Mercadito Grove
New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 647-0830
07/23/2007 Posted by duffman33
First, the good: -It's a charming setting, on one of the most lively West Village blocks. -The clientele is mostly young and hip, but the vibe is very relaxed - not annoyingly sceney. -The service is flexible and unrushed - we sat at about 9:15 and didn't leave until almost midnight. -The guacamole is fantastic - good, crunchy, salty chips and a nice texture to the guac. (I highly recommend the 3 guac sample: regular, mango and pineapple flavored) -Sharing small plates is fun. -Very fresh and tasty ceviche. -They were never stingy with the accoutrements; they refilled the empty chip bowl without asking, gave us more of the crackers that came with the ceviche; when I spilled my half-full drink they gave me a brand new one on the house. The bad: -The plates of tacos were pricey for the tiny portion size - $13 for 4 TEENY tacos. (Meant to be shared.) -The tacos were fairly mediocre - bland, with very little spice or flavor. -We ordered a pitcher of margaritas. They weren't terrible (although they didn't salt the rim of the glasses - that annoyed me) but nothing to write home about. Next we ordered a pitcher of mojitos - they tasted EXACTLY like the margaritas, with the addition of some mint leaves floating around. -When we got the check, the pitchers turned out to be $45 apiece - yikes. Summary: I would definitely recommend this place for drinks and appetizers. The pineapple guacamole alone is worth the trip. But having dinner here - not so much. Small, pricey portions will either leave your stomach rumbling or your wallet way too light.
Pros: guacamole, ceviche, great atmosphere, friendly service
Cons: tiny, expensive portions
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