Ofrenda is pretty much the ideal restaurant for girl's night out. I know it's one of the It spots when it comes to NYC brunch (I've walked down 7th Avenue South enough times on Sunday mornings/afternoons to know that), but it's worth checking out in the later hours too. Plus, the later it gets in the day, the more likely I'll be up for spending money on copious amounts of alcohol. If you have a group that doesn't mind noise, might want to get a little crazy and/or drunk and is into the whole margarita/taco thing, Ofrenda is for you. Keep in mind, it is EASY to spend too much money here if you're not careful. All in all, this is a solid Mexican spot with a surprising number of healthy options and healthy dose of party vibes to go along with them.
Came here with a group of seven for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night at around 9pm. According to her, the place had never looked so empty, though I didn't initially think anything of it myself. Apparently Ofrenda is packed on weekends, likely because of its location and the impressive number of margarita options. But in late August, I think most New Yorkers want to take their margarita-drinking exploits to places more sandy and temperate than Manhattan. In any case, if you're with a large party, making a reservation is definitely a good idea.
So I got unlucky. I'm allergic to tequila and mezcal. I've mentioned this in a few other reviews (likely reviews for other Mexican spots that are tequila-heavy) and it hurts my heart to continue to admit it. I miss out on margs and so many other spicy, yummy cocktails. Walking into Ofrenda, I was worried that this would be yet another tequila-only bar/restaurant. But I was pleasantly surprised: Ofrenda has ONE vodka cocktail on the menu--the Flor & Luna (vodka, st germain, lemon juice, mint, pureed blackberry)--AND can substitute vodka/gin in tequila-based cocktails, if you choose. This is rarely the case. So I got unlucky in life, but got very lucky in this particular situation. In addition to the Flor & Luna (which was quite sweet but still tasty), I tried the Mexican Mafia (tequila, watermelon, jalapenos, lime, cilantro) as well as another spicy cocktail. Both tequila drinks but I opted to have them made with gin. I'd say they both maintained their integrity. I adore spicy cocktails so it was a treat to play around with some of the menu items to find what worked for me. Props to Ofrenda for that.
Food-wise, we went with the guac (avocado, cilantro, jalapenos, tomatoes, queso fresco and corn chips) immediately. Solid preparation with nice spice and lots of rewarding chunks of avocado. We got two orders for the table and cleaned them up immediately.
Though I was look at a lot of the mains for my entree of the night, I ended up going with tacos. Everyone else was getting them, and I didn't pass up. That said, I want to reiterate that Ofrenda has a bunch of healthy options for those of you who are feeling health-conscious. And plenty of them are gluten-free, which is of concern to me. I ended up going with the Tacos de Camaron (adobo-marinated shrimps, pineapple, avocado, chipotle, lime mayo), with the mayo on the side. Solid but nothing special. That was my general feeling of the night--everything was solid at the very least, but nothing wowed me. I'd be happy to return at any point but not sure if I'd plan the trip myself. I think next time I'll try it for brunch! read more