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Early Addition
A recent Mexican-food-filled trip to Texas left Gothamist craving delicious chips and guacamole upon our return to New York. When we heard about the homemade guacamole at Café El Portal on Elizabeth Street, we couldn’t refrain from making a visit to taste it ourselves.
In a teal-painted room with just a handful of tables and low ceilings, the restaurant's casual atmosphere was warming as we sat down for lunch last week. We ordered a basket of chips and guacamole right off the bat -- creamy, but with a spicy kick, it was so addictively delicious, we savored each bite, waiting for our entrees to arrive.
Cafe El Portal offers a comprehensive menu with authentic soups, salads, and a variety of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas, all offered for bargain prices. After much brooding, Gothamist finally decided on the ensalada el portal, a house salad made of romaine and Boston lettuces with toasted pumpkin seeds, almonds, granny smith apples, and mango dressing. Our dining companion opted for the tacos de pescado, or fish tacos, made with marinated spicy cod wrapped in warm flour tortillas accompanied by a side of rice and beans.
The salad was fresh, but overdressed – the pumpkin seeds and toasted almonds added a flavorful savory bite, but the dressing was too sweet for Gothamist’s taste. On the other hand, the fish tacos were tastily marinated, filled with gooey cheese, sour cream, and warm beans, and, with the addition of the homemade guacamole and pico de gallo, as good as fish tacos can be.
Gothamist can’t wait to return for more on the menu, and noticed diners at neighboring tables eating huitlacoche, or sautéed corn-mushroom quesadillas with onion and epazote, and ears of grilled corn topped with grated cheese and chili. With margaritas and a full line of desserts, including coconut flan, tres leches cake, and a chocolate tart offered for dessert, Café El Portal is a cozy place for lunch for two, an evening dessert, or for a nightcap on the way home. Easily a new favorite for Gothamist, we want to know, what's your favorite Mexican joint in New York?
Café El Portal, 174 Elizabeth Street, between Spring & Kenmare Streets, 212-226-4642.
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It really depends on what you're looking for. My picks are: Mexicana Mama's for affordable gourmet Mexican; Itzocan Cafe for creative Mexican; Matamoros grocery in Williamsburg for fast, truly authentic and delicious Mexican fare. Can't beat the sopes at $1.50. Oh, and Rocking Horse Cafe has the best tamales I've ever had.
I recall seeing Steve Schirripa from the Sopranos in there a couple years ago. He filled up about 1/4 of the space in there, literally. He's huge!