Worth the Michelin star imo. The aguachile was really good but extremely SPICY. The tostada was also great. For entree the mole and chilaquiles was great. read more

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Went for Brunch on Saturday and it was great!! There was a 3 course brunch meal. I have the appetizer with the scallops and strawberries but if you can't handle spicy foods, I would recommend getting something else. I had the short rib chilaquiles and it was delicious. I then had the Peaches rice pudding for dessert. I would probably recommend the mole cake over the rice pudding though both were great. The drinks were strong and great as well. Definitely recommend and excited to come back and try the dinner menu. read more

(4.5 stars) The yellowfin tostada is one of my favorite dishes in a long time. Each and every bite is wonderfully balanced: a great fusion of textures with the soft crumbly flakes, the crunchy tostada, the smooth guacamole, and the soft mushy yellowfin, mixed with some heat from the jalapeños and bursting with bright colors, it's a pure joy. Also definitely not that small, that alone with maybe sharing a second dish would be plenty. The other dishes we had were also super enjoyable, each maybe missing a little bit of heat but totally worth getting. One was the pork memela which was very subdued but had great flavor on the meat. The other was a nachos dish with steak--which would have been nice to have some more of the guacamole for--but the steak was super tender and there was plenty of it. The only thing that was slightly disappointing was the beans. The allure of being such an expensive side dish caught my eye. It's main draw is that it has bacon but in the end, it only really has one somewhat over-bearing burnt/rustic flavor, which overpowered anything it coupled with. read more

Claro - Yellowfin Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Been here a number of times. The food is good and it's so nice to have some more varied perspectives on Mexican food in NYC. Service is always great, although food does come out rather slowly so budget for a long meal - good for catching up with friends. When they tell you something is spicy they're not kidding, but I love the spicy dishes, but if you're not into it they have other great options. All in all I'm really happy this restaurant exists and plan to go back again. read more

Came back here for the third time ever and second time since Covid hit and had my third 5 star dinner with my husband! I'm so happy nothing has slipped here. Food is exceptional (as are the cocktails) as is the service and ambiance and just a really enjoyable experience from start to finish! Since the pandemic hit, I've gotten so used to eating at home and pretty good at cooking that I have high expectations for a night out and Claro hits the mark in every way. It's a great place to celebrate a special occasion or just a treat to yourself! Yes you will spend a lot of money but it's worth every penny in my opinion. I started with the Aquachile - raw scallops in a ceviche-like spicy bowl with seasonal strawberries for sweetness, radish, homemade tortillas on the side and lots of heat that makes you sweat by the time you finish it! If you can take the spice this is incredible! Second course was the slow cooked beef cheek tacos- tender and flavorful mini soft tacos Third course- soft shell crabs mole! Oh heck yeah. It's things like this on the menu that get me excited and I doubt I'd find anywhere else. Final course was the churros! Everyone who waited on us was so nice and helpful. Attentive without being annoying or intrusive. Now that my husband and I are vaccinated we decided to eat indoors and had so much space. The restaurant is doing such a great job of social distancing I almost think they could add more tables. I want to make sure they do well enough to stay open for many years to come! If you love Mexican food, you must treat yourself to this special place for a memorable meal and evening out. read more

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Best food I've had in 3 months (since my LA vacation). I don't typically like Mexican food and I was happily blown away by claro. Waiting for an opportunity to come again. Came for brunch. Flavors are beautiful and flawless. Be sure to mention if you can't handle spicy food! The outside area is gorgeous if you're able to book a spot read more

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Came here with a res for 6:30 pm on a weeknight (made a res only a few days in advance). Host explained the Covid-related safety procedures (wear a mask when you're not at your table and exit from the side after your meal. We got the 4 course tasting but chose: octopus tostada (flavorful, tender octopus), Arctic char aguachile (refreshing citrus notes, topped w fish roe), empanada (interesting flavors, shell has a good crunch), barbacoa tacos (least favorite), pork cheek mole rojo (I preferred this mole while my date preferred the mole negro- meat was tender), duck mole negro (duck was cooked well). The portion sizes are decent so we weren't able to finish dessert - we ordered the mole chocolate cake (dense, we couldn't finish) and churros (v crunchy w strong starch flavor, not sure if masa or corn is mixed in the batter to give it this texture ). Our server, Gregorio was attentive and friendly! He cleared our plates in a timely fashion and noticed when our beverages needed refreshing. We were celebrating a birthday and noted this in the res. I think the host forgot. Three other tables were given their pre-fixe dessert with candles (so it's not like they didn't have candles- this was odd given that the host inquired about the birthday guest's name when I checked in...) Overall, the atmosphere, food and service were a welcome respite for this part of town. read more

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Claro has really improved since I was here about a year ago, and I think Edward J is right when he says "if you order correctly, you can have a truly fantastic meal." That wasn't this meal, but it was still very good. The beef shortrib in the mole negro was unbelievably tender and flavorful. They place it in a pool of mole and top it with sesame seeds. Every single bite was delicious. I was a little let down by the boring fingerling potatoes and tough onion accompanying. The smoked trout quesadilla would be a satisfactory option from a local grocery store, but at $24 it was not the right call. Flavorless, lightly smoky canned taste to the fish. We didn't finish it. The yellowfin tostada has really great texture, which excused a bland green sauce. Fish was yummy. The drinks were pretty good. Cuerno was fantastic, Reina was alright (the jamaica was overpowering, could barely taste the mezcal). As with last time, the service was really incredible. They're the perfect amount of attentive without overbearing. Thanks! read more

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I ate at Claro for the first time last night but it certainly won't be my last. This is the best Oaxacan food in the city and some of the best I've had period. It's a somewhat unique/fusion take on Oaxacan food that I really appreciate. A mix of traditional flavors and dishes with ingredients and sometimes proteins that are more common in other cuisines. This restaurant should be more highly rated here on Yelp but it's dinged by: people who loved it but gave 4 stars (why do this?), got delivery, or have never eaten Oaxacan food before. Drinks: 5 sentidos Mezcal 5/5 Le club 5/5 Bottle of Gruner Veltiner 3.5/5 The wine and wine menu are lacking but this place is about Mezcal. The curation and quality of the Mezcal on the beverage list are amazing. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable about the Mezcal list and made great choices for us. The markup is 3.5-4x which is lower than the average pour cost in the city. $16-$20 an ounce may sound like a lot but these are unique and sometimes hard to find Mezcal bottles that cost $150+. Mezcals made using ancestral techniques and heritage clay pot stills, this is craftsmanship and you taste it in the liquid. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a larger and more complete Mezcal assortment in the city. Food: Aguachile: Spicy is an understatement here, the dish is generous on the charred habanero oil. The protein gets a little lost in the heat and flavors. The husk cherries are incredible little pops of flavor. This dish should come with a palate cleanser to remove the burn from your mouth before the second course. 3.5/5 Pulpo tostada: the octopus is tender and full of flavor. The tostada itself is amazing. 5/5 GARNACHAS DE VENADO: this dish has changed from some of the pictures here on yelp. The version we were served used blue corn and were smaller fried corn tortillas than before. The combination of venison and blue corn tasted almost like corned beef. 4/5 TACOS DE BARBACOA: the heritage goat barbacoa was tender and flavorful. It's the star of the second course. 5/5 **** after having the mole negro in the main course, I'd say it's worth the $34 supplement to get the mole negro on the toasted bone marrow. While I didn't have it, I'd eat the mole negro on shoe leather and give it a 5/5, it's that good. Mole Rojo: the mole rojo is good but if you compare a mole rojo against a mole negro, I don't know if it can ever hold up. Mole negro is just a more complex and flavorful dish, not just here but probably anywhere. The cornbread stuffed quail here though is more interesting than the short rib. The salad with mustard greens was so fresh, bites tasted like a greenhouse on the palate. 5/5 Mole negro: the star of the show. An amazing mole negro I'd eat on anything and this is a very good mole negro. Complex in FLAVOR ... real flavor developed with love and time and technique coming from 20-30 ingredients not washed our flavor coming from quick hits of vinegar, salt, or sugar. Many "moles" are far too sweet, but not this one. The short rib was tender but short ribs are everywhere. I cook short ribs at home, sous vide them in a braising liquid for 48 hours, and they might be better than this one. I'd have rather had duck, especially since it's fall, and I have seen that they do occasionally serve the mole negro with duck. That's just a personal preference. I'd also have liked to have had a table bread or something on the side to clean all of the mole off the plate with, in absence of that I was tempted to pick up the plate and lick it but I didn't. This dish is a can't miss. 5/5 Mole cake: this is a bitter chocolate dessert that isn't very sweet at all. It's very rich and the portion is very generous for what it is. It's a dessert to be split, too much for one person I'd say. 4.5/5 Churros: the churros are ok/average. Churros are another one of those things that are fairly simple and have proliferated everywhere so it's difficult to be blown away by a churro. The dipping sauce on the side however was really good. 3/5 Overall, a restaurant very deserving of its Michelin star and 4.6/4.7 ratings on other platforms. read more

Claro - Aguachile and Tostada de Pulpo - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Claro was a beautiful New York anomaly. I trekked down a dark and deserted 3rd avenue to end up in a in a starkly lively, bustling restaurant. Despite it being only 6:30pm on a bitter cold Thursday, the place was packed with happy chattering crowds sipping cocktails and sharing tacos. I don't know if it was the flowing mezcal or the whimsical art (notably a large mural of three goats stewing a woman), but somehow everyone, especially the staff, seemed to forget it was winter in New York and was acting as if it was summer in Mexico. The servers were cheery and attentive and talked us through the preparation of the individual items within each dish. Without this I almost wouldn't have recognized the sunchokes and beets in our farm salad which were completely transformed by a crisp roast and unforgettable spicy and savory sauce. Our fellow diners were likewise overtly friendly and we benefitted by comparing notes to discover the Yellowfin Tostada which was the highlight of our meal. (The Pork Memela and Mole Negro were also delicious, but if I return I will probably skip them and just go for 3 orders of the tostadas!) Though we were too full for the delicious looking chocolate cake, we wrapped up the night with a shot of mezcal which allowed us to carry on celebrating even as we bundled up and returned to the real world. Overall, the food here was good but the friendly and fun ambiance was what made Claro stand out from the other Oaxacan food in New York. read more

Claro - Yellowfin Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Been to Claro multiple times (pre and during COVID). This place is one of the best restaurants in the area, if not the city. Everything we've tried has been nothing short of amazing, the drinks are flavorful, and the service is kind and attentive. Vegetarian options are limited due to the pre-fixe menu, but they're definitely worth the visit. They are unique and delicious. Their outdoor patio is fantastic in the times of COVID, and they are particular (as they should be for staff and guests) about their mask requirements. We always feel safe here. read more

Really disappointed in the food. Had been looking forward, but the experience fell far short of expectations. Tried five dishes. Three dishes were blah, one was average and one entirely inedible. Everything tasted like leftovers slopped together. read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants in New York alongside Xixa and Chela & Garnacha. We had an hour wait yet it was certainly worthwhile and passes by quick at the nearby bars. The drink selection focuses on mezcal. Mezcal is a smokey liquor which if consider the Mexican counter part to scotch. They had several dozen options. I'm not too familiar with the liquor but the bartender guided me through the selection and offered a fantastic introductory option. We had four courses. The first was a yellowfin tostada. The tostada started with a perfectly seasoned guacamole then blood orange slices, then the marinated yellow fin, followed by chicharones and sliced avocado with parsley. The flavor and texture profiles were outstanding. Next, we had a mushroom and onion memela. Memela is a soft, thick, and grainy tortilla. It has a crispy and charred base with a soft interior and is also sturdy. The onion and mushroom medley was savory. Our third course was a short rib mole. This is an absolute must order. The short rib was tender and the meat fell apart so easily. The mole sauce was delicate and allowed the short rib to stand out. It came with a side of potatoes which were soft and crispy. This was an outstanding dish. Our final course was an ice cream dish dubbed el dorado for its similarity to rocky road. It's a Mexican hot chocolate goat cheese ice cream with peanuts and toasted marshmallows. It was pretty salty but a interesting dessert. All in all, it was a pricey meal yet one of the best Mexican experiences in New York. The service was attentive through our stay. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. read more

So cute in there, love the ambiance. The food was amazing especially the mole! The staff was all great and super sweet!

Easily one of the best meals we've had since moving to Brooklyn last year. It's also in that dangerous area of actually being affordable and has that one Michelin star... pray for my wallet. Anyway, we came with another couple and ordered the octopus tostada, tuna tostada, tacos campechanos, turkey tacos, both moles (they were out of the pork memela), and sides of black beans and rice. So, 8 dishes shared among 4 people. A summary of the food: -Tuna tostada: just incredible. A good hint of spice, and I really enjoyed the bite of orange, tuna, and crunchy chicharron together. Will definitely be ordering this as long as it's on the menu. -Least impressed with the turkey tacos. I think the big flavor of blue cheese I had with my first bite of this taco kinda threw it off. -I found the Mole Negro (with duck I think?) better than the Mole Rojo (with rabbit). The duck was super tender and already sliced, compared to the rabbit which was on the bone. I personally preferred the mole negro's strong nod to its Oaxacan roots, aka the bold mix of dark chocolate and undertones of pepper. I did enjoy the additions to the Mole Rojo, though- the fruitiness of the apple and pear were great with the rojo sauce. Service was a little slow between the tostadas and the tacos for some reason. We made a reservation and I strongly recommend doing so at least a few days in advance. It's not a big space and probably not a great place for parties bigger than 4-6. I hope to come back for a meal in the backyard, where you can apparently watch the tortillas, tostadas, and memelas getting made. read more

Love love love this spot! Drive by here often and never noticed it until now, super close to where I work. Might make it a daily thing! Came here on a Wednesday night at 530pm, made an rsvp on resy the day prior. Indoor seating with social distancing, temperatures were taken at the door and contact tracing info was taken down as well. Love the ambience, it was dark and had a rustic romantic vibe to it. Great music selection, alot of 90s throwbacks. Staff was nice, friendly and helpful. They did come by a few times to ask about the menu. They only had a prefixed menu option which was 72$ per person for 4 course meal, a little bit on the expensive side but it came with 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 1 dessert. The portions were okay, entrees were decently sized, the tacos were smaller than expected. We ended up splitting so we were able to try everything! First appetizers we got was Tostada de Calabaza and Tostada de Pulpo. The octopus in the pulpo was a little bit on the spicy side. The squash was very root flavored, it was okay for my tasting since I am not a big fan of root vegetables, sort of reminded me of taro. For the entrees we got Tacos de Barbacoa (lamb belly) , Garnachas (venison) , Mole Rojo (pork cheek) and Mole de Calabaza (scallops). My favorite was the scallops it was perfectly cooked, not too chewy and not undercooked. Pork cheek was very gamy and chewy! Venison was kind of spicy as well, lamb belly was chewy, flavorful and not dry at all! Lastly, got 2 desserts Gelato and Arroz con Leche. The rice pudding came with some sort of potato in it, maybe sweet potato? The gelato tasted like alcohol. My friend liked it alot. Would come back again, hopefully sooner if they have their a la carte menu!! read more

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Solid fancy tapas restaurant with full flavored dishes. Slightly pricier than typical 2 $$, but worth it given the quality and speakeasy level cocktails. We did walk-in on a Wednesday, which was already crowded despite a few open tables saved for reservations. Sitting at the bar got a bit crowded but the dishes go fast. Portion size are pretty small but hearty. We had barbacoa tacos, which came in 3s as did most of the dishes (interesting for sharing by 2 ppl and wonder why the Chef made the choice to do so). Was he setting people up for a more romantic date by sharing mini bites of tacos? Garnacha and chorizo memela were all well flavored and filling. I enjoyed the kick from the spicy chorizo. Finally we ended with the mole rojo, which is very rich despite the side salad. We got tortilla on the side (3 pieces again!) The cocktails were the true highlights. The fruity crispness balanced out the heavy flavors. Mezcal lingers with the spicy mole flavor. read more

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Fell in love with this place. We didn't have reservation, went around 6-6.30, got seated right away. I didn't expect much since I haven't been nor read any reviews prior to my arrival. The staff were nice and very welcoming. The waiter suggested to order 3-4 dishes as they are meant for sharing. I randomly pick couple of dishes that I kinda know what they are. Surprisingly they all were very good. I want to go back and try the rest of the menu. Their cocktails are good too, I usually get good cocktails in the city, glad to know I don't need to go far anymore. The place is very intimate, perfect for date spot :) read more

Claro - Reina carmesi *must try* - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

One of the only elevated dining experiences I got to enjoy so far in 2020, and I'm so glad it was Claro. It's a four course menu that is updated often so I intend to come back very soon as I've already seen new things rotated in since my visit a couple weeks back at the beginning of September. Every single item we had was amazing, but the most memorable were the fried oysters, the crispy pork tacos, both mole dishes, and the arroz con leche. Each drink was remarkable as well and I savored every sip. Their cocktails were so creative and interesting, and I will never forget the taste of my drink that featured palo santo. Their backyard is so beautiful and feels like an oasis that isn't in NY. Highly recommend for special dinners like birthdays or anniversaries! read more

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Myself and my partner celebrated my birthday here over dinner and could not be happier. The food was superb, the service was impeccable and the environment was absolutely lovely - definitely get a table outside if you can. Would highly recommend the Tostada de Esquites and Mole Negro! read more

Claro - Tostada de Esquites - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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KenScale: 8.0/10 New York City has no shortage of great Mexican restaurants, but usually the places I have been to have drawn no particular boundaries in terms of regional influences. That's why I have been meaning to check out Claro in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn for a long time for the restaurant's take on food from Oaxaca in central Mexico. Could the team behind the nearby Freek's Mill which my wife Jun and I had visited during the early days of our being together and very much enjoyed deliver another magic at Claro? I wouldn't go as far as to say Claro is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city period, but there were some pretty interesting dishes that Jun and I sampled during our recent Friday night dinner. Any meal at Claro needs to start with one or two tostadas. Claro's kitchen has a knack for combining distinct ingredients often to great effects, such as the one with yellowfin accompanied by blood orange and avocado. It doesn't have the type of spicy kick that Jun and I usually enjoy at Mexican restaurants, but the subtlety of different flavors behind this beautiful looking dish was quite stunning. The other tostada, a vegetarian version with avocado, beet and pomegranate, is probably a healthy enthusiast's dream; I felt it didn't have the same level of interesting quality that the yellowfin counterpart had, but Jun was very enamored with the clean flavor. The weakest dish was the memela, a type of toasted cake made of masa topped with chorizo and queso fresco. It was too bland for my taste, and I couldn't recall anything memorable about it. On the other hand, I quickly fell in love with mole rojo with pork cheek accompanied by apple and spinach salad. The rich mole sauce on top of the pork cheek somehow worked so beautifully with the fresh cuts of apples. Jun and I gladly took these delicious ingredients into tortillas on the side and every bite was a blissful experience. For dessert, we ordered a dish with a combination of goat milk chocolate, cajeta (a type of syrup) and peanuts which was delightful to our palate. Claro is quickly turning into a neighborhood favorite, especially after favorable reviews in recent months, and the restaurant indeed became quickly packed in the course of our dinner, so my suggestion is always to book a week or two in advance. There is full bar with a concise list of tequila and mezcal based cocktails that you would want to order to complement your meal. The warm and inviting vibe of the dining space, with careful attention to designs and decorations everywhere, is another plus to your dining experience. Claro brings another angle to the Mexican cuisine; while it is not perfect, I did sample a good number of unique dishes with cleaner favor than what I'm used to at other Mexican joints. If you feel adventurous with Mexican food and want to see what the cuisine of Oaxaca is all about, Claro is a terrific option to consider. read more

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I am Mexican and I had certain expectations when visiting Claro. I was very excited about trying the different combinations in the dinner menu and was disappointed to find out that the food did not maintain the signature taste of Mexican cuisine. Definetly not a place to go for an authentic taste of Mexico in NYC. The ingredients were all good quality, but I particularly had an issue with the sweete taste behind the tuna and pulpo tostadas, and the lack of complexity of the two flavors of mole we tried (black and red). I will not be coming back to this place again. I rather spend my money on Casa Enrique or Cosme. read more

We did the 4 course dinner with my family of 4. Each course included 4 options to choose from (except for dessert, which had 3 options), so we ordered 1 of everything and shared among ourselves to try them all. Food was great all around, definitely really well conceived but not "pretentious" or over the top unusual which you find in some higher end restaurants. Portion sizes were good too. Really, they were generally more creative and very well executed versions of normal Oaxaca cuisine you would find in any good eatery. Our waitress was great and she gave us a lot of background on the mezcal flight we ordered. The desserts were also good, but I especially enjoyed their rice pudding. I would never imagine the humble rice pudding could be elevated so much. read more

Private seating area in the back and hands down one of the best Mexican food I've ever had. This place bring its to the next level. Between the drinks, service and the pre-fix dinner it's was a wonderful dining experience. There is no way anyone can be disappointed. Very generous portions you won't go home hungry. read more

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Delicious cocktails, insane mezcal collection, good service, lovely backyard, great food! Highlights included the mole short rib, yellowfin tostada and the molten mole cake for dessert. So delicious. Pricey, though, so expect to spend a lot here. read more

My friends introduced me to this delightful spot. I have a dairy allergy, which they easily accommodated. Our waitress was attentive to our needs and oh so kind. The food was exquisite and bursting with flavor in every dish. The four course meal was also well timed as the dishes came out just when we were finished perseverating over the preceding delicacies. Cannot wait to come back! read more

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This restaurant was absolutely delicious. I enjoy a prefix so for me it worked, however I only gave 4 starts cause for some of my friends it makes it limiting to have a small menu. The drinks were phenomenal too. Service outstanding. They adhere to the reservation seating tile for the most part and we were asked to leave since we had finished eating. I understand when a restaurant is as busy as they were and we didn't feel rushed while eating. read more

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Hadn't been to Claro in years and so was very impressed that it has maintained its excellent standard. The addition of an A la carte menu is great, and we enjoyed everything we ordered. Always feels like a special occasion when dining there! read more

I've been here many times and loved the food and service and the whole thing! I would always bring friends and family here and always tipped well. Let me tell you why I won't be back: I was excited to eat lunch at Claro recently after a long morning. When my girlfriend and I arrived we were informed of the prix fixe brunch. I told the host that while I was totally in and up for whatever that my girlfriend wasn't terribly hungry. Can she just have a cocktail or two while I order the prix fixe? No! it's mandatory for entry. He was not impolite but we quickly left. If the restaurant was packed with people I would gripe privately but understand. Here's the thing. the place was COMPLETELY empty. We would have been the only people in there. We are friendly and repeat customers who would evangelize about how great this place was to anybody who would listen. But not anymore. Why on earth would you turn away enthusiastic customers ready to pay? I didn't go to business school but that just seems like a bad move to antagonize your patrons like that. read more

Had a great Easter brunch here and sat outside on the back patio. Food was a great value and although I thought the portions looked small we left extremely full and couldn't finish dessert. Cocktails were also great and server was very friendly. read more

Claro - Brunch short ribs - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This has to be the most adorable patio seating in Brooklyn. The backyard is decked out with lights, candles, and heat lamps, plus its covered with a lattice woven with plants, so it's fairly weather proof as far as outdoor dining goes. As for the food, it was one of the best meals we've had since dining returned post COVID. I do wish they let my party share a prix fixe instead of ordering one per person because 4 courses is an insane amount of food, but everything was phenomenal (& not to worry- they'll pack anything up that you can't finish). Highlights included the fried oyster tacos, enmoladas verdes & mezcal ice cream. Both of our mezcal cocktails were also amazing, I doubt you could go wrong regardless of what you choose. Also shout out to my server who saw I was swatting at mosquitos and gave me her own personal bug spray to help me out. Now that is exceptional service. read more

What a treat to try a restaurant in our hood on day 2! Claro is a solid 4.25. It was great to see the place packed on a rainy end of summer weekend but didn't have to wait more than 20-25 minutes for a table for two. The restaurant is beautifully designed and feels cozy without being so dark you need to pull out your cell phone light to read the menu. The chairs are a cushioned folding variety that are more comfortable than they sound, but can pinch you if you move them the wrong way. Starting with cocktails you'd expect a ton of Mezcal based drinks since one of the owners also owns El Buho. I prefer my agave in the tequila variety, so went for the Vi Roja which was very balanced and had one of those nice giant single cubes in it. My wife went for the sweeter side and chose a Don Ron - a spectacular flavorful drink that was perfect for end of summer. The food just comes out as it's done, so we ordered a bunch of things that were a mix between appetizer size & entree size. They were very accommodating with food allergies and left nuts off where requested (and I'm still alive). First came the Memela - which was like a little heavenly pizza. Not what my wife was expecting when thinking of heirloom tomatoes, but still superb. The homemade tortilla it came on was perfection. This was gone in 3 seconds flat. Then came the King Salmon Crudo (sans nuts). We had ordered some rice on the side (it was just plain white rice for $7.. not worth it) but when you mixed up the crudo and dropped a little rice in there it was a bowl for the gods. I don't even like salmon too much, but this was super yum. The Quesadilla came next and wrapping that tortilla around anything is... I mean.. yummmy. The chard/mushroom/goat chees really made it a star quesadilla and had great flavors overall. We rounded out the plates with the Tlayuda. By this point my wife was almost full, but had to try it as I loved the flavors even if it was a bit messy to eat (glad it wasn't a date). They suggest just diving in with a knife and fork, which is the correct way to eat this treat. To close out we went with a dessert option that was off menu - a chocolate mouse. It tasted more like a gelato but satisfied the sweet craving without being memorable. Unfortunately it was raining and we didn't get to check out the back yard, which looked like a great option. I did peek into the open air outdoor kitchen where the chef was hard at work and creating some amazing smells. Note the amazing clay pieces that they use for all of their dishes - really helps create the authentic atmosphere. Nice pluses like having my napkin folded when going to the restroom and never having to ask for a water refill certainly gives them a service thumbs up - definitely pros. While I'm not giving top stars (which places I MUST go back to frequently get) it's above 4 stars no doubt. It's great having new & genuine places come to the hood and it's a welcome addition to have this Oaxacan gem. read more

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I spent $200 on a meal for two people (one a vegetarian) that left us hungry and thirsty. I don't recall ever having a Mexican dinner and not feeling full and a bit buzzed from two margaritas, which were super-expensive and watered down here. The dishes, although delicious, were minuscule and lacked consistency. We were told to order at least six dishes, which should have clued me in about their diminutive size. The tables were too close together, making conversation impossible and frustrating. The only saving grace was the service, which was impeccable. I would hesitate in recommending this establishment to anyone, especially a Mexican-American, such as myself. I left feeling not only dissatisfied but also deeply disappointed. read more

Claro is a unique restaurant in the Mexican scene in that it specializes in only one region of Mexico, Oaxaca. And Oaxaca is indeed a great choice given the variety of amazing flavors this area has to offer. We made reservations and were seated immediately, and I have to say, I'm glad we did because this place was packed on a Thursday evening. We were recommended to order 4-5 plates to share, so we did. The first place out was the Winter Salad, which featured kale and roasted squash with a delicious vinaigrette that was topped with chapulines...grasshoppers. You can't get more Oaxacan than that, grasshoppers are a staple at the Guelaguetza festival held every summer in Oaxaca and I was so pleased to see them incorporated into the cuisine. The next dishes out were two varieties of memelas. The Maria Sabina Memela was just absolutely delicious. The flavors and the obviously homemade corn tortilla brought me right back to Mexico when I took the first bite. I highly recommend this dish. The regular memela was flavorful too, with the chorizo being a highlight, but it was very...simple, compared to the rest of the food, something that could definitely be made at home with relative ease. The last dish we ordered was the Mole Negro. It was not too bitter like some restaurant moles, the meat practically melted in your mouth and it was served with a side of seasonal roasted vegetables. I would've liked the mole to be a slight tad bit sweeter, but that's just personal preference and definitely not an issue with quality. The drinks were good, mezcal is extremely bitter so I can't say I enjoyed my cocktail too much, it if you are looking for a traditional Oaxacan liquor, mezcal is the way to go. The micheladas are legit, authentic, and taste just like they do in Mexico. I would love to come back to try the other plates, and besides the food and service and prices were nice and very reasonable. read more

Amazing three course brunch in a beautiful and lush backyard! Menu changes with the seasons and all ingredients are bright and flavorful! Highly recommend the mole chocolate cake for dessert--warm, spicy and gooey in the best way! read more

Claro - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I've been to Claro twice: for brunch and in the afternoon on their bar menu. Brunch was pricey but really delicious! All the food I had was really great. Skip weekday lunch, the bar menu isn't worth it. read more

Came here to celebrate our first night in Brooklyn. We had made reservations but we still had a little bit of a wait for our table. But that's okay! Because if we hadn't we wouldn't have been able to get to know the bartenders, who were phenomenal. We ordered some cocktails but the bartenders recommended some additions/alterations to the drink and it ended up making them taste soooo much better! Food was excellent! We were a group of 5 so we ended up ordering 8 different dishes. It was definitely a good amount of food. Overall, staff was attentive and personable and food was excellent. Would recommend again! read more

Put aside your Michelin star expectations and consider the amazing value of the tasting menu. I'm not sure I'd give them a star, but that's not for me for decide. But I'd probably put them in the BIB category. But they're still easily 5 star. The food is simple in theory but complex in execution. For the first course we had the tostada and the Aguachile. The tostada was great with earthy seasonings pairing excellently with red and yellow beets, cheese and cilantro. The aguachile was the only the dish I had a problem with, and I truly recommend not ordering it. I LOVE and crave spicy, and in fairness they warn you it's spicy, but it's so spicy in a completely unnecessary way. If the rest of the menu had some heat it would make sense, but instead it's just over the top heat that drowns out all the flavor. The second course contained my favorite dish, the venison garnachas. This is just about as good as food gets. Venison and a flavorful warm tomato sauce and topped with sheep's milk cheese. So fragrant I was taking long deep sniffs before each bite like a freak. Major Wow factor. The barbacoa tacos were fabulous, and most likely the best you'll ever eat, but they couldn't compete with the venison. The pork mole rojo and duck mole negro were great, and completely different versions, of mole the like of which I've not had outside of Mexico City. The duck mole was a bit sweeter while the pork mole was a bit earthier and smokier. For dessert we ordered chocolate mole cake. We also ordered the mezcal ice cream, two separate dishes that we loved pairing together. Super casual atmosphere(wear almost anything you want within reason)and we loved dining outside. The service was fun, unpretentious, friendly and personal. Great experience, highly recommended, especially if you've never had upscale Mexican cuisine. read more

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Really good food. Mediocre service. I don't really expect people to be super nice - but this was ridiculous. Fake smile, impatient, grumpy if you ask for anything. If you hate your job, maybe quit? read more

There are so many beautiful things I'd like to say about Claro, but I will keep this light. I was skeptical about this menu -- only because I'm extremely picky when it comes to Mexican food. There are so many places claiming "authentic" flavors and disappoint. Claro is not claiming authentic flavors or cheesy drinks that are titled after Mexican things. No, Claro (which means "clear" in Spanish) brings you the clarity surrounding the need to continue to come back for more. From a beautifully well-rounded Mezcal menu to an even more sensational Oaxacan array of flavors I was beyond impressed and left satisfied. We ordered Duck Mole, Octopus Tostada, Mole Negro, Shrimp Aguachile, and these beautiful seasonal drinks and everything was perfection. Honestly encourage you to eat here AT LEAST once, expand your palate to the beautiful flavors that Oaxaca offers and support a small local business doing right by their customers. read more