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Alcatraz
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
344 Franklin Ave(between Greene Ave & Lexington Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Neighborhoods: Bedford Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill
(347) 378-2867
- Nearest Transit:
-
Classon Av (G)
Bedford - Nostrand Avs (G)
Franklin Av (A, C)
- Hours:
Mon 11 am - 4 pm
Tue-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Claire S. said: "Tasty. I ate here for the first time last week and had the following: Chicharrones: Came out hot and sizzling, we ate all of them. I wasn't super crazy about the dipping sauce though. Poached quail egg sopes: Very delicious. I wish…" read more »
55 reviews for Alcatraz
Review Highlights
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"...that I have had, but I thoroughly enjoyed every little bit." In 2 reviews -
"There was love in that burrito and I'm head over heels." In 5 reviews -
"...a cozy well priced find in the neighborhood and it's BYOB." In 3 reviews
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Vivian H.
5/24/2012
I truly wonder if serendipity exists. Is there really such a thing as an Oracle (not the computer database program)? About 10 months ago, I was riding home on the G and a dashing handsome man traveling with his bike engaged me in conversation. It all started with his curiosity about a black ring I was wearing. We rode along and chatted the whole way, until it was my stop. It wasn't his stop, but he offered to walk me close to home. I agreed. We talked some more and arrived at an intersection close to my flat. He was a gentleman to say the least, and also dangerously cute. There was a spark, but for some odd reason, it ended there without an exchange of contact info.
He didn't know this, but he made my day. I was having a normal day, but he made it all that much better. It was a Friday before the July 4th weekend. That experience was an excellent way to kick off the holiday weekend! I thought about him some more and then decided to post a "Missed Connections" ad. I never heard anything from it. And as time passed, I forgot about the incident.
Fast forward 10 months and I am in Bed-Stuy about to have some drinks with friends at One Last Shag. Unfortunately (or fortunately), OLS does not sell food. So my friend and I walked right next door to Alcatraz to grab some food to bring over.
Alcatraz is a cute, homey, authentic little restaurant that can seat about 10 people. We went right up to the counter and started to look over the menu. We noticed the jail bars that were in place of a window which allowed the guests to look into the kitchen. A very nice Diego Rivera replicated mural was on the wall. There were handcuffs hanging from the ceiling holding a pot of lilies. The place was very quaint and welcoming. Christopher, the co-owner, was running the front of the house all by himself. It wasn't too busy, so he was managing well.
My friend ordered a few tacos including one stuffed with pork and another with fish. I am vegan, but they have many options here for me. I ordered a roasted corn tamal with mole poblano. While we were waiting for our food, we noticed a table get up and one of the guys came to the counter to pay. He was friendly and asked us what we ordered. While he was raving about the watermelon juice and the wonderful tacos, the wheels in my head were turning. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. We chatted some more about the food and then he introduced himself. Suddenly, a light bulb lit up in my head. This is the same guy I met on the train 10 months ago. I then proceeded to ask him if he rides the G and if he remembered chatting up a girl on the train and then I pointed at my ring (I almost didn't wear it). And then he remembered and smiled. He was having quite some trouble paying the bill and giving the owner too much money. That was pretty funny. He did ask where we were headed, and we said next door at OLS for a drink. He had to walk his friend home, but he promised to come visit next door...
And so, how was the food? Spectacular! One of the best tamales I have ever had. The roasted corn was perfect and the tamale was moist and flavourful! The mole poblano was excellent and had just the right amount of spicy kick! My friend said her tacos were excellent. Later, more friends came in to get food and they also all raved about the food, especially the pulled pork burrito! This place is a winner! It has character. It is unique and one-of-a-kind. Never mind that finally my "Missed Connection" ad was answered here... -
Review from Christina R.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2012
I saw the reviews for this restaurant and I have to admit, I was very skeptical about going inside, however, many of their reviews said the food was amazing and most of the complaints were about the timing of delivery. It was very early afternoon when I arrived so the place was empty.
I decided to try the watermelon ginger limeade. I was nervous about the concoction but I do like to try new things. It was pretty good. You can taste the bits of ginger in it without it being overpowering. I also ordered the sweet potato tomale with pork and a brisket taco. The presentation was wonderful and the food was amazing. I would have taken a picture but I'm ashamed to say I ate it too fast. The jicama slaw was very refreshing. For dessert I was presented with a chocolate pate covered in a whipped cloud of goodness drizzled with a raspberry sauce. I don't care what anyone says, those prices may seem high to some, but you are paying for quality food made with quality ingredients in a neighborhood whose rents are constantly rising due to the building of the stadium nearby.
My service was very prompt (course I was the only one in there) and the staff seemed very pleasant. I am greatful to have had such a wonderful experience considering I thought it was going to be the opposite. I really want to go back for brunch. Who am I kidding, dinner too. I would love to try the rest of the menu. -
Review from floyd f.
Brooklyn, NY
3/31/2012
great food, but bad business. the last THREE times we've ordered delivery, the delivery person did not have change (even tho i specifically told the guy we always order from i needed change). THREE TIMES. so the guy has to go back, get change, then come back to us (and i have to interrupt dinner to deal with it).
not a huge problem, but shouldn't be happening at all...at least not repeatedly.
i called to complain, and the guy on the phone was unbelievably rude; instead of taking responsibility, or apologizing, he said 'well i guess we're not perfect', then told me i don't need to order from them anymore (believe me, i won't).
shame, i like the food. but they need someone at least competent & reasonable to answer the phone and take orders. -
Review from Ada R.
Brooklyn, NY
3/9/2012
It's true, the service is slow, but the food is amazing. I agree with the reviewer who described it as So-Cal Mexican made by a creative, inspired chief. BYOB.
The restaurant is very intimate & I always enjoy watching the interactions between the maitre'di and chief; I believe they're a couple. The maitre'di never quite seems to know what he's doing, so expect to need to cue him on a few of the finer points of waiting, such as whether you want water with your food. Why do i put up with such things? Again, the food is incredible and inspired. -
Review from Sam L.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 2/19/2012
My kid brother was in town for the weekend, and we were looking for somewhere to eat lunch in my 'hood before he headed back to college. He was in the mood for Mexican - I suggested Alcatraz. "Surely," I thought, "they'll have ironed out the service issues I noticed the last time I was there." Oh, how wrong I was.
My brother, his friends and I got to Alcatraz a little after noon. There was only one other group in the restaurant, so I figured it would be quick enough that I could get out an get to work on time.
We ordered, and waited for our food. About 25 minutes later, I noticed the other party in the restaurant was just getting served. "Excuse me," I said. "I actually have to be out the door at 1:00. Is our food going to be out soon? If not, can you just cancel my order?" The waiter/host/manager assured me it would be out soon.
10 minutes later, he came out to ask me what I had ordered. I told him, and he said "It'll be out soon, we just have to get the sauce just perfect." "I'm sure it's delicious," I said, "but I do need to leave soon, so if I don't have time to eat it it..."
Then, it was 1:00. I went up to the window, and apologized but told them I did have to go and to cancel the order. "It's ready now!" he said, but, like I had told them half an hour ago, I had to leave for work.
Now, I misestimated the amount of time this meal would take, and that's my fault. And if they had just been honest with how long the food was going to take, I could have cancelled the order before they started it, no harm no foul. And I get that canceling an order sucks for the restaurant. But nothing - NOTHING - excuses what happened next.
Alcatraz's kitchen is in full view of the seating area, so I could see the manager and chef throw my food into the trash and say rude things to my back. They then proceeded to make my brother and his friends extremely uncomfortable for the rest of their meal.
Whatever flack I deserve for being a less-than-ideal customer PALES in comparison for the flack Alcatraz deserves for their TERRIBLE customer service. I will never again support Alcatraz - this neighborhood has too many great food experiences available to keep wasting time with an awful one.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2011
I live a block away from Alcatraz, so I've never ordered delivery (why pay for tip?) - I've either… Read more »
Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 2/19/2012
NO APOLOGY!!!!!!!!!!!!! You walked in looking for trouble,… More » -
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Review from Rachel W.
Brooklyn, NY
2/15/2012
We live in Bed-Stuy, and we get dinner from Alcatraz at least once a month, and last night we ate there for the Valentine's Day prix fixe. Here is the low-down.
I understand some of the negative reviews. We used to order delivery, which always took waaaaay longer then any delivery ever should. One night, when the food still hadn't arrived after 90 minutes, my husband got into a shouting match with the owner over the phone. (To be fair, my husband was kind of being a dick.) The food finally came, but my husband- still pissed and beyond hungry- made one of those "I'm never eating there again!" declarations.
That lasted about two months. Finally he gave in to a compromise: we'd order Alcatraz again, but we'd go pick it up ourselves. When my husband went in to get the food that first time, he spoke to the owner (Christopher) and apologized for being a raging lunatic over the phone. They made up. Problem solved.
So why did we go back, groveling? Because the food is ridiculously good. I'm astounded by the negative reviews. This isn't "authentic" Mexican (whatever that means); it's SoCal Mexican with a twist. The chef is creative, and the ingredients are super fresh. In particular, the tacos are delish (we've tried all- I love the grilled chicken taco), the jicama salad is bowl-lickingly good, and the Oaxaca quesadilla is heavenly. The guacamole is also on point.
Last night we ate in the restaurant for the first time, and immensely enjoyed the chef's prix-fixe Valentine's Day menu, which included an amuse bouche, soup or salad, a choice of three entrees, and dessert/ coffee for $45. I had the salad (a version of the jicama salad I already love, with roasted walnuts), and the most INCREDIBLE duck breast, served with an intense sweet and sour sauce, and potatoes fried in duck fat. What a meal. Dessert was some kind of flourless chocolate cake, with a spicy-pepper-maybe-raspberry? sauce drizzled on top. The combination of rich, crumbly chocolate with the spicy (hot!) sauce was surprising and just lovely. The espresso was excellent, and you gotta love BYOB.
After the meal, the chef came out and said they're thinking about hosting monthly tasting dinners, similar to the V-Day prix fixe. If they do, I highly encourage those who had a negative experience to give Alcatraz another try. You won't be disappointed! -
Review from Jenson P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/3/2012
Wow. every time we order from these guys, the prices increase out of no where. and, when we ask for the "updated" menu, they can't supply one. then, what's the $2 delivery for? there's already a $12 minimum charge. and, they take forever to deliver and bring no silverware. the delivery guy never cares and of course expects a tip. the old man on the phone who takes the order sounds annoyed when he gets a lot of business. I just spent $19 on a fish taco dinner-
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Review from Al B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/7/2012
Sort of an americanized, gourmet version of Mexican food ... pretty tasty, but a little pricey.
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Review from Marcus P.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2012
An hour and a half later they still couldn't tell me when my order would be delivered. Throwin around some BS talkin about they got 20 orders before mine. The call ended with them hanging up on me. These fools can't run their own business so they'll blame Seamless Web.
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Review from Bryon B.
5/2/2011
Ordered a delivery, so this might not be as fair. It took them 1 1/2 hours to make chips, a burrito and tacos with some cookies.
I was excited that they had Tri tip, but the rice was undercooked (after all that time!) and the tacos were underwhelming. The chips weren't very good. The only positive thing were the mexican wedding cookies.
But, the guy arrived late and had a pretty shitty attitude. So between the mediocre food, the slow service, and the gruff delivery, I don't think I'll be ordering anything from Alcatraz again. -
Review from Colleen P.
Manhattan, NY
12/16/2011
How this place has 3 stars is beyond me. If you are familiar with Mexican AT ALL and enjoy ANY sort of flavor, then do not go. Run, don't walk, away!
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Review from victoria z.
Brooklyn, NY
1/18/2012
Brunch is super good. I have yet to try dinner.
Do not come here if you are in a rush. They put care into the food that they serve and that takes time. It's nice to have a coffee, eat and digest without being hassled by stressed out waitstaff.
The basket of muffins at the counter was a nice touch and I would suggest trying the Mexican hot chocolate. -
Review from Julio C.
Brooklyn, NY
7/6/2011
Uhmm.... I hate writing bad reviews, but this is probably the worst Mexican restaurant I've ever had the displeasure of trying.
I ordered a delivery, it took 65 minutes to arrive, and from the soggy, crappy, microwaved food I got, I doubt I will be setting foot in this place...
To the restaurant: I'm sure you guys are busy, but for the prices you charge and the food you serve, I'm sure you can afford another delivery guy and get the food to the people while it's still warm? -
Review from maria m.
12/5/2010
My boyfriend and I were in the mood for Mexican, so we walked over to Alcatraz to check it out. Good thing we did, because at the moment they don't deliver past Monroe and the food was beyond delicious!
They call it fine Mexican cuisine and I get that. My boyfriend had the steak burrito, which was very tasty. The steak was cooked very well, not over done and the flavors were just right. I had two tacos-- the pulled pork taco and the mahi mahi taco. My goodness! I don't even know how to explain, the pulled pork was perfect and the fish taco was out of this world. I can't say I've ever had tacos like these, though my boyfriend after tasting a bite of the pulled pork, said they reminded him of tacos he had at gourmet food trucks LA this summer. I devoured both tacos and was left wanting more.
While my boyfriend and I waited for our order, after heading down the street for cash, we were served a sample of their watermelon ginger limeade. Delicious! Very fresh tasting with a kick. I'd love some of that spiked! We also received a sample of their popped corn in ancho carmel dessert and that was yummy as well.
My only issue with Alcatraz at the moment and the reason for four stars and not five is the price and size of the tacos. The tacos were tiny, I could have easily had three of them. Everything is served a la carte, so there was not accompanying rice and beans, so I was left slightly under satisfied. Though with dessert, ice cream from my freezer, I was good. The tacos were $4, delicious but not a good deal considering this is Bedstuy and they are quite small. The burrito was $8 and sizable, so definitely the better deal.
Nonetheless, I will definitely be back. The atmosphere is warm, very inviting, but the space is tiny. I don't imagine going back to dine-in, but it is on my way from work on my bike, so I will definitely get take-out there again.
It's nice to have a Mexican restaurant in Bedstuy, so welcome Alcatraz.Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 1/17/2011
From Christopher and Chef Sharp /co-owners Alcatraz. Thank… More » -
Review from Margarette L.
Hicksville, NY
12/13/2010
A big no ....way over priced the portions were very small and the food was bland.we had take out and they didn't even fill the dishes
..75.00 order worth maybe 40.00 and watch your bill we were over charged .... -
Review from Gordon H.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/30/2011
Saw that based on feedback the owners have changed the menu a bit to offer combo plates. Great step in the right direction.
It's easy to tell that Alcatraz wants to be a part of the community and is listening to its customers. Nicely done.
Now let's go eat some tacos.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/25/2010
Good authentic tasting Mexican food (Not influenced by Southern California, as someone mentioned, as… Read more »
Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 12/26/2010
Thank you for visiting Alcatraz and thank you for your kind… More » -
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Review from Ben B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/17/2010
Normally I like to go to a place at least twice before I write it up... but I as I sit here at 10:30 AM eating my leftovers from last night's dinner at Alcatraz because I really couldn't wait to eat the food again, I feel compelled to give this place props, because it completely shattered my low expectations.
My wife and I stopped in around 8:30 on a Thursday night. It is very tiny inside, but none of the handful of tables had yet been occupied, so we sat down against the far wall. I was immediately struck by the decor of the place -- very tasteful in a Pottery Barn-meets-SoCal taqueria sort of way, very welcoming and homey feeling. The owner also greeted us warmly, and instructed us to peruse the menus, which were waiting under our seats; and to place our order at the counter. The place feels nice enough inside that you expect waiter service, but they do it like a taqueria, which actually makes more sense because the place is really so small and will seemingly specialize in take out, as well.
We were also presented with two samples of their non-alcoholic specialty beverages (they are currently BYOB with a $3 corkage fee), a watermelon lime ginger drink and a coconut water type thing. Both were good, but the watermelon drink was outstanding, and we ordered two (our host did inform us that it is REALLY good with tequila mixed in).
The menu featured fairly authentic-sounding dishes seemingly influenced by both SoCal (burritos, fish tacos) and Mexico (moles, enchiladas, tamales, etc.). We ordered homemade, blue corn, white corn, and wheat tortilla strips with guacamole, which was probably one of the better restaurant guacamoles I've had. We also split a jicama salad tossed with some lettuce, beans, tortilla strips, cotilja cheese, and some really good lime-cumin type dressing. This was excellent.
My wife ordered two tacos -- chicken and pork. At $4 each, I though they were a bit pricey, but she reported that they were well worth the money, filled to the brim with traditional toppings.
I ordered a grilled boneless chicken breast, which was nicely seasoned, along with roasted poblano peppers, tomatoes, and a tortilla strip "pasta," which was mixed with cheeses and other spices. The whole thing tasted kind of like a deconstructed chicken enchilada, and was outstanding. This dish also came with good rice and perfectly cooked and seasoned black beans, and the whole entree was $14. As I mentioned at the beginning, I brought about half of it home, which is rare for me. I was quite hungry when we got there, but the food was very filling.
Other quick notes: cash only. No bathroom (except for employees). I thought that was a bit odd for what is really a sit-down place, but again, it's really tiny so this is sort of understandable.
I've never been to Mexico, but from where I stand this is authentic Mexican cuisine. We will be back for sure. So happy to have this around the corner. -
Review from ReviewHaiku F.
Manhattan, NY
5/11/2011
Do yourself a favor,
Get the Mahi-Mahi Taco.
Then order two more. -
Review from Tristan F.
New York, NY
2/2/2012
I really wanted to like this place. Ordered from here and while the delivery kid tried to find my apartment (on a relatively busy intersection in BK) my food got gross and cold. The manager said he would refund my purchase, later I looked at my bank statement and it wasn't all refunded. Too bad; I love Mexican food! I would avoid.
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Review from Amanda R.
Brooklyn, NY
1/25/2011
We had dinner here on Sunday night. The space is small and cozy, only a few tables. I thought the food was excellent. I had two tacos, the steak and the pulled pork. Both were delicious. I disagree with some other reviews about the portion sizes. The small tacos were 4-5 big, juicy bites. And the flavors were great. The jalapeno slaw on the pork taco was really nice. My husband had two enchiladas and was happy that he could get them Christmas style (one red, one green). We also had the guacamole as a starter, and devoured it.
Service was a little odd. Very friendly, but the guy working the front was distracted. Seems like they're doing a lot of delivery and takeout orders. At one point I could see our food was ready in the window of the kitchen, but the guy was on the phone taking orders. It sat there for a good 5 minutes, even though we were the only ones in the dining room.
But overall, everything was great. I'm looking forward to going back. I like that Franklin is having a run of good businesses opening: Dough, Bedford Hill. Alcatraz is a welcome addition. -
Review from Nara K.
Manhattan, NY
2/14/2011
I had the biggest craving for enchiladas last night. Having lived in Texas for several years, I've been repeatedly disappointed by the quality of Mexican food in the city. Still, I couldn't ignore my craving and decided to try again.
I ordered delivery on a Sunday night at 6:50pm. I live 10 minutes down the street from this place, it wasn't Super Bowl Sunday or any particularly busy kind of night, and I only ordered one enchilada dinner for myself. Still, GrubHub gave me a delivery estimate of 1 hour and 5 minutes.
It ended up taking 1 hour and 20 minutes, and when it got here, the food was lukewarm at best. The quality was very poor too. The enchiladas were soggy and extremely sorry-looking and did not seem fresh, the rice was dry, and the beans were inedible. When I read the review below about food here being microwaved, it did not surprise me. I'm pretty sure my enchiladas had been made earlier that day and then nuked. Which makes you wonder why it even took over an hour to get them to me.
Sure, this place may only be a couple of months old, but that doesn't give them an excuse to deliver poor quality food, especially not at the prices they're charging. -
Review from Morgan D.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2011
Having read the other reviews I was a little hesitant to order from here. Well, I should not have been. we ordered a couple of different Taco's, a Tamale and a side of Guacamole.
The food was really good, portions decent and the only downside was that the food could have been warmer (hey but it's 32 degrees outside and this is take out!). The hand cut tortilla chips are a nice touch too!
We will go back and eat in the restaurant next time. Glad there's a good Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood.
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If anyone can tell my why a posted review suddenly dissapeared. Seem very odd - does yelp filter after the initial posting? -
Review from Allison G.
New York, NY
9/3/2011
My GF and I decided to try Alcatraz because we love Mexican food and it was a new place that had popped up on Seamless web with good reviews. I wish we hadn't.
The first issue was the delivery:
There was a $2 fee, which we had no problem with until the guy refused to deliver our food! We live in a highrise elevator building and he called and asked me to come down and get it because there was not parking in front of the building (It is a loading zone, and there IS ample parking around the corner). This was annoying, especially since I paid a fee to have my food delivered. As others have said it also took a long time, over an hour to get here, and the delivery man's attitude was less than stellar.
The food:
The guacamole was very good. Not the best that I have had, but I thoroughly enjoyed every little bit.
The 'hand cut tortilla chips' were baffling. Half appeared to be hand cut tortilla strips, but the other half were fried crispy wonton strips...
The quesadillas with cheese, poblano, and carmelized onion was lackluster, the flavors were overwhelming, the bread was soggy, and it was not balanced or refined.
My GF had a chicken taco and pulled pork taco, she reported they were average at best.
We finished with the Ancho Caramel Popcorn which was very good, except the popcorn was stale, but the flavoring was certainly there.
To add injury to insult, I had chosen the quesadilla because it had no meat, and there was only one type of quesadilla, which made me think it would be safe from cross-contamination with meat.
Well my sickness about 35 minutes after eating told me that they had managed to somehow get meat something onto my quesadilla. If the bad delivery man and lackluster food didn't convince us to never return, the sickness and stomach upset afterwards definitely did. -
Review from Derek D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/23/2011
I would have to go with 2.5 stars for Alcatraz. I ordered take-out and got a pulled pork taco, sencilla quesadilla and the chicken mole tamale. The taco was decent. There was a lot of meat and the flavor was alright. The quesadilla was also decent. I personally love caramelized onions, so this was a good addition. It was very greasy, but I guess that's what you get with melted cheese. The low point was the tamale. The actual tamale tasted like pure dough; there was little (if any) filling inside. Luckily it was topped with a small amount of chicken and sauce. In addition to all of this, one of the ends of the tamale was very hard; almost crunchy.
The meal was a bit pricey considering the small portion sizes. Having read other reviews for this restaurant, I know that the chef will most likely read this review, so I would like to say this. I understand that most restaurants base prices on a desired food cost percentage and I am assuming you do too. That being said, I think that if any of the items I ordered had come with beans and rice or chips and salsa (the ingredients of which are very cheap) it would have made a huge difference.
Overall, I paid about $15 for very average food and was still hungry. I will most likely give Alcatraz another chance, seeing as I love mexican food and I don't know of any other places near me. -
Review from Jim S.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 6/2/2011
When I gave Alcatraz a less than stellar review (not for the food, but for the twitchy service), the co-owner wrote me back and apologized. He said he'd been called away and the restaurant staff was scrambling to keep up.
Well, he's back and I feel it deserves an upgrade from two to four stars. As always, the food is awesome, and now the service is definitely better. I truly hope that this place survives and flourishes.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/14/2011
This rating is not about the food itself. That's usually quite delicious. The service, however,… Read more »
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Review from Nouveau N.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2011
Alcatraz is a sweet little spot. Granted, it's still finding it's rhythm a little bit but it is only 5 weeks old and it's a lovely intimate spot with an open kitchen and wonderful staff. Everything I tried was delicious, quirky and classic, a perfect combo in my book. The house specialty non-alcoholic watermelon ginger limeade is INCREDIBLE and would be fantastic with tequila or vodka. The guacamole and chips went fantastic with the beer we brought. The Mahi Mahi taco was a wonderful surprise creamy/crunchy in a soft flour tortilla.
At the end of the meal, we received a lovely little bowl of homemade caramel popcorn nuts (pignolis maybe?) and a touch of chili that added a nice spice.
The staff (front and back of house) is super attentive and sweet. Chef David came out to talk to us about our meal and how much he loves making food and having Alcatraz open. The gentlemen at the front of the very small house took great care in making sure we had everything we needed. The love is in the details and there are many details to love in the dining room including the gorgeous Diego Rivera paintings.
I wish them great success, but I'm excited for it to be a secret for just a little while longer so I can try everything before I'm unable to get in the door. I'm actually crying a little bit that I am outside their delivery range. -
Review from Tonya C.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two words- Absolutely Delicious!! The food here is beyond tasty. I never had a bad dish and I tried a few in the two month Spanish I sublet a room in the apartment upstairs. The place is BYOB, so although they have mixers you have to bring your own alcohol. The guy at the front is cool. He reminds you of someone that was a part of the acid generation because he has that constant look of bewilderment on his face. And it's also cash only so leave the cards at home.
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Review from Ashley S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/25/2011
I have ordered from this place on many occasions and every time is delicious! Delivery time is normal, too long to wait for the awesome food, but understandable. The restaurant has actually called twice, once to fully understand about the special directions I put an order once and the second time to make sure I received everything in my order. Consideration for their customers and out of this world quesadillas is what keep me ordering from Alcatraz!
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Review from Ceo J.
Brooklyn, NY
7/12/2011 5 Check-ins Here
MMMM well this location needs some more improvements, that is all, you be the judge when you get there.
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Review from Jarret Y.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 9/15/2011
1. owner used to be the executive chef @ the ridiculously overpriced Dos Caminos.
2. his partner is a retired dancer and the host who is super friendly and nice.
3. food is the best So Cal Mexican i've had in NYC here ever.
4. they're right next to Dough so you can go get your sugar on after dinner.
5. prices are great.
enjoy!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2011
actually has surpassed Pequena for my new favorite Mexican in either Brooklyn or Manhattan. service… Read more »
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Review from Craig Z.
Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY
8/14/2011
The brisket tacos were very good. My girlfriend liked her veggie taco. The rice & beans were bland and I get annoyed when a place is too "good" to have salt and pepper on the table. Like others on here, I was a bit unnerved by the host and all the other staff acted as if we weren't there at all- wouldn't look us in the eye. But it all wasn't that disappointing- the brisket taco was good.
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Review from Meagan F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/12/2011
We regularly order their fish and veggie tacos for delivery, it is always prompt and amazing. The mexican wedding cookies are delicious too. I haven't been to the restaurant yet, but I've walked by and it looks cute. They're one of my favorite neighborhood places.
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Review from Erin M.
New York, NY
Updated - 3/28/2011
The proprietor of Alcatraz wrote me to let me know that they were working out the delivery problems and that they had been overwhelmed. I haven't tried them again, but I'm still willing to trek down there and have a couple tacos someday in the near future to see how it goes.
Listed in: Endless Quest for Mexican Food, Clinton Hill/Fort Greene
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2011
I really, really, really wanted to have a good experience with Alcatraz. This review is based on our… Read more »
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Review from Chelsea A.
Brooklyn, NY
8/20/2011
Cute place with good food. Authentic Mexican without the indigestion or cheap price. Classy clean powerful flavors- but small servings for the price and mostly everything is a la carte. Also good for dates but not parties. I get take out frequently because it's just easier.
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Review from LIEVE S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/1/2011 1 photo
I have just finished the most delicious beef brisket burrito from alcatraz and I'm sure it is the first of many. There was love in that burrito and I'm head over heels.
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Review from Sarah L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is not subtle and not overstated. Everything tastes really fresh and homemade. Also, like that the portions seem to be just right.
Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 5/27/2011
Thank you Sarah for recognizing our efforts. We appreciate… More » -
Review from Albert Y.
New York, NY
7/10/2011
The ambiance is cozy and cute, and the Mexican salad was delicious. But the service is really slow, and I saw one of the cooks open a package of sour cream with his teeth. They also brought me the wrong quesadilla. And they really should be less expensive for the serving sizes.
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Review from Lucy B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/10/2010
Highly recommend Alcatraz, which has just opened in the neighborhood. Last weekend I had a trio of (dainty) tacos ($4 each): the mahi-mahi taco was superb, and the pulled pork/coleslaw and beef tacos were also delicious. Guacamole is excellent ($8 with mixed tortilla chips). The watermelon ginger drink ($3) is sensational and very refreshing, and there are some special desserts on offer, including spicy popcorn and chocolate pate with a rich raspberry sauce. I can't wait to try the quesadillas -- they look amazing. You can take out (delivery is not up and running quite yet) or dine in -- the space is small and cozy, warmly lit, and beautifully decorated with paintings, flowers, and interesting objects. Very cool to be able to sit at the counter facing the kitchen and watch the chef working away, through prison bars.
Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 1/17/2011
From Christopher & Chef Sharp/ co-owners Alcatraz. Thank you… More » -
Review from kamilaih d.
Brooklyn, NY
12/16/2011
I ordered a vegetarian burrito. It was good, but the rice was very dry. Like rice that had been sitting out all day on heat--just not fresh at all. Kind of sad for a Mexican restaurant. It's really too bad b/c I would love to have a good Mexican restaruant in Bed-Stuy.
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Review from Abbey C.
Woodside, NY
2/12/2011
I was looking for a mexican restaurant in my neighborhood that would deliver, and this was only one of two. I'm thinking now that I should have gone with the other one.
It cost close to $30 for a quesadilla and chips and salsa with tip and tax. I thought that was ridiculous, but I was really hungry and not in the mood to cook.
I am kind of a picky eater, so I made sure to read the description of the quesadilla before I ordered it. I don't know if they messed up my order, or just chose not to list all the ingredients on seemlessweb- but when I got it, it was filled with stuff I would have other wise said no to; or at least ordered something different.
They gave me 3 different salsa's, none of which were any good. One tasted like marinara sauce, and the second tasted like pure hot sauce, and I didn't even bother with the 3rd after the first two.
The chips were "fresh made", so I had high hopes- but like everything else, they too were a disappointment. The quality was just so-so, and the quantity was a joke. I've never, ever been given so few chips when specifically ordering "chips and salsa". Definitely NOT worth the $4.
The rice was bland and boring, and the beans clearly had not been cooked long enough and were hard.
Perhaps I would have chosen a different entrée if I had physically gone into the restaurant, but I highly doubt I'll be going back there again.Comment from David S. of Alcatraz 2/13/2011
Hi Abbey. I am Christopher, co-owner of Alcatraz with Chef… More »
