Bonita
243 Dekalb Ave
(between Clermont Ave & Vanderbilt Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11205 (718) 622-5300
- Nearest Transit:
Clinton-Washington Aves(G)
Lafayette Ave(C) - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
27 Reviews for Bonita
Food is good.
Guacamoles and chips are good.
The talapia burrito was spicy.
Very cute and laid back place.
Very nice and friendly staff.
Since moving to NYC, I've had a hard time finding a good Mexican restaurant. Bonita is among the best I've tried, however. The place looks great -- a mix of classy and funky. It reminds me of another Ft. Greene restaurant -- Luz. Bonita could be Luz's funkier, slightly less upscale brother.
The waitress was friendly, attentive, and knew the menu well. The chips and guac were very good, although I suspect the chips came from a bag and weren't homemade. The margaritas were nice and potent. Both the fish tacos and pork enchiladas were great and spicy, but not overly so. They give you three salsas on the side that range from mild to atomic. I'll definitely be back to Bonita.
Also, take a walk around the streets between DeKalb and Lafayette. The architecture is beautiful. My comment to my girlfriend was, "I bet everyone in this neighborhood owns a piano."
I live in Fort Greene and Bonita is my undisputed go-to restaurant in the neighborhood. As a Texan, I pride myself on having a good understanding of what Mexican food ought to taste like. I've tried spots all over the city to satisfy my almost weekly craving and Bonita is the only one that continues to deliver on a regular basis. The ingredients always taste surprisingly fresh and the fish tacos, while not the best I have tasted in a lifetime, have no equal in the city and are a great value at $8.50.
Drink-wise, stay away from the margaritas. They are not all they are cracked up to be and I've seen them using limeade in their mix...that's gonna ruin a marg every time. The beer coctails, however, are fantastic. Try the michelada...a blend of lime juice and hot sauce mixed with the beer of your choice. Kind of like a bloody mary, and really great on the hangover you might be nursing at brunch, a terrific meal there too.
The specials can either be terrific or totally blah, and tend to be a little expensive so beware. The regular menu is quite reasonably priced. The staff tends to be nice but a little didactic depending on who you get. Once I ordered (the delicious) Nachos and the waiter said, "I just want to be sure that you know that Nachos are not just regular chips." I was insulted, but hey, it's still my favorite restaurant.
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My friend lives around the corner, and I like this place a lot.
The roasted chicken is amazing! The laughable posing hipsters have migrated there from Williamsburg, but whatevs.
It just might be my fave roasted chicken ever.
Very tiny though--not good for groups.
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this place has amazing decor, great service, good drinks... but the food is not good at all. i may be spoiled coming from the west and really shouldn't compare mexican food on the east coast, but it just not good. AT ALL!!!
i do give it three stars for the other things that make up the dining experience in new york... ambience, drinks and service.
i would definately go back with friends for drinks and to hang out. i would just make sure to eat first :)
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Just had this last night and mmmm...mmmm..mmm was it good. I was feeling Lazy (code word no food in the house) and had recently read a review on Yelp about this spot. The food is good , came quick and I will order again.
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Fresh food, delicious drinks, awesome atmosphere, and I once wrote a short story based on two dudes sitting next to me.
In short, inspiring.
* Accessibility note: There's a step to get up and a tricky corner to maneuver.
I know restaurants shouldn't be judged on decor but the tile and marble work is amazing here and the food is delicious. Not Tex Mex and not the best real Mexican you've had but really really solid, nice food and service. Apparently it's owned by the owners of Diner and Marlow and Sons- nice to know that there's consistancy and attention to detail and quality througout the organization, non? Yummy tequila selection as well. salut!
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Sometimes inconsistent but usually delicious yuppie Mexican. It surprises, considering. Great brunch. Excellent fish and pork tacos/burritos.
Went here for brunch recently...the waitress was kind of snotty, wouldn't seat me bc "they were filling up". Total bullshit, there were 3 empty tables and the bar was empty. The bar tender was quite nice though (maybe that's the alcohol talkin here).
Food was decent, the guac very fresh. Dunno how it compares to the Bburg location...50% fewer faux hipsters?
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almost always delicious, always packed, always fun. its a bit of a scene and for my beloved ft greene it frightened me but.. positive change is a good thing. REALLY good margaritas. just don't do the brunch unless you're in the mood for something a little weird and a little saucy.
I live in Clinton Hill, and eat at Bonita at least once a week. The food is excellent. It what I imagine "home cooked" Mexican food to taste like. And the tequila drinks are divine. One night I came in and they were squeezing blood oranges for the margaritas. Deelicioso!
I always order off the specials menu. The shrimp ceviche is out of this world (and spicy as hell). The chicken enchiladas are great about 80% of the time. If they get the sauce wrong, not so great. When they get it right, it's the perfect balance of tomato, cheese, and spice.
Not crazy about the fish tacos, I wish they made shrimp tacos.
The corn on the cob is awesome (grilled and covered in oaxacan cheese sauce and spices).
I don't know how anyone can say the staff is snotty. I find them all very warm and friendly. (That may be because I am a regular).
And quite often, they will bring something they're trying to the table gratis -- that's how I first tasted the shrimp ceviche.
It's the best Mexican food I've had in NYC that wasn't a burrito.
The slow-cooked meats are delicious. For the most part they nail the flavors. Every time I go my taste buds get a new and exciting experience that I never had before.
Oh, I should add that if something isn't to your liking (an experience I've had twice in the last 8 months), they will gladly bring something else. The service has always been excellent for us.
Give it another try you detractors.
You may change your mind!
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I won't comment on the "no good Mexican food in NY" as I feel like I'd be beating a dead horse by now (and yeah, I lived in CA for 7+ years). it's not like I've ever been to Mexico, anyway, so whatever - like I'd know if it was authentic.
I had brunch here today with friends. the food was great - I had the Oaxaca and ham eggs dish and a cafe con leche. the waiter was a bit... how do I put this... spacey, but then again, he was also cute and flirted with me afterward, so i forgive him, haha :)
i'd definitely go back here. i am going to check out their other restaurants when i can as well.
Cool place ~ not bad food ~ I would recommend as a lunch place on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Has an old 1960's feel with the black and white tiled floor, very Gotham.
I was a little pissed at the $9 blood orange margarita, I've found better deals but at least it tasted good. The pork burrito I had tasted decent, and the general atmosphere was relaxing.
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Pretentious Mexican food. Not bad-tasting, but overpriced and undersized. The sweet plantains cost $4 for about 10 little pieces. The fish burrito is nothing special. You could make the same thing at home with Gorton's fish sticks and a wonton skin. I think the guacamole is good and the atmosphere in nice, but overall the food is not worth the wait or the money.
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I actually sort of liked the joint before I had a really bad experience with them. I would order from them since they opened and the nachos were good, even the burritos... very fresh... but the tacos were so so... anyway, i ordered one time and they fucked up my wife's chopped salad with chicken by not bringing the chicken and no dressing. They said they would come back with both, and never did. When I called the manager said we never said chicken, which was bull honkey, and about the dressing, she said there was nothing she could do... sorry. Then i said, well, we've been waiting to eat here because we thought you were coming with the dressing... long story short, i'll never go back and it really wasn't authentic mexicano anyway.... no big loss.
I'd never heard of Bonita (their Bedford joint) before and frankly, I guess it doesn't make a difference either way - I'm not sure why I'm even mentioning it, other than that I'm simply verbose - since I went and I enjoyed.
I didn't try any of their tacos or burritos - I went straight for the entree. I had some special of the day, something that resembled a ropa vieja, but perhaps made with pork, and I absolutely loved it. I believe my friend enjoyed her enchilada plate.
The drinks were kind of weak, but I think that probably fluctuates depending on the 'tender and the night.
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Even though this is the sister restaurant to the one in the Burg they are slightly different but both exceptional.
The one difference I noticed about this one is that the sauces tend to be a bit spicier (which I love) and a little thicker (which I am so not into).
The other advantage of the FG one is that they have a full bar and some great tequila. I found the wait staff here to be very pleasant and actually seems to understand the menu better than some gringo reading off of a cue card. Well at least they fake it... so I can appreciate that.
If you are in FG definitely hit this spot. Its got some of the best authentic Mexican cuisine around and always very delicious specials.
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Every time except one -- when I went with someone who knew the waiter (that should tell you something!) -- I've been extremely disappointed with Bonita. I've had issues with the food (cold, tasteless, small portions, value, slow to arrive... or all of the above), the service, the attitude, etc.
Even though I've given them chance after chance, I now simply avoid Bonita. Sometimes friends suggest it; I steer us all somewhere else.
The cool factor (do you really need this?) and nice tile work isn't enough of a draw. Wouldn't you rather spend your hard-earned money somewhere you'll enjoy and be treated well??
Originally from California, so I'm still trying to get used to Mexican food out here, and why Mexican restaurants out here sell $10 burritos. Bonita is overpriced and not that good. Bump Bonita and go to Luz instead. Their whole chickens are only $5 and has more flavor.
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I generally am not too into mexican food, but Bonita seemed to have decent tasting food that didn't make me ill, so I guess that's a good thing?
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Oh how wonderful to have a Bonita in Fort Grizzle -- although I miss the communal dining feel of the one in Willy B. This rendition classes it up a little, as in you get your very own table! They have a separate kitchen but the fare is pretty much the same. The menu and prices are identical but they have a full bar here with a krazillion different types of tequila (if that's your bag). I always get the same thing: Fish tacos and a Negra Modelo. Everything is delicious except for the veggie quesadillas and I'm not fond of the burritos b/c they put a lot of rice in 'em. One time there was a weird tendon thing in my enchiladas, so that's why a star had to be confiscated.
*1T
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YUUUMMMY! I just went to Bonita for dinner last night with two other folks, and all of us agreed that this place is DELICIOUS! I had the fish tacos, which were amazing, they were deep fried, but not at all heavy, in fact they seemed FLUFFY, and they came with a delicious sauce. The black beans were bursting with flavor, they were salty and garlicy goodness. The fried plantains were perfectly ripe and sweet, and the guacamole was the best I've ever had. The margaritas were strong and not at all too sweet, they were great! Not expensive, friendly wait staff, and nice and roomy in there! I can't wait to go back...
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Try it for brunch--not bad at all. Very friendly wait staff, a good menu (assuming you like Mexican-inspired dishes), tasty salsa and great music. The food was good, not superb, but quite good, especially for the prices (~$10). This is brunch, mind you, so I don't know how their lunches/dinners are, but I'd go back.
Don't even try to convince me that Bonita is good....it's NOT!
I've been a few times, each with an attitude that I was going to try it once more and hopefully change my mind, too bad for them they will just never live up to actually amazing Mexican food that is quite abundant in this city.
Had the chopped salad with pork and the pork tasted as though it had been cooked and then washed with water and scooped out of a sink, that's how bad it was. The salsa in the little three jar condiment set-up looked as though it had been sitting there for at least a couple of days. A friend had a burrito that was cold inside, come on!!! Seriously if you're going to rip us off by using frozen stuff at least make sure it's heated through.
And must I really mention the staff...I think I've seen the bartender around Marlow and Diner, she's nothing special and she certainly doesn't make an effort when you sit down at the bar.
I want to like you Bonita, I like your atmosphere, I like your margaritas and tortilla chips but I'll never be back.
I brought an out-of-town friend here, and wound up generally embarrassed by the experience.
The interior looked cute from the street, and though I typically get burritos from Castro's I thought Bonita might have a more suitable atmosphere for someone visiting Fort Greene for the first time.
The food was just not very good. The portions were skimpy and generic tasting. I had chicken tacos with very little chicken in them. I could hardly taste any meat at all. The guacamole we ordered was also nothing special. It had no particular flavor.
Our waiter was generally rude and hard to track down (even though it was not busy at all - a Wednesday night).
The bar looked a lot more promising and I've heard there are 100 something types of tequila... something to be excited about at least.
Overall, there are several more pleasant and better tasting options in the neighborhood like Castro's or Pequena.
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We were hungry. And in Clinton Hill. Decided to stroll over to Dekalb Ave. and seek out some good eats...after perusing the local offerings (several French bistros, a middle eastern joint, a sushi spot, etc.) and not finding anything that looked interesting, we came back to Bonita--a nice-looking restaurant offering some spins on Mexican cuisine.
Greeted warmly by the hostess and took seats at the bar to wait for a table. Bartender was quite pleasant as well. Bonita offers an exhaustive tequila selection, full bar and just about every Mexican beer I know in existence. Settled on a Pacifico and a Margarita. The place was busy at 9pm on a Saturday, and sort of loud. Nice place for a date...of course the din of background sounds happy diners and good music means you'll have to cozy up to your dining companion! Atmosphere was quite reminiscent of Schillers and Pastis (minus the holier-than-thou attitude): white tile walls, dark blue wooden benches, mood lighting.
A couple sips in to our bevvys we proceeded to our table--one of the two corner tables in the back of the room. (the margarita, by the way, was strong and tasty with a healthy dose of salt caked around the rim of the glass; the beer was...cold! but we did notice a bit of salt pressed in to the lime, which I thought was a nice touch) Specials were read to us by our friendly waiter--a shrimp ceviche, and a red snapper dish as I recall--and though they were pretty standard issue (like all the dishes on the somewhat limited menu), I'm sure they were well executed, if our meals were any indication. Though admittedly, the menu doesn't have too many options, there is something for both carnivores and vegetarians--as can expected in Mexican cuisine. Expect fundamentals like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas prepared fresh and presented in an attractive way. Basic, but done right.
That said, I'll let you know about the amazing food we had for dinner :) We started off with an excellent guacamole & chips ($7) with pico de gallo. The healthy serving of guacamole was spicy and had a great consistency balance between chunky and smooth. The tortilla chips were warm and freshly made. The pico de gallo was very straightforward ripe tomatoes, cilantro, red onion...basic, but good. I know you're ready to hear more about the place than chips and dips though...
Onward to the mains. I inquired about the fish tacos. They were fried and made with tilapia. Not a huge fan of tilapia and I'd read a great review of the fish tacos at mercadito in Manhattan (they make them with fried cod, which seems better) so I decided to hold off. Instead, I asked the waiter for his suggestion, because I was open for anything. He suggested the steak enchiladas ($12) and I took him up on his recommendation. My lady chose the Chiles Rellenos ($11) and a side of pinto beans (ed. note: ask for cheese on top of the beans if that's what you fancy because they don't come with it).
The entrees came in short time, and they looked and smelled delicious. As with most things that look and smell tasty, the flavor was excellent! The steak enchiladas were served surrounded by a provocative orange-color sauce...this sauce was subsequently licked clean from the plate. The steak was tender and flavorful (hanger steak) and the tortilla was moist and crispy at the same time. Topped with cheese, cilantro and thin slices of avocado, this dish was pure bliss! It had been a long time since I last had such a pleasing dish at a restaurant. I'm still reeling. The rellenos were equally delicious. Cheese filled fried pepper served in a spicy tomato sauce...how can you go wrong? Though there was some small roasted potato pieces included on the plate--which somehow seemed out of place--the plate was also cleaned by the end of the meal. The dishwashers at this place must love us...keep up the great work in the kitchen and we'll keep making their job easy!
All in all, a very cool restaurant. Delicious, well-presented food at bargain prices with friendly service and a lovely ambiance is a well-rounded package that you don't often find. I'm quite happy to be able to give Bonita (Ft. Greene) an A+ rating. I'm also quite happy to be fortunate enough to have our place in walking distance! Bonita is a beacon of epicurean hope in a sea of mediocrity. A bastion of gastronomic bliss amidst a bog of overpriced, underwhelming...okay you get the gist. Go here, I think you'll dig it!
ps. This was my first review on Yelp. I think I wrote a small novel. Thanks to anyone who actually made it down to the bottom!
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