Happy May! I can’t believe how fast time is moving and while I am blinking through all the fun and amazing experiences that have been happening, there are still tons to look forward to, starting with Cinco De Mayo this Friday! Here are some recent Mexican food finds of mine that I think would be perfect for a little fiesta.
Las Catrinas
If you have been keeping up with my recent posts, you’ll know that I was in Tulum, Mexico not that long ago (click here for more on that) and returned to find this cute casual spot in Astoria that brought me right back.
Don’t get me wrong, I love nachos as much as the next person. I mean, who doesn’t? BUT one of my pet peeves is when you get a whole lot of chips and just not enough of the toppings. Definitely not the case with these. In fact maybe we could have used a little bit more chips to soak up all the cheesy delicious medley.
The cocktail I had was a guava jasmine spicy margarita. I don’t know what to say other than it was…phenomenal. Be warned, it goes down like water.
Short Rib Meat Cooked In Birria Sauce, Oaxaca Cheese, Topped With Sour Cream, Homemade Guacamole, Pico De Gallo, Cotija Cheese, Served With Consome
Bruselas Quesadilla
Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom, Sauteed Onion, Oaxaca Cheese, Topped With Homemade Guacamole, Pico De Gallo Salsa, Pickled Onion, Crispy Brussels Sprouts
I really enjoyed both of these quesadillas. To start, they are unique in that they are not made with a typical tortilla and are clearly made fresh, more like arepa-style in texture. That’s not something that bothered me, but just maybe something to note. The combinations we tried were both excellent. The birria was very tender and tasty, and I have never had a brussel sprout quesadilla but the combination was really unique and we all enjoyed it. They were also stacked with toppings.
Ruta Oxaca
Ironically on the same block as Las Catrinas, Ruta Oxaca gives off a little more of an upscale and refined Mexican twist. When I say that I definitely don’t by any means mean that it is stuffy or comparable to like Manhattan level upscale, I just mean that it is just not your typical taco joint or cantina. With that said, I only had one entree here but it was impeccable. The steak was a really unique take and so flavorful with different layers stacked onto one another. For example I really enjoyed how the sweet plantain was served on top, rather than the side, so that you eat it in one cohesive bite and the sweetness is a nice surprise. The mole was also so rich and tasty and the addition of a little cheese was just perfection.
Grilled NY strip steak, mole coloradito, melted Chihuahua cheese, sweet plantains, nopales salad, queso fresco, cilantro
The cocktail menu is also really intriguing with new mashups on margaritas. I tried this different fruit combo and was not disappointed. It was really great and well balanced.
Casamigos Blanco, Cointreau, Pitaya/peach puree (Mexican dragon fruit), fresh squeezed lime juice, poblano salt
Messita
This is a local favorite and go-to of mine lately. I love Messita and think that the fun and lively ambience makes for a great overall night out. The food is great and the drinks are strong and tasty.
Rice, Beans, Pico De Gallo, Chihuahua Cheese, Jalapeno, Guacamole, Sour Cream Served with Yuca Fries
Rarely do I ever order the same thing twice at a restaurant since I like exploring new things off the menu. However, the steak burrito bowl and birria tacos are standard orders at my table – truly I really can’t come here without them. It isn’t too out-of-the-box ingredients-wise, but the combination of flavors in these bits are just phenomenal and some of the best executed versions of these dishes.
Shredded Barbacoa, Chihuahua Cheese, White Onions, Cilantro, Corn Tortilla
Marinated Shrimp, Cilantro, Tomatoes, Red Onions, Jalapeno, Avocado
We ordered a sampler with Mexican street corn, sweet plantains and crispy Mexican wings. I would have never thought wings, however they were recommended by our waiter and I am happy we listened. They really were tasty and the sauce cannot be compared to any other typical wing sauce. I was really impressed. The ceviche was also recommended to us and is another great choice as the marinated is really refreshing and overall a nice light appetizer. Back to the street corn, I mean, I am a huge fan but…phenomenally done. And the sweet plantains you also can’t go wrong but they were definitely well executed.
Crispy Wings, Street Corn, Sweet Plantains,
The
Pickled Cabbage, Avocado, Roasted Corn, Black Beans, Grape Tomatoes, Carrots, Red Onions, Crispy Tortilla Strips, Monterey Jack Cheddar Cheese, Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
Salad is usually not on my radar when dining Mexican, however this is a new can’t-skip. There is so much going on and the medley of this combination of flavors is amazing. It’s fresh, crisp, and crunchy, but also really light with a bit of citrus. A definite winner.
Served with Mexican Rice, Black Beans, Pico De Gallo, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Guacamole, Flour Tortillas
The fajitas were definitely good. I can’t rave about them as much as the other dishes I tried, but they were a standard, nicely portioned order and I don’t think you’d be disappointed ordering them. I just find there are much more exciting choices.
For more reviews on Mexican Spots I love in New York check out older posts here
One thought on “Spots To Celebrate Cinco De Mayo”
Happy first of May! It’s hard to believe how quickly this year is flying by so far. Every single thing in this post looks delicious and wish I was nearby any of these places to eat, haha!
Hope you’re having a great start to your week! 🙂
Make Life Marvelous