ALONE was a Vibe Great Decor very ethic which we love .The Drinks are top notch and strong !! Ivan helped Jennifer our sever Such great teamwork !!! Can’t wait to come back

First time eating here and I will definitely be coming back! My family and I came here on a snowy day so it wasn’t as packed, but regardless the service was very good. Our server, Daisy, was super personable and kept up with us. The food was amazing and the portion sizes were perfect. The music and decorations made for a fun atmosphere while eating.

The food was delicious, the restaurant was a lot of fun, the people were very friendly, and the margaritas were amazing! Ivan was very attentive to all of us. Everything was beautiful and excellent.

Everything from staff, decorations, drinks and food, vibes, music, singing, dance birthday celebration was excellent 👌! We enjoyed everybit of the time we were there. Thank you Staff

If you’re looking for an incredible Mexican dining experience, this place is an absolute gem! The moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by vibrant colors, beautiful artwork, and an atmosphere that feels like a celebration. The entire restaurant is full of personality and energy — it’s impossible not to smile when you step inside. The food was fantastic, full of authentic flavors and clearly made with care. Everything we had was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The staff were warm, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. Between the lively décor, the great service, and the amazing food, this place is more than just a restaurant — it’s an experience. I’ll definitely be coming back and bringing friends and family with me. Highly recommend if you want great Mexican food in a fun, colorful setting! 🌮🌶️✨

The atmosphere is really cool. The live music was a nice touch! The food came out super fast and was delicious. Silvia was our server and she was a delight - quick and attentive but didn't check on us TOO often and let us enjoy our food and experience peacefully. Will definitely be coming back.

I went to La Fortaleza for the first time today, and let's just say I was not disappointed. Our waiter, Diego, was very kind and helpful when it came to questions about ordering. Diego had a very welcoming personality and I hope to see him again as a waiter! The food and drinks were great and the atmosphere was amazing. Will definitely be coming back again! Thank you, Diego!

Antonios G. Kousoulos Jr.

Brought my daughter and her friends in for her birthday by her request . Ivan our server was phenomenal . He was engaging to a large group of 10 year old girls and had them laughing and smiling from beginning to end . They had a live dj and the girls got up and were having a birthday dance party . The birthday celebration that they doing the restaurant is also a site to see. All in all a great place to spend a birthday regardless of age. It truly is an experience .

Hamar Clarke

Daisy was amazing, great energy & very attentive, oh and the drinks were perfect. I ordered the red snapper and it was incredible, fried and seasoned to absolute perfection! The calamari was great as well! First time visiting, definitely won't be the last.

Sandy O. CosmeTorres

Went on a Friday nights and they had a lie singer and also karaoke. The waitress Silvia was amazing. The food and atmosphere were perfectly balanced.

Eric Thorpe

The atmosphere is really grabbing and fun! If you celebrate dia de los muertos or are into sugar skulls and masks, the visuals are aplenty. The food is worth the trip alone. I feel like you can't go wrong with ordering anything. If you get Daisy to wait on you at the Poughkeepsie site, you'll be in great hands. She knew the menu inside and out and was super personable. Will be returning.

Lucia Yanez

We love coming here, the atmosphere is amazing and the food is always great. Silvia was simply amazing! She was very attentive to what we needed and such a doll 🥰 Always love getting the mole poblano, reminds me of my Tia’s.

Melanie Carranza

Buen servicio que nos dio la Melanie con mis amigos!! Muy amable la Melanie!! Melanie gave us a great service! She constantly checked up on us & provided us with everything we needed! I got the chile relleno & it was so yummy! The portions are perfect!! I got full!

Ayanna Penn

Perfect place to celebrate my birthday! The restaurant has festive vibe. So many photo ops. The Happy Birthday band was awesome. The food was delicious, so filling and our server Jennifer was so sweet and accommodating. Will definitely come back!

victoria jones

Omg. I’m new to the area so my wife and I went to grab Mexican food and I am so glad we stopped in here. Daisy met us at the door with smiles and personality just so inviting. We will be back especially for Karaoke night. The decor is amazing. If u love art, come check them out. Also ask for daisy lol

Christine

We had a great experience thanks to our waiter, Diego. He was excellent, friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome from the start. We ordered the nachos and spicy margaritas, and both were fantastic. Diego checked in at all the right times, made great recommendations, and kept the energy fun and relaxed. His service truly elevated our meal, and we’ll definitely be back because of him!

Christine Robb

Food was amazing! This was our first time here! Me and my youngest daughter definitely enjoy the atmosphere. Daisy was our server and was exceptionally pleasant. She checked on us several times during our visit and made sure we were OK. She asked several times if we needed any extra extras I will definitely be bringing my other children and my parents next time the Beria tacos were seasoned perfectly. My youngest daughter had the chicken quesadilla she said was great.

Elsie Flores

This was the first time we ever ate here. As a mexican family we are always looking for authentic mexican food near us. We visited on 1/1/2026. Everything was amazing! We loved the atmosphere, enjoying the live show, and our waiter Diego was great! He was patient, helpful, and funny. The woman singing this day was amazing as well! If she's not a professional she definitely can be! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience! And we will be returning very soon!

DemonstratedByCC (Cerika Williams)

Overall experience was a 10/10. Food is well seasoned and prepared. Atmosphere is so beautiful and my server Diego took special care of us, marvelous worker and terrific service. I will definitely be returning for some drinks next time. They also offer karaoke as well.

+4

Brandon Del Valle

Came here on my bday. Diego was our server- He was very pleasant and attentive. The food here never disappoints and the drinks are always good. They typically have a guest performer/ karaoke which is good entertainment but can be bit too loud during conversations. Overall the staff is kind and courteous.

Andrew

We stopped here for dinner on our way back from vacation. The atmosphere/vibe of the place is amazing and our waitress, Silvia, was great. Super friendly and very attentive. We shared the queso fundido with chorizo as an appetizer, and shared the molcajete for our meal. The food was tremendous and the portion size was very big. For those who like chips and salsa be aware that the salsa is a little spicier than your average Mexican restaurant but it was very tasty as well. I would definitely recommend stopping here.

Lara Gomez

We walked into a vibe, not just a restaurant. This service was outstanding. The food delicious (and quick!, It was at our table within a minutes). But today I have to talk about the vibe because the vibe here was incredible. In their early part of the evening, there were many families and I’m sure the kids enjoyed the art just as much as I did. There was so much to see in every corner. The DJ played great music the entire night. I love how they put the car prop in front of the screen for the DJ booth because it makes for a good scene with the background videos. I wish the lighting was different so I could’ve taken more pictures of the food, but take my word for it. It was delicious.!

+7

Food is great, Silvia was an awesome server! My ONLY complaint is that the music (although it’s a DJ) is way too loud for 9pm/dinnertime. DJ is for 11pm and on.

Awesome mexican restaurant. I thought the food was OK. I ordered the birra tacos. They were very soft, not crispy. They were still good. But El Guacamole was better. The service was a little slow, but I can appreciate that pace when I'm enjoying my appetizers and drinks. I loved my drink. I ordered the strawberry margarita. I wanted the blue margarita with the gummy fish swimming in it, but for $28 I had to stick to the regular margarita for $15. I can say the drinks were awesome. My husband ordered the Love poison drink made with dragon fruit. It was soo good. They gave us an orchid flower in every drink with a straw large enough to suck up all the chunks of fruit in the bottom. The drinks were amazing. A very mexican experience was had!

+2

A very fun dining experience, it had a party atmosphere with great music. Drinks were good. The food underperformed. The chicken they use is little bits of meat with no flavor at all. I will return but I hope the food is better next time. Prices are very high on some menu items. Restrooms were very good and has a great parking lot.

The drinks were really great! I enjoyed the appetizers. My steak was over cooked and dry. The snapper was moist and crispy. Service was okay it wasn't very busy. Decor os an experience.

Colorful, vibrant atmosphere! Authentic Mexican cuisine! Drinks potent! Fast friendly table service! Just fun!

La Fortaleza in Poughkeepsie has a funky, groovy vibe with neon lights and definitely leans into the party scene. The food felt authentic and flavorful—we had the salmon entrée, al pastor tacos, and chips and salsa. Prices were on the higher side (more what I’d expect in NYC), but the overall experience made it worth it. Only downside was being charged for water, which felt unnecessary. Still, it’s a fun spot with a great atmosphere.

+2

It was a good experience. The apps were my favorite item and the drinks. My steak was tough. The red snapper was pretty good and a large portion. I found it a little pricey. The decor alone is an experience. The service was okay for a slow night.

Great margaritas! Awesome food. The tres leches was great. Silvia was an awesome waitress.

M M

We just happened upon this place. Took sooo many pics. Had lunch w the kids. Would like to return on a scheduled event night 🌙 or for a date night. Looks like it'd be so much fun.

+4

Charged me $24 for a weak margarita. 12$ for a double shot of don julio. Definitely not. Couldn’t taste tequila Tasted like sugary margarita mix. Other than that food was good. Large portions.

Good service but way overpriced and inconsistent. Fish tacos were served without slaw or pico as described on menu, just a side of red onions. Previously had amazing soup, but today was less than impressive. Almost $40 for meh fajitas. Probably won’t come back.

We had a few drinks and an app. Service and food were normal, nothing exceptional. Bill came (only 2 of us) , I glanced at the total, gave my card which bartender ran through in front of us. I then added 20%, surprised the options were lower & I even commented to bartender that’s strange and they should fix that. Afterwards, I noticed the bill (for only 2 people) already included 20% gratuity. What a sham!

The service and the people were not very welcoming, the environment felt so judgmental which is ironic because we were a group of latinas going to a mexican restaurant. The guy at the bar gave a slight attitude we felt and didn’t ask of we wanted the bill split or together which is something almost every other place does. I had high hopes for this place but i honestly would not come back. Despite that, the decorations really nice and the overall layout and the food was not terrible. Honestly, i’m being generous with three stars

Amy Sarcia

Our service was absolutely terrible! It wasn't busy at all. Pretty sure this place is more hype and Instagram Pic worthy. Food was ok. Drinks good but expensive.

food was great overall, my table seemed to have just gotten bad service that night. also couldn't split our bill because the "system won't let them" … hopefully if i go back service is better

Unfortunately the host was rude to me and my partner. Restaurant was quiet when we arrived and I had asked for a booth, host said that wouldn't be possible, I had brought up that there were plenty of booth seating available. She eventually proceeded to sit us down but not at the seating we had requested she seemed angry and walked off, idk what was going on but me and my partner didn't feel comfortable and ended up leaving instead.

If you are looking for authentic Mexican food place this is not the place, The food is like Colombian not "Mexican" I don't try to say that is bad is delicious but Not Mexican at all the Drinks are Good but Very Pricy, if you are looking for a good traditional Mexican restaurant this is the one for talking about of the beautiful decorations. Also the tables are too close to each other, Not happy but OK.

Let me start by saying we thought the food was very good, the decorations inside the restraint are well done and a lot of fun. However the pricing on the menus and the bill didn’t match for one item. Our server asks us if we wanted souvenir cups with our drinks, not mentioning that they were $14 apiece. So that was a surprise when we got the bill. I spoke to one of the owners, he was very nice, but our server was very distracted and would forget what we asked for. The biggest turn off! The music was obnoxiously loud, you had to speak very loudly borderline yell to speak to anyone you’re eating with, same goes with ordering your food. I thought maybe the music was extra loud because they had live music that night but I asked our server and she said it’s always loud like that. I really like the inside of the restaurant, but the music was obnoxious. lastly there’s big screen to all around the restaurant for some reason there’s cameras everywhere that randomly showcase people eating at their tables which I think is very unpleasant. Food was great, it’s a shame the music and putting diners on the big screen was such a turn off. Best of luck, I will not be back!

+4

Neal Wilkinson

Mediocre at best. The cheese dip sucks. Service was slow for the small number of customers. The chicken in the fajitas was not fully cut through so there were just lumpy mangled large pieces of chicken. Probably should have spent as much time working on the menu and recipes as they did on the decorations (which were fun-ish). No need for me to go back here. There are better choices. Also you get about 2 tablespoons of salsa for the entire table so there’s that.

+1

Sylvia was friendly, and the atmosphere was nice—the restaurant is beautifully decorated with an exotic feel. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. We ordered flautas that had no flavor, and the nachos were mediocre. When I mentioned the food was bland, Sylvia brought out salsa instead of offering to take it back or correct the issue. If they put as much flavor into their food as they did into their artwork, this review would be very different. I wouldn’t recommend this place if you enjoy flavorful food.

The food was very disappointing. I had fish tacos. They were bland and the texture was strange. A guest had vegetables tacos and they used canned mushrooms and frozen like vegetables. It wasn’t busy but the salsa we requested came after we ate. This restaurant needs to make better food and focus less on decor which was tacky and predictable ( putting a decorative item on every single wall) Will never eat at ever again!!!

Wow! First off when I read these reviews, they must written by people that work there.When my family came in atmosphere was loud and bright. No one greeted us. I had a question about an item on the menu and after asking the waitress, she looked at me like a deer in headlights because she barely spoke English, so my question was never answered. I ordered anyway. Bad move because my food was beyond disgusting as well as daughters. The waitress never came over, except for to bring me a refill of my diet soda. Which I thought was nice until I got the bill and realized they don’t give free refills so she brought me a drink which I didn’t ask for and then charged me for it. I mentioned to her that the food was not good. She saw that me and my daughter didn’t eat she shrugged her shoulders, and put the check down. The prices are really expensive and the food and overall experience would be a negative. I don’t know how this place stays in business with customer service like that.

We came in and sat at the bar, but the bartender came out yelling at us, saying we should have waited at the front—even though there was no host, no sign, and no other customers in the restaurant. The behavior was unprofessional and really disappointing, especially since I had heard so many good things about this spot. Unfortunately, this experience did not live up to the reputation.

Rey

BEWARE OF HIDDEN FEES! I really wanted to like this place because the atmosphere is great, but the experience was disappointing. Our server (Silvia) had an attitude, the food was dry, and everything was extremely overpriced. My bill for two people came out to $300, which is outrageous.. especially considering they charge extra for things like meat on tacos. To make matters worse, they automatically added a 20% tip to the bill without mentioning it, then still asked for an additional tip. When I noticed and asked for it to be removed, the server said she would, but never did. I also don’t recommend the Coco Un Loco drink. It tasted like plain milk and made both of us feel nauseous. The only positive part of the experience was when I called the manager the next day. He was kind, understanding, and issued a partial refund. Overall, the atmosphere can’t make up for the poor service, hidden charges, and disappointing food. Definitely not worth the price.

Carlos suarez

We are 8 people the food arrive late and the cesina was dry which made it hard to eat and the chicken felt dry. The chicken nuggets at McDonald’s would be so much better. The semitas were mostly all bread to.