(212) 533-3350

9 East 18th Steet
New York, NY 10003 40.7383 -73.9913

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Neighborhoods: Flatiron District, Midtown, Union Square

ROSAMEXICANO.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 4.14.12

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Private Rooms, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Online Reservations, Date Spot, Group Dining, Food Delivery, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Mexican

Other Locations:

Reviews & Ratings for Rosa Mexicano Restaurant

3.5 Star Rating: Average

60 reviews

What users are saying:

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/12/11

Not impressed

by Kristina13

Granted, I'm not from NYC, but certainly not even remotely close to the best Mexican food I've had. And for the price ($60 a person for family style!!!!) it should have been 100x better. Definitely would not go again when I'm back in the area. Very noisy and hard to hear other people at the table, but for a weekend night that's not unheard of.

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/26/11

Staff are rediculous

by flaca1987

I didn't even have to go in to this restaurant to

know that it would have been a bad night. I called to make reservations I gave a specifc date and time and the lady on the phone kept changing my date without any explantion; mean while I am trying to tell her that I would've liked to come in for restaurants week, she was not understanding me and I spoke both in english and spanish. This is an over the phone conversation imagine in person when I am trying to order, I'll get the wrong thing.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/23/10

Best Mexican in NYC - Great spot for ANY occasion..

by SPROUT

I randomly found this gem while walking through union square and instantly fell in love.

The decor is gorgeous - very bright and rich.

Though I was eating alone, I observed that this was a great date spot, lunch with the girls spot, dine alone spot...and with the gorgeous skylit room tucked away - it would even be a fabulous spot for an event such as a bridal shower, baby shower or birthday.

The staff was extremely nice - on a busy friday afternoon - and after speaking to a few people I instantly knew that they were all great at recommending.

I started with LaRumba - it was an absolutely amazing drink.

Then for appetizers had the outstanding Tuna and Shrimp ceviche...packed with flavor and welcome on a hot day.

To follow I had the fish tacos - which to my surprise didn't come with all of the fatty sides that you would expect but came with beans, corn, peppers and lettuce (sour cream, guacamole, or cheese were NOT missed).

I ended the meal with 1 scoop of ice cream (mexican chocolate is amazing) and 1 scoop of sorbet (prickly pear and blue berry - not so good, very tart).

Overall, the decor, ambience, service and food get five stars all around :)

  • Pros: Delicious Food, Very Nice Staff, Gorgeous Decor
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/19/10

Huge disappointment

by blenny

Food was mediocre, a best. Guacamole was good, nothing special, tortillas thick and stale, but before we were finished with it, plates were swept away to serve our main courses. My carnitas were just ok, lacking salt, my friend's pork was extraordinarily fatty. They give rice and beans for the table, but don't provide anywhere to serve yourself any, nor any handy way to assemble your tacos. The menu had some interesting ice cream selections, sadly they turned out to be better on paper than on the tongue. The ice cream arrived at the table partially melted and proceeded to melt and flow right off of the inappropriate dishes they were served in. Wish I had something positive to report, but business was booming regardless!!!

  • Cons: Rushed thru service, noisy
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/24/10

WOW! I had such a bad time!

by Lee K

My friend and I sat in the back, upper part , of the restaurant at a table for two. The entire time we were there, the noise level just continued to get louder and louder. We COULD NOT hear each other talk. We both eat out a lot yet in all the restaurants I have been in here, I have never left a restaurant with a sore throat from screaming at the person across from me just to be heard. We came to Rosa because we both love Mexican food and we wanted to catch up after not having seen one another for a couple of months. So having a conversation was important to us. David Rockwell, brilliant fountain; if you were also responsible for the acoustics, BAD JOB!

  • Pros: good margaritas
  • Cons: NOISE NOISE NOISE
3 Star Rating: Average

06/13/10

Decent Guacamole and Happy hour drinks

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

I walked by Rosa several times thinking this place must be so really trendy high-end overpriced Mexican Restaurant. I was probably right.

My friends and I came here on a Sunday afternoon for their happy hour. It was actually a steal. $3 beer special, $6 personal pitcher of sangria and $5.5 margarita. All the drinks were great. I was really buzzed after one glass of sangria.

We also ordered a big pot of Guacamole which costs $28 but it is enough to feed like 8 people and more. We had a good time but the whole time we were there, the place was kind of empty. AND the worst part is the AC was broken!

I don't think I will come back here when there is no happy hour and certainly when the AC is not working!

  • Pros: Cheap Happy Hour Specials
  • Cons: AC was broken!
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/06/10

??????

by Wagnerp

where to begin? First off, this is my first post. I made a I mean citysearch account just to review this place. I have passed by many times, but never stopped as it doesn't look like much. I normally skip the sole 1 star reviews, as the people normally seem to be snobs. Take this review to heart, seriously. This place is Chinese owned. Mexicans work in every restaurant in all of New York, except a Mexican restaurant? I ignored that. I also ignored the fact that one of the guys was eating while cooking. Main objections: flour tortilla for soft tacos, iceberg lettuce in everything, meat tastes like soy sauce, salsa tastes like stewed tomatoes without any spice, no cilantro, sour cream/creme fresce tastes off... the place just sucks. Chipotle is way better, I'd even eat Taco Bell before I'd go back to this place.

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/06/10

OH #$()*)#, WHAT?

by mike forest

is spaghetti made by americans still "italian food"? is a taco made by a chinese man still "mexican food"? and who else thinks a general tso's chicken burrito would a good idea?

these questions and more can be pondered at any number of chinese operated mexican restaurants around the city. apparently the original one started with a chinese lady who learned the recipes while working at a mexican restaurant. or maybe a mexican working at a chinese restaurant shared their secrets with her. either way, these places are an interesting kind of fusion food for the budget set.

i usually get a vegetable quesadilla or enchilada. both items are tortillas with a filling, and are actually oddly similar (diy enchilada sauce in the form of, you put your little side cups of salsa all over your styrofoam container of tacos). the vegetables are celery, carrots, and something else- the blend has a serious chinese take out quality to it, but not in a bad way. at one chinese/mexican place, i think it was out in the rockaways, i actually got BABY CORN on my quesadilla!

whenever i am alone, hungry and only have a few bucks (which is usually), i look around for one of these places. this one, taco bandito, is one of the best ones imho because they give you so many sauce cups- some of the other places charge you for sour cream, but not bandito. if i'm with a friend, i sort of test the waters first before i suggest eating here. a lot of people are skeptical at first. but soon they're all converts. not because it's good mexican food, but because it is interesting and cheap. even my vegan friend enjoys it.

EDIT:

went from 4 to one star after the past two times i got sick from eating their nachos. one of the

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/06/10

Dont GO to this place

by Alexis Sehring

NASTY

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/06/10

BE AWARE

by Catwood

SIlly mexicans dont understand orders and will over charge you

Showing 1-10 of 60 reviews

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