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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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

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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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 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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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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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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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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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

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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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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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

Veryyyy easy to understand the hype around Hellbender (and for the record, worth walking in to see if you can snag something without a res, if you're a party of 2). Came specifically for their famous masa pancakes and YES, you must get them. Crispy exterior, fluffy and soft inside. Soaks up the delicious syrup perfectly and the slab of cold cinnamon butter on top is the most delicious touch (if you're like me and love butter). I'm also a huge chilaquiles fan (California natives, stand up) so had to try that as well - very, very good. Chips were the perfect balance of crispy and soft, pork chorizo was balanced in flavor. We also got a side of their mega thick cut bacon, home fries, and eggs. All wonderfully executed - easy things to add on that don't take away from the main events. I guess the one thing I wasn't a huge fan of was their drip coffee (no other options outside of cold brew) but if that's the only downer from this meal, I can absolutely live with it. Service was lovely even sitting at the bar and the hosts were really kind as we were a walk-in. Definitely a place to try if you like a unique pancake and Mex-American flavors! 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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Walked in for brunch on a Friday and got seated right away. Endive salad was very refreshing and it was a big portion. Masa pancakes were so different and very tasty. Perfectly crisp with a soft center. Chilaquiles were my favorite! Perfectly season and all around well balanced. Would be back to try their dinner menu. read more

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100% lived up to my high expectations! The service was great and prompt, but not in a rushing way. The food stellar. We had the chips and guac (a Mexican restaurant MUST) and the Tuna Carpaccio to start. Both were delicious and the perfect entry point to the meal. The appetizers and cocktails came out simultaneously and complimented each other. I recommend the Mezcal centric ones. For entrées we had the arctic char and pork chops. The pork chops were perfectly tender and had a rich, decadent unctuousness due to the brown butter it was cooked and soaking in. The arctic char was cooked PERFECTLY and so well flavored. It paired wonderfully with the pea tendrils giving it an herbaceous earthiness that accentuated the delightful salinity of the fish, which which somewhere between salmon and trout flavor wise. You need to complete the experience by getting the poblano infused rice and refried beans and OF COURSE their exceptional heirloom masa tortillas tying it all together. Can't wait to come back for brunch next and try those masa pancakes! read more

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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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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

Never disappoints!! Had an amazing meal as always. Highlights were the chicken Milanese and the skirt steak. The spicy pineapple margaritas were delicious as well read more

Hellbender - Skirt Steak - Mexican Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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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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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One of my favorite go to Brunch spots, food is always amazing and atmosphere is vibe! read more

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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Came here for dinner on a Sunday, and overall enjoyed my experience, but wasn't amazed. Knowing this is a sister restaurant to Rolo's which has one of my favorite gourmet burgers, I was very excited to try the food. The ambience of the place is definitely vibe-y, service was great, and they were quite busy throughout the night! For two of us, our overall order was the chips and guac and aguachile to start, followed by the shrimp tacos, Hamachi collar special, as well as the Arctic Char. Accompanied by a couple cocktails and finished off with the matcha churros for dessert. Despite being very excited about this place - I found the food to be just okay. There wasn't one item that stood out to me as amazing, and didn't feel like I ate anything I'd have to go back for (like that Rolo's burger!). The chips and guac was great, however aguachile was lacking in flavor (I don't think the fish was marinated) and did not come with any tostadas. The shrimp tacos were very small, overpriced, and slightly tough (overcooked). The hamachi collar was probably the best item we had, which was a special item for the day. The arctic char was simply simple. Overall I enjoyed my meal and my team here, but did not find the food that impressive despite hearing so many good things. I *would* come back to try the brunch pancakes, and I'm hoping those are amazing. 5/5 for cocktails, environment, service. 2/5 for food, cost. Puts this at a 3/5 for me personally. read more

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Service: 4.1/5 Food: 3.8/5 Price: $$$ ($30-50) 70's revival interior design gives it a cozy feel while still keeping it elevated enough so it's not out of place to spend a special occasion meal. Great song choices. The have a (fake) stuffed jaguar in a glass case installation. Bustling environment without being too loud. As always for a brunch place, it's packed. What I Ordered: - crispy shrimp tacos: not actually crispy + small shrimp, jalapeños were deceivingly spicy - soft scrambled egg tostada: a little salty, drenched in a not spicy chili oil - heirloom masa pancakes*: perfectly portioned, fluffy + spongy, not too sweet, advertised as "soufflé" but they're not *what I would get again read more

Quite the dining experience was had at Hellbender. After seeing lots of hype on social, I finally decided to celebrate my birthday at Hellbender. It was fairly easy to make a reservation for a a Saturday evening. The standout hit was the fried Oaxaca cheese- a delicious twist on a mozzarella stick- I wish there were more! You could definitely eat your own portion of these. The ribs Al pastor style were a fun twist on the traditional Al pastor tacos. These packed some serious heat but were really tasty. I also had the shrimp tacos, which were flavorful and packed just the right amount of heat. The steak entree was extremely delicious: cooked to perfection, flavorful and prepared over a delicious bed of onions which packed even more flavor. Drinks were delicious, my margarita was tasty. They also have a really nice selection of local beers on tap. They have a full bar as well for bar seating. Make sure to save room for dessert. We tried the delicious hibiscus churros , however I heard rave reviews about their homemade jellos. There are many different menu items and I look forward to returning to try some others. read more

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mmmmmm so delicous, flavors so sophisticated, easy to share, and serving the best bloody mary i've like ever had. Hellbender, you impressive gem of a spot -- i'm blown away !! & i will be back for dinner. came in on a busy sunday brunch quite hungover, this cured me. Ordered the agua chilie, potatoes, massa pancakes, tostada scrambled eggs, oaxaca cheese sticks, their coconut shakerato, guava belini, & bloody marias. Massa pancakes are just so surreal; like the best pancake you've had thats earthy with this corn massa while crunchy and buttery -- i dont know, this one changed me. Tostada was so delicious, oaxaca cheese so good, & the agua chilie light and vibrant. Thank you to the team for having us, this was so divine. Will be back!!!! read more

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My favorite weekends in New York start with brunch at Hellbender! The food is creative, the drinks are delish, and the vibe is always amazing. Shoutout Conner, the bartender that's always happy and makes me feel special every time I come in :) read more

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Great food and amazing service! Another success from the guys behind Rolos. The place is cute too. I really loved the pancakes so definitely try it (brunch menu). The fried Oaxacan cheese was also good. Their brunch menu is a little different from the dinner menu. I would come back and try their dinner menu next time as well. Rolos is still my fav. read more

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Masa pancakes: overall enjoyable and delicious. My favorite part was the crust; it perfectly gave a depth of flavor that make these pancakes better than a regular buttermilk pancake. It comes with two in an order and after eating half the stack, I felt pretty full, so I'd recommend splitting it between two people. The maple syrup is essential to sweeten the inside. Otherwise, it can feel a bit much and somewhat cloggy texture without it. Spicy lamb tacos: spice-forward in a good way. For the price, I think two tacos feels skimpy and you could get similarly tasty tacos for less elsewhere. Fried Oaxaca cheese: move over, mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce. Fried Oaxaca cheese with tomatillo salsa is a much better combination. The interior is beautiful, especially the bathroom. You would never have guessed this was just a nighttime bar before. We came on a Saturday without a reservation, but they reserve some bar seating for walk-ins, so we were lucky enough to not have to wait, but it was certainly busy throughout for weekend brunch. read more

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