Lunch at Chavella's

Near the old Jewish Hospital on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights that was converted to apartments about 5 years ago sits Chavellas (732 Classon Ave., between Park Pl. & Prospect Pl., 718-622-3100), a Mexican restaurant with a narrow, wooden front porch that beckons you to come, sit, have some food. I went recently with a friend for lunch and was happy with what we discovered.

We started out with fresh Guacamole (natch!) and crispy corn tortillas. It was delicious - fresh, with chunks of tomato and cilantro sprigs. And the crispy corn tortillas were excellent. It was a bit pricey though.



I really wanted Horchata, but they were all out. Boo. But they did have Fish Tacos! The Pescado was full of flaky white fish, cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle salsa. Drizzled with a little lime juice and...perfection! I also got the Carne Enchilada taco with pork, cilantro, pineapple and habanero. Whoo, that was spicy. The pieces of pineapple were a really nice touch and the meat was well seasoned, but the spice was too much for me.



My friend got an assortment of three tacos - the fish, Verduras (with roasted zucchini, squash, mushrooms and peppers, topped with lettuce and guacamole) and the Hongos con Rajas (mushrooms, poblano peppers and crema fresca). The veggies were plentiful and tasty, but the mushrooms and peppers was a bit underwhelming. Overall, very good.



It seems like a decent spot if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there.

Food News!

*I want to thank all of my followers, especially those of you who added Eat It Brooklyn during the time I wasn't positing regularly. That's Awesome!*

So, this Saturday, Mean Red Productions is hosting a South Carolina-style pig roast and sidewalk party in Williamsburg (50 N. 3rd Street, between Kent & Wythe). They're calling it Snout 'N Stout and they'll have craft beers, a whole hog smoker plus DJs and "lazy outdoor lounging". It all takes place from 6pm to 9pm. You can hang out for free, but if you want to eat, a plate of food will set you back $10 - $15. Sounds like an excellent way to spend the last days of summer.

THEN, on Sunday, September 5th, they're hosting their annual Food Truck Festival Parked, this year on Governors Island (I know, not technically Brooklyn, but one of the coolest spots in the city, and just so happens to be where I got married this summer!). The best of NYC's food trucks will be represented (German, Vietnamese, lobster, ice cream and MORE!)! The festival takes place from 12 Noon - 5pm and is free to get to and walk around.

There's also the Salsa Slam on Sunday, Sept. 12th at The Bell House. I believe last year's event sold out fast, so I'm posting now hoping there's still ticket availability. The fun takes place from 4pm - 7pm and costs $12, $15 at the door. This year 5 Burro Cafe is partnering up with Nachos NY to bring you this event. 5 Burro Cafe has been in Forest Hills for 30 years, and recently opened a restaurant on Columbia Street.

Mexican Brunch at Papacitos

I love Greenpoint. I especially love walking around and exploring, which is what I got to do last weekend during the wonderful Spring-like weather, and along the way I developed a hankering for Mexican. Luckily, there are a number of options along Manhattan Avenue, and we ended up at Papacitos (999 Manhattan Ave., between Green & Huron, 718-349-7292), a fun, loud, colorful spot that offers "Mexican street food in Brooklyn".

We started out with some Chips & Guac (naturally). The chips were greasy, and some weren't cooked all the way, but I liked how thick they were, and super crunchy. The guacamole was SPICY!!! It was chunky too, with red onions, green peppers and lots of Jalapeño. Whoo! It was good though; I kept going back for more.



My boyfriend ordered the The Papa Benny with Poached Eggs, Picadas Stuffed “ Mesca cake” with Black Bean, Chorizo, Chipotle Hollandaise & Avocado Pico De Gallo from the Brunch menu. The eggs were perrrrr-fectly poached! Not a runny bit in sight. The Mesca cake was delicious, the chorizo provided a touch of spice and the sauces were strong and flavorful. Yum! And look at that gorgeous presentation of all that color in the orange bowl on top of the blue plate.



I decided to get two tacos, one with Tilapia and one with Carne Asada. The tilapia was tender and flaky and so tasty with a little fresh-squeezed lime juice. The carne asada was served in plentiful cubes, flavorful and not at all tough. Both were topped with a dollop of sour cream, chunks of tomatoes and a sprinkle of cilantro and served in two, small corn tortillas.



I liked Papacitos, although their new stereo system was not working properly (so I was told) and the bass was pumping so loudly I developed a headache during our meal. Hopefully they'll figure that out soon, I'm really curious about their dinners. Anyone been?

Dinner at Tacos Matamoros

Sunset Park! Can you believe it? I finally made it out there, to a place the now defunct Best View in Brooklyn recommended almost a year ago! Tacos Matamoros (4503 5th Avenue, between 45th & 46th Streets, 718-871-7627) is an eat-in or take-out establishment, with nicer ambiance than the also recommended Xochimilco across the street. You can bring your own beer (or tequila as one yelper wrote), and order some of the tastiest & cheapest Mexican around.

We started out with some Guacamole & Chips, naturally, which came with a fresh and flavorful salsa verde and cut up radishes. The chips were nicely salted and fresh as well. The guacamole was chunky with red onion & tomato and wonderful.



I ordered three small tacos - one with Al Pastor (slow roasted pork), one with Chorizo and one with Carne Asada. The Al Pastor was delicious - slightly smoky, the meat had a certain depth to it. The Chorizo was super spicy with a red chili sauce drizzled all over it, but great, and the Carne Asada...well, I received chicken instead, and decided to just go with it. It was disappointing and a bit bland. I think the beek would have been better. Oh well, next time. The tacos are all made with corn tortillas that are fresh and hearty, and everything is sprinkled with cilantro.



My friend ordered two small tacos, one with pollo and one with al pastor. Again, everything was fresh and sprinkled with ample cilantro. She also got a tamale which she deemed "authentic".



I couldn't believe it when we got the bill and it read $12! What a bargain. I really liked Tacos Matamoros. It's a great place to go with a big group of friends - they certainly have enough space, and there's even a party room in the back! The food is hearty & filling and delicious as well!

Lunch at Calexico

So, I had to try out Calexico (122 Union St., between Hicks St. & Columbia St., 718-488-8226) for myself, and I have to say, I was disappointed. Yes, the Crack Sauce is delicious, but the rest of the food just didn't cut it. On top of the mediocrity, the food delivery from Sysco & IBP in the middle of our meal really turned me off. Maybe it's left over from college cafeteria days, but mostly it's my knowledge of what these huge corporations mean in terms of food quality (low) and cost to the environment (high), not to mention how the animals on these "farms" are treated. There is so much good food available, it's a shame that this place isn't buying from a local butcher, or a local produce grower. Everybody seems to love this place, and maybe I'll get some flack, but I've gotta stick to my guns here.

I ordered a cheese & bean taco and a tofu quesadilla. The taco comes on two soft corn tortillas and was pretty good. Drizzled in crack sauce (a thick, creamy, spicy mayo concoction) and served with a wedge of lime, this might be the only thing I'll get here again. The tofu quesadilla had very firm chunks of tofu wrapped inside a crisp tortilla. Yes, you can dunk it in a big dish of the sauce, but that's all I ended up tasting.



My boyfriend got the Pulled Pork Quesadilla and a Tofu Torta (a sort of grilled sandwich/panini-type thing). The pulled pork was gross. Oily, not flavorful and did not go so well with the sauce. The Tofu Torta again was stuff with bland, hard chunks of tofu. I understand the point of this place is the meat, but I keep coming back to the source of that meat and my stomach turns. There was also air conditioner drip landing in a puddle on the table next to where we were sitting that didn't look like it was being addressed. What's up with that? Maybe they'll wise up and start buying better quality ingredients, but until then I'll take a pass on Calexico.

Mexican at Rachel's Taqueria

After a long, hot day in Prospect Park, I didn't want to go too far for food, so my BF & I ambled down the hill to Rachel's Taqueria (408 5th Avenue, between 7th & 8th Streets, 718-788-1137) for some drinks & tacos. We were seated in the back room, complete with Mayan murals and something on one section that looked like a power plant gone bad.



I started out with the Watermelon Mojito from the specials menu that was an impulse buy and something I regretted later. Made with Midori, it had that unmistakeably airplane-bathroom-smell taste, sickly sweet and just weird. The mint was nice though.



For my dinner, I ordered two tacos; one fish and one carne asada. Both were tasty, substantially filled and fresh. Topped with shredded lettuce and salsa, each on two small corn tortillas, they were the perfect amount of food. And from the a la carte menu, you can mix and match depending on your cravings.



My BF got a taco dinner; three tacos, your choice, which come with rice and beans and a small salad. He picked one spinach, one corn and one carne asada. The tacos were great - the corn came from a can, but wasn't mushy, and the spinach was fresh and flavorful, as was the meat. The rice was standard and the beans were fine.



All in all it was a good meal. The service was attentive and sweet (our waitress called everyone "darlings" or "sweeties"), and everything was basically as expected. Just stick to the standard Margaritas!

Dinner at Alma

Ooops! I messed up the date when I posted this. Sorry it's late!

One of the best views of Lower Manhattan can be had from the roof of Alma, (187 Columbia Street, at Degraw St., 718-643-5400), a Mexican restaurant that has been more of a miss for me than a hit in terms of dining. I've been there a few times, and am usually left with a bit of a disappointing taste. The following is a sample of food I've had that explains why Alma is such a mixed bag.

I started with the Chilaquiles with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, crema, and tangy tomato sauce. They were crunchy and tasty, but a little greasy and heavy.



The Tacos de Pescado were really good though, crispy fish tacos served on warm tortillas with jalapeno marmalade, pickled red onions and shaved red cabbage. I was surprised and disappointed to see that the fish was fried (not mentioned in the description), but the jalapeno marmalade was delicious and the rest of the garnishes added a crispy, tangy bite to the simple, flaky fish. It was very colorful too!



The corn tortilla Enchiladas stuffed with Portabello Mushrooms and Cheese with a Pumpkin Seed Sauce were a little off-putting though. Hmmm. It looks really unappetizing: a mess of cheese and oil and mush, topped with shredded iceberg lettuce. Really gross, right?



I don't know what to make of Alma. I've been disappointed more often thatn I've been pleased. It's only worth it to go early, have appetizer, some drinks and enjoy the view, and avoid dinner and the risk of getting a plate of mush!

Dinner at Taco Chulo

Meandering along Grand St. I found myself craving Mexican and so headed to Taco Chulo (318 Grand St., at Havemeyer, 718-302-2485) for dinner. The menu there is huge and extensive. You can basically get any combination of food in any amount - small snack or appetizer, plain taco or a gigantic plate with all the extras like beans and rice and veggies.

We started out with a couple of cocktails from their long drinks menu. I took a risk and ordered something called The Guero which is made with Cinnamon infused Vodka, Horchata and Patron XO Cafe which is a coffee liqueur made from tequila. I loved it! Spicy, sweet and complex, it was quite a treat. My BF got a Strawberry Margarita which was decent, but the lime was probably better.



We also started with some chips and salsa. I was impressed with the salsa - made with fresh, bright red tomatoes, garlic, cilantro & onion it was very addictive, even if the chips were ever so slightly stale.



For dinner I got two classic tacos, one with Carnitas (moist & juicy, flavorful and slightly spicy it was great) and one with Fish (the creamy, tangy sauce added such a nice zing to this dish, and the fish was fresh & flaky). This was the perfect amount of food, and you can get about 8 other fillings for your tacos this way.



My boyfriend chose two tacos from the list of "Signature" tacos; the BLT taco and the Baja taco. The BLT had just what it sounds like it had and was smoky and meaty and a little too 'breakfast flavor' for me. The Baja with fish, guacamole, beans, lettuce & cream sauce was really delicious; both were GIGANTIC!!



The food was great and I'd go back, but the space kinda drove me crazy. It's one, big concrete room with no effort made to deal with the way sound bounces around and gets all echo-y. If you're part of a big group and want to have a fun time, this is your place. If you want a quiet, simple dinner, go somewhere else.

Mexican at Bonita

In honor of Inauguration Day last week, most of the businesses up and down Dekalb Avenue in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn were offering various sales and special meals. From Luau-type offerings of Suckling Pig with Pineapple for $20.09 to 10-25% off goods and services. It made me proud to be from Brooklyn, where people really know how to celebrate! I spotted this beautiful poster in the window of Madiba, where an amazing, packed dance party was taking place:



My friend and I decided to go to Bonita (243 Dekalb Ave., between Clermont Ave. & Vanderbilt Ave., 718-622-5300) where they were offering special Tacos Al Pastor with a shot of Tequila with Blood Orange Juice. This is what I got, and it was delicious. The amazingly tender pork was earthy and flavorful and came with small chunks of pineapple which added the nicest touch of sweet.



The tequila & blood orange juice was potent and gone before I thought to snap a photo. My friend ordered the Braised Beef Enchiladas which were also quite good. The meat was slightly smoky and they came with cotija cheese sprinkled on top. Delish!



Bonita is a really fun place with great wait staff and a good vibe amongst the customers. Granted, it was Inauguration Day, but the atmosphere is usually light and cheery. With another location on Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg, there's no reason for you not to go!

Pulled Pork & Quesadillas at Pacifico

There are a lot of opinions out there about Pacifico, a Mexicanish place on Pacific St., just off of Smith St. in Boerum Hill (718-935-1294). Even though they removed a few of my favorites dishes from the menu, there are still reasons why I like it there and continue to go.

1. They have a fireplace, and in the dead of winter, there's nothing as cozy as a roaring fire a few feet from where you're sitting.

2. The Margarita's are fantastic and you can get them by the pitcher. Just make sure you're there with some friends...

3. The Pulled Pork Sandwich. I know - it's a little weird since it's a Mexican place, but it's really good. It comes on a nice, soft bun, with cole slaw on top of the messy pork, which is slightly greasy, but really tender, tasty and very delicious. It doesn't taste smoked, but more like it's been simmering all day in a spicy sauce. It also comes with Yucca Fries which I love.


I usually get the Guacamole to start with, mostly because I love Tostones, but also because it's yummy, with chunks of avocado and bits of tomato and onion.



On this particular visit, I shared everything with a friend, so for our second entree we got the Quesadillas with Shredded Yardbird, which is Turkey and Chicken and is quite good. Topped with a bit of guacamole, sour cream and sprinkled cotija cheese, and stuffed with the delicious meat, they were also quite substantial.