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This is literally one of the finest establishments in all of New York. The staff is the nicest, most accomodating people and the ambiance is both fun and authentic. The food is incredible, from the swoon-worthy shrimp quesedilla appetizer to the "secret" recipe of the Pollo Parador. Also fabulous are simple things such as tacos, ribs, pork tenderloin and margaritas. This wonderful restaurant is without a doubt worth a trib to Murray Hell.

Get the first two chicken entrees. Definitely worth the wait for them to make it. Wine list was excellent with a reasonable markup. Wait staff were very friendly and the portions are huge for a manhattan restaurant. Authentic mexican food.

The menu is much different from what it used to be. At 3 in the afternoon on a Monday the menu looked more like a full dinner menu. The prices are much higher than they used to be. I do remember having a chicken fajita there once but staples like that are not there anymore. I ordered a chicken dish for 16 dollars and was basically brought a chicken ceasar salad minus the dressing. I will no longer go there to eat , but just for a beer and their excellent salsa. The server was very polite but after taking my order he sat at a table next to me in the middle of the restaurant and had his own lunch while I waited for mine. It was very odd. The meal took way to long to come and the server never checked on me while my water and wine glass sat empty while he was to busy with his own meal. I don't know why the menu changed so drastically but I think they need to go back to the old format. The all purpose glass filled halfway with wine is an indicator they are trying to become exclusive fine dining, but it's really just half filled.

We went to this place late in the night, were greeted in a quite unfriendly manner by a severely untrained waiter, who kept coming back to ask us to clarify our order. How hard is it to remember "no salt" on a margarita? He seriously asked us like 5 times, then put salt on the rim! The atmosphere was nice, dim, quiet, though the surplus of staff with nothing to do that just stood there and watched us was a bit overwhelming. I do, however, highly recommend their tamarind margaritas-- sour and amazing! I took a risk by ordering a dark brown margarita, but I will probably go back to get another one or nine. I got some steak dish with black beans and plantains which was decent, nothing really special; he got the steak tacos, which were phenomenal. The food came hot and served by numerous people, but it took a bit of a long time to arrive. We had finished three drinks each by the time it came, which might have been why I was too tipsy to really taste the food. Basically, I had giant hopes for this place. It's touted as being so special and authentic and a great dining experience, but I was less than impressed. They could train their waiting staff much better, give larger guacamole portions, and not have baseball on the tv blaring loudly. But I guess thats too much to ask. I recommend eating here once, because it might just be amazing some other time, and I just got the shaft for the night (in more ways than one...:)

This is a great mexican restaurant. The menu is excellent, a very good variety of food that you find in mexico. the margaritas are super and you get a choice of about 10 different varieties. There seems to be an ever changing specials menu, I had the jumbo crab meet enchilada which was very good, she had the fajitas which were very delicately flavoured. Flan for dessert rounded off an excellent meal. Service was excellent.

Went there on Friday night without a reservation after 9 p.m. Drank a pitcher of white sangria at the bar and when we were about half way through, we were seated. We had the tuna ceviche, mole chicken (remember to order in advanace if you are waiting for you table) and a pork dish. Everything was tasty. Restaurant is very nice and comfy and service was great. Would def. go back and recommend to others.

This place is fantastic. It has been a fixture in the neighborhood since 1959, and in its current location since the late 60s. That said, this place is NOT just a quaint relic. The history of the place is revealed when you walk in and are embraced by the dark wood beamed ceiling, warm bar atmosphere and cozy candlelit dining area complete with punched tin lighting shades and ceramic art on the walls. The warm welcome from the host who is a member of the family who proudly owns the place is another clue. Finally, the traditional but mouth watering menu of Mexican and a few Spanish dishes is the last clue. But let the quaint...and perhaps therefore uninspired motif end there. The night I went on a date I enjoyed the smoky salsa which had a wonderful chipolte bite and was served with warm chips, the chunky guacamole, the abundant lump crab meat enchiladas, and the chicken mole - which was spicy and served in a Le Creusset crock and presented table-side by the waiter who tossed a few sesame seeds and queso blanco on it as it arrived. Magnificent! To make it perfect, the drinks are delicious and potent as well. Try the Tamarind Margarita. HIGHLY recommended.