Came for brunch and was able to snag a resy for 6 people on the same day. Despite how busy it was, we were seated quickly and service was great. Food also came out fast. They had interesting decor and the vibes were good. This brunch was fire!! The chicken milanesa was breaded so well and very flavorful. The pancakes were just incredible--not too soggy like pancakes sometimes are. It is family style so we got a few things to share and everything was on point. We also tried the steak which was super flavorful. Would definitely come back!! read more

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Loved my experience here! From the modern yet cozy decor to the fun brunch menu -- everything we ordered was so so tasty. Here's what we ordered: - Hibiscus Agua Fresca (Okay. Not amazing) (5/10) - Soft scrambled egg salsa matcha tostada (8/10) - Masa Pancakes (9/10) - Chicken Milanese (8/10) I'll say the egg tostada was.... absolutely delicious. The Milanese was golden brown, beyond crispy but leaned more schnitzel on my opinion with the tart slaw on top and the mustard leaning sauce on the bottom. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu. read more

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Hitting Hellbender before a concert was the best decision I've made in a while. Finally made the trek to Ridgewood & it did not disappoint. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, helping explain the menu & giving us great suggestions. Started off with pineapple margaritas that were REALLY good & not too strong. The fried oaxacan cheese, three cheese empanada & shrimp ceviche was extremely delicious. Shrimp ceviche tastes fresh and the small jalapeños offered just the right kick of spice. The chicken milanesa & dry-aged pork chop were absolutely delicious. Pork chop was a buttery savory delight & the chicken was cooked to perfection, was moist not over cooked & had a wonderful crunch. The green rice was surprisingly good (I'm not the biggest fan of rice). The space was a lot smaller than I had anticipated but very well thought out, didn't feel like we were sitting on top of an each. I love an open kitchen concept to see what it takes to pump out delicious meal after meal. If this is on your list or you're in the area, run, jog, speed walk to this neighborhood gem it will not disappoint. read more

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Hellbender just earned a spot on my brunch rotation. Every dish brought something different to the table and the whole meal just worked. Starting with the Soft Scramble Egg Tostada, scrumptious is the right word! The eggs were perfectly soft and creamy and paired with that chili sauce it had just the right amount of heat to wake everything up. The Shrimp Ceviche was clean, bright and fresh, served with thick crispy tostadas to scoop it all up. The Chamoy Watermelon though? order it, full stop! Juicy watermelon cubes coated in chamoy, chili flakes and mint. Sweet, spicy, tangy and refreshing all at once. It's one of those dishes that sounds simple but completely delivers. The Chicken Milanesa was a solid protein forward dish. Beautifully golden and crispy with a light coleslaw on top that kept it from feeling too heavy. And the Chilaquiles were loaded and satisfying, topped with crema, cotija and scallions. The Vampiro cocktail has spicy tequila, house sangrita, hibiscus and grapefruit. It had everything I look for in a drink. Bold, a little spicy and so well balanced. Couldn't have chosen better! read more

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Had dinner with my niece at this little gem located in Ridgewood and it did not disappoint! The ambiance was simple and welcoming with cafeteria style seating. We were immediately greeted by our lovely hostess who immediately seated us and advised us that we could get in a happy hour drink since it was going to be over in 10minutes. The pineapple margarita had me nice! For starters, we decided to have all three...the chamoy watermelons n cubes were my fave a hint of sweet n tangy burst my tastebuds. The chips were fresh and crispy, guac was perfect and so was the fried oaxacan cheese. Dinner we split the gulf prawns that were drenched in a rich and delicious pineapple habanero butter sauce. I kind of regretted we shared the plate. It was so darn good!! My niece ordered the chicken milanesa which was a dep fried cutlet. The sauce that it was served with made it taste better as I found the cutlet could have been seasoned way more. To end the night, we ordered churros for dessert! Those warm bad boys melted in your mouth! The diced peaches that accompanied it were like icing on the cake. All of the servers were pleasant throughout our meal. They ensured we were okay, they cleaned our table after each meal and always had a smile on their faces! I definitely will be back! read more

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Hellbender is a stellar Mexican American brunch spot in Ridgewood owned by Rolo's. Named for a North American salamander, Hellbender features wooden booths, brick walls, and a large life-like jaguar centerpiece to give it a wild edge. Similar to Rolo's, it has an inventive brunch menu that is wildly popular. The chamoy watermelon was tangy and sweet with a house made sauce containing chile de árbol to add some zing. The soft scrambled egg tostada with cheddar, black beans and salsa macha was spicy and soft with a smoky crunch. The chicken Milanesa was crispy and juicy with a bright cabbage slaw. The chilaquiles were fresh and filling with sunny side up eggs and pork chorizo atop crispy edged homemade tortillas. The service was fast and friendly. read more

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First time eating in this neighborhood and area was cute! For food - we got the chips and guac, ceviche, tuna, prawns, chicken milanesa & steak. Between 5 people - that wasn't too much food at all. I was mostly full after the meal. The ceviche, tuna and prawns split between 5 is basically one bite each. For the apps- the guac and tuna were my faves. The chicken and steak were much larger portions. Both were good but I liked the chicken milanesa more. It was fried perfectly and flavorful. Alright - now for the drinks. I wasn't particularly impressed by the cocktail menu. Mostly everything seemed on the sweeter side so I ordered a mezcal cocktail off menu and my one criteria for the drink was for it not to be too sweat. The bartender came back with a pink drink with a sugar rim. Basically a cosmo with mezcal - made me & my friends LOL. My overall review of the place is in between good and great. Fun atmosphere and good ambiance. read more

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Some of their dishes are worth the hype! We made reservation for brunch at 11:30am on a Sunday and it was completely full. (don't attempt to walk in, place is small and PACKED!) We tried a bunch of stuff and the star was definitely the soft scrambled egg tostada, the masa pancakes and coffee tres leches cake. These are a must try! Good to try was also the fried oaxacan cheese but at $14 for 3 pieces, it's not worth a repeat order for me. These were skippable to be honest: mega thick bacon (just ok) home fries (meh) The chilaquiles (pork chorizo, salsa ranchera, crema, queso fresco, sunny up eggs) lacked flavor for a dish with so much going on. Service was pretty quick. read more

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A restaurant that has the ability to change your brain chemistry is one I do not take lightly. I have nothing but incredible things to say about this spot. I walked in and immediately loved the comfortable hustle & bustle of this beautiful restaurant. So many colors and styled so well. Yara is a striking wiz in the kitchen and we had absolutely no notes! We ordered: chamoy watermelon- which was perfectly flavored with a range of zesty flavors. The soft scramble tostada which absolutely blew me away... I wish we got 8 more of them. The mix of the salsa matcha and crunch was such a delectable texture. We then of course got the heirloom masa pancakes which were perfectly crispy on the outside and smooth and fluffy in the inside with a side of mega thick cut bacon which also had a sweet and savory flavor profile. I can't wait to go back and try more. Every item we got was a hit and we're just so impressed. The service was easy and quick and would recommend going out of your way to come to this restaurant! read more

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Stopped here to grab something quick to go .. place was crowded - which is always a great sign. Patrons were even friendly. Bartender is a true mixologist and made me the bomb margarita with soda while i waited for my shrimp ceviche which was absolutely devine!! OMG - I will be coming back for my dishes being that the woman who was eating at the bar told me that EVERYTHING IS GOOD here and I believe it after a spoonful of that ceviche!! I mean - every bite was packed with lots a flavors. Cilantro seasonings so so damn good. I couldn't even wait to get home - I drove and ate it and that's means no pic either. But trust me I will be back - and sooner than later. read more

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Cute local bar and restaurant in Ridgewood. It's smart to make reservations especially for brunch and dinner times. The tables are pretty close together so keep secrets till later. The food is comforting and thoughtfully done but felt portions were on the small side. We ordered the egg tostada, shrimp tacos, and a side of potatoes to share. I loved the adorable little cow milk pitcher. It just made me smile. The servers were kind and attentive even though they were pretty slammed. read more

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Putting expectations fully aside, the food was good with some hit or miss qualities. The oyster mushroom 'esquites' (no corn) was the star, a great spin on a classic, with great flavor. Soft scrambled egg tostada felt it had too much cheese and its surrounding of oil made it hard to evade an oily bite. Masa pancakes were good and had a wonderful crisp around the edges but again super greasy from their cooking method. Love the heartiness of the masa but eating it felt a little sickly. Perhaps better to share with a group and only have a few bites. Value was good, tostada appears small but is dense and filling. Service was great--attentive, and patient without being overbearing. Would be happy to return and set expectations aside, I'm sure there's plenty else on the menu to try. read more

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Oh my gosh Hellbender... that was the best meal i've had in such a long time! But before I get to that, I will say that the service was super slow and the staff kinda sucked at their job lol. Took so long to get a drink, get a check, and even pay, but it is what it is. It still didn't not ruin my overall experience and dare I say that this is in my top 5 restaurants in the city now. The restaurant gives me a el paso/retro theme and has a life size leopard on their walls which was a bit random, but okay cool. Everything on the menu looked delicious, but at the same time I had no idea what it would look like, so we asked for some recommendations from our waiter. We landed on the fried Oaxacan cheese, the heirloom tomato salad, and the chicken milanesa. From the jump everything was out of this world! There was not a single dish that I did not like, however I will say that the tomato salad is less of a salad, but still super good! My favorite dish had to be the chicken! So much flavor and cooked to perfection! I genuinely loved this meal and also loved that I did not feel heavy after. I thought it was the perfect amount of food for two people and we avg. 100 total including two drinks and a dessert! Will definitely be back! This is a must try if you haven't yet! read more

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The food is alright, but the portions are quite small and the prices are very high. This is probably a spot to grab a drink and a small plate instead of a full meal. There's a decent selection of small plates for vegetarians. The oyster mushroom tacos ($14) were very flavorful, and nice fusiony flavors from the sesame and Thai basil. The tortillas tasted fresh as well. The empanada ($23) was the only vegetarian large plate, and totally missed the mark. The pops of Thai basil made things interesting, and the salsa verde on the side was nice and tart, but overall it's just a bunch of cheese in a fried corn shell. I really don't think this item works as an entree. The bill came out to $48 after tax and tip, which is pretty outrageous. The tacos were tasty enough to improve my overall impression from disappointed to just mixed. read more

Hellbender - Oyster mushroom tacos - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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Amazing pancakes- probably the best I've had in NYC so far. Hellbender is in Ridgewood, Queens, and is owned by the same group behind Rolo's. Came here for brunch and ordered several shareable "tapas"-esque dishes. The chamoy watermelon, egg tostada, and oaxacan cheese sticks were also great options! read more

Hellbender - heirloom masa pancakes - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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The service was great and I came here under the recommendation of a random doom scroll on YouTube. However, the soft scramble tostada was very greasy with chili oil. That was a turn off for me but the fried oaxacan cheese was good. The pancakes were okay! read more

Hellbender - Pancakes - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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I almost don't want to write this review, because I want to still be able to get a table here, but... Wow. Hellbender is a gem. Came here for a friend's birthday dinner and was amused at all the things that seemingly didn't go together: the name "hellbender" itself, the giant leopard statue in the wall, Mexican food... what do these things have to do with one another? It doesn't matter. It works. We ordered almost everything and shared, so I got to try a good portion of the menu. Every dish was outstanding. The only one I wasn't enamored with was the mushroom tacos, but my friends loved them, so I think it was just a matter of taste. The fish here deserves recognition, because it's so incredibly fresh that the flavor is just better than other places where you can get seafood. Plus the bright Mexican flavors and creative combinations of ingredients are what really makes this place stand out. The drinks were delicious as well. I honestly can't wait to come back! read more

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The food here is 10/10, no wonder it's hard to get a reservation for weekend brunch. my friend and I got there 15 minutes before opening and there was already a line outside. Get the pancake, it's a must! read more

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We went for brunch and had a wonderful time! My husband was dying to go. We had been following Hellbender on instagram for a while so finally my husband made a reservation. We got there a little early so we went over to the bar and got a drink before being seated. When our take was ready they were able to transfer our bar bill to our table bill. There were so many dishes we wanted to try so we ordered a bunch of food and shared it. We loved everything we got. It's a very cute restaurant, service was great as well as the food and drinks. We would 100% go back. read more

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Service was great and friendly. Had a reservation and they sat us down promptly. Parking wasn't great --street parking. The streets are very narrow but that's not their fault. They had specials [mostly seafood]. Menu seems to change often. Didn't love the menu this time. The ceviche kind of just tasted like a cucumber. The chicken milanesa had great flavor but you just get chicken for $32. Got the beans on the side but eh .. they needed cheese or something. Lump crab quesadilla was fine. Best part was my michelada -- very happy with that. Very limey and spicy and tajin-y. The brunch menu seems very good would rather try that. Cute regular place with a cool tiger on the wall. read more

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Lives up to the hype. My friend and I used to live in this area and I am reminded about the parking situation in Ridgewood. Other than that the textures and flavors are completely unreal. I've never drooled over such a place after my first visit this badly for the past few years. read more

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Big fan of Rolo's and was excited to try their other spot. Made a reservation for brunch and had a fantastic meal here! I tried: + Fried oaxacan cheese + Heirloom masa pancakes + Soft scramble egg tostada The fried cheese and the pancakes were the best, but the tostada was also great. Cocktails looked awesome. Will return for dinner. read more

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Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Value: 3/5 The crispy lamb shoulder was ok but underwhelming considering it was named one of the "Best New Dishes Of 2024" by The Infatuation. It was mostly green beans. Some lamb pieces were tender, some were dry. Mushroom tacos were alright. Hibiscus soda was decent but maybe slightly too sweet. It is a very loud restaurant. Very dark too. Server disappeared on me when I wanted to get a box to go and check out the dessert menu. $75.78 including tax and tip for what I got was kind of pricey too. read more

Hellbender - Mushroom tacos - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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For dinner, I was pretty underwhelmed overall. The food was good, not great. And we were seated at the strangest table in the whole restaurant, it felt like they pulled out a random hightop to accommodate my party (we had a rez) -classic cocktails were very good -was kindof annoyed that a draft beer comes ina smaller glass, not a pint glass. Like come on -soft shell crab taco/quesadilla was sitting in a pool of liquid, it was soggy af -rest of the food was honestly just OK/good. Not mind blowing -churro dessert was not cooked well. I think it was fried in oil that was too hot. The outside was very fried and crisp, borderline tough. Inside literally raw. -quality to price just did not seem worth it. It was $120 per person I do not recommend for dinner read more

Hellbender - Churro dessert - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

Eating at Hellbender, I feel like I'm at the hippest restaurant of an up-and-coming Midwest downtown. Toledo maybe? But for New York standards, dinner was a little underwhelming after we made the trek out to Ridgewood. The entree-sized cheese empanada was the best of what we ordered, and tasted a bit like a pizza fritta. The oyster mushroom tacos were slightly hard to chew, and the fried queso fresco starter was unmemorable. I am glad we stuck around for dessert. The churros paired with whipped cream and blueberries served as an excellent nightcap. read more

Hellbender - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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You. Must. Get. The. PANCAKES. All in all, an enjoyable experience although quite noisy. read more

Hellbender - Deep fried masa pancakes. - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

So good. The chili oil on the scrambled eggs changed me. They do not sell the chili oil... yet. Please sign the petition. A diner perhaps Twisted interpretation Bent but unyielding read more

Hellbender - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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First off the decor is so hip and cute. Everyone dining there was also hip and stylish! I was worried the portions would be a bit small and they do look small but bc most items are quite heavy it was very filling! My friend and I shared three dishes: the pancakes, scrambled eggs and fried cheese. I think we both like the fried cheese the most bc of the green sauce it came with. Overall a really cute neighborhood brunch spot to catch up with friends! I would come back to try dinner next time! read more

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Cool location, great drinks and dishes that are unique and creative. It is definitely worth the trip. Everyone in the restaurant is stunningly hip and beautiful. The drinks are crafted to be unique and stand out and they do. Food is great and made to be shared. Service is good and the interior is modern and cool with touches of throwback trips to the Museum of American History. Well go back for sure. read more

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Hellbender is a frequent haunt for my friend and I for margaritas with a chartreuse float (a house specialty). Today was the first day we decided to order brunch and the food here more than impressed us. I had the home fries with special seasoning and a side of the Oaxaca cheese which were both surprisingly filling and has the perfect amount of spice and flavor. Brunch here is very bustling so be sure to make a reservation, because it does get very busy. The servers are quick and the playlist that they have sets the mood perfectly for the chill space. Will definitely be back for another round at Hellbender! read more

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I was incredibly excited for this spot, and it did not disappoint! First off, the interior is gorgeous, and their pot coffee has floral notes with a light sweetness. I shared the enfrijoladas and heirloom masa pancakes (of course) with my friend, and they were delicious. The pancakes - exactly what I want in a pancake: crispy exterior, salty slab of butter, and soft interior with the option to pour maple syrup myself. It wasn't too buttery or sweet, and I truly haven't had pancakes like this in a long time! chef Herrera has outdone herself. notes: & the enfrijoladas, the tortillas with cheese and bean sauce were a perfect complement to the sweet pancakes. Their reservations for brunch are hard to snag, but I walked in for a group of 6 right when they opened and we were able to snag a seat. Kind servers and great bathroom :) read more

Hellbender - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

Best brunch I've ever had, thanks so much to Noah for the great service and taking care of our family!

Ridgewood is a trek from the city, but Hellbender makes it worth it! Have visited twice for brunch and thoroughly enjoyed the food both times. It can be difficult to snag a reservation, but they do have a good number of tables for walk-ins. The first time I got there about 20 minutes before opening and was first in line for a table, the second time I was able to make a reservation. For food, you must try the masa pancakes. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they are super filling and a joy to eat. I would also recommend the soft scrambled egg tostada -- I got it both times, it was that good. Though it's doused in salsa macha its not spicy and is nice and complex. Other dishes I've tried are the fried oaxacan cheese sticks, enfrijoladas, and spicy fried shrimp tacos. I think all of them were tasty, so it's really up to what you're in the mood for! Drinks-wise, I tried their michealada and it is delicious. 10/10 recommend. Meanwhile, their coffee is mediocore-- no espresso machine means there's not many options, and the special iced coconut coffee was pretty watery. Would definitely recommend checking this place out, especially if you live nearby. Even if not, it is worth going out of your way at least once. read more

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I wanted to try Hellbender but it was very mid. The shrimp ceviche was cut into small pieces and not completely filled as they made space for the tostadas which took up half of the bowl. The main dishes are only protein and you have to buy side dishes to make a complete meal (rice, beans, etc.). That seems like a major cash grab for me. Service was standard, they were very packed for a Friday at 6pm. The food is good but not for the price tag. I would rather stick to my local Mexican spot. read more

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Came in a bit before closing and sat at the bar. It was the worst decision. We had to sit there and watch delicious dish after delicious dish come out and only had enough room in our stomachs for two dishes. Guess we will have to be back! read more

We found this place on a Saturday morning and decided to try. It was delicious!! The chilaquiles were delicious. Freshly squeezed juices and nice brunch options. The service is great and friendly staff. They have outside seating area and on a nice day can enjoy!! read more

Hellbender - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

This place has entered the internet CRAZE! Something about modern times and a viral whatsoever that makes everyone want to wait in a line to experience, said viral thing. I live not too far and am an insanely, organized and punctual person. I knew this was a last minute 4 person brunch plan with no reservation. Therefore, I knew I would have to arrive 30 minutes early just to get a spot in line. The line was not too long but that last 30 minutes it quadrupled in size. My friends barely made it on time but we got in and got 4 spots at the bar. Definitely make the reservation. People were hovering over us even before we paid. My friends are not big eaters but enjoy good meals. The plates here are tapas size. I would say one plate is not enough as a meal. We decided to split the viral masa pancakes 4 ways. There are two so we each get a half. It was the best "bite" we had. I ordered the spicy tequila "Disco Devil". It hit the spot! The Enfrijoladas caught my eye but my other friend wanted the tostada. We split the two. It was truly a brunch of bites and a cocktail for a price range of $40. The Enfrijolada had some more layered flavor. I like the chili oil on the eggs but to me Enfrijolada was the better dish. We skipped dessert, but really was that not the pancake. Beautiful space. I would come again. But not with a large appetite. And sadly I can not bring my boyfriend since he is a growing boy and could have had all our meals as one. read more

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This brunch is worth the trip to Ridgewood! This was a great execution of Mexican inspired brunch. I would get everything I ordered again but the real star of the show are the masa pancakes! They are so crispy yet so fluffy and not too sweet. Of course they are the perfect vehicle to soak up some syrup and butter but on their own they have a great flavor as well. We also tried the Coconut Shakerato which was pretty refreshing for a coffee drink. The scrambled egg tostada had a great garlicky flavor and the lamb tacos were excellent. The fried Oaxaca cheese was good, but it was hard to get the flavor of the Oaxacan cheese and honestly tasted like a normal mozzarella stick. Four things shared between two people was perfect. The plates are small but the pancakes will fill you up! Would definitely come back for brunch. read more

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I've unintentionally been on a pancake tour around NYC this year, and this month's stop brought me to Hellbender in Ridgewood and I'm glad it did. Their heirloom masa pancakes are seriously something special. Rich, flavorful, and beautifully balanced with just the right touch of sweetness, they've definitely earned a spot in my top 5 pancakes in the city. I went with my wife, and we also shared the fried Oaxacan cheese (crispy, cheesy goodness) and the scrambled egg tostadas, which had great texture and flavor. Every dish felt thoughtful and satisfying. If you're looking for a creative and delicious brunch spot in Queens, Hellbender is worth the trip. Cozy atmosphere, great food, and a menu that stands out from the usual brunch lineup. read more

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We arrived for a 5pm reservation and within a half hour, it was a full house. The vibe is casually elegant and lively. Reservations are recommended. While the menu nor the portions are huge, everything is phenomenal. The margaritas are probably the best I've had. So smooth and well balanced. The margaritas are even on a happy hour special when they first open. We started off with the Fried Oaxacan Cheese. Served with a wonderful tomatillo salsa, they were crisp and melty and so satisfying. The Tangelo Aquachile with hamachi, such a beautiful dish and it was excellent. Perfect balance of acidity and heat. The Crispy Lamb Tacos with avocado salsa were incredible. The lamb was like none I have tasted before and I regretted not adding a third taco to the order, when offered. The Al Pastor Ribs, were spicy and fall off the bone topped with pickled onions and habanero pineapple salsa. Another excellent dish. The poblano cilantro rice and the refried beans were also on another level and just perfect. Honestly I didn't expect to get dessert at Hellbender, but when I saw the options, well we just had too. The Jello of the day was Peanut Butter topped with a PB cream and peanut brittle, wow, it was unbelievable. The chocolate custard, was smooth and decadent, it was the ideal indulgence. Chef Yara Herrera was prevalent in the dining room and I got to compliment her on how amazing everything was. She also shared the the Jello of the day is very often the peanut butter version. I'd say get your reservations on and enjoy some of the best food you've had. read more

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