Phenomenal Mexican food at Ruta Oaxaca... the Woodbury location. Pretty much my favorite Mexican…read morefood restaurant... too bad we live almost 3,000 miles away. Yeah, you read that correctly... not a typo.
We were visiting my daughter and her family while on Long Island, but we had to fend for ourselves one evening while they had other plans. We were in the mood for Mexican food, so Yelp to the rescue... and this place popped up. Well, it lived up to all the hype, I'm happy to say.
The restaurant is really small... the only negative... and it can get kind of loud, so okay, two negatives, but the food more than made up for it. We had a really good waiter, who was very helpful in helping us place our order. We ordered guacamole, and they made it to our specifications, minus the hot peppers and cilantro. It was FABULOUS and just like I like it.... as good as Besito, by the way !!! I love that place, too.
However, what really won me over was this salmon dish in red mole sauce, which I had never had before. It was AMAAAAAAZING. My husband and I SPLIT an order of their Salmon Con Tropical Mole, which was pan-roasted filet of salmon, mole manchamanteles, sweet plantains, papaya pico de gallo. We got some extra plantains and some street corn, and with the gargantuan size of salmon, it was more than enough for the both of us... plus we definitely filled up on chips and salsa (and guac for me). Everything was superb, and I want to say that the salmon was some of the best I've ever had. It was flaky, flavorful and succulent with a very light but appreciated outer crunch. It was soooooooooooo good.
So we came away from this place, raving to everyone and anyone who would listen. We talked my daughter and son-in-law into ordering takeout from here as they were worried it was just too small to deal with a bunch of us going, esp. with their young children. Anyway, I'm disappointed to say that their takeout was an entirely different situation. We ordered the "same" salmon dish, and it was like HALF the size. It was the size for one... not that two could split. (If you look at my photo of it, you'll see how large it was... now cut it in half... that's what we got on takeout.) I let my husband have it cuz I was too angry. It had the mole sauce, but I didn't care once I saw it.... plus the salmon itself looked different... it didn't have that nice crunchy shell from pan roasting it. Just so disappointing. The guacamole was still as good as I remember, as was their salsa... but the portion size and quality of preparation... at least with the salmon... was an abomination. I can't speak to what my daughter and son-in-law ordered for entrees because we didn't try it in the restaurant, so we have no point of reference.
I feel bad because I raved and raved about their food, and this takeout experience sucked. There should be NO difference. I guess my takeaway would be to recommend that you dine-in there. I'm awarding all FIVE stars for DINE-IN ONLY... and nothing to do with their takeout process. Brave the crowds because they will be there, make a reservation which will help, and eat THERE. I just don't trust the takeout experience with them.