Cafe El Portal
(212) 226-4642
174 Elizabeth St
New York,
NY
10012
40.721
-73.9945
Neighborhoods: NoLita, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Cafe El Portal
The Editor
Melanie Berliet
Citysearch
Black-and-white portraits adorn the walls of this subterranean spot where swank is low on the priority list, but gracious service and tasty food are high. Seated at the bar, or at a table with friends, it's possible to forget the small space while chomping on generous portions of chicken quesadillas, prefaced by fresh guacamole and chips. For ultimate satisfaction, branch from the classics and try a house specialty, like the chiles rellenos, a whole poblano pepper stuffed with meat and cheese, or the mole de pollo Oaxaqueno, a chocolate-infused chicken dish whose sauce is a closely kept family secret. No matter your selection, the bill won't prompt you to consider refinancing the mortgage.
User Reviews
PickyJew
March 26, 2008
Those who deride the service are right on. As we walk in we see a sign advertising happy hour 4-7. We were seated at 6:45. There was one other table of customers and two tables of staff eating yet it took so long for a waitress to take our order that when I ask her what beers where in the happy hour she said it was over. I explained we had been sitting there for 15 minutes but she wouldn't budge. so ridiculous that i went with a diet coke out of spite! And then it took forever to get the bill and our change. As for the food. It was okay but I've been to mexican places in Texas and California and you can't compare this one to them. Its solid for New York, pretty much on par with the average place here and that is all. I'd like everyone who thinks $16 chicken mole is a bargain to take a trip to East LA! And the chicken was boney and fatty and pretty much the same quality you would get in cheap mexican. My girlfriend had a chile relleno special which I must commend. Tasty sauce, cooked nicely, but something about the seafood inside tasted funky. The salsa verde was great but the actual chips SUCKED. not a fan of the red salsa and never a fan of paying for chips to begin with. I guess this place plays well to the "I have no problem paying double digits for guacomole and chips" crowd but I was not impressed.
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lilbotpaw
November 18, 2007
This restaurant holds a love / hate relationship with me. On many occasions it has taken me forever to get the simplest things, i.e. getting my drink, an extra napkin, the check... etc. It's one thing if the restaurant is packed and we cant flag our waiter/waitress down, but even when its practically empty, the service is still terrible. There have been times when other tables whom have seated down after i sat down receive their food, my friends & i would have to 'remind' them that we are waiting for our drink (shouldn't that be the first thing you do after taking our order?) Half the time they're doing other things and never paying attention to the customers, but I can give it to them that they are generally nice (never have i encountered a rude wait staff). You would think that they're working on tips... Granted that service is a ZERO, i must confess that their food is amazing (their guacamole is unbelievable)! which is why i keep going back. Service stinks, but hey, their food makes up for it.
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raajkumari
October 13, 2007
I absolutely adore this place. I love the atmosphere, food, drinks and price. The pitchers of margaritas are a great value (get the cucumber margarita!) And the shrimp and fish tacos are delish. It's a small place, so get there before 8 on a Friday or Saturday night. You will continue to come back to this place and will not be disappointed.
read full reviewThe Details on Cafe El Portal
What to Drink:
The margaritas, which come in unique flavors like cucumber and hibiscus, are a must. They're not as sweet as the counterparts at like places.
Know Before You Go:
Bring cash or an Amex with you.
The Extras:
The brunch menu is comprehensive and delicious, too.
