Chavella’s

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Not sure why chave (ya)s closed down. They could have changed the menu to small plates and made this a bar. They had the klout to make Chavella’s anything they wanted.
Not sure if I like the expanded Mexican palace they created on Franklin. I think it went to their head and now seems rushed, attitude, and food quality has deteriorated. New review to come. Seems like a little corporate, with their uniforms and all.
Chave (ya)s I miss you as the little restaurant that could, but now is meh.

It took me an entire year living in the neighborhood before trying out this joint, and after lunch I can honestly say I won’t be back for another. The place is tiny and cramped, but since I showed up before noon it wasn’t a factor in the score. The main issue was the TERRIBLE waiter and the so-​so food (we already know NYC has mediocre Mexican, but that shouldn’t affect the scale on which to judge said places).
So, back to the awful waiter. For being one of only two customers in the restaurant, she was as helpful to me as my pinky toe. It took her about 20 minutes before actually taking my friend and I’s order (when we were clearly ready after a couple), and she lacked attention and wasn’t very friendly, as well. Also, I asked for an extra plate so we could share our dishes and she handed me a side dish the size of my palm. Really?
Now the food. I ordered the half chicken w/​rice n’ beans, and my friend got the guacamole. The chicken plate looked big and hearty, but once I bit into it I realized it was the complete opposite. It was mostly bone, a bit dry, and didn’t have much flavor. The rice, which looked plentiful, was actually only a thin layer that covered a large portion of the plate. FAIL.
My friend’s guacamole was good, but who hasn’t tasted great guac that wasn’t home-​made, anyway? Not to mention, no complimentary chips or salsa, which I’ve never experienced at a «Mexican» joint.
Maybe I’m loco, but I won’t be eating here anytime soon .I think I’d actually rather have Chipotle HAHA.
**minus 33 sanitary, infraction points/​Pending grade: C.

I did the Mexican in the Brooklyn but I didn’t see anyone Mexican dining here! I guess that seems to be the case with most places in the neighborhood and its surroundings: kewl restaurants and chic boutiques catered to the yuppy demographic whose office resides across the bridge but not so much to those whose ethnicity resides across the border. I guess it’s all good?
Chavella’s is small, kinda tight, but plenty homey with pleasant service and even better edibles. I had four tacos at $ 3 or $ 4 a pop: pescado, pollo, bistec, and chorizo. Now that’s what’s up. Each had the flavor necessary to make me want to return and indulge in the other delights that the menu had to offer. Beers are Brooklyn cheap at $ 4 or $ 5 a pop and they have Jarritos in all its artificially sweetened glory. Love that green and/​or orange stuff!
I would return here because there are a lot of other things I want to try and I’ll be moving to the neighborhood pretty soon so I’m plenty stoked that such an awesome place will be nearby. I’m going to the patronize the sh*t out of them!

Dude, how did I now know about their freaking happy hour?
$ 2 beers and tacos (except fish, but don’t get the fish).
Micheladas and guac is not part of their happy hour, but get them anyway.

Amazing Mexican food. A tiny neighborhood gem.
A large group of us ordered delivery from Chavella’s last night and it didn’t disappoint. Everything we had was amazing, particularly the guacamole, green enchiladas, mole, and elotes. Everything was phenomenally delicioso. Not to mention it was CHEAP. Like $ 15 or less kinda cheap. I hear that all the TX transplants swear by this place, which is definitely an indication of quality.
Run, don’t walk.

Location is an interesting beast when it comes to restaurants. In Prospect Heights, I’m not sure how many good Mexican options there are. If the answer is «few» then this place is clearly more valuable, despite being three stars in my book.
The service was attentive and friendly, which I liked. The guacamole was fairly chunky and plentiful. It’s slightly weird that the base way of serving it is with tortillas, instead of the normal nacho chip. This gives the possibility of making little guaco-​tacos, which is cute, but I like the crunch-​ity crunch of a hard chip with my creamy chunky guac. They do serve chips though… sorta. The «chips» are more like mini tostadas, which is interesting. Not better or worse. Just interesting…
I liked the chilaquiles. I liked that they could be ordered with mole. I didn’t like that the only bean option was refried, though they were fine. I didn’t like that one of the poached eggs was overcooked, but I did like that they were easily transferable to the chorizo hash which I also like that despite the chef’s complaints, they were able to make well done.
However, if this place were in Corona or Sunset Park would it be anything special? Perhaps not, but that doesn’t make it worth a visit.

Chavella’s is my new favorite Mexican spot in Brooklyn. I love that it’s biking distance from home and they provide a bike rack right next to their restaurant for you to lock up your bike. The interior is quaint and cozy. seating about 20 people, with also an outdoor seating area for your breezy spring days. We ordered a number of delicious things off the menu — starters included the Ceviche Camarones– shrimp ceviche with grilled pineapples, red onions, jalapenos and cilantro. the Elotes Callejeros– grilled corn with chipotle mayo and cotija cheese. the Chicken and tomatillo tamale as well as a Nopales– a cactus taco with avocado, pico de gallo, queso fresco and pickled jalapenos. Out of all these dishes, I was gladly surprised by how good the shrimp ceviche was. It contained the perfect amount of tanginess with a generous portion of decent sized crunchy shrimp. The rest of the appetizers were also tasty and only amped up our appetite for our main course, the Plato Don, which we shared between the two of us. This huge platter contained all the right ingredients for what seemed to be a never-​ending fiesta in our bellys! Two marinated meats– chipotle chicken, grilled steak with onions, rice, beans, guacamole, queso fresco, pico de gallo with a stack of soft tortillas. When available, I love choosing this option of creating your own personal tacos because I definitely like to jam pack my tacos just the way I like it!
To top off our meal, we had to order the flan as a dessert. And even though we thought we were full to the point where our stomachs were going to pop. we practically licked all the caramel off the plate!
Looking very forward to their brunches which everyone raves about. I just hope this time around our waitress remembers to run any daily specials they have by us. We were kind of upset to hear another waiter mention them to the table that sat down next to us as we were finishing up our meal. Ahhh, crab tacos? I bet I would’ve written something amazing about you.

THIS IS NOT MEXICAN FOOD.
No spice, no flavor, and definitely not worth the price. This shit should be served at the nursing home across the street.

Possibly my favorite Mexican place for take out in NY. Sadly, I don’t live anywhere near there, and the friend I visited out there just moved away!
Chavella’s has an awesome menu of tacos and is super vegetarian friendly. I freaking love the Nopales (cactus) and Hongos (mushroom) tacos and find myself daydreaming about them.
I’m on the search for something Manhattan friendly and similar, any suggestions?

I am popping my Unilocal review cherry all over this place… and out runs the best guac ever. And, in cute form at that — in a wee bowl with homemade circly tortillas.
This place exudes the kind of mexican a sane awesome person would look for. A quaintness that makes you feel like you discovered something hidden and not your typical mexican fair that can be swirled in a plate from a combination of 4 typical ingredients.
And, those little warm blooded 4 appendaged things that say hello and bring food… they’ve always been warm and cuddly.

Dear Tortilla Soup,
You only cost $ 4, and yet you are generous, satisfying, and absurdly delicious. You are the ear muffs in the frigid, blustery winter of my soul. I love you.
Sincerely,
Pete
P. S. Tell your friend Carne Enchilada Taco that I’ll see you both again next week. And I’m sorry I keep calling him Al Pastor.

Yes, we’re fans! Even though we are only a few blocks away, we’ve only been here twice. Because it’s simply too hard to get a table in this hole in the wall. But it’ll be worth the wait if you decide to stick around. The first time ’round I got the Camarones a la Mexiana ($ 12.75). Very flavorful and delicious Succulent shrimps. I think I was pretty hungry though, because after I licked away the last drop of the sauce, I was still slightly hungry.
2^nd time ’round, I was super hungry again and remembered the lesson from our first visit. I decided to go for broke and ordered the Don Plato ($ 13). Full meal deal. I had such a good time polishing off every little compartment of that dish — chipotle chicken, steak, rice, beans, guac, queso/​pico de gallo, and at least 5 corn tortillas. Friend had the Ensalade Nopales (cactus) and it was also off the wall.
The chipotle chicken was a little too spicy for me. And its abundance of salt I didn’t notice until after I got home. I was dehydrated for the entire night. It was worth it though.

Tiny spot so expect a long wait during peak brunch hours, as well as to keep bumping into your neighbors. Service is fast, which good reason.
Went for both dinner and brunch My dishes were both misses. I had the egg dish with the tomatillo sauce and really disliked it. The mole chicken was also a miss for me. However, SO raved about his meals: French toast and pancakes are delicious. Their beef is also good.
Still have hopes for this place. Will go back to sample other dishes, esp for brunch. In a Tom’s dominated neighborhood, they are really making strides.
PS: Love the tiny gum they serve on the side. Been guilty of grabbing a bunch

Nothing beats Mexican food after a long day at the beach and that is exactly the way I enjoyed Chavella’s. As four Unilocal stars suggests, yah I’m a fan.
Chavella’s is authentic to the skewed American view of an «authentic» Mexican establishment, but since Mexico can be considered a third-​world country in some parts, I suppose you can present the image Chavella’s has: small, «lacking» interior with third-​world accoutrements, outfitted with a a few Mexican beers and some wines. Now, don’t take this the wrong way; this is a good thing.
The service was conveniently fast and reassuringly attentive on a busy Saturday evening. The crowd was mostly regular folks mixed with hipsters. Lots of RayBan sunglasses, but not enough to make you want to play ‘Hit the Hipster with a Baseball Bat’.
The food was good and fresh. Priding themselves on authenticate Mexican food, there isn’t too much to say: Mexican food is fairly simple and does not involve fancy smancy cooking techniques. Chavella’s did not butcher anything with over seasoning, too much grease or cheap ingredients. You could taste the freshness. Could you ask for much more?
Price is pretty darn good too. Cash only, that’s a problem with me.

We had just spent a beautiful afternoon in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and wanted to be adventurous. My wife had mentioned she wanted Mexican earlier and I quickly Unilocaled up close by Mexican restaurants. Chavella’s came up as super close and I was impressed by the 4 star showing with nearly 200 reviews.
I was a bit worried that we might have some challenges getting seated b/​c I had crutches, our friends had a 6 week old and we’d read in the reviews that Chavella’s was very small. When we got there I asked how long we’d have to wait for 4 plus a baby and the waiter who helped us peeked in and found us a 4 top in less than 2 minutes. We schlepped in and started to sit down when our friends realized their baby needed changing. Our waiter read them walking out as there might be a problem and offered to move another 2 top next to us for the baby to sit at/​have her seat put on. I called my friend and let him know how accommodating they were being and to come back when they were done with their business.
A few minutes later we were all seated and didn’t need the spare table and let the kind waiter know he could give that back, but many thanks. Already impressed with the sympathetic service.
We read a few of the faves from other reviews and were all pretty hungry so we started with the Guacamole, Trio of Salsas, 2 Elotes Callejeros (grilled corn) & Taquitos. While our friends were changing their little one we had already selected our meals so we also ordered our entrees. I’d normally order a drink, but on pain meds and had to keep my liver in check, so I ordered a pineapple water — what a refreshing treat — drank two throughout the meal.
For entrees I ordered a few Tacos — Pescado (fish), Carne Enchilada & Papas con Chorizo. My wife picked the Bistec Torta & our friends ordered the Plato Don & a Aguacate con Queso. My friend’s wife ordered the Chicken Mole at first, but the great waiter immediately let her know that their mole had peanuts in it. I knew that this might be considered a problem b/​c I’ve heard that breast-​feeding mothers are cautioned not to have peanuts as it might be influential in peanut allergies (I also happen to have a peanut allergy). Another great head’s up from our waiter.
When the apps came everything looked great (see the pix, sorry they’re dim) and the kitchen even (without asking) split the corn ears into 2 so we’d each have a piece — nice move! Once we began to eat we were NOT disappointed! The guacamole was very rich and satisfying (served with soft & hard tortillas). Taquitos were just fried enough for a crunchy cheese flavor and extra queso for scooping up with the tortillas. The Elotes Callejeros (grilled corn) was AMAZING. Picture grilled corn with just the right seasoning and a chipotle mayo — heavenly. The Trio of Salsas were all very complimentary to all of our other selections and the salsa verde had just the right amount of kick that didn’t require a glass of milk after eating.
We had a good amount of appetizers, but shortly after we finished them we had our entrees come right out. My tacos were all excellent and I especially loved the Pescado Taco. Definitely the best fish taco I’ve had on the east coast. My wife’s Bistec Torta was SIMPLY INCREDIBLE and made me realize how great avocado and tender beef can be — and for a $ 7 sandwich — this was huge in value! The Plato Don was HUGE and my friend’s wife couldn’t even break the surface (nothing wrong with great leftovers). The Aguacate con Queso Torta was good, but overshadowed by the Bistec Torta. We all shared and confirmed how great everything was.
Barely saving room, but again following the reviews, we ordered the rice pudding for dessert to share. It came out in a HUMONGOUS bowl and with four long spoons. We each dug in and agreed that it was decadent and worth the extra calories/​fat that the whole milk/​cream base was most likely providing.
Throughout the meal the wait staff was very kind, attentive and consistently kept our water filled and the table cleared as needed. Food quality, as noted, was top notch, very full of flavor and extremely reasonably priced. We’re excited to have found a new gem not too far from home!

My friend brought me to this adorable lil’ place, saying that a former Californian like me would appreciate Chavella’s food & ambiance. We sat outside and as others have noted, the street is surprisingly quiet.
We started with the trio of salsas which includes a really fantastic pico de gallo. Fresh, fresh, fresh! For our meals, my friend got a huge veggie plato (served in pretty blue dish that holds several other tiny dishes so as not to mix the different foods, for those of you who are anti-​food integration) and shared some guac, black beans, grilled lemon/​pepper seasoned corn, & soft taco shells. I got the salad w/​grilled shrimp (yes, I shared, too!). All of the food was delicious!!!
Chavella’s does indeed serve my favorite kind of veggie-​heavy California-​style Mexican food and the prices are decent. Highly approve!
Now if only I could find this in Chicago… hello Chi? can you at least get some black beans? thanks.

All you people from «California» or «Texas» or «Arizona» who unanimously agree that this is «most authentic Mexican food I’ve experienced since living an hour from the Mexican border in Tucson, AZ» have let me down. I am very disappointed in you because I’ve come to trust my fellow Southwestern Unilocalers to directed me to decent Mexican food in NY; but for all your primping and prancing if the word «authentic» the food here is simply NOT GOOD! And before you say it must have been what I ordered (because I’m the lame ass vegetarian), are at lease 4 people on here that state they have «tried almost everything on the menu» and have never been disappointed or let down. How can this be when these two terms personify my meal here.
My sangria left me smacking my lips seeking any semblance of sweetness (or alcohol) but all I could taste was watered down wine and lemon rind. The taquitos were just ok, but begged for a splash of lime… or some salt perhaps…
The Aguacate con Queso tacos were lightly dabbed with bland black beans and the queso fresco was barely detectable dust, they were like joke tacos
But the worst was the quesadillas, we order the Huitlacoche (mexican corn truffle) and the Flor De Calabaza (blossom squash, oaxaca cheese, and epazote) both of which were as appetizing as paper pulp; and the little side of sleepy mole was no help at all.
Look, the fish tacos and other supposable fabulous meat dishes here are probably goodish; but for a Mexican restaurant that is really pushing the vegetarian/​vegan-​friendly agenda hard, Chavella’s sent me running home yapping «Yo Quiero Taco Bell» (or Pequena)

I think that I should learn to make Mole. However, until I master the complex flavors and subtleties that go into this sauce, I think I’ll be fine having the Chicken Mole here. And the Chicken Tamale with Tomatillo sauce. And the tostadas with chicken and cheese. And picking off from the Plato Don.
The space is cramped, but we didn’t wait more than 10 minutes for a table and once seated, all you think about is when you’re getting your food. You don’t think for too long because the service is prompt, they are attentive without being in your face, and they smile. Something that I like when I go out to a place. I forgive much when there is a smile involved. Not that I had to forgive anything here.
The DP and I inhaled our food and if we could have licked our plates clean, we would have.
Great, affordable, TASTY — what else could you want in a dining experience?
Also, the bathroom is surprisingly spacious and clean. Surprising because of the size of the place — I think whoever thought of the layout of this restaurant was one smart cookie!
I’m a fan!

Gem.