Tortilla Flats

12/06/09

Simple but exciting

by JCgelo at Citysearch

Just another typical mexican joint in the city. I wasn't impressed with the food but really enjoyed the bingo and hula hooping! My table won bingo about 3 times so we were happy with the shots we received.

Fun for a group or date but don't expect anything tasty to eat!

• Pros: Games and free shots
• Cons: Food wasn't so great

06/04/08

Another average mexican joint in NY, but with entertainment

by mikelllita at Citysearch

Manhattan has everything in terms of cuisine EXCEPT quality mexican and my mission has been to seek out the best of what we've got. Tortilla Flats is unfortunately another average example to add into the mix. The one exception to the above rule is my trusty staple on 18th street - Los Dos Molinos - tasty food (as long as you like it spicy) and fishbowl-sized margaritas. I kept hearing of more and more people heading to Tortilla Flats so I checked it out last night to see if it was just hype. I ordered the shortstack and my friends got the tacos al pastor and the fajita salad. Nothing to write home about. The food was eh, salsa was pretty good and the margaritas were average to good but on the sweet side. The attraction here is really ambience - Mon and Tues bingo, Wed Hula Hooping. Go for the entertainment and the happy hour margarita pitchers but you might keep it at that.

• Pros: Bingo and Hula Hoop Nights
• Cons: Disappointing food

05/06/08

Tortillatastic!

by gm529 at Citysearch

Went here on cinco de mayo and actually was able to score a table. Around 7 the wait was hours, but the host was super funny and making announcements and seating anyone in a complete party. They have outdoor seating, yummy margaritas and sangria by the pitcher. They brought out water, chips and salsa as soon as we sat down. They have a specials menu that had a hilar take on the american girl place stories while describing a dish! They let us sit, eat and drink in peace without trying to aggressively turn a table on such a crazy day. The best part about this place is the scene- skinny, bored looking wait staff and patrons. And they play killer 80's music. Loved!

• Pros: scene, drinks
• Cons: long waits

05/02/08

You can get better food for a lot less

by acb723 at Citysearch

The food is okay, but I have gotten bigger and better burritos for quite a bit cheaper. I didn't have any alcohol while I was there, but drink prices seemed awfully high for the type of place it was. The decor and party atmosphere were a lot of fun, but it was so loud that it got really difficult to hear other people in my party. I hate not being able to hear people when they talk to me. And like I said, I've definitely had much better burritos for a lot less money, like at Paquitos in the East Village. Won't be going back anytime soon.

• Pros: cool decor, West Village location
• Cons: mediocre food, expensive for what it is, too loud

09/17/07

mediocre

by nyustudent11 at Citysearch

We went on a Friday night, the place was packed but we were seated fairly promptly. Free chips and salsa started us off but things went downhill from there. Food was mediocre (though thankfully not too expensive), service was unreliable and our waitress was just very, very confused. Not worth it in my book.

• Pros: decent prices, prompt seating
• Cons: mediocre food, bad service

06/20/07

WORST customer service ever

by tdoktonyc at Citysearch

Do NOT go to Tortilla Flats, quite possibly the rudest establishment in NYC. In fact, avoid it like the plague. My coworkers and I made a reservation to celebrate the termination of a successful project at this restaurant, but before we showed up that evening, we called to make sure that it would be all right if one of our team members came in costume. (Due to the nature of his job, he would not have had time to change before dining with us). The extremely rude manager told us that, "he didn't like the sound of that" several times (seriously, he sounded like a broken record), even though we tried to explain that our group would not be bothering any other patrons - just dining with someone in an unusual outfit. He then went OFF on us, actually making one of my colleagues cry, saying that we were not welcome in his restaurant, and in his ten years of working there, he couldn't believe that there were still people out there trying to "pull fast ones" on him. WHAT was he talking about? We just wanted to celebrate a job well done, and instead he ruined our evening. If this type of prejudice toward potential patrons is the norm at Tortilla Flats, what's next? Racism, sexism, etc? I wouldn't trust this place - the people who work there seem to be loose canons with no sense of human decency. Plus, their food is awful and I've heard they have a rodent problem. Go to Rosa Mexicano's instead.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: EVERYTHING, especially the customer service

03/24/07

Reminds you of your twenties

by jcisrhiannon at Citysearch

For a very tasty meal for under ten bucks and a very drinkable $30 pitcher of margaritas, I would go back. The ambience is very anti-New York, and you won't see the S-x in the City crowd here, but if you are looking for packs of twenty year olds and melted cheese, it's a safe bet. No attitude, good food, fun atmosphere, and strong drinks can't be all bad. A fun date spot if you are trying to take somebody serious down a notch or two.

• Pros: Fun, cheap, lively, good food
• Cons: Tacky, crowded, overly young

03/03/07

GREAT Substitute if you're a Texan in NYC Jonesing for Chuy's or ALMOST Proper Tex-Mex

by aliciap at Citysearch

Imagine: 6 women...4 of whom are Texan...walk into this joint. We ALL said, "It's JUST LIKE Chuy's and it *smells* like Chuy's!!!" (If you're a Texan, you know what that comment means -- GOOD...VERY, VERY GOOD.) It even had walls covered with Elvis...minus the velvet.

We were seated promptly and COMPLETELY taken care of for the entire visit.

The tortilla soup was good, but if you ask for a dollup of sour cream, a side of cilantro -- it's like you never left home. The cheese enchiladas weren't like home, but "okay" for NYC...it was like eating a block of cheese. The chili con queso wasn't like home, either BUT IT HAS A NICE BITE (any respectable Texan KNOWS it's made with Velveeta, Ro*Tel Tomatoes, and ground beef/chili meat). Oh, no pico de gallo at this joint, but the salsa is very good...and the guacamole was the best I've had in the city. And I'd have to say that my friends would disagree with one of the former reviews that said the beans were good. My friends said that they were a FAR cry from proper refried beans.

WITH THAT SAID, this place is the BEST TEX-MEX joint I've found in NYC in my three years of living here. All it takes is a few simple requests for side items (sour cream, cilantro, jalapenos, mixing the salsa with the chili con queso, etc.) and you'll TOTALLY feel like you're back home.

The margaritas were great...$35 per pitcher (and we filled 6 glasses with one pitcher).

WE ARE SOOOOOOO GOING BACK!!

• Pros: Service, Ambience, Food, Libations
• Cons: Might have to request some side additions for Tex-Mex taste

01/28/07

REALLY TexMex!!! <3 <3 <3

by kawaiicat7 at Citysearch

My sis, cousin, and my sis's boyfriend (all from Texas) visited Tortilla Flats last night - and thank god we did! I have been looking for good - or even satisfactory - or even PASSABLE - Mexican food since I've been in NY (granted, only 2 months) - and have finally found it. The 'Pechuga de Pollo' with tomato and jalape?o sauce was Phenomenal!! A special (alas) but so good, it reminded me of my favorite sauces at Chuy's back in Texas:) The Chicken Verde was also good, the beans were tasty, and the salsa, though not spicy enough for my preferences, was fresh and actually good - actually tasted like salsa!

I have to disagree w/everyone about the strength of the 'ritas here. A few of them will definitely give you a buzz, and they *are* good (nice flavor, sweet but not sickly so) - but the 'ritas at Rodeo bar (27th & 3rd) are definitely the strongest in the city. Not nearly as good, but cheaper and insanely strong.

Oh Tortilla Flats - thank you for existing. Though you are far, I will visit you often!! =) I have found a little bit of home - and it is flavorful :)

• Pros: Amazing food, True TexMex, fun atmosphere, fun music
• Cons: Margaritas are pricey for what you get, takes a while to get a seat on a Saturday night:)

12/08/06

Cozy Floor

by blager at Citysearch

With regards to review below "There were ups and downs", Ive slept in the loo and never noticed. Was $hit-faced at the time though. Bartenders have the heaviest hands in NY...

• Pros: Bartenders with the heaviest hands in NY
• Cons: Dont hand out asprin on way out