Mole

205 Allen St

Craving Mexican food one Sunday night, a friend suggested dinner at Vamos!, a Mexican eatery in Stuyvesant Town. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at the late afternoon/early evening hour of 10p.m., the restaurant had closed; my cravings had not. So I interjected with a tiny eatery I spotted off the Lower East Side called Mole.

As soon as we arrived, we started off with tableside guacamole and “Crepas con Huitlacoche,” 2 homemade crepes with black corn mushroom in creamy poblano sauce.

For the main course, I ordered the “Chiles Rellenos,” 2 fire roasted poblano peppers stuffed with queso fresco and served in fire roasted tomato sauce.

I blocked out what my dining companion had because it contained meat.

The mushroom crepes appetizer was by far the tastiest plate. I was impressed, but then again, how often does an appetizer trump the main course? Is that even allowed? The guacamole dip was not bad, although mine is better.

I found the main dish slightly overkill—my peppers were literally swimming in tomato sauce. Maybe I ordered soup. It’s been a few weeks since I visited.

We also had a side of nopales asadas, or grilled cactus, which turned out to be the most disappointing item of the evening; dry and bland. We barely managed a couple bites between us, but only out of obligation to our wallets rather than our tongues.

What I remember most about the evening was biting into my poblano peppers to find a toothpick. The server explained the toothpick was inserted to hold the peppers in place during the preparation of the dish. Unfortunately, it was too late; my taste buds felt jaded and my stomach remained uneasy throughout the remainder of the meal.

Looking back, I’ve had dishes where toothpicks are added to hold everything together, but this particular one caught me off guard. I apologized to the server for assuming the worst, but it was still hard to convince myself the toothpick was intentional and necessary.

Although the service was good, I can’t say I’ll be back. The menu was not impressive enough to warrant a return; and the complimentary salsa was weak, somewhat of a deal breaker in the land of Mexican restaurants.


DAMAGE ~$80 (CASH ONLY)
VERDICT: Go

Sueños

311 W 17th St
My first outing with my new foodie friends found me in Chelsea at a Mexican spot called Sueños. Run by executive chef Sue Torres, the restaurant features great food, cute décor, and attentive service but lacked two slightly important factors.

I tried to convince myself our group of eight would not receive preferential treatment, although I knew the deal. My feelings began with the complimentary arrival of cornbread and their house refried bean dip. Mashed refried black beans topped with tomatillo sauce and cilantro made for a delicious starter while we scoured the menu for options.

The majority of us stuck with the $30 pre-fixe menu, served nightly before 7pm. As the only vegetarian at the table, my choices were simple; I had none. For my appetizer, I ordered the only option available to me, guacamole dip with chips and a tortilla.

For my entrée, I convinced the waiter to let me substitute the one vegetarian dish on the regular menu for the pre-fixe, Grilled Vegetable & Goat Cheese Enchiladas topped with Salsa Ranchera.

I had the Guava & Cream Cheese Empanadas for dessert.

From the initial black bean dip to the three bites I managed of my goat cheese enchilada entrée (I was stuffed by this point), everything about the meal was great. The guacamole dip was good, but I dare say mine is better (I have yet to try any dip comparable); the guava empanadas were sweet but not overwhelmingly so; and my enchiladas made a nice lunch the following day.

Despite the fine food, I was slightly disappointed with the menu. While my dining companions were thrilled, I felt slighted at the lack of veggie options. Should I return, I would be forced to order the same Grilled Vegetable & Goat Cheese Enchiladas again. In addition, most Mexican dishes are served with rice and beans; not so much at Sueños. One person in our group asked for it on the side because he did not feel right eating Mexican food without it.

Besides the menu, my other complaint had to do with the ambience. With a name like Sueños, Dreams in English, I expected a slightly more Mexican vibe than what I felt. I know I am in a good Mexican restaurant when I am tempted to order in Spanish and drink Margaritas, despite my opposition to Tequila. I have been to several other Mexican eateries in the city where this has happened and I left wondering who swiped my passport.

With the exception of the lack of options for vegetarians and the Mexican-less vibe, I enjoyed Sueños and would recommend trying it at least once. I doubt I will be back because I don’t like ordering the same thing twice. If you like Pablo Picasso, be sure to check out the bathroom while you are there.


DAMAGE ~ $40
VERDICT: Go

Diablo Royale

189 W 10th St
Picture this: me walking through West Village craving a Bloody Mary and Sir Fancy Pants, a Mimosa. Add a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, a Mexican eatery called Diablo Royale, no line, and you have my brunch experience last weekend.

Given that Mexican is my favorite cuisine ever, I could not resist stopping in for a quick bite and dragged SFP with me. We sat at the bar, ordered drinks, and decided to share one brunch entrée of my choosing.

I ordered the Huevos Rancheros—scrambled eggs with ranchero sauce, black beans, and sliced avocado over a crispy tortilla. I also asked for a side of chips and salsa and SFP ordered a side of bacon. Everything was good, but not spectacular.

It’s hard to go wrong with such a staple dish as huevos rancheros. What did stand out about the meal was the drinks. You know you’ve had a good Bloody Mary when your lips are on fire and your throat burns, yet still you continue to drink the spicy beverage because it is that good.

This was not the case at Diablo Royale. The Bloody Mary was good but nothing worth going back for. However, the Mexican hot chocolate I had at the end of the meal was noteworthy, something definitely worth having again. It was thick and had a slight kick to it. The tortilla chips were also very good but on the salty side.

The spot is cute and relaxed, but there is better Mexican to be had in the area.


DAMAGE ~36
VERDICT: PASS