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100 Years of Yelpitude at Macondo
Category: Local Flavor Local Flavor [Edit]
157 E Houston St(between East Houston St & 2nd Ave)
Manhattan, NY 10002
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
(212) 473-9900
- Nearest Transit:
-
2 Av (F)
Delancey St (F)
Bowery (J)
- Good for Kids:
- No
30 reviews for 100 Years of Yelpitude at Macondo
30 reviews in English
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Review from Will C.
2/20/2012
Macondo was some of the best tapas and fun I've had! This a romantic and beautiful East Village/LES location right on Houston. My favorites of the night had to be the duck arepa and the churros in the chocolate dipping sauce.
The Yelp VIP table was a fun adventure and so was the long list of delicious drinks.
Thank you Jane and Yelp team! -
Review from Ryan R.
1/25/2012
First event of 2012 and it was a HUGE success!!! Hats off to Jane and all of the CM's that helped with this event. Seriously, it was probably the best event I've been to!
The drinks were spectacular and a good selection to choose from! The food was free flowing and so delicious. But I think I was most impressed with the way Macondo handled this opportunity.
Many different staff members would walk around talking to us about the restaurant, the sister restaurant and all the wonderful things they provide. I loved this! When I'm at a Yelp event (yes, I enjoy free delicious food & booze, but...) I want to learn why I should come back to this restaurant or event facility. I enjoy eating out and trying new places, but I really love going to a place that I know will be delicious and spectacular. Macondo did that for me and I can't wait to go back and try their brunch!
Also, it was so much fun meeting some new people. Ryan W. (the new Buffalo CM) came up to me and introduced herself. Yes, HERSELF, another girl Ryan!!! I was so excited to meet her! And some cool Aussies that happened to crash the party. ;-) -
Review from Rich W.
1/24/2012
Wow, so this is what good tapas, ceviches, and empanadas really tastes like!
I am so glad to be one of the exclusive Elite '12 invited to Macondo to celebrate with the new Yelp Elites.
My favorites were:
Calamares Crujientes- delicious crispy calamari
Croqueta de Jamon- Serrano ham croquettes with horseradish-panca pepper sauce.
Bacalo- codfish empanadas
DeCordero- lamb empanadas
Favorite drink:
Banana & Cachaca
Tinta Sangria-
Thanks Jane for the wonderful 1ST Elite celebration.Listed in: How do I love thee, let me…
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Review from Dave H.
1/19/2012 1 photo
Perfectly-sized venue, and well-coordinated event thanks to Jane, Jando, and Candice. Our bartender was spot-on, getting us where we needed to be, and quick[1]. Every member of the staff I dealt with was super chill - I'll definitely be back for drinks (they had one with jalapeno peppers!) and food (duck and salmon arepas, oh yes).
Good crowd, glad the community managers know how to pack a house[2].
[1] Remind me not to do shots on Mondays. Tuesdays are OK.
[2] Finally met Elsie W. She's muy, muy cuter in person, which shouldn't even be possible.Listed in: Yelp Events
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Review from Lara G.
1/16/2012
If Gabriel Garcia Marquez lived to attend a Yelp event, he would not have known solitude and we would have been deprived of the following words: "It was as if God had decided to put to the test every capacity for surprise and was keeping the inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alternation between excitement and disappointment, doubt and revelation, to such an extreme that no one knew for certain where the limits of reality lay. " Gabriel Garcia Marquez in One Hundred Years of Solitude
Unlike the characters living in Macondo in Marquez's book, the Yelp Elites who attended the event at Macondo in East Houston were at no point disappointed but were perpetually alternating between excitement and delight. For indeed, the only difficulty posed that night was choosing from among an array of cocktails and savory treats. The churros con chocolate for dessert only offered happiness to the small group of people enjoying all that Macondo had to offer.
As we walked in, we were warmly welcomed by Candice, the Yelp Chicago CM, given a name tag and let loose in a beautifully lit room. Jane then ushered us to the bar, where the friendly owners and managers stood greeting all the Yelp Elite who turned in for the event. Jando worked assiduously, taking photos of food and people, while taking time to meet and chat a while with the guests. :) It was a great time to meet people and among those I met were Patrick P. and Diane L..
Drinks flowed freely, served by staff who were not only good-looking but also warm, polite and sweet. Among the cocktails that I tried were:
~~Acai & Ron - pomegranate, acai juice, bacardi razz rum, sprite and mint
~~Banana& Cachaca - leblon, banana liquor, cocnut water, lychee, lime pineapple juice. Cachaca is Brazilian rum and a friend of mine will swear by her samba hips that it is the best rum. :)
~~Blanca Sangria - pineapple, orange, pisco, bacardi limon. I thought this was hands down the winner but then I have always loved pisco sour. :)
Among the never-ending hors d'ouevres that were passed around were:
~~Calamares Crujientes - crispy calamari in rocotto pepper-honey aioli;
~~Croqueta de jamon - Serrano ham croquettes in a horseradish-panca pepper aioli;
~~Chorishrimp - Colombian chorizo and shrimp in chili-garlic-tomato sauce over fufu and tostones. This was the best among the best. The tostones were thin and crisp, evidently lovingly and painstakingly prepared and rolled thin.
There were also tasty empanadas namely: Txangurro (shrmp and crab meat - definitely the most delicious of all), Aji de Gallina (free-range chicken) and De Cordero (ground lamb). .
Of course, the evening ended on a high note with their churros con chocalate which were served piping hot and crisp, dipped in chocolate. Jane certainly outdid herself and even if she has planned and organized Yelp events a million times, she found a way to make everything look as fresh as a newborn. Thanks, Jane, Jando, and the rest of the Yelp team for an excellent and elegant event. I can't wait to go back to Macondo for dinner, definitely, it won't take a hundred years to do so.Listed in: Yelp Community Knows How to…
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Review from Phil H.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Leave it to a Yelp Elite event to knock me off my healthier eating habits as of late! I mean really, how can any diet withstand the devilish temptations that was thrown at us last night? Don't you people realize I am trying to get into bikini shape for the summer?!!! Or at least neon speedo shape. Oh well, what's another hour on the treadmill tonight?
Walking in the door I saw the familiar cheery face of Jane K greeting everyone, and the flaming red haired vixen Candice G in from Chicago checking people in and handing out name tags. It was nice to mingle around and see some familiar faces, and also meet some new Yelpers too. Good crowd tonight. Jando was on photo duty and taking all the snapshots of the festivities.
Macondo did offer up a delectable selections of tapas inspired delicacies last night, along with five different cocktails to wash them own with. Everything tasted great - where should I begin?
A La Lolita - mushroom coquettes with figs, almonds, and truffle mushroom aioli. Wow!
Chorishrimp - Colombian chorizo and shrimp in chili-garlic-tomato sauce over fufu and tostones. Loved this!
Calamares Crujientes - crispy calamari in rocotto pepper-honey aioli. Nice!
Croqueta de jamon - Serrano ham croquettes in a horseradish-panca pepper aioli. Yum!
Shrimp and Salmon Ceviche. Fresh and delicious!
Empanadas - Aji de Gallina (free-range chicken), Txangurro (shrimp and crab meat) Bacalo (cod fish, rocotto pepper, tomato), and De Cordero (ground lamb). All good!
The bartenders here did a great job keeping us all sufficiently inebriated throughout the evening. They were fast and friendly whipping up glasses of Maracuya Vodka, Acai & Ron, Banana & Cachaca, Blanca Sangria, and Tinta Sangria cocktails. My favs of the evening were the Acai & Ron, and the Tinta Sangria. Yup, I surely had more than a few of those!
We were never left without food or drinks in our hands as the servers kept it coming fast and furious. There was just so much food here! All terrific. The owner and staff at Macondo were wonderful and really catered to any needs we had. They really took care of us.
Gotta thank Jane K and the rest of the Yelp Staff for a kick ass start to 2012 with this first Elite event of the year!
Oh yeah, I have to mention that dessert was served as a close-out to this chill event. All of a sudden servers were coming around with Churros con Chocalate which were served piping fresh, hot and crisp, along with a bowl of melted chocolate to dip them in.
And now, add ANOTHER hour on the treadmill tonight......Listed in: Elite/UYE Events - food,…, Latino Heat!, Cocktails!, LES Bars
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Review from Catherine J.
New York, NY
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
After a long work-induced hiatus from Elite parties, this one really reminded me why I like being in the club. Arepas de pato! Shrimp and scallop ceviche! Hot Latin servers! Easy access to the bar! Secret shots with Jando! (Just kidding, Jane!)
I'm still drunk on love. And sangria. -
Review from Tony L.
Well...goodness, Lara G.! You set the bar high!
All I really have to say is THANK YOU, Jane K. for kicking off 2012 Yelp Elite with style!
So much food, so many drinks...so many wonderful Elites!
The food was exceptional...and will certainly bring me and some friends back for more! I'm not sure the name of it, but the drink with Canton Ginger and Jalapeño peppers was FANTASTIC...just the right amount of kick and flavor.
Bravo, Yelp team (including the CM from Chicago with her fabulous red hair) for kicking 2012 into high gear and making me want to get out there and YELP! -
Review from Vineet S.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a perfect start to the Yelp Elite Club of 2012 ! The setting was right and ambience was dead awesome. It was one of those intimate events which gives good opportunity to mingle with fellow Yelp Elites and CM.
I was running little late for the event. As soon as I entered, I was welcomed by Jane K. My hometown girl Candice G. helped me and my friend Bobbi with our badges. I know everbody was raving about Candice's hair,I love them too.
Now coming to the hospitality, the staff was uber friendly and very courteous. The food and drinks were really awesome. The food kept on coming again and again. Sangria and Latin food was very tasty. The floor manager visited us on the table twice to make sure that we were doing fine.
Thanks to Emily for acknowledging my request for some pictures. Jando took some really nice shots of me and my friend.
Finally Cheers to Jane K and team(Emily,Candice and Jando) for giving such a good start to the Yelp Elite squad of 2012.Listed in: Benefits of being an Elite in…
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Review from Jamel O.
1/17/2012
The space is a very nice one...the wood has a good feel to it...the food was quite amazing...
My favorite was the mushroom coquettes with figs, almonds, and truffle mushroom aioli. I loved them and hopefully, they loved me.
The Colombian chorizo and shrimp in chili-garlic-tomato sauce over fufu and tostones was interesting. I didn't give it the chance it deserved. However it was good.
The Calamares Crujientes which were crispy calamari in rocotto pepper-honey aioli really stood out. It was very well done.
Both the Shrimp and Salmon Ceviches were great. I am biased but I LOVED THE SALMON CEVICHE. I wanted more and more. I am glad I only got one, because I would have been eating fish all night.
The Chicken Empanadas - were great.
I also got some Sangria, which was good. I learned that there is a sister restaurant around the corner that has lots of food from many countries.
The Churros were really good as well.
I also had a banana drink with Brazilian rum in it! That was pretty good.
I heard a rumor about watermelon sangria being served for brunch. It may have been for the sister restaurant, but it was well worth exploring.
The place was so hot you didn't need a sweater! -
Review from Sean M.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
First Elite Event of the new year went off without a hitch!
The food was mostly good, a little heavy on the fried so I skipped many of the offerings, what I had was excellent. The duck and salmon arepas, salmon ceviche, calamari and churros were particularly good!
There was a good amount of people but no so many that there wasn't room to breathe. As always it was great to see many familiar faces and meet a few new peeps.
Thanks for another good one Jane!Listed in: Yelp Events
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Review from Dominick Q.
New York, NY
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
To the management team and service staff of Macondo:
- extend arm,
- bend at elbow,
- place hand on back,
- pat profusely.
I'd do it for you, but you rendered me immobile by forcing me to gorge on your over-generous tidal wave of tasty treats. Ok, I forced it upon myself (but thanks a lot for enabling the weak-willed.)
Everyone else has done a nice job outlining the dishes, so I'm going to focus on the experience:
- Your bartenders by far were the most pleasant/accommodating of the elite events I've been to
- Your service staff was consistently friendly and attentive...even offering to go to the bar to grab us drinks so as not to relinquish our seats
- The circulation of dishes was diverse, seemingly never ending, and of course delicious
You truly nailed the "elite experience," and I think you'll see the dividends from it.
Thanks to Jane K and Orange Crush for no doubt having a heavy hand in how things turned out. -
Review from Hector M.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
The entire time I was at the event, I was wondering if my grandmother was in the kitchen because the servers kept coming out with more and more food. There was a few times that I shook my head no, but I kept reaching for food.
It was a great way to start the year - the food, drinks, music, and company were great. The duck arepas (my favorite), lamb empanadas, croquettas, and calamari were delicious. I couldn't decide which was my favorite drink between the white sangria, red sangria, or the vodka drink with jalapeño (but I took my job trying to decide very seriously).
Special thanks to Jane K for putting together another awesome event, Candice G for rockin' the orange crush, our gracious Latin hosts, all of the vendors involved, and all of the cool people I met. -
Review from Elsie W.
1/18/2012
See Jane, check.
Meet Jando in person, check.
Finally meet Dave H, check!
Oh Yelp, how you make all my dreams come true.
Well done with the venue, food, and drinks. Night of ball-shaped appetizers, endless sangria, and the usual Yelp chapsticks. Got to meet new people and catch up with old friends too!Listed in: Yelp Events
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Review from Jason M.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great crowd, great food, great times! What else is there really to say about Yelp Elite events, no bs?
Although this was not my first visit to Macondo, there was something about the Yelp party environment that made Macondo even more endearing to me. Also, not sure who at Yelp chose the appetizers and those sweet little sugar sticks for dessert, but they deserve a Congressional Medal of Honor. Everything was delicious.
Let's not forget those drinks. No watered down versions of anything. These drinks were exotic, and serious (extremely full of alcohol).
It's great to be a part of such a fantastic crew. As per usual I met some great people and made some great new friends. Keep it going Yelp!!!! 100 more years!!!! -
Review from Diane L.
1/17/2012
First off - it was great meeting fellow Yelp Eliters - Lara, I can't possibly write as amazing a review as you have, so I just want to thank Jane for planning this event and Jando for your pictures (I have now added the Queens newsletter to my daily and weekly emails!!).
The event had so much food, I regretfully wish I did not eat prior to coming, and the cocktails were AMAZING!! especially the Acai & Ron and the Blanca Sangria!!!
Great job to Macondo and to Yelp! -
Review from Jaime H.
1/17/2012
Way to bring your A game, Macondo.
Top notch food, cocktails, ambience and of course -- fellow yelpers. The lamb meatballs were a personal favorite but I also thoroughly enjoyed the different empanadas, arepas and ceviche! It was awesome to experience small bites from across the menu. The item I'll be returning for has to be the Maracuya cocktail - passion fruit, vodka, ginger liquor, lime, and jalepeno. The jalepeno's give a spicy kick that makes this drink memorable and delicious.
Macondo would be fun for a group outing or a romantic date. The space is quite large and the staff is extremely friendly. I'm hoping to check out their unlimited sangria boozy brunch soon!
Thanks Jane K. and all the rest of the Yelp Staff for an excellent start to 2012 Elite!! -
Review from Tina C.
To open the year with the first NYC Yelp Elite Class of 2012 which gratitude goes to NYC CMs: Jane, Jando, with Chicago CM Candice, together warmly greeted me with open hearts.
A quaint Latin cuisine in a rustic theme but upscale, yet it does not lessen their divine quality of fluid revelry concoctions and tapas to surely uphold solid substance. Always a pleasure to finally meet fellow Yelpers after corresponding by compliments, fanning by following and via private messages.
The evening took by storm in plentiful tapas, tasty Sangrias of an exclusive private event for NYC Elites soirée of:
* Churro dipped in hot chocolate served fresh and hot from the kitchen
* Salmon Arepa holds solid definitive underwriting
* Duck Arepa warmed my heart to salve the broken
* Calamari
* Salmon Ceviche's composition is well presented
Macondo's Sangrias are very subtle without overpowering with fruit nor alcohol nor sweetness, which the white Sangria was my choice for the evening. Our exclusive event menu were printed on 100% post consumer recycled Kraft paper including Macondo's business cards on recycled Kraft chipboard for a rustic appeal. I would surely return for a visit. Nethertheless, my mouth is thinking of more Churros, my quench is salved in hopes of Macondo's white Sangria, but my smile radiantly glows to happily see fellow Yelpers. -
Review from Pamela S.
1/18/2012
This event was my first visit to Macondo, and what a treat it was. Fantastic service from the staff, delicious tastes from the menu, and great sangria.
I really liked the space, from the immaculate open kitchen to the attractive decor to the chalkboard bathroom walls (chalk provided).
As for the food: I was particularly partial to the mushroom croquettes with truffle, both the salmon and shrimp cebiche, and the tostones with chorizo and shrimp in chili-garlic-tomato sauce. Yum.
Thanks Jane and crew -- stellar start to a new year of Yelp Elite!Listed in: Elite Events. Yelptastic!
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Review from Monique R.
Kew Gardens, NY
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
The first Elite event of the year was done right!
Great Food! Figures because Macondo is the sister location to Rayuela which is around the corner. its an amazing restaurant that stole my heart last year over restaurant week. And you know what? Same chef. OH YEA.
The front of the house was crowded but why wouldnt it be? Thats where the amazing variety of beverages were being mixed up!
The white sangria was by far, my favorite.
Having had a nosh before the event, i went not very hungry.
Really wish i was hungry though. I nestled myself in the back of the restaurant which was spacious and empty. I sipped my beverage while countless servers came up to me with trays and trays of fresh food!
My faves:
duck Arepa
calamari
salmon ceviche
mushroom and truffle ball
So. Much. Food.
The crowd was awesome, as always.
And what a great way to start the year! Thanks Jane!Listed in: YELP! I NEED SOMEBODY!
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Review from Christina R.
New York, NY
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Yelp Elite Class of 2012 started the year off right with a fantastic event at Macondo!
The crowd was great and as always its fun to meet new and interesting people in Yelp!
The staff was very friendly and helpful in making drink selections. I'm originally from Florida and consider myself a tropical drink connoisseur, and Macondo's drinks were excellent. My favorite drinks during the evening were the ron and acai, and blanca sangria. I plan on returning to Macondo with some friends and will definitely order those drinks again.
There were so many different types of appetizers its was hard to keep track of everything they brought out. However, the shrimp ceviche and mushroom truffle balls stood out and were my favorites!!
Everything was very well organized. The venue was the perfect size for the event. It was small enough to encourage mingling and large enough not to feel too crowded. Thanks Jane, Emily, Candice, and Jando for a great night!!! -
Review from Caroline L.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
Going to echo that while this was prob not "good for kids," it was excellent for those older and wiser! I'll be on my merry way back to Macondo many times over in pursuit of the Acai Ron and delicious jalapeno cocktail whose name, much like the post 8PM hours of my night, I've forgotten (kidding!). The fab company will be very difficult to replicate, reunion anyone?
Thanks a ton Jane K. plus the staff and Yelpers who made this happen! -
Review from Allison P.
Manhattan, NY
1/18/2012
Macondo has been always been a "go to" restaurant for great food and one I recommend to friends so I was psyched the first 2012 Elite event was there!
I trekked in the cold from Chelsea to the LES and am SO happy I did. The food was fantastic. Reading the other reviews and looking at the photos, I now realized I missed a bunch of items! I loved the shrimp and chorizo dish and the croquettes were good. As always, the ceviche is superbly done. Oh and the caviar blini like app was so good. Is it lunch time yet??? For beverages, I preferred the red sangria to all.
Huge draw - the owners, managers and other Macondo and Rayuela employees were SO friendly. Each of them went out of their way to make me feel welcome and special. It meant a lot.
And to Jane and team for planning this event - THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Franny A.
1/17/2012
Bravo to the stellar staff....WOW, were they organized, gracious and uber accomodating.
Loved this event......tropical, intimate, kinda like Brooklyn meets the LES - yes all roads lead to my hometown borough.......
I had fun mixin' and mingling w/ folks I know and folks I know now.....we could chill, eat, drink, and there was lots of space to breathe,and Musica Latina- si
Foodwise, the Latin fusion foodstuffs had kick and were killer..
Two kinds of cerviche traditional and soy
The jamon croquettes
Empanadas- veggie and chicken how thoughtful
Calamari in aoili- spicy good
Duck and salmon arepas- yummmmm
Phil did a mighty fine job of food descriptions
The food zenith was the man carrying a cast iron pan of Columbian chcrizo and shrimp sancocho w/ tostones- Damn!
Tropical drinks- claro que si
Kudos to Jane and Jando as this was a rocking event and happy to be there! -
Review from Althea A.
1/17/2012
Way to kick off the New Year of Yelping with a bang!
This was one of the best yelp parties I've been to yet.
The people at Macondo were lovely, friendly hosts (Thanks, Leo!!!!), the space was just the right size for the gathering, and I loved the decor.
The drinks were really good too - loved the pineapple sangria, and the pomegranate-mint concoction.
I took yelp's encouragement to eat beforehand too seriously, and wasn't hungry enough to try too many of the plentiful hors-d'oeuvres, but a truffled mushroom, a bite of seafood empanada, and a luscious salmon ceviche somehow pushed themselves down into my stomach...
It was also great to meet some new people - it was a particularly friendly and sociable crowd!
Thanks so much to Jane K. for putting this one together! :-D -
Review from Jennifer G.
New York, NY
1/19/2012
Thank you Yelp (and Jane!)! Thank you Macondo for serving delish mini eats, everything was so flavorful and delish. I positioned myself near the kitchen and found that was a good place to camp :)
Great drinks. Snappy crowd! -
Review from Ryna D.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
First Yelp Elite event I actually made it to!
I like Macondo a lot so I put my name in. I got to meet some Yelpers in the short time I was there. And the Macondo staff had us enjoying sangrias and passion fruit cocktails. And there were plates of delicious finger food from the kitchen. It was a fun evening with good food and drinks and I was glad I made it!
Here's to another great year Yelping! -
Review from Christopher C.
Sunnyside, NY
1/21/2012 1 photo
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This was a great time and a great event. I tip my hat for everyone that made this happen... You did a great job.
I met a lot of great people while eating yummy appetizers and sipping that white sangria. I also had one of their signature cocktails, guava and whiskey.
I think my food highlight was the churros with the hot coco, I think I had at least three of them.
I thought the night was a great success and can't wait for the next one. -
Review from Velina L.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a great way to start the year! Great food, great atmosphere, and most importantly, great people! The freshly fried churros were deliciously crunchy, the croquettas had a great ham flavor, and the empanadas were also very tasty - Macondo definitely does fried foods well. A big thanks to Yelp and Macondo!
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Review from Stephen C.
New York, NY
1/21/2012
Thanks to Jane and Yelp for making another great gathering a success. The food from Macondo was great. The staff was pleasant, start to finish. And, I applaud how things for Yelp have changed since that infamous event a couple of years ago. The event styles have become very professional, with well behaved Yelpers enjoying each other and the food. I do need to have one more shout out to the staff for how great everything was and I will be back to write a thoughtful review for Macondo.
