10/14/09

Amazing food!

by sunnynero8

Anything you order will be amazing, and the service is really great, no long waiting for the food. Only bad thing is that the indoor space is small so sometimes there is a wait for a table.

• Pros: amazing food, nice atmosphere
• Cons: small indoor seeting area

09/28/09

Rude Staff

by NYC10001

This place is nothing to write home about. There are many New York City restaurants that offer great ambiance. The food is good, but so is Rosa Mexicana without the attitude. Attempting to make a reservations for the same week is impossible unless you are going through a 5 star hotel or you are somebody famous. The other option is calling three weeks in advance for reservations at 6:30 PM or 11:00 PM.

09/21/09

Love the food, rude staff.

by CSMobileUser

My girlfriend and I come here a few times a week for the great breakfast. The kid that works behind the counter in the diner side is great. today we ate outside and a waitress told us we had to get out of our seats and move inside without explaining why, other than "I have to set up." We were in the middle of eating. No one told us we would be interupted in the middle of our meal if we sat outside. So we vacated our seats, leaving behind a few napkins, a cup, some hot sauce, and a plate. The waitress then says to us "thanks a lot for leaving your styff guys" in an extremely rude tone. Last time I check it was a restaraunt?? And we just bought food from you guys?? And you kicked us out of our seats without even offering a reasonable explanation? Most of the staff is great, but I'm outraged at the way we were treated by this one girl. She had a nose ring and a los angeles tee shirt, jean shorts and boots. I watched her argue with multiple customers after I went inside. She just had a terrible attitude about everything. All she had to do is nicely explain why we needed to move, and not make a rediculous comment to her customers.

06/02/09

Great food, Cool place

by BigBobbyNJ

I have eaten at the smaller café on the side, the taco stand and the downstairs of this place and all 3 are excellent. I am a huge fan of Mexican food and I love the food here. The only problem is that if you want to eat in the downstairs dining room you have to get reservations (which are not easy) then you have to greet a bouncer inside the taco stand (the one I was greeted by was a very unfriendly bulldike) then you have to wind your way through the kitchen and coat check. Its one of those places in NYC that just loves to be “hush hush” and make anyone going there feel like they are in on some cool secret… but you may see some famous people once you get down there. The service is not super friendly and they really try to get your order taken immediately an get you the hell out of there for the next uber cool people that know of this “underground” location (pun intended). Overall the food is worth it, and if you don’t want to be that cool, just go around the corner to their more casual dining room where the service is a little more friendly and the food is just as good.

01/13/09

Bar not a restaurant

by mrfreeze100

Is this a bar with tables or is it a restaurant? Based on what happened to me during a recent visit it is definitely the latter. If you have ever had a doorman bouncer come to your table 10 minutes after the food arrives to say they are closing you know what I mean. He stood over our table rushing us to finish. When bringing this to the manager's attention on the way out, he was unsympathetic. There are more friendly late-night places in NYC that deserve the business.

• Pros: scene
• Cons: rude management

01/07/09

Good service, solid food

by aubs111

I am New Yorker who likes food, good atmosphere, and is not into pretentious scenes. I made a reservation a couple of weeks ago (at 630, but that was not a huge deal) and went last night. After reading the reviews, I was afraid it was going to be pretentious and dissapointing, but I had a positive experience. It was a cool space, no hassles, service was good, and food was good also. So...I guess it's worth it if you're willing to take an early reservation on a weeknight!

• Pros: Cool atmosphere, good menu
• Cons: Early reservation

12/30/08

La Esquina in the dark

by MelissaBHalsted

Were lights too much to ask for at a restaurant?

I brought my parents over the holidays and they couldnt read the menu. We had to pull a candle over to read the entrees. The tequila list is quite extensive and really I enjoyed the quesadilla the most just would like to have some more lights.

12/30/08

Good Food but no windows

by GSterfoodie

I really enjoyed the food here. It really is top notch as you will read in the other reviews. However the basement atmosphere and no windows was hard to swallow. I think it will be a winter "cozy" spot for me as i can't imagine no windows in the summer.

11/23/08

Awesome Food!

by maplegrl

I tried to make reservations at La Esquina and since they were full I went around the corner to Cafe Esquina. The food was delish, the drinks were great and the atmosphere was relaxed. I would definately suggest this place to my friends. Its a great quiet date place.

• Pros: Great ambiaence

11/21/08

I will go back

by veggie2001

I ate here (upstairs) once, and enjoyed the meal I went back and had the same thing again - the huitlacoche quesadilla and a side of acelgas. It is a healthy seeming meal and so satisfying. I also tasted the special tamale of the day and the chile rellenos, which are wonderfully made with quinoa! All washed down with a michelada, and at a reasonable price! I have found the service to be friendly and knowledgeable.

• Pros: Delicious food
• Cons: The upstairs is small, not good for a large party