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Arriba Arriba East Side - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
1463 3rd Ave(between 82nd St & 83rd St)
New York, NY 10028
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 249-1423
- Nearest Transit:
-
86 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
77 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
54 reviews for Arriba Arriba East Side
Review Highlights
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"I can also recommend the red snapper, the house salad, and..." In 3 reviews -
"The food is great, but the service can sometimes suck." In 4 reviews -
"The sangria margarita is great when you want to switch it..." In 8 reviews
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Vanessa V.
Bronx, NY
4/14/2012
This is hands down one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in NYC that I've tried. I like to go around trying different Mexican restaurants, comparing it to this one and none of them can compare. The staff is nice, the service is decent, the decor is cool but the food is great- and not too pricey!
Once you go in, like any other (good) Mex restaurants, they serve you some chips and salsa. They are so addicting, you'd most likely finish them before the meal comes. Their appetizers are good, from quesadillas to mozzarella sticks. I pretty much always get the same thing- a combo of two tacos (big tacos) with a side of rice and beans. But it's not the only thing I've tried, and quite frankly everything I've tried has been delicious! Fajitas are great, they bring you a few fajita rolls and a sizzling plate of your choice of steak, chicken, shrimp, or all of the above. I've tried the T-Bone steak which was also great. I've even stopped by for brunch, not expecting much since it wasn't what I usually order and it's early, but I was incredibly surprised by how good the brunch meal was as well! (I don't remember now what it was, since it was pretty long ago). All the portions are great, enough to fill you up.
Every chance I go eat Mexican food with someone, I always take them over there and I've never heard a complaint. They all enjoy it, and I always want to go back there. If you love Mexican food, definitely come check this place out. -
Review from Sera A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2012
We came here and they were hosting a party for Thanksgiving so I am assuming you can have an event there.
The food was good, I had the flank steak, it comes with rice and black beans. The portion is big and satisfying.
I ordered the sangria, not bad but not the greatest one I have tried. My husband had the margarita which was an overdose of tequila! We asked the bar tender to add some lemon juice in it and and she did, it was still too strong.
Would come back here again if I were in the area. -
Review from michael m.
Melbourne, FL
1/13/2012
When I was a boy I spent alot of time in my grandmothers kitchen. She was an incredible culinary master of Mexican cuisine. The smells that filled the house when she cooked were intoxicating. Tamales filled with spicy chicken and raisin, steak tacos with fresh onion cilantro and lime, piping hot menudo, and hand made tortillas. I miss those days so much and I would give just about anything for just a few moments with her in the old house on 5th street.
One evening Niki and I were looking for a bite and I got a tip about a Mexican restaurant called Arriba Arriba. Once we arrived we were promptly seated. The decor was somewhat typical for this kind of restaurant, possibly a bit nicer. Our drink order was taken. We both ordered pomegranate margarita's. They quickly arrived. YUM!!!
After scanning the menu I decided to try the enchiladas mole poblano. I was excited because it is one of my favorite dishes. After a short wait our meal arrived. Everything looked fantastic and the smell was so good. The moment of truth has come. Oh!!! now this place knows mole. It is the perfect blend of sweetness and spicy. The dish was nicely prepared and the chicken inside was very tender and tasty. You could not ask for a better enchilada dish, seriously, this was great!
For dessert I ordered the flan. It was good but nothing to write home about. A typical flan just shouldn't be the end to such a great meal. So many places kick it up a notch and get creative with flan. I was expecting something a little more interesting here.
All in all a very good experience at Arriba Arriba and I would highly suggest it to anyone looking for some Mexican cuisine of high quality. It was a special night, but, every night with Niki is special. I'm a lucky guy. -
Review from Megan C.
11/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A bunch of coworkers and I headed over here after work one night to wind down. Our server seemed unfazed by our rush of crazy and got right to work bringing us chips and salsa and plenty of booze.
The happy hour margaritas are only $5 or $6 and are large and in charge. Flavors aren't included, but the classic was tart and did the trick. My chorizo quesadilla was shockingly good, actually, and the goat cheese gave it the perfect tang.
Our check was split and paid without fuss and service was prompt and friendly. Seems like a pretty solid happy hour spot! -
Review from Pinky And The B.
Manhattan, NY
4/4/2011
I have not been in a while.
I used to go here at least once a week for several years. It was a decent option for Tex Mex in the city. I have some friends who won't go anywhere else. They have more on the menu than most Tex Mex places and something for even my lactose intolerant dining companions.
The problem is they either changed chefs or recipes. I used to frequently get the Chili Relleno. I liked it it was decent. Then after years they changed it and added a few pineapples and raisins. If I wanted a fruit salad I would have ordered a fruit salad. Other menu items just changed suddenly too. For that reason I stopped going. The food was pretty decent other wise. Don't expect authentic Mexican other than tacos in the city but for decent Tex Mex it is pretty good. -
Review from Alyvia M.
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a bad spot to booze and snack lightly before hitting the Met. We had lunch here before the McQueen exhibit. The service was horrid, the waiter barely came back to fill our water glasses and we could have finished 3 more rounds of drinks before seeing the check. It wasn't where we were sitting either. We were right beside the bar, in the front.
The food was OK, but I don't know why they called what I ordered a veggie burger. It was clearly a stack of sauteed vegetables that they weren't even going to place between bread, had I not asked for it. It was strange. The fries were crispy and delicious, but we weren't there for them- we were there for Mexican food! My favorite part of the meal was the sangria and chips/salsa. -
Review from Miran C.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2011
My fave Mexican spot in the UES! The salsa is amazingly fresh, and I am always tempted to just gulp it down =P Prices are reasonable and the portions are so large, we always take it home for lunch the next day. Service is always friendly- never disappoints!
Make an effort to go on Monday and Tuesday for a great combo meal that includes drink, appetizer, and entree. I always pack it o_O To continue the goodness the next day :) -
Review from Muhammad I.
Albuquerque, NM
6/9/2011
Yikes.
Seems like some restaurants require their employees to post Yelp reviews... -
Review from Saira K.
10/7/2011
I have never eaten at the restaurant but found this to be a great take-out/delivery Mexican place in the UES. I like their pollo a la parrilla, and the pescado relleno is good, too (if you like red snapper, this is a fun dish). Very reasonably priced.
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Review from Peter C.
New York, NY
10/28/2010
This is a tale of two restaurants.
The food here is absolutely excellent, and I especially love Saturday & Sunday brunch, which is incredibly affordable (~$14), and includes a drink (including alcoholic options) and an appetizer. The strip steak is the best I've had in Manhattan, bar none...that is, about half of the time. The other half, the food is mediocre, sometimes cold, unexpectedly bland and without its wonted spice, or even seemingly unsanitary (see Albert M's review). When they're on, they're great, but about half the time the fare is pretty unpalatable.
I have to rate them down significantly though due to a traumatic break up. One day management decided to eliminate free refills on sodas without notifying me, although I'd been a guest at least once a week for a year. I had four friends with me during my next visit, and we wound up having to pay a $62 bill just for diet coke! (to be fair, we ARE heavy drinkers).
Anyway, instead of giving me a one time pass on this three-day-old policy, the manager threatened to call the police and have me escorted out if I wouldn't "shut up and pay [my] bill!" I was tempted to put him to the test on this, but decided just pay, walk out, and never come back. I still miss Saturday brunch :(. -
Review from Albert M.
Sunnyside, NY
9/22/2010
4 of us had dinner here this past Monday. 3 came down with food poisoning. I was the lucky one to escape unscathed.
I'd stay away if I were you! -
Review from Cherayla D.
New York, NY
11/23/2011
The service just wasn't good, period. They brought out dirty plates (which were promptly replaced) & 3 of the 5 people (all who ordered fajitas) were sick the same night. I will not be returning.
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Review from Ashley R.
New York, NY
10/26/2010
Arriba is still the best Mexican on the UES and now they have a great weekday deal, $14.95 for an app, main entree and drink (Margarita, Sangria or Soft Drink).
Knowing the portions are large we split the cheese nachos, mushroom enchilada's and a margarita. Everything was very good and they split both the drink and entree onto separate dishes so we didn't feel like we were sharing. The chips and salsa are plentiful and delicious too. SO much food for only $21 (with tax and tip). Also good that we've gotten in the past are the California Nachos (not on the menu), mushroom quesadillas and cheese enchiladas. -
Review from Lindsay K.
New York, NY
2/25/2007
We were craving Mexican, but didn't want to break the bank on a nice dinner. Arriba Arriba looks like shit on the outside, but in the inside is quite pleasing. A violet lit bar serves up strong margaritas and sangria, and the dining tables are spread out in the back.
Our server was attentive and so perky I thought she must have botox-ed her smile. We knew the meal would be good because the salsa was great-- not ketchup bottled crap, but fresh and chunky with a lot of cilantro. The prices were right, and for $11 my beef "California" Burrito was huge and delicious, but I definitely would have liked more guac. My boyfriend's seafood paella crepe ($18) was yummy, too.
We came home later that night drunk and ate all our leftovers. So much for a good hangover snack. Now I'm going to have to eat ramen.Listed in: UES Good Eats
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Review from Neline S.
1/10/2009
This place is hit or miss. It's always usually crowded when I go here which is supposed to signal good food and drinks but the food and sangrias are mediocre. If you want the alcohol, I would opt for the margaritas since it's their specialty.
Despite the great tasting margaritas, you'll probably end up buying 3-4 glasses of those unless you order those pitchers which are roughly $34 for the smaller size.
On paper, all the entrees look appetizing but when it's actually served to you - it lacks that flavor that I'm craving for.
The plates are seasoned to taste but they don't even have the spices or the hot sauce on the table to quench my appetite. :( -
Review from Joe S.
7/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Chicken burrito, nachos, side of guac. The sauce on the burrito ruined it for me. It reminded me of a mooshy chef bourdee (no idea how to spell that anymore, and never liked it). Guac was not very tasteful, and was just missing something.
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Review from Katy D.
7/5/2011
You should andale andale to Arriba Arriba, especially on Monday and Tuesday nights for a pre fix $14.95 for a drink, one appetizer ( a limited choice, but includes salad, chicken soup, black bean soup, or quesadilla) and one entree (again, not a choice from the whole menu but you have about 10 to choose from). It's good enough mexican for your fix, and tasty and decently strong sangria.
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Review from Gretchen W.
New York, NY
9/25/2009
I was very impressed with the food at Arriba Arriba, as I had walked by many times without giving it a second thought. I think I was under the impression that it was more bar and less food... but I was wrong.
The walls are painted in (what I thought to be a little creepy, yet interesting) Mayan type of scenes. Like, I expected to see scenes of human sacrifice, yet luckily, those are not in the painting. The Margaritas are large and strong. The Chicken Fajitas were delicious, as was the Pescado Arriba (sauteed red snapper filet served over a bed of fresh tomatoes, avocado and sauteed pepper, onions, with orange vinaigrette. rice & beans).
Great for both ordering in from and going out to. A great casual place to go for good Mexican and some yummy margs with friends! -
Review from Joanne B.
6/9/2010
Really good Mexican food at a great price.
Salsa has the right flavor and texture. Margaritas are some of the better ones I've had in NYC. The sangria margarita is great when you want to switch it up a bit. I've had many of their shrimp dishes and I must say they have all been excellent. The shrimp has always been plump and the perfect texture with excellent flavors.
It's a spot that we go to often and have yet to be let down. -
Review from Rick R.
Tarrytown, NY
12/6/2009
Good: The menu has a lot of appetizing options.
The decor is comfortable and interesting.
Free chips and salsa.
Entrees (I had the grilled beef nachoes) are nicely presented
and made with fresh ingredients.
Bad: *** Our waitress disappeared after our meal. She did not refill waters, did not bring the bill, and, once we hunted her down (in a tiny restaurant), she was STILL slow to help! I really don't know what her deal was because there was no apparent reason to shun us. Very displeasing.
The food was good but not fantastic. While the presentation made it taste better (to me anyway), the portion sizes were a bit skimpy.
Drinks are a bit overpriced.
Overall, try it when they are not too busy and don't spend to much. See if you like it first. -
Review from Mitch K.
Brooklyn, NY
7/24/2011
Good Mexican spot on the UES. The burrittos are huge and delicious, the quesadillas are AWESOME and they make them with goat cheese... gotta love goat cheese.
Decent service, and a pretty good spot to go to with a small group or just one another. -
Review from Melss R.
New York, NY
8/11/2011
Bland. Not bad if you don't eat spicy. Blockheads around the block is tastier and cheaper.
Aruba Ariba has a calmer more sophisticated atmosphere. -
Review from Elizabeth T.
Manhattan, NY
7/9/2011 1 photo
Come here for brunch, lunch or dinner! The food is just yummy and uncomplicated. For brunch, I enjoy their seafood omelet that has tasty crab meat and plump shrimp wrapped in fluffy eggs. Sometimes I find myself only coming here on the weekend just for this dish. So good! Oh and the margaritas.... so strong and affordable....enough said.
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Review from Jeremy C.
Beverly Hills, CA
4/27/2010
Why is there a line at blockheads right now when Ariba, ariba exhists. Seriously, I love mex food (my fav) and I approve of this place. All I chow on is the tacos and enchiladas. Treat yourself and eat some good food, go here and you won't be disappointed.
The salsa is fresh... Tasty, go here, go here often if you like mex, eat outside, and check the back of the menu for the combos. The waitstaff has always been good.
I once saw them kick out a table of cheap-ass people that were just chillin sucking on some waters for about an hour after their plates were cleared on a Friday night. For that I like the place even more.. -
Review from Terry C.
Fresh Meadows, NY
2/12/2010
So I always come here for the lunch special with the bf, and always end up getting the same thing: taco salad, vegetable, no dairy. And I have to say I always leave satisfied (if not disappointed in my not having tried something else!!)
At first glance this entree looks small... but appearances can be deceiving, as this little dish is actually chock full of beans, guacamole and mexican rice. Did I mention the beans?
I love how fresh the ingredients are, and the fact that they have homemade salsa and tortilla chips which they refill for you graciously.
Waitstaff is pleasant, but they always seem to have different people (I come here pretty frequently).
Definite best drink value with the special is the sangria, since alone it would cost more than the others. I don't drink, but I love to eat the fruits off the top (and my bf drinks mine anyway... its a win win!) :) -
Review from Arlo D.
Colonia, NJ
3/8/2011
Went here before catching a comedy show on a friday night. The place was very cozy. The service was ok no complaints here. The food was really good I thought and so was the sangria! I would def come back!
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Review from Ryan S.
New York, NY
3/8/2010 2 photos
The place had an appeal from outside. So, I was waiting for a special occasion to relish a nice mexican food. That amount of hype was probably the killer of that night.., and my thoughts about the place.
Pros: really nice and attentive waitresses, good service, good ambience, food "looks" good
Cons: can't meet the expectations of the hype, food is not great (typical Americanized Mexican food), the nachos that I ordered (not the free chips) had ONLY FOUR chips with some guac & sour cream.. Are you kidding me??? WTF? Nobody comes between me and my nachos! Let me hit save before I give into my temptation to take away a couple stars from there.. -
Review from brittany s.
Manhattan, NY
6/27/2011
I met my boyfriend here for drinks and dinner at about 6pm.
We sat at the bar and got great service. The bartender was very frinedly and made a good margarita as well as sangria.
Happy hour i believe was until 7, which is really nice because most places only go until about 6 or so. Drinks were $5!
The food was great. I got the beef quesadilla. It was pulled beef and cheese inside, served with guacamole, sour cream and salsa. It was a little fancy looking, which i think is cheesy (no pun intended), but it tasted amazing and thats all I care about. Really tender, tasty meat and crispy tortilla on the outside.
My boyfrind got a platter and it came with rice, beans - the usual. He was very happy with his food as well.
The atmosphere is good for a date or meeting frineds, Its not too small and not too big, and has just the right amount of decor. Quite original I woudl also say.
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Cliff H.
Carmel, IN
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent food. Great prices. Family friendly.
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Review from Christopher S.
Fresh Meadows, NY
1/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
It might have been higher but the service was lackin.The food was delicious though. Mojitos were good i didnt thinkt hey tasted that strong and enchiladas were good too.
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Review from Christopher H.
Manhattan, NY
6/4/2011
Burrito was very bland, there was little to no seasoning in it. I haven't had anything else from there but I was not impressed. I was so excited to go here because it was right around the block from me, but I probably wont go there again.
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Review from sandra a.
New York, NY
9/23/2010
For 20+ years, this has been a mediocre neighborhood place. OK, but nothing special, but at least not a scene. Went with a former NYorker. its convenient and nostalgic and quiet enought to talk. As already noted, 3 out of 4 went home thinking we were strangly drunk on so liltte alcohol. but then Arriba, arriba, went our dinners. 3 out of 4 of us. the 4th drank beer, so maybe the margaritas were tainted with salmonella?
As tempting as the dinner special is, I'd steer clear of this place. something is not right when you can get food poisoning from drinks. have a drink at Brady's instead. they don't serve food so you can avoid the entire issue. -
Review from Stacy A.
Long Island City, NY
10/26/2006
First things first... I LOVED their frozen margaritas. Now, you may use this information as you will, but I feel I should tell you that my favorite margaritas of all time are from the chain restaurant On the Border. However, the 'ritas at Arriba Arriba were just as good as (if not better than) those at OTB. They were perfectly limey, not too sour, and they did not reek of bad tequila.
For dinner I had the cheese enchiladas -- and as far as I remember, they were really tasty. But I had at least 3 margaritas before we were served, so in all fairness I can't vouch for them 100%.
Other pros -- quick service, PITCHERS of margaritas, and free chips and salsa. -
Review from Keith I.
Manhattan, NY
10/30/2011
I have ordered deliveries several times and visited the restaurant for brunch. Today I gave it a try for dinner with my family. The mune at the entrance said a fish taco as a special menu was $14.95. However, the bill was $18.95. Also, I odered a red snapper whose price was $17.95 on the regular menu and was billed $19.95. I asked a waitress why the billed prices were different from ones on the menu. Her answer was the menu was not updated. I felt we were treated unfairly.
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Review from Herman S.
New York, NY
10/6/2006
I used to live right around the corner from Arriba a couple of years ago and loved coming here. The food was great, the staff very friendly, and it was always easy to get a table. They also make some pretty decent margaritas and it doesn't break the bank, $10 - $15 for most dishes. I haven't been back in awhile since I moved to the West side but I keep meaning to return. I'll be back soon Arriba!
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Review from Julia C.
New York, NY
3/31/2008
One of my favorite spots in the Upper East Side, Arriba Arriba is also among my top picks for Mexican food in the city. And good Mexican food here is hard to find!
The ambiance is cosy, with nice decor - they have the same cushions as I do in my living room so sometimes after too many drinks at home I start asking my husband for another basket of chips.
The servers are all really sweet, so don't be afraid to ask them for recommendations, and they will even chase you up the street on a cold, winters night to give you back your credit card when you left it in the check holder accidentally. Such loyalty!
Foodwise, I have trouble not ordering the vegetable enchiladas here, they are stuffed with surprising veggies like asparagus and squash, and the sauce is delicious. I can also recommend the red snapper, the house salad, and the guacamole is divine. However, if you order the guacamole for delivery, make sure to ask for chips! Otherwise you're eating it with a spoon. Not on the menu are the Californian nachos - a tasty appetizer with avocado, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream - but if you order them, the kitchen will provide them.
My co-worker and I came in for the lunch menu once, which includes a free maragrita or mimosa. Both of us were drinking vodkas, which weren't included, but the host insisted we get a free round at the end.
Finally, they are really cool to let you do whatever you want - just drinks, a shared plate, hang out with friends. Oh, and the bar is open till 4am!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Daniel C.
New York, NY
7/29/2007
Okay, so we were off to a great start with the chips and salsa when they were immediately replaced before I could even blink when my friend and I polished them off. I really enjoyed the chips too because they had a sort of whole-grainy/wheat thins-ish taste to them.
And it went downhill from there. My burrito, although having a nice mound of guac placed on top of it, was so incredibly flavorless that I could've cried. I definitely also bit into something that was bone-ish that I proceeded to spit onto my plate.
I am still so upset by how unimpressed I was by that burrito. i would much rather go to Blockheads a few blocks away any day of the week.
Gets the second star for the friendly service. -
Review from Kate M.
New York, NY
8/12/2009
My mole quesadilla was TERRIBLE -- barely edible. Husband liked his seafood salad (possibly a special? I don't remember) and no complaints about the pomegranate margarita from the company we were with, but my dish was SO terrible that I can't give this place anything more than two stars.
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Review from Diana T.
West Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2006
Food was just okay...the tamales were processed tasting with no hint of corn and the chicken filling was decent.. For the two choice platter we ordered beef burrito and chicken flauta. Beef again too salty and flauta was not memorable. Rice and beans, chips and salsa were decent. Eh not great--prices ranged from $5-9 appetizer, $11-18 entree.
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Review from P M.
New York, NY
8/12/2007
Seafood paella crepe here was pretty good. More than enough for 2 people. Could have used a lot more guac, though. Salsa was actually good, too. You could really taste the cilantro in it - which is huge for me. Margaritas, not so great - pretty bad, actually. But the ambience was pretty nice and the service good. Don't know if I'd be back yet. Still looking for my go-to Mexican place.
