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.

Ate here for the first time. The food was pretty good. I ordered a mix of tacos. My least favorite…read morewas the carne asado and the best one was the chicken. The shrimp one was "meh". My date had the verde entree and it was really good. She enjoyed it. The chips and salsa on the table were delicious and the they are clearly homemade. Ambiance is "ok". It's showing its age a bit on the flooring and the molding. The service is why I'm deducting point and I'd give them 3.5 stars if I could. We sat a bit and waited to have our orders taken and sat a bit longer for the check. They were nice, polite, friendly but a little quicker service would have been appreciated. Would I go back? Sure. I'll try something else.

Karen & her staff were wonderful!!! Karen helped plan the catering for a party i was hosting…read morerecently. She was friendly, knowledgeable & truly cared about making the party a success because we all know -food makes the party The staff prepared fresh, beautiful food bursting with the flavors of Mexico for us. They were so helpful to the friends who did the pick up, making sure all the trays were set & nothing would leak. Thank you for making our party a hit!!

Great food a La Catrina! Fresh, delicious Mexican food, generous portions, and friendly, attentive…read moreservice. Fun, relaxed atmosphere and definitely a place we'll return to. Highly recommend!

What's one way to squeeze out the last few hours of a staycation? Margaritas and apps of course!…read more So with the Honey in tow, we landed here on Sunday evening August 16th. The way the small bar is set up, because of the wall separating it from the dining room...it gives it an intimate vibe I really like. The ambient lighting and pleasing decor sets the mood to enjoy your choice of cocktails. We asked the bartender if she could make the cucumber margarita on the menu spicy? She obliged. Those drinks weren't as spicy or refreshing as we had hoped. We stuck with the classic margaritas for next round. They were just right! I'm not sure if themed weekends are a regular occurrence here. But this night was the final night of their Mango Madness Weekend. We were served plain nachos with a mango salsa dip. The Honey devoured it. I prefer my salsa with a red sauce and a bit of a spicy kick. I decided to give the steam mussels in a sauce with mango pieces, a try. I did not know this was the combination of spicy and sweet that I needed in my life!! We ordered extra bread and sopped up every last bit of it!! We made a point to tell the bartender how much we enjoyed it! We were grateful and disappointed, when she told us we had just eaten the last of it. Dang! We would have certainly asked for another order!! We left there giddy and satisfied. I wasn't even mad that I had to go back to work the next day! I keep thinking, how can we convince them to make the Mango Mussels a permanent menu item? Meet us there and let's discuss it over margaritas! Thank me later.....

Was taken here for my birthday dinner and was disappointed. The server only seemed half interested…read morein doing his job. He forgot our guacamole, which should've remained forgotten, since it was underseasoned and unremarkable. I was a bit shocked when we got the bill. The MP was $15, for the small, bland portion. Cubano quesadilla appetizer was good and substantial. Sangria was $35 and suffered from a serious lack of alcohol. My chipotle shrimp entrée didn't look like anything special, but tasted much better than it looked. My companions softshell crab taco special was good. The woman who came to our table who (was not the server) did not understand. the question asked to her about the bill, and as a result, gave an incorrect answer. Mostly Decent food (poorly presented) some overpriced items, indifferent service. This was my first time here and I'm not sure I would return.

Besito is probably one of my favorite Mexican restaurants on Long Island. It is a rather noisy and…read morepacked space for dinner but the food makes up for it! Never skip the guac, it's absolutely amazing and so delicious. My favorites are the quesa-birria and the iron skillet mixtos. The birria tacos were so flavorful and perfect with the green salsa and dip. The cheese and meats were really delicious for the iron skillet and made the perfect fajitas. We also get the chicken enchiladas this time as well which were also very yummy. We got their gelato bowl to split after which had pistachio, dulce de leche, and dark chocolate scoops and they were amazing. Really wow'ed by the pistachio flavor and the dark chocolate was so rich. Overall, I love this restaurant and the fun worry dolls they share with you after. So glad they have two locations now.

It saddens me to write this as we have been huge fans of Besito with regular visits for many years…read more They again changed their menu again eliminating both of our favorite entrees. We have been told by staff that they are both popular and regularly requested. Perhaps they are consolidating menu items to save on expenses, but they've lost a regular customer. To add insult to injury, today's mahi mahi was overcooked and at least 1/3 was inedible 'dark meat.' Tried to find something else, but the kitchen made the decision for us. We're done.

Ruta Oaxaca in Patchogue is a must try! From the moment you pull up, the place is gorgeous, pink…read moredecor, flowers, so much attention to detail that you notice it even just walking or driving by. Walking inside, the ambiance only gets better. The food is genuinely delicious. I've been here numerous times now, and every visit I discover a new favorite. We started with their prefix menu (they also run different specials throughout the week, so definitely ask what's available). For appetizers we had the vegetarian empanada, chicken, queso, and nachos, everything was packed with flavor. We also tried their margarita tower, which lets you mix and match from a great selection of flavors. For dinner, we ordered salmon, shrimp, and ribs with yuca, rice and beans, and it did not disappoint, we actually had to take some home because we were so full! We still made room for dessert though: the churro with dipping sauce and the tres leches, which is hands down my favorite. We also did the traditional mezcal shot ritual (mezcal, orange, worm salt) it definitely caught up with me since I hadn't had a drink like that in a while! Beyond the food, the service is fantastic and the owner is incredibly kind and welcoming. They have multiple locations, so no matter where you are, it's worth checking out. Highly recommend, this place is worth every visit!

We love Ruta! It's actually a regular place that we go to when I come out here to do dinner with…read morethe fam. This time my sisters dragged me out for girls night with some of our other mom friends. Friday nights are fun because they have a mariachi band. They sang happy birthday to me and it was fabulous! I don't drink anymore so I had a virgin mojito and it was sooooo yummy. The girls indulged in the margarita tree. We all had our own version of the mixed tacos. For me it was al pastor, carne asada and the shrimp and each was as tasty as the. Next! Ohhhhhh and the elote corn is something to definitely not sleep on. Thanks, Ruta, for a fun night!

Absolutely delicious. Beautiful, intimate decor. Service was wonderful. Food was delicious! Very…read moretasteful, beautiful plating. Definitely a must try!

Came here for a late lunch on my birthday. My waitress Mey was nice and was making some really good…read moredrinks (thanks). Staff were also friendly and provided good service. Wasn't too busy when I was there as well. I'd say it's good place for families to attend as few families were dinning in. Food was pretty good, the tacos were well seasoned and the empanada was just right! Food was good. They also have happy hour.

Great authentic Mexican burritos and food…read more Has tables not wait service to eat inside but personally did take out and it was quick and easy

So nice to not have to go into Jackson Heights to get great Mexican food. Loved this restaurant!!…read moreHad the carne asada, chicken and chorizo tacos. Delicious ! Also had the Cuban torta and the carne asada nachos . So good ! Can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu . Thanks !!!!

I had not been here since attending a Yelp Elite Event after the restaurant's Grand Opening several…read moreyears ago. The food was so good that I had to come back to try it again. Arianna was my server during a recent Happy Hour. She recommended that G4 Tequila be used for the Margarita that I ordered, and I subbed Triple Sec for a touch of Cointreau. It was so strong that I quickly got tipsy! The complimentary Salsa tasted as if only the freshest tomatoes were used, and the Chips had good crunch. For the entrée, I had the Grilled Bone-In 16 oz. Pork Chop with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, Onions and Peppers, and Mango Salsa Chipotle Glaze. The onions were the tastiest part of the dish. TIP: BE SURE TO SMOTHER THE ONIONS AND GLAZE ALL OVER THE PORK BEFORE EATING! For dessert, I had the Dulce de Leche Creme Caramel Dessert Special. I did not like it because the peanuts sprinkled on top paired poorly with the Dulce de Leche; so I exchanged it for the Citrus Tres Leches, which was magnificent! The interior design of the restaurant was magnificent as well--with some shelves of Tequila bottles displayed at the entrance. The vibe is "upscale Mexican". It even appeals to people like me who usually do not eat Mexican food.

How lucky are we to have a beautiful Mexican restaurant in Bay Shore?! This was my first time at…read morePecado and I was a very happy camper. It's actually very hard to find good Mexican on the East Coast but Pecado has really mastered it, at least the items I had. The real stars were the street corn, ceviche and the coconut tres leches cake. Although the corn was pricey, it was super delicious with just the right amount of heat. The ceviche was perfectly seasoned and balanced with that lovely punch of lime and again, the right amount of heat (for me). The space is lovely with beautiful pendant lighting. It's obvious that Pecado took a lot of care to create a beautiful space to gather and share great food and drinks. Oh, and the drinks are so pretty. The sangria was strong but in the best way. I recommend and would absolutely come back again.

Exotic, delicious drinks ! Very good food ! From table side…read moreGuac & tostados +++ to simple but accelerated tacos & enchiladas to seafood & filet mignon & then some & daily specials, you just can't ask for more... & then desserts & cordials ! Top notch Mexican ! Can't wait to go back ! Expensive but worth it !

I had the opportunity to attend a private event here on 7/14/26, and it was such a great…read moreexperience! We were seated on their beautiful outdoor patio, which made for the perfect evening. Before we ate, we learned a little about the restaurant, the inspiration behind the menu, and the flavors in each dish. Fun fact: Ixchel is the Mayan Goddess, which adds even more meaning to the restaurant's name. Now, let's talk about the food! We enjoyed a tasting of several dishes, including tableside guacamole with chips and salsa, tortilla soup, handmade corn tortillas topped with different proteins, pibil (slow-roasted pork), a ceviche-style dish with shrimp and scallops, chicken mole, and sautéed shrimp with sweet potato. Every dish had its own unique flavor, and everything tasted incredibly fresh. My favorite of the night was definitely the handmade corn tortillas with the different proteins; they were so yummy! Of course, there was dessert! For dessert we had coconut flan and lemon cake, and both were the perfect sweet ending to the meal. Even though our dinner was outside, I did get a look inside the restaurant, and the interior is just as beautiful as the patio. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

Second visit, and still a great experience. The food was fresh and portions were generous! We came…read morehere for lunch and had the place to our selves, the staff were incredibly friendly and made the whole experience top notch!

Overall, I'm not a huge fan of this place. There are plenty of solid Mexican and Spanish style…read moreresturants on long island and this one fell short. Food was super salty and greasy. The quesadilla was so greasy I had to blot it with a napkin. The nachos were big but not very flavorful. Service wise the place was empty but was still slow. Our server wasn't rude but you could tell she could care less about helping us out. Price wise I think it's way over priced and not worth the money. They did some work inside but overall just put a bandaid on the old spot and painted everything exoticly. Would recommend looking for a different spot to try.