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Agua Dulce - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
802 9th Ave(between 53rd St & 54th St)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 262-1299
- Nearest Transit:
-
50 St (A, C, E)
50 St (1, 2)
59 St - Columbus Circle (1, 2, A, B, C, D)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Agua Dulce
Review Highlights
"Arroz con Pollo and Flan are amazing."
(in 16 reviews)
"The salmon ceviche was DELCIOUS."
(in 18 reviews)
"A great Hell's Kitchen gem."
(in 12 reviews)
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Dana F.
2/18/2011
When my friend suggested dinner at Agua Dulce, it really was the perfect choice for a girl's night out. The ambiance and decor are fancy, without being over-the-top.
The specialty cocktails are great and if you're like me, it's not difficult to rack up a huge bar tab. I had a Pepino Diablo, which is jalapeno tequila with cucumber. It was both spicy and refreshing. Later in the evening, we switched over to wine. The wine list has a lot of pricey bottles, but the wines by the glass are also high-quality picks.
For an appetizer, we shared bacon wrapped dates. These were perfectly cooked and the portion size was perfect for sharing.
For the main course, I had my heart set on duck...until I heard the special of the evening was whole branzino. It was simply prepared - grilled with some olive oil and herbs - but it was delicious. (It also induced nostalgia of all of my time in Spain.) The branzino was served over creamy lobster risotto, which had huge chunks of meat. It was very savory, just a tiny bit sweet, and really filled me up.
We were both way too full for dessert, but it looks like I will have to come back for the duck and to try the AYCD brunch. -
Review from Emily T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/28/2011
Just called about a Living Social deal I have at Agua Dulce- turns out they have a new chef now and the restaurant is now called PIER 9. The management and staff are the same. Just new concept - seafood - and new name. So yes, technically Agua Dulce is no longer.
Currently not open for lunch. Hope to be in the next few months.
Good news - they WILL accomodate the Living Social deal at PIER 9. -
Review from Jennifer B.
New York, NY
Updated - 2/21/2011
WHAT? You closed? Are you kidding me?!?!? I went to make a reservation and their website said they closed Feb 20th. Please just say it's so you can clean or something.
:'( tear!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/29/2010
My friend and I had a pretty awesome meal here. We started with the guac, but was really… Read more »
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Review from Yomi A.
Manhattan, NY
2/5/2011
Have visited for brunch several times now and I must say the restaurant's come a long way from its beginnings. Personally, I think the food's much tastier; if I'm not mistaking, the menu and/or chef has changed--which is a wise move.
The ambiance is also much livelier, though--at times--perhaps overwhelming so. It's not a spot that has tranquility of any sort, so if you crave a little bit of serenity, this wouldn't be your venue--for brunch anyway. On the flip side, if you're feeling a little festive and in the mood to people watch (the Hell's Kitchen locals come out in droves and I must say, a good looking crowd--just make sure you have a reservation), you're in for a treat as the pop tunes are cranked up and you may even witness an impromptu show by one of the hosts prancing back and forth on an imaginary runway - good fun.
For brunch, the menu's actually quite comprehensive and features mouth watering Latin inspired selections like 'Chorizo & Lobster Benedict', 'Blackened Snapper Soft Tacos' and your classic 'Cuban Sandwich', plus, a sort of Nuevo Americana range. The 'Stuffed French Toast' which comes 'stuffed' with your choice of either 'nutella & strawberry consome' or 'black forrest ham & cheese, sunnyside eggs' is one of my favorites. I typically get the former since I have a sweet tooth but I've heard the latter's just a scrumptious.
Alchies rejoice: For your beverage accompaniment, brunch features a drink special - essentially, bottomless mimosas, bloody marys, frozen cocktails & draft beer with purchase of an entrée, for a set price. No wonder everyone here is in such a lively mood. Thankfully it's the weekend so you can stumble home or wherever else with plenty of time to recuperate before Monday morning. -
Review from Danielle F.
Santa Monica, CA
1/10/2011
Super trendy, super gay.. there is something for everyone in this loungy restaurant. I like the decor and its a fun place to be. I didn't however love the food. It was just OK. I came here for lunch and it cost us 100.00 for 3 people so I was hoping for something better. Especially since I had the chicken. It was undercooked with fatty skin on it. The menu says "Crispy Chicken" so I was expecting something else. When I asked the waiter to cook it more he said that's what organic chicken looks like. I cook organic chicken all the time and the bird on my plate was alive. Nice places should know how to cook chicken properly.
I did love the bottomless cocktails. They lost some money on us there. -
Review from Victor S.
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
I would say the decor as well as the brunch all-you-can-drink deal for $20 deserve 5 stars. The service was also excellent -- our server was very patient with our party of 7 people, especially as we got more "festive." The food though was definitely "meh." No bread. The portions were smaller than we expected -- the exception being the burger/sandwich. My skirt steak was very small, as was the chorizo/lobster benedict. Unfortunately, I forgot what my GF ordered but she didnt like the dish - I think it was some sort of sea food one. The french fries and potatoes were quite tasty.
Overall, the place is a solid brunch option, particularly for large parties or if you want to reserve a cool place for brunch on short notice (like one day ahead). It's on a nice stretch of 9th avenue too. And well, I left extremely festive. Perhaps a bit too much because I thought it would be a good idea to go ice skating in the rain in Bryant Park. Let's just say I fell one too many times. -
Review from Sarina H.
New York, NY
10/17/2010 2 photos
As an added bday treat for Mr. SarinaH, we went down to Agua Dulce for a little birthday brunch before going to the Museum of Natural History.
We arrived at 1:00PM for our reservations, and were escorted to our seats immediately. The place was half empty, which was a surprise. Little did I know, NY'ers don't really brunch until 2 or 3pm because it was a mob scene by the time we left.
Ambiance was cute, clean, and funky. Server was knowledgable, friendly and engaging. Food was outstanding. I had the pancakes with burnt caramel & bananas (yum). Hubby is a Cuban sandwich junkie (so of course that was what he ordered). He absolutely loved it. For dessert we shared the chocolate cake which came to the table with a bright sparkler commemorating Hubby's birthday (cute).
We also partook in the the $20 AYCD extravaganza. I had 2 (being a light weight and all); hubby had (4)...he made sure he got his money's worth.
Bill came out to be $60...not too shabby. But I think next time I'll let hubby take on the AYCD. I'll stick with 1 drink and my regular cup o joe. -
Review from Ceci G.
11/28/2010
Go figure how is the food...I ended up in this place for one of the parties organized by "sociedad latina". For the pictures and other reviews I can only imagine that this place is much nicer as a restaurant than as a club.
Will have to try again...this time for real restaurant! -
Review from Lauren S.
New York, NY
2/9/2011
I've recently eaten at Agua Dulce for both brunch and dinner. Both times were 5 star experiences. The unique menu, food preparation/presentation, service, and atmosphere are all stellar. This is one of my new favorite restaurants in the city.
A few foods I'd like to note... The homefries at brunch were so perfectly seasoned and crunchy (seriously the best I've ever had). The chimichurri steak served with a chunky potato mash and a puree of cilantro, parsley, olive oil, salt & pepper was an incredible plate (seriously wow!). The ceviches are also wonderful. -
Review from Pat P.
1/2/2011
My favorite thing about Agua Dulce is the ambience. It's a very well-designed place that showcases a true Midtown Manhattan flair with an atmosphere that's exciting and engaging.
The menu is rather pricy, but it's worth it. The food is very well prepared and I especially enjoyed the duck. While portions are not large, you will leave feeling satisfied because the taste is better than average - even along the ambrosia-filled streets of Hell's Kitchen.
I'd recommend this place for groups of friends or for entertaining visitors from out of town. The dessert menu wasn't impressive, but you'll get a kick out of the main courses. -
Review from Jean P.
8/10/2010
Happy Birthday Kenny!!! This is a great restaurant to have a birthday dinner in. The atmosphere is fun, decor is fancy but not over the top, and the food was delicious. My chicken was juicy and cooked to perfection. Even when my stomach was giving me the "hey im full" signal, my mouth savored every single last bite. Yum
We ordered plenty of drinks and there was some confusion when our waiter thought we ordered a second pitcher of sangria but let us keep it anyway when we tried to send it back. Unfortunately the sangria here isn't that good...but oh well who are we to turn down free alcohol?
I ordered my usual jack and coke but as a joke i asked my waiter (Amaury) to put a flower in it. He came back with my jack and coke and an additional drink called Flower.
Jean: Nooo I'm sorry I meant an actual flower i was just joking
Waiter: That's okay just keep it
Oh well who am i to turn down free alcohol?
Despite the great food and free drinks (even free bday shots later on), Agua Dulce annoyed me because we waited forever for the check. We also asked the waiter about 4 times for bday cake, which we never got. Weird. -
Review from Marina V.
Manhattan, NY
2/16/2011
I am only reviewing BRUNCH because this is the only meal I've had at this restaurant...
Close your eyes and imagine a cube of delicious deep friend cake-like bread, injected with Nutella, swimming in a compote of sweet strawberries ... this dream can be your heart-attack-alicious reality at Agua Dulce!
The stuffed french toast is just amazeballz, but heavy so I would recommend sharing it with someone and ordering plenty of alcohol (cuz i heard it helps dilute the fat lol)...
Nice selection of bottomless drinks for an extra $20, good for those who want to expand beyond bloody marries and mimosas...
Overall this place is fun, nice interior, good music... -
Review from Emily C.
9/14/2010
This is a nice place, but with some issues with consistency. I came here a few months ago on a Friday night and ordered the Guac Trio sampler. The guacamole was tasty, but the chips tasted stale. Wary of coming off as difficult diners, we politely asked our server if the chips were meant to be this hard. The server responded (without tasting any of the chips) that this was the restaurant's unique style of tortilla chips. A few months later, I came again on a weekday for dinner. My friend ordered the Guac Tropical and the chips served were crispier and crunchier and completely unlike the chips served during my first visit. While I enjoyed the chips more this time, I was also slightly annoyed at my previous server for making me ingest a whole plate of stale chips.
I have also ordered margaritas and wine from this place. Both were enjoyable, though not outstanding. In the entree department, I have ordered the smoked tea braised short ribs and the glazed long island duck. The portions are generous (especially for the short ribs) and the flavors are interesting.
Service too, is often inconsistent. During the beginning of our meal, it was impossible to get a waiter to take our order. Subsequently, however, we had three different people visit our table to inquire as to whether we were enjoying ourselves - all within the span of about 5 minutes. -
Review from Philine v.
New York, NY
8/9/2010
I'm a member of Living Social, Groupon, KGBDeals, and BuyWithMe - and if you aren't, WHY NOT? You get to try some great places you might not have tried otherwise, for 50% or so of the price!
That's how I ended up at Agua Dulce, thanks to Living Social. The coupon offer popped up just after I acquired tickets for a show a few scant blocks away with an out-of-town friend, so I snapped up the offer and made a reservation.
The restaurant is surprisingly large, but doesn't appear that way. It is comfy and well-laid out, with a garage door at the front that opens on beautiful NYC evenings for the al fresco experience.
We were seated immediately by the garage door (which is all glass) and handed menus. Having seen a sign out front mentioning $5 drinks, I asked our waiter about it - and although that was supposed to only be at the bar, they honored the offer at our table as well, so we ordered the frozen pomegranite margarita. Fabulous, and strong! Major points in their favor already.....
I'd read up and knew they were famous for the guacamole, so we ordered the Guac Ahumado (chipotle, bacon, tomato), which was out of this world! Then I had the Arroz con pollo, while my friend ordered the Smoked tea braised beef short rib. Both were excellent, although I will go back for an order of the short rib for myself some time!! We finished the evening with desserts: Crepas cajeta for me (white chocolate crepes with caramel) and Dulce de leche flan w/salted caramel for my friend. Both were outstanding, in taste and presentation.
Definitely a place I'd recommend - if you're going to spend good money, it should be on GOOD food/drinks, rather than the mediocre tourist traps in the heart of the theater district! -
Review from Meg N.
7/29/2010
Attended brunch with a group of around 10. Decor was cute, and air conditioning was at a perfect level. Our waiter was super friendly/funny and totally put up with us.
They have a brunch option where you pay $20 for AYCD for two hours but you have to buy food (at an additional cost). So its not a cheap option like some other brunch places but the cocktails included in that AYCD special do go beyond just your normal mimosas and bloody's. I didn't have any but I saw my friends ordering bellinis and frozen mojitos among others.
Food was good. I had essentually an egg sandwich but it was tasty. Everyone else seemed to enjoy theirs too.
Will be added to my list of brunch places! -
Review from kristine r.
Astoria, NY
6/1/2010
Agua Dulce served up a really lovely prix-fixe brunch ($35) for my mom, fiance and me on Mother's Day. We were seeing a matinee Broadway show, and our server was really great about getting us out on time. He was also quite sweet to my mom given that it was Mother's Day, which we all really appreciated. The restaurant is very spacious and stays true to its aquatic theme in terms of decor. I believe there's a skylight in the middle of the main dining room, which allows for ample natural light throughout the space, and the front dining area also has plenty of light coming in from the garage door windows. There's just something about natural light in my dining space that elevates my experience of the meal. But I digress.
For appetizers, two of us ordered the salmon ceviche and one ordered the bacon-wrapped dates. The salmon tasted fresh and was a nice, light starter course. I didn't try the dates since I had just had dates the night before. I was worried at first because the portion size was quite small, even though the flavors weren't. But then I saw how big the entree portions were and wondered how we'd have room for dessert at the end!
My fiance and I both ordered the pork belly eggs benedict, which came with jalapeno cornbread. Why have I never eaten this before?? Pork belly and poached eggs is a perfect combination, even if it's totally decadent and rich thanks to the lime chili hollandaise sauce. The pork belly, in particular, was perfectly cooked with a nice fat-to-meat ratio. And the cornbread was a nice complement to all the rich flavors. My mom ordered the skirt steak and eggs, which was served over chilaquiles. It was my first time eating chilaquiles, but it certainly won't be my last! The sauce that accompanied the dish was also really delicious and tangy. I wanted to keep eating both her dish and my own - but my poor stomach was already running out of room!
For dessert, we had the dulce de leche flan with caramel ice cream, and coconut sorbet. After the heartiness of the entrees, I found the flan to be overwhelming in sweetness and richness, and the coconut sorbet was surprisingly overly sweet too. The caramel ice cream would have satisfied my sweet tooth on its own, actually. Next time we brunch here, I'll skip the prix-fixe and just order an entree.
In all, it was a really great meal to celebrate the most important woman in my life. And I'll know where to go next time we need a pre-/post-theater restaurant, especially if we're attending a matinee. After taking a look at their regular brunch menu, there are certainly plenty of mouth-watering options to choose from! Can't wait to try them all!Listed in: Theater Eats
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Review from Danielle J.
West Village, Manhattan, NY
7/25/2010
Came here for a large brunch party...reserved for 20 so we had two tables, given half the people are shady and didnt show, I told them they could give away the other table...
Initially I was annoyed b/c I scheduled the reservation due to the fact they said there was $20 all you can drink, not including food...when we got there they said it was $20 all you can drink PLUS an entree....i don't eat brunch, so i was mildly annoyed with that, plus the fact that the food wasn't especially similar to my taste, so not only would i order something i didnt want to go, but also it would be something i didnt want (salads, but almost all food entrees were bacon or ribs, pork etc which i dont eat)...
thankfully, we resolved that, so i got the all you can drink excluding food (although for $20, i will say that places like il bastardo give you food included with the all you can drink, and its also only $16).
Either way, our waiter was a~m~a~z~i~n~g, and i'm sure he found us incredibly annoying, everyone who ordered food had only good things to say, and while as always with all you can drink brunch, i wish i'd chugged more than three beverages, the passion fruit frozen mojitos were delicious, and the bellinis were as i'd expect (havent had in years, refreshing).
He was great about splitting up the bill, and also told me he forgot to charge me = extra tip, although with a large party i'm not certain how the other parties payments worked out to ensure that he did get extra $$ from me!
Great place, super cute, lovely AC when it was hot and humid outside...havent been to hells kitchen in ages, but definitely worth coming back to should i be in the area again! or for another large brunch party! -
Review from Geoffroy D.
New York, NY
2/12/2011
Overall:
It is on the top of my list of recommendations in Hell's Kitchen.
Great place, I am a fan of Agua Ducle even if I like the previous chef better. Great for brunch and dinner. Good music (and nor too loud nor too low) so perfect for Sunday brunch.
Food:
New Mexican, trendy-ish place.
My dinner favorites: Long Island Duck Breast, Smoked tea braised beef short rib
My brunch favorites: Cuban Sandwich, Cuban Sandwich and Stuffed French Toast
Drinks:
Very good cocktails, pricing is decent but not exceptional. DRINK SPECIAL $20 for unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, frozen cocktails & draft beer with purchase of entree. Nice!
Ambiance:
Trendy, I love the colors and the light in the place. Very good interior design which makes it enjoyable as soon as you walk in.
Service: Great hosts, and very nice waiters. -
Review from Eeeee P.
New York, NY
2/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here for brunch, wait is much longer then we're told by the host. Then we get to order...and they don't have any of the things we were going to order! The waiter is very unapologetic about it and won't accommodate any substitution requests.
When the food came it was pretty good, but not great. We came here once before for dinner and had the same experience. Don't think I'd come here again. -
Review from Matt P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/13/2010
It's long been on my list of places to try (I've been admiring the place since they started building it!) & I finally went last month... and was back again a few weeks later. It's definitely become one of my favorite places in the 'hood, easily.
The food is great & the decor & ambiance is even better. Totally gorgeous & way interesting layout. The outdoor seating is charming; there's even a little enclosed patio in the back.
Food-wise, the three flavors of guacamole are absolutely not to be missed! (You can get a sampler of all three.) I loved them all. But I can't pick a favorite. It's like asking me to name my favorite Beyoncé album-- it just can't be done!!! I will say that the more exotic bacon chipotle & mango pineapple habanero versions were super yummy. You'd be retarded not to try them all though. (Hell, even their chips are delicious!) Another app/side I recommend is the black eyed peas & rice. Unlike the actual Black Eyed Peas, you will NOT regret it!
The main dishes didn't bring as much excitement as our apps & sides, but my boyfriend loved his hangar steak & I enjoyed the seafood stew, but honestly, we were too stuffed with guac & black eyed peas to even care about finishing our entrees.
Brunch was pretty awesome too. I had the chorizo pancakes with bacon maple syrup. (Hell yes, I said chorizo pancakes! MEAT in the pancakes AND the syrup!)
The drinks were great too, but I found the mango habanero margaritas to be a bit too spicy!
Service was super friendly & attentive both times we've went. I've recommended this place to a bunch of friends & they have recommended it to their friends too. All have loved this place. I can't wait to go back again.
Did I mention that I love the decor?! -
Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2010
Agua Dulce.... Oh how I love you.
I have to agree with the beautiful Megan C. Agua Dulce is Stunning. It's like walking into a fairy tale... bright, modern, dramatic and whimiscal. This is such the ideal place for a sexy date night! I was here with a larger group... we had a three hour brunch, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I highly recommend the back marble table with bar style seating if you are in a party of four or more. The marble table is super luxurious, while being quite casual.
They have a brunch drink special on weekends... I think it's $20 for unlimited two hour drinking or something fabulous like that. I can't tell you how many bellinis and mimosas I had... A lot! They just kept them coming!
We started with their guacamole trio - Out came a bowl of regular guac, bacon guac (this is SINFUL) and mango guacamole (my favorite). I had to be careful not to eat the whole thing myself.
Following, I had the Frittata. I wish I had gotten the french toast!! It was excellent. Loved it. Their brunch menu is quite extensive. I will definitely be back to try the rest of it.
Our server was Patrick, and he was stellar. Gorgeous too. -
Review from Sajid Z.
Bronx, NY
10/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is fantastic. I've been here twice, once when I didn't have the Yelp App on my phone and once for brunch.
So let's start the review:
5 out of 5 for their happy hour special for brunch. The drinks are made perfectly- satisfying the thirsty drinker. They are not cheap on the alcohol at all either.
5 out of 5 for their service. I thoroughly enjoyed the prompt seating. I've seen this place filled with people and made a reservation. Surprisingly, it was empty when my friends and I got there but was still pretty busy for a brunch. The staff was great in recommendations and giving us the proper information needed.
5 out of 5 for their design. I liked the open space and the room I had where other restaurants just try to group as many tables together as possible, this place left plenty of room for people to enjoy themselves freely. Make sense? Let's say if you wanted to dance, you could. (Don't let the picture fool you, there's plenty of space)
5 out of 5 for their food. I had the steak and eggs. My friend had their burger. According to my sister, who loves this place as well, you should definitely try their pancakes.
I had their desserts as well. Let's say- it could do you no wrong but you might having mixed feelings about it. I had a great time, the staff was great and the manager was awesome.
Seeing how it was only brunch that I can recall at the moment, I'd say their special for brunch is well worth it. I will be going back again. -
Review from Pamela G.
9/3/2010
Damn. This place was good. We came here the day we arrived from San Diego and it was a nice introduction to New York. The food was great, the pork buns in particular. Service was friendly and accommodating (my waiter even charged my dead phone for me) and the mixed drink menu was fun and equally as yummy as the food.
After dinner we went over to the bar where it was, in one word, FUN! I'll leave the rest to your imagination ;)
Thank you Agua Dulce for making my introduction to New York a fabulous one! -
Review from Akira O.
4/24/2010
What a nice dining experience! Very nice bar area, and the bartender does magic with wonderful cocktails. I ran into Stewart W at the restaurant and he gave me wonderful suggestions and gave a good word to the restaurant management which took a wonderful care of us. I really liked the cocktails and the food (bacalao, mixed seafood stew, salmon ceviche) and had a great time there tonight. It has become one of my favorite restaurants in Hells Kitchen! Thank you Stu!
22 points on Zagat 2011.Listed in: Hell's Kitchen, Pre Theater - Broadway
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Review from Alison C.
9/2/2010
My friend and I braved a pretty intense rain storm to sample Agua Dulce's fabulous-sounding menu. When I arrived at the restaurant, I was shocked by the beautiful, modern space shining out amongst a neighborhood of more casual, ethnic eateries. I entered the hip environment with its lounge-style music and soaring ceilings. I located my friend at the bar, where she was doting over a fruity cocktail.
We checked in with the hostess and were escorted to our table. I decided to join in her revelry and ordered myself a sweet beverage as well. Allow me to jump forward to the end of the evening for a moment, so that I can tell you about how I had two small specialty drinks and went straight home to bed. This heavy-handed bartender did not mess around!
It turned out that my friend's boyfriend was going to meet us for dinner, so we decided to delay our larger meal and start with the Guacamole Trio. The giant platter included tons of fresh, crispy chips that were heavily fried, but fabulous. The Tropical Guac contained pineapples, mangoes, and habaneros, making the sweet blend a delight compared to the other spicy varieties. The Standard Guacamole delivered the perfect amount of kick with its blend of jalapeno, lime cilantro, and shaved red onion. Lastly, the unique Ahumado version was a smokey mixture of chipotle, tomato, and house cured bacon. We gossiped and munched away while we awaited her date's arrival.
He soon found his way to our table, and we proceeded with entrees. My Crispy Organic Salmon was perfectly cooked. The sweet caramel sauce also carried some spice with its blend of mustard and red pepper. The plate also included seared cauliflower and green olives.
The two lovebirds ordered in sync with their plates of tender Smoked Tea Braised Beef Short Ribs. The moist meat easily fell off their large rib bones. The rich, thick truffle malanga puree was the perfect savory sauce. A side of soy-charred string beans was the light touch the dish needed.
Agua Dulce provided a fun environment with fantastic treats. It was definitely worth battling the storm to make the visit. -
Review from Matt G.
6/17/2010
What a great menu. Thanks to Yelp, I did the Guac Trio. Definitely do that. Make sure to ask for additional chips as there is so much guacamole that you'll need them.
Food was fantastically presented, well-spiced and delicious. Portions were more than sufficient. I had the ribs which were delicious and moist. I would recommend.
If only I could have gotten my Guavarita within 40 minutes of ordering. Also follow up on food after delivery was a bit lacking.
Go for the food... the service needs a bit of refining. -
Review from Shawn A.
Astoria, NY
4/21/2010
Sitting outside is key to the hour of pretend escape you have during lunch. When you can, its something to be relished. You get to pretend you're... well... there's not much pretending when you're sitting curbside on 9th Avenue. Giant ass trucks rumbling by, and crazy homeless people walking into walls and what not.
But that is not a knock against Agua Dulce. I enjoy the bizzare scenes of Hell's Kitchen as much as the next guy.
Nor was their guacamole something to complain about. It was actually quite good.
But when our main courses were brought out, it was all downhill. My short rib sandwich was tasteless and on a bun that couldn't hold up under the weight of the meat. I don't mind a messy lunch, but if I gotta go back to work covered in avocado and barbecue sauce, I want to be able to regale my coworkers with an epic tale of eating.
Not stories of blandness and ugh.... yuca fries. Seriously... does anyone actually like those?Listed in: Midtown West, Young Man!
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Review from Bryan C.
8/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
It seems like most of the good reviews for Agua Dulce are in regards to brunch. I didn't go for brunch so can't comment on that. The atmosphere and decor is pretty good, and it's a big space, and with the rave reviews I may try it for brunch.
Dinner on the other hand left a lot to be desired. I went with high hopes, having recently been indulging with great success my love of Latin American food at places like Guantanamera in HK and Nazca in San Jose, CA. Agua Dulce let me down.
The Guac Ahumado - billed as guac with chipotle, bacon, and tomato, sounded amazing. In execution, not so much. The bacon was hardly able to be tasted, and it lacked the citrus-y kick that guac should have. As other commenters have pointed out, they don't give you very much. On the plus side, the chips were pretty good.
For dinner I ordered the Arroz con Pollo and my date ordered the Pollo al Carbon. These were pretty much the same dish - a barely marinated chicken breast sliced up and put over a carb - the Pollo al Carbon was put over potatoes while the Arroz con Pollo over some rice-a-roni quality yellow rice.
Anyone who has posted below about how great their arroz con pollo is has obviously never had the dish anywhere else. As I stated above, it's a breast of chicken sliced up and put over rice. The rice is mushy and not very flavorful. In a true arroz con pollo the rice and chicken should be cooked together, not added on top after.
Really disappointing.
We also ordered a side of yuca fries, and these were pretty good.
For dinner, definitely pass on this place and hit up Guantanamera a few blocks further north. -
Review from Barry M.
New York, NY
7/4/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Went here for Sunday brunch. While the menu is very limited, it was great. There are only about four breakfast items.
I had the egg sandwich. Scrambled eggs with bacon and a fresh roll. Instead of breakfast potatoe, they had yacca's prepared like potatoes. The were yummy.
Partner had eggs Benedict that was good.
Latin infusion.....great new cuisine. -
Review from nina s.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2010
I went here for Sunday brunch with a group of about 12 people.... the vaulted ceilings and fancy furnishings made me feel as if I was dining at a $$$$$ place, but the prices are actually extremely moderate!
with the purchase of an entree (which range from about 10$-15$ or something), you can buy unlimited cocktails for 20$... MY KINDA PLACE NY... I LIKE YOUR STYLE ;)!
so being a bit hungover from raging the previous 3 nights, I ordered something HEARTY: cuban sandwich... I was staaaaaaaaaarving like marvin.... and yet foolishly decided to down my frozen mojito before the food had even come out... BIG MISTAKE! i felt sick by the time my food came out... and even though I was still starvin' I was only able to eat half my sandwich, which is a dam shame, because it was extremely tasty! still, I managed to continue drinking frozen cocktails (sangrias, and tequila, etc)... I don't know why I do these things, but I do... I spent the second half of brunch laid out on the booth =/.... and after that? oooo just ran through the pouring rain in my SANDALS to get back to my friend's apt.. lucky for me that was only 2 blocks away...
regardless, good food & good drinks,... just don't make the same mistake I did... -
Review from Angela K.
New York, NY
10/13/2010
This place is straight outta Miami! The blue and green, ocean inspired, tiled walls, the eclectic mix of modern decor, the model-like waiters dressed in all white... they 'hit the nail on the head' in terms of ambiance. Most of the time they are playing a great mix of latin music to complete the package. Located just outside the theatre district, staff are friendly, animated and outgoing, as many of them wait tables when they aren't performing on Broadway.
Agua Dulce serves brunch and dinner, all with a latin inspired flare- we've tried both! You can also rent the adorable back room for parties, which we've done as well. As a whole, the food is really great... hence why we've dined there 3 times... but brunch definitely out-shined dinner. Chef Ulrich Sterling uses his imagination to change the menu often and make the dishes more interesting.
The Braised Short Ribs are definitely the highlight of the menu. At brunch have the Ropa Vieja Sandwich... shredded beef short rib on a sandwich with avocado crema and crispy yuca fries... it is SO GOOD! At dinner, the short ribs were smoked with tea, which was also tasty.
Other brunch highlights include the Grilled Skirt Steak and Eggs, as well as the Panqueque de Chorizo... pancakes with sausage inside, with bacon maple syrup on top! At dinner time definitely have the guacamole trio! So inventive... never have we seen so many great guac combos. Additional awesome items include the Caribbean squash soup with chorizo, as well as one of the ceviches.
Behind the bar is where their imagination really went wild! Some of the tastiest drinks we've ever had. Tequila is in almost everything and if you like spice, you are gonna love then. Tequila infused with jalapenos... whoa! Although pricey, you are getting your money's worth. Definitely check out the bar scene!
The Scene- Miami and Cuban Inspired
Food/Drinks- Dinner- 3: Pleasantly Surprised; Drinks- 4: Stellar! Wouldn't change a thing!
Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
Coordinates- 4: Neighborhood- Centrally located!
Restaurant Return Rate- Yellow: Great for drinks and brunch, but dinner was lacking.
Price per person- $70 for drinks, apps, entrees and dessert
This review written by Angela. -
Review from Cory W.
Toluca Lake, CA
7/27/2010
If you're looking for something a little more upscale in Hells Kitchen and don't want to venture into the tourist area (who would?), this is a solid restaurant. The food is great, and the service is just excellent, which makes for a winning combination.
It's rare to find a restaurant in the city who appreciates the value of repeat customers, outside of your local deli or diner proprietor that hustles day and night and remembers your short order. I had such a good experience here overall I'll be back, especially to bring clients, coworkers or friends for a nice long meal.
Richie was our server -- did a great job, bought us an extra round of drinks. We ordered the Guac Trio appetizer, a couple of meat entrees and yucca fries, and some chocolate for dessert. I didn't love the yucca, but glad I tried it. Everything was delicious. And on the way out, the bartender called us over and poured us a frozen drink shot and spent time to tell us about happy hour and specials the rest of the week.
That right there is team service, good food, and what a real restaurant in the neighborhood should operate like. It's worthy of your money. We dropped about $125-150 on a meal for 2, so it's not a weekly stop, but definitely go check it out for any higher end occasion or after a super busy week. -
Review from Kristina M.
Jackson Heights, NY
8/22/2010
I bought a coupon from http://LivingSocial.com - $25 for $50 bucks worth of food, so this review might throw some things off.
I wouldn't have come to this place without the coupon. Super Expensive. I let the coupon sit there for about 2 months before using it and made sure I use it during lunch hours - when the meals were a tad bit cheaper.
Burning $50 is easy here..but because of yelpers - I HAD to try the Guac Trio ($16). I also ordered the salmon ceviche ($13), I had the arroz con pollo ($12), and my bf had the salmon salad ($12).
The waiter saw that we were pretty tired and our food was taking such a long time to come out - he gave us complimentary frozen mojito shots. MmM
The Guac Trio. I wasn't in love with it, to be brutally honest and I LOVE me some GUAC.The one with the mango bits were spicy. The brown one brought memories of MOLE..something I recently discovered and hated. I did like the original because it WAS just plain ol' guacamole.
I think I was expecting this plate to be much smaller - when it was only my bf and myself eating this -- Bummed me out for the rest of the meal because it couldve left me getting dessert :( But on the other hand, this plate was big..a good appetizer for 4 people, however NOT for a date.
The salmon ceviche was DELCIOUS. Fresh. The combo of flavors were amazing, I wanted to ask for a straw so I can suck up the leftover juices - BUT just like the weird face you're doing as you're reading this - I opted not to.
The COOKED salmon my bf ordered, I never tasted. Whenever he doesn't let me taste his food, it must've been awesome. *shrug*
My arroz con pollo. The chicken - grilled, very lean - tasted very healthy - a bit bland. The rice - overcooked but went well with the chicken. I shouldve chosen a better choice.
I didnt have room for dessert but would've like to have tried something. The options didnt look appetizing to me.
Would I return? Probably not. Even with a coupon. The fourth star went to the complimentary mojito shots. -
Review from Christina Y.
New York, NY
8/19/2010
A hip, modern restaurant with great food making it a standout in the midst of midtown west and perfect for brunch. The decor and background pop music reminds me of the "day bar" places you find in meat packing and Chelsea, but the prices are decidedly more affordable. I came here for brunch and the plates range from $9-$13, pleasantly surprising me the first time I came here.
I love the twist on eggs benedict where two perfectly poached eggs sit on top of tender braised pork and corn bread. The best part is the side of chunky yuca in place of regular potatoes. What a genius! I'm not a fan of potatoes and love yuca. Swap made in heaven! The steak and eggs were delicious too. The steak came with a side of chilaquiles that tastes like ribbon pasta, but which I later found out is actually little fried corn tortillas.
There's a little open air space in front for people watching, a darker, cooler middle section and an airy, well-lit elevated seating at the back. Love it! Great place for brunch on the weekends. -
Review from Jonathan Z.
Queens, NY
5/24/2010
I usually shy away from places that are too trendy looking- and upon first glance this place certainly fits the mold - with its dimly lit atmosphere and 3 story bar accessible by ladder for (literally) the 'top shelf' liquor - however Agua Dulce provided quite a nice dining experience. We had heard the raves about the guacamole sampler - a trio of guac dishes with 1) pineapple & mango; 2) spicy chipotle and bacon; and 3) jalapeno, cilantro and onion, but honestly I don't know what all the fuss is about. (They should drop in on Rosa Mexicano sometime to see how fresh Guac is really done!) Aside from that, the churrasco and duck with bbq sauce platters were fantastic, as were the yucca fries and glorious dipping sauce they rode in on. If after eating here, you still have room for dessert, may I suggest the dulche de leche flan - a house specialty that was deeeee-lllliiiiicious!
On your way out, be sure to check out the building from the outside. The restaurant appears to be split into 2 buildings: on the left side is the 3-story bar, and on the right side is the one-story dining area... it's an interesting architectural feat that they seem to have pulled off well. -
Review from Meghan M.
5/6/2010
I don't have an occasion to throw a party for but darnit, Agua Dulce makes me want to thow a party. What a beautiful place. But subtle. And subtle isn't a quality you find very much in and around New York.
On a rainy Sunday after a trip to MoMA, we were in the mood for brunch. Of the places along 9th Avenue, Agua Dulce always looked decent from the outside and but never made it to the top of our "to do" list. Checking the menu out as we strolled by, the guacamole menu sold me.
Our waiter was amazing...Attentive, warm, hilarious...One of the best servers I've encountered in a long time. He convinced us to do the AYCD mimosas which were good and STRONG. I didn't taste much OJ in there but I guess that's the point of an AYCD brunch. It's a little pricier than other places $20+ per person but if you want to have a few drinks (more than two) it pays off.
The tropical guacamole appetizer looked small when it came out but was deceiving. It was plenty and delicious. My salad topped with shrimp skewers was good and extremely filling.
I'd really like to head back to try dinner here at Agua Dulce. Guacamole menu, here I come! -
Review from David L.
7/28/2009 ROTD 1/18/2010
For about two weeks now I've walked by this establishment on a regular basis in the midst of my daily food adventures, on my way downtown and on my way back uptown -- only in the past couple of days have they taken the paper off the windows, and only yesterday were people visibly and actively shuffling about indoors -- my friend and I (after noticing a particularly attractive individual working inside) made inquiries about when they were opening, what their name is, and what would be on the menu.
Their grand opening is today... My friend said I could come here and get a First Review. I said I wouldn't, because it'd take me a few visits before I had enough appetizers and entrees under my belt to get a complete grasp of the place and undoubtedly someone would get to it before me -- but, out of nowhere, two of my friends invited me out to dinner tonight, asking if I knew anywhere new that looked promising, and I suggested Agua Dulce -- we had about a dozen dishes between the three of us and thus I feel secure enough in my knowledge of the overall experience to write a review -- and, yet somehow, even though they've just started serving the public a few hours ago, somebody got a review in before me... 5 days ago?! But I'm not bitter, no way, not me.
This place easily wins the spot for my favorite Spanish-based (as in from Spain, mostly) restaurant in Hell's Kitchen -- although, in my opinion, there isn't much serious competition -- it's absolutely beautiful inside, the service is incredibly attentive and friendly, and lots of attention was paid to decorating both the bar and the main seating-area, and surprisingly it's even rather pleasant and attractive outdoors (which is a big compliment coming from me -- I normally can't stand eating "al fresco" in NYC, with all the congestion and pollution).
We started with:
-- House-made guacamole with fresh tortilla chips.
-- Assorted grilled marinated vegetables.
-- Assortment of Spanish cheeses and cured meats.
-- Patatas Bravas with garlic aioli with smoked paprika.
We continued with:
-- Crispy sweetbreads with grapefruit and fennel.
-- Galician octopus with smoked paprika and olives.
-- Spicy fried shrimp empanadas.
-- Yellow-fin tuna tiradito with lychee/mint salsa.
We finished with:
-- Grilled calabaza stuffed poblano peppers with romesco sauce.
-- Mixed seafood stew with coconut milk and cashews.
-- Smoked tea braised beef short ribs with grilled string beans.
-- Saffron rice with grilled chicken and chorizo.
We ordered more than half of the dinner menu, all at the beginning of the meal, otherwise we most likely wouldn't have ordered so much food... We were expecting everything to be "tapas style" which is so fashionable nowadays -- it seems that somehow most people think that's all Spanish food consists of, just like in the minds of most Americans all that the Japanese ever eat is Sushi -- but the portions were all rather generous, all three of us left extremely full, even after spreading the evening out over a three-hour time-span... I'm taking a couple weeks off drinking alcohol, but my friends each had a few drinks and they both gave rave reviews to their tipples. -
Review from Megan C.
9/30/2009 2 photos
Dream Restaurant
Literally walking down the street stumbled across Agua Dulce and stopped in my tracks. One word comes to mind - Stunning! Gorgeous design by Peter Sibilia the same group who designed the Dream Hotel the perfect space for a romantic dinner, a casual outing, a cook off, event, or relaxing in a lounge.
Well put together, soft yet modern finishes 4 stars just for being chic and original... from what I could see on the patrons plates (paninis at lunch time and such) it looked less original than the decor.
Date Rating: TBD
Pick up Scale: TBD
Strong Suggestion: email me and tell me what you loved if you've been here. I'll be looking for suggestions outside of brunch. -
Review from Caesar R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/30/2009
Dined here last night with the GF and another couple. The rain was treacherous last night but it didn't put a damper on our time at Agua Dulce. The place is located in upper Hell's Kitchen, midtown West or whatever you want to call the neighborhood in the 50s on 9th ave.
The service was eh (Waitress only), but I will give it to the bus staff. They were on top of it. Refilling water glasses regularly, providing new silverware when needed, etc.
The food, was pretty good and represented a good sampling of Latin cuisine even though there was not an abundant 50 items list. We started out with the shrimp empanadas and crispy sweetbreads (not sure if this is Latin cuisine, but sure was tasty.) For the mains we all shared the Arroz con Pollo, the tea smoked short ribs, the organic salmon and the Brazilian seafood stew. All the items were delicious, with the Arroz con Pollo being my favorite followed by the tea smoked short ribs. The side of yucca fritta was okay, not great. I would skip the side dishes and focus on the main stars. The table next to ours had the skirt steak which I will probably try on a return trip.
Thank you Agua Dulce....you were quite refreshing! -
Review from Mark L.
New York, NY
10/19/2009
I recently moved to Hell's Kitchen from the West Village and despite loving the new 'hood, found myself longing for my old haunts and nosh spots. The fact that I'm walking distance to 45 so-so Thai establishments -- and their sequels -- was not helping my separation anxiety.
Agua Dulce might be my panacea.
My partner in crime and I were on the hunt for brunch last Saturday. Savory for me while he was craving breakfast fare.
We stumbled into Agua Dulce based on decor, a well-balanced but ecclectic brunch menu -- and because Nook was packed.
He opted for the Agua Dulce Benedicto (melt-in-your-mouth braised pork, poached egg, warm jalapeno cornbread, lime chili hollandaise) while I had the Latin-style French Toast (sliced ham -- possibly Serrano but my coffee hadn't hit so I wasn't paying super-close attention, Swiss cheese, topped with fried egg and a side of maple syrup).
I actually found myself daydreaming about the meal this morning -- and it was the driving factor in bringing me out of Yelp! review retirement.
Brunch finds are a tricky business. Support your favorites so they don't fold or tell the world and find yourself enjoying a 45-minute wait? After this meal, it was worth the risk.
The exec chef, Ulrich Sterling, even popped out to say hello and thank us for coming after one of his staffers shared how much we liked the meal.
Now if we could only get a few more "average Thai" replacements...
