La Palapa

I came in with my boyfriend around 3 PM on a Friday and it was a little disappointing. They sat us by the cold door when we were literally the only people in the restaurant, but they gave us no problem when we asked to move. The food was okay, my boyfriend was unhappy with the music choice since it definitely took away from the Mexican Restaurant vibe. Then after he finished his food, the bartender accidentally splashed my boyfriend’s white jacket with what i think was juice. He was very nice about it, cleaned it off, and the server gave us free tequila shots to make up for it, but I felt so bad for my boyfriend because he doesn’t drink and he was the one who got splashed and who was also paying. I specifically hunted this place down because my boyfriend loves spicy hispanic food and it had great reviews but it didn’t really satisfy, especially as an early valentine’s day lunch it was disappointing. Maybe we came at a bad time or something, idk.

I want to love the place but we had such a deplorable experience that i cannot possibly give this restaurant a positive review. Despite spending $ 250 at the bar before our table, we were greeted with dismal service and subjected to hostile management when we questioned the status of our food. We ended up waiting over an hour for an appetizer for a taco while the tables around us turned over at least twice. When we confronted the manager, hoping for a friendly resolution, she told us that we didn’t order enough to warrant a timely delivery. This obviously impugns the services at la palapas. The wait staff had nothing to do with the confrontation, yet management was so incapable of empathizing with the customer it is a wonder that they have a restaurant at all.

My friend said this place was the most incredible place in the universe so I had to try it. We went, I made a reservation on Open Table and they shoved us in the back room which was pretty weird, cold, and dark. I split a steak quesadilla with a side of rice and beans with my friend and it was pretty dece, deff not cheesy enough. The rice was AMAZING and their guac was ok. We got the special made one because I have a #pickybitch friend who doesnt eat onions. I got a glass of red sangria that also pretty good AND to make life amazing, it comes with a little mini pitcher so it wasnt JUST a glass– they get that the thirst is real.
Dont know if this is a must have but they also have a ton of authentic mexican meals so if you’re really feelin the mexican vibe maybe this is the spot for you. The main areas seemed a lot more exciting and vibey with a bar and such and in the summer I know they have some outdoor seating but… EH

I’ve been to La Palapa a bunch of times now. I’ve found that it’s really great for groups, and on more than one occasion I have easily gotten a reservation. As far as food and drinks go I feel like it’s pretty average. I can’t think of a time that I’ve been and wasn’t happy with what I ordered.
I’ll comment about my most recent trip here since I actually remember it. I was there for brunch with my parents and cousins. I was feeling a bit hung over, and tired, so I went with some huevos rancheros and a gingerale. I felt like service was a bit slow, but it could have just been that they weren’t trying to rush us, which is not always the case for brunch in NYC. The place was crowded, but definitely not packed. Also I was exhausted and just wanted to go home and take a nap. So that could have been part of it. Also another thing I noticed is that we didn’t get any chips, but other tables did. I don’t know if you had to order them, if they came if you ordered something specific? I don’t know, I’m sure we could have asked for some, but it seemed odd that they didn’t bring us any or ask if we wanted them. The food was good, and a decent size. I was starving, so I pretty much devoured it. They do have a brunch special where a drink comes with your meal and some fruit before your meal, but I just did a la carte. Our waitress was nice/​friendly, although a little slow like I mentioned before.
Overall I feel like La Palapa is a good, reliable place. If you’re got a big group, or not, and everyone likes Mexican food, it’s a good choice.

I’ve eaten at different Mexican restaurants, mostly in Manhattan and Brooklyn and still, to this day, I’ve never tested better chicken enchiladas rojo anywhere and since I live in Brooklyn, I’ve been really trying to look for a spot that can even come close to the taste, so I don’t have to travel so far to enjoy the unique blend of herbs and spices in their mole roho, but it’s worth the trip, especially if you go during happy hour (4 – 7 seven days a week), where their legendary margaritas are 2 for the price of one. I sometimes go just for the frozen margaritas. The passion fruit is exceptional and I usually will sip on the mango or maybe even the watermelon, flavored with fresh squeezed watermelons. They are definitely like no other. Someone please tell me where I can find margaritas that will blow me away like theirs.
Not everything they make is the best but it is authentic Mexico City food and they successfully managed to bring home the taste of Mexico. They are quite expensive so dining there is just an occasional treat but I’m a frequent happy hour attendee, which is also a good time to enjoy some of their happy hour appetizers. I wouldn’t recommend a private party there but deff a great spot to hang with some friends.
The ambiance is great and the vibe is everything you expect from a mid size, trendy, busy east village restaurant, but also expensive for that area. I’ve never had complaints about the service and I like that I see some of the same staff for several years now, particularly the managers. Last but not least, their tequila selection is quite vast and has something for everybody. I give them 4 stars because the bathroom situation is a little crazy and because of their prices, otherwise, I believe it’s a place everyone should try.
Charles

YOU HAVE TO DINE HERE! The food and ambience was what did it for me; REAL HOME MADE MEXICAN FOOD & SANGRIA SUNDAY’S
My love ordered a A PITCHER OF SANGRIA ! How could you beat that? Since I wine and dine on a budget $
Right away, we were seated by the sweet female Manager and our waitress Natalie was most pleasant and welcoming. There was not too much noise and their music playlist consisted of today’s Pop and R&B hits. Which kept things groovy.

Great service but the chiles en nogada… The menu said it was two of them, my plate came with just a tiny one, tasty but the extra cream made me feel like I should ask for another dish instead.
The arrachera al tequila didn’t have the best presentation… Pretty close to a summer carne asada on my fathers backyard but it wasn’t bad at all, rice and beans were excellent.
Amazing jicama con chile, not enough chile tou…
Crepes with cajeta?
Pancake with syrup… Sorry but that’s how it taste it.
Pricey for what it is.

A little expensive but well worth it. You pay a little more for quality, and if you’re looking for legit Mexican food, this is the place to go. Food is good, drinks are strong, servers/​bartenders are nice and friendly. Darya, one of the waitress there is amazing! Make sure to ask for her when you go.

I love the vibe here! Our bartender Joan made the best mezcal margaritas. The food was also heaven. The platanos con crema will bring tears to your eyes.

Friendly, happy staff… very efficient, too, considering we came for dinner on a Friday night. They were respectful, so this review has nothing to do with them, just the food.
Our meal was mediocre at best. We had the quesadillas, fish tacos and fresh «special» guacamole. Other than the guac, everything tasted preheated from Trader Joe’s. The drinks were strong, but that only helped so much.
Considering Taqueria is literally next door, I’d suggest going there instead if you want a more authentic, cheaper dinner.

–warning: relatively unique negative review ahead!-
I’ve been holding off on this review for a little while, in an effort to give myself some distance and perspective (#dramaqueen) …but I still can’t bring myself to rate higher than one star.
I’d heard good things about this place from several people and I remain highly confused about it. My friend made a reservation for 6 people at 8 on a Saturday night and they were understandably very busy. Service was slow and they forgot one of my friend’s meals for an extended period time as well as one of my side dishes. However, I’m almost always willing to overlook mediocre service (especially at busy times) for great food.
But there just wasn’t a lot of it. Chips and guac were decent, as were the margaritas. My chicken enchiladas verde were small and lacked flavor and ample cheese and my friend’s mole dish was unimpressive as well. The entrees were a little pricey for their size ($ 18+ range) and didn’t come with rice and beans. While maybe more authentic, this was disappointing.
The biggest disappointment of the night came when I set my hand atop the napkin in my lap and felt something abrasive and slightly sticky. It was somebody’s band-​aid. Gently used, I might add but it definitely wasn’t mine and definitely was gross as hell.
The manager graciously offered to cover the cost of my meal and our table’s chips and guac when I explained that I’d found a stranger’s blister cover/​puss absorber/​infection harborer in my eating space. She mentioned that if I can ever find it in myself to forget about this down the road, she’d love it if I came back. Sorry ma’am, but I’d only (maybe) consider it if my meal would be free every time. And I’d have to insist you spring for more colorful band-​aids — I hear the Disney princess ones are fun and often a hit.

I had a great dinner here with my sister tonight. We ate guac, one appetizer and one entrée — it was PLENTY of food.
Pros:
— homemade guac was actually very spicy (when you order it that way)
— corn mushroom appetizer was really good and incredibly decadent. It is basically a queso fundido, so it was a bit much to share between just two people
— enchilada de carne asada was amazing — very fresh not greasy like most. Probably the best enchilada ive had in Manhattan
— the ambiance is great, upscale mexican
Cons:
— service was pretty slow. They refilled the water plenty (which we needed on account of the spicy guac!), but the waitress was often nowhere to be seen
— price is on the higher end for mexican, but the portions were large, so a decent value
Highly recommend!

Beware — the margaritas are very strong. I came here with a group of people during La Palapa’s Tuesday Happy Hour. For starters, the happy hour special is supposed to be for customers sitting at the bar until 7pm. BUT if you come on a Tuesday, margaritas are $ 5 at the bar and $ 6 at a table ALL NIGHT LONG.
This place is awesome. We had about three rounds of margaritas and three orders of chips and guac. The guac was REALLY good, but I really wish they offered a full nachos platter. I crave nachos whenever I drink, but the chips and guac sufficed for the evening.
The lighting inside is kind of dim, so we opted for a table outside. It was nice to have some fresh air, but I felt that the service wasn’t as attentive to the people outside. When we did get the chance to interact, the staff was very friendly and helpful. The waitress recommended the guava and mango margaritas, and I have to back her up on this one. They were pretty fantastic.

I was in the area and was in the mood for mexican food. The happy hour sign outside welcomed me in — the only downfall to that, is the happy hour is only applicable at the bar. The bar of course was packed. I had no choice but to not have the happy hour option and grabbed a table. I ordered the steak dish with onions. It was OK. The steak was a bit charred for my palette and thats what turned me off somewhat.
The older gentleman (literally, its killing me to remember his name. …) — he was super nice and attentive and was the highlight of my entire experience. I really appreciate you. I would return for the happy hour (hopefully, bar has available seats) and to be more adventerous on their menu.
xoxo

THE OKAY:
— Quesadilla tinga de pollo (chile chipotle barbecued chicken) — average quesadilla but it was very juicy. the orange sauce was dripping all over while eating so it was kind of messy eat it. [3 STARS]
CONS:
— FROZEN MARGARITAS — I don’t know what the other Unilocalers were talking about but the Frozen Margaritas were BAD. My friends and I ordered pomegranate, coconut, and guava frozen margaritas and they were SUPER SOUR. It was like sucking on a lemon. I found it really hard to drink after 2 or 3 sips because it was so TART. My friends and I had to send the margaritas back and have them make it less sour. The bartender tried to fix it but I still thought it was too sour. [1 STAR]
Note: I won’t be coming back here. The only thing they were good for was that they open pretty late.

We had an after work thingy yesterday and this place was picked by my lovely coworker JP.
When I first arrived I had some hesitation it was hot outside and I had just walked from 9^th and 5^th Ave
to this spot which is on 1^st ave. I wanted AC asap when I walked in there was no AC in the front but I was assured there was some in the back seating area. It was on but very low. Well okay
Service awesome the margaritas delish!!!
We ordered a variety of plates from quesadillas, guac and chips, chicken with mole the lamb chop and the shrimps with rice and refriedbeans everything was so good!
I had a great time with my boss (the best by the way)
and my amazing coworkers!!!

*** Filling and delicious dishes, Friendly staff, Great location ***
Second time visiting this restaurant. I really enjoyed this place because there is a great selection of items, the staff is very accommodating, and it’s an overall relaxing atmosphere. I recommend coming here during their brunch hours; but, their dinner menu is delicious too. Conveniently located near the 4,5,6.

Guava margarita was amazing! Had other drinks but that one was the best out of the ones that I had.
Did not have any food so cannot comment.
Service was excellent, bartender was great, drinks were strong, even had some on the house.
Great night in NY.

Pulled pork is so great. We sit next to window. It’s getting crowded after 9. They have their special house dishes and amazing
guacamoles! Will sure coming back.

Came here with a $ 10 City Shuffle card. I’m generally not a huge fan of Mexican food, but thought I’d give it a go. My dining partner and I had a 7:30 reservation for a Saturday night (no problems making it!); we arrived about 15 minutes early and they were able to seat us right away.
I really liked the interior. Dimly lit, fun decorations but not overly cheesy. We got the best table, in my opinion: tucked away in a corner with these really awesome leather, barrel-​style chairs. Just a really good vibe.
I ordered the Plato Vegan Tepozteco (vegan platter) which came with pinto beans, grilled cactus, guacamole, sautéed swiss chard, pico de gallo, and huitlacoche «corn mushrooms» (didn’t know what that meant, and I’m still not really sure haha. Sort of a salsa made of corn and mushrooms?). Quite the spread! The portions were very generous. I enjoyed the beans and guac a lot, and the corn mushrooms too (which is impressive since I’m very picky about my mushrooms). The other components were fine, not particularly notable. My dining partner got the pollo con platanos y salsa verde. I tried some of the plantains and they were tasty :)
Overall a good time! This is a really nice date spot. A little pricey — not quiiite sure it’d be worth the price normally, but with the $ 10 off coupon it was great.