New York's Best Mexican Food 2008

No kitsch in this kitchen: Mexican home cooking gets the respect it deserves.

Reviews:

• “Had a Great time”
• “Blah Food and Bad Service "
• “I USED TO LOVE THIS PLACE…IT’S A VERY SAD DAY…”
• “Mi Cocina, The Real Deal!”
• “Bring back the Chilaquiles! "

Mi Cocina or email Mi Cocina

No need to travel to the Southwest for great Mexican; head east (of Second Avenue) instead.

Reviews:

• “One of my faves!!!”
• “Avoid on Saturday nights”
• “Good food, good service, but very crowded”
• “Still waiting to be seated”
• “malo”

Tips: Among the assorted frozen margaritas, the mango with a chili-salt rim is best.

La Palapa Cocina Mexicana or email La Palapa Cocina Mexicana

Exceptionally tasty, refined Mexican dishes in a stimulating, tropical-hued den.

Reviews:

• “Finest Mexican Dining in NYC”
• “Best Mexican Food in the City”
• “ONE OF THE BETTER MEXICAN PLACES IN NYC…”
• “Worth the wait!!!! "
• “poor customer service”

Tips: The wine list is minimal, but a number of excellent house cocktails are available, including a smoke-tinged margarita and the potent La Paloma, made with Squirt soda.

Sueños or email Sueños

High-end cantina scene shows off tequilas and trend-setters on Park Avenue South.

Reviews:

• “Bueno”
• “Horrible Customer Service!!! Good food and drinks but not worth the bad service…”
• “Festive & good outdoor dining”
• “two stars”
• “Young Couples place to dine!”

Tips: In addition to sangria, beers and specialty cocktails, Dos Caminos has more than 100 different tequilas.

Dos Caminos or email Dos Caminos

Fiery interior colors match the Chelsea restaurant’s empassioned Mexican cuisine.

Reviews:

• “Outstanding Mexican outpost”
• “Well kept secret!”
• “Loved it!!!!”
• “Meh”
• “special?”

Tips: Be warned that while the cilantro-spiked starter of guacamole pleases, it arrives as a mere spoonful.

Crema Restaurante or email Crema Restaurante

Fish so fresh and flavors so pure in a setting so lovely that you can nearly feel the gulf breeze in your hair.

Reviews:

• “Pretty place, but the help there ruins the whole place!”
• “Unlike any other Mexican I’ve tasted”
• “Best of???”
• “Aviod at all Costs”
• “YUMMY lobster tacos!!!”

Tips: The best seats in the house are in the main dining room upstairs. Downstairs is noisier and often jammed with margarita lovers overflowing from the bar.

Pampano or email Pampano

Some of the city’s freshest and most authentic Mexican fare, in a snug spot in Alphabet City.

Reviews:

• ""Lost" Reservation"
• “Scary Customer Service – Stay Away”
• “Good restaurant, wish I was allowed to stay longer. "
• “Intoxicating Drinks, Delicious Food and Great Service”
• “Great mexican date and drink spot”

Tips: The house margaritas are outstanding, especially the citrus version with orange, grapefruit, lemon and a bit of habanero for zing, and the margarita “de playa” with orange, lime and jicama juices, and a touch of chipotle. For purists, the chelada—-beer, lime, Worcestershire and Tabasco.

Mercadito

Refined Mexican in a raucous environment.

Reviews:

• “horrible crowd”
• “Not your Ordinary Mexican Spot”
• “TERRIBLE service!”
• “This is the place for Mexican Food”
• “Maragritas good, food fantastic-I didn’t know Mexican Cuisine could do such great things with Goat Cheese ole! "

Tips: There are many good options, including excellent beers on tap, which suit the food’s heat; margaritas frozen, straight, flavored, and premium; and several specialty cocktails.

Hell’s Kitchen or email Hell’s Kitchen

High-end Mexican on the Upper East Side mixes in ingredients that aren’t always south of the border.

Reviews:

• “Zocalo – Rarified Mexican food & Tasty Margaritas to Boot!”
• “BeSt MaRgaRiTas In ToWn ,grEat PlAcE for SiNgLes FRidAy NiGhTs, SerViCe aTtEnTiVe”
• “cute neighborhood place”
• “ALEXandra THE GREAT”
• “Good place for enchiladas and tequila”

Tips: Margaritas come in 10 flavors, including blood orange, passion fruit and even a hibiscus-enhanced version.

Zocalo or email Zocalo

Authentic Mexican cooking for gourmets, in a miniscule West Village spot.

Reviews:

• “DONT DO IT! WASTE OF MONEY! SHOE BOX BAD FOOD!!!!”
• “My favorite!”
• “Way to average for the amount of subway transfers”
• “SMALL and EXPENSIVE”
• “Best Mexican in NYC!!”

Tips: It’s a squeeze to get in, and they don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait at all but the most offpeak hours.

Mexicana Mama

Theater District diners get a taste of sophisticated Mexican cooking and naturally colorful margaritas at this upscale cantina.

Reviews:

• “Modern and Comforting”
• “Unlike any other Mexican I’ve tasted "
• “awful eatery!”
• “Great food, great service”
• “great food”

Toloache or email Toloache

A fiesta atmosphere with Mexican cuisine that’s worth celebrating.

Reviews:

• “excellent authentic mexican cuisine”
• “Beware of Pick Pocketers!!”
• “Not Fun.”
• “Rude Service, passable food”
• “Frozen Margaritas Baby!”

Tips: Find more of the city’s best Mexican restaurants.

Zarela

High-end Mexican that ranks among the city’s best.

Reviews:

• “Solid Mexican food”
• “Thought it would be better”
• “Great overall experience”
• “Innovative Mexican Cooking”
• “Great atmosphere and food. I went on another member’s suggestion and was very satisfied.”

Tips: Maya boasts more than 100 tequilas and a selection of excellent margaritas. Steer clear of the sangria, though; the mix is too heavy on wine.

Maya or email Maya

Casual taqueria, chic cafe and subterranean brasserie at one muy hip, Mexican-themed corner.

Reviews:

• “Marvelous for a special event”
• “Great Food”
• “Great scenery and food”
• “Nasty employees”
• “Loved it”

Tips: For a quick bite and more limited menu, try the attached Cafe Esquina, open for lunch and dinner. Even more pressed for time? Line up at the taqueria’s take-out window.

La Esquina

The fiesta is fueled by frozen margaritas and hearty nuevo-Mexican entrees at this Tribeca cantina.

Reviews:

• “This place is a joke”
• “Delicious Guacamole”
• “tops new york city mexican cuisine”
• “Bland Food, Good Drinks/Service”
• “great food, lovely drinks and amazing service”

Tips: Try a frozen margarita made with fresh fruit juices like blood orange or passionfruit, or spice the night up with a jala-pina, tequila infused with pineapple and jalapeno.

Centrico

Tacos, sopes and tortas are served out of the back of this speck-sized Hell’s Kitchen bodega.

Tips: Grab a Boing, a refreshing Mexican soda, from the cooler, and pay for everything on your way out.

Tehuitzingo

Inspired Mexican draws smart diners to an overlooked midtown block.

Reviews:

• “ZONA ROSA IS ASUM!”
• “Big but bland drinks – cold food”
• “Mmm!”
• “great customer service”
• “Best Mexican In NYC”

Zona Rosa

Authentic Mexican cooking—with L.A. style—inhabits this Soho corner.

Reviews:

• “Excellent Mexican Food…For Manhattan”
• “Horrible delivery service”
• “Lupe’s is awesome!”
• “Very tasty & cheap SoHo Mexican”
• “this is my favorite eaterie!”

Lupe’s East LA Kitchen

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