On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

Cafe Condesa

4 star rating
based on 66 reviews

Categories: American (New), Mexican

Neighborhood: West Village
183 West 10th street
(between 4th St & S 7th Ave)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 352-0050
Nearest Transit:

Christopher St (1)

9th Street (PATH)

W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)

Hours:

Mon-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Nearby Tex-Mex

Chili's Grill & Bar

Location:
Jersey City, NJ

Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »

66 reviews for Cafe Condesa

Review Highlights   

user photo
"we had the warm brie cheese, which was sweet and filling." (in 5 reviews)
user photo
"I had the rack of lamb and rib eye steak." (in 4 reviews)
user photo
"And that's just the brioche French toast." (in 4 reviews)
loading  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Christina M.

Elite '09

142

383

Christina M.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/8/2009

I walk around the city a lot and I must have walked down West 10th... hmm... a lot.... and I had never even seen this little place.  If I had seen it, I probably thought it was just a Cafe  ( I mean, look at its name, can you blame me?) and I would have kept it moving. But, oh no, yelp, you've enlightened me once again.  

When yelping a place for dinner, I found Cafe Condesa highly reviewed and now I know why.  They serve well-crafted American fare at very affordable prices.  I mean, really, they have the same seared scallops, yada yada, you get for a high price at some snazzy restaurant, but here they are priced somewhere in the teens.  I think that's mint.  The scallops come with cauliflower, brussel sprouts and some creamy pepper sauce that's awesome.  My friend (who I think has reviewed this restaurant most recently before me...haha) always gets the lamb and though she's not a really a lamb fan, now she's addicted.  Neither of us have veered from these two items because we love them so much.  In fact, we went back to this restaurant because we wanted this food.  

I can't speak to much else except the comfortable vibe and the french jazzy music that made me happy.  It's good for a nice but low key dinner when you want to go out... but not ALL out.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Penley C.

 

0

26

Penley C.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
11/16/2009

A thumbs-up, but not quite an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Came here for wine & dessert, and the pecan (that's pe-KAHN, not PEE-can) pie w/ ice cream didn't disappoint*, while the Tannat was fantastic.

The space is cozy and affords a nice view to the goings-on in Greenwich.  Probably a good place to stop in between shows at Small's next door.

HOWEVER the time I was there, a really strong fish-y smell permeated the premises.  As in, not sizzling-cooked-fish smell but raw-fish-market smell, the kind that tends to overwhelm your senses and drive you crazy trying to think about anything but the fishy smell which of course make you think about it all the more.

I hope that was just a fluke, 'cuz it's a nice place otherwise.

*For the record, I have yet to find a place that serves the correct ice cream-to-pie ratio, which would be about 3:1, OF COURSE.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Taiyo O.

Elite '09

109

113

Taiyo O.

New York, NY

3 star rating
11/8/2009

Very generous cut of salmon was fresh and well executed. The roasted Brussels sprouts leaves were peeled off and were crunchy, mushy and charred made it many layered of taste. It was amazing.

The asparagus was cooked perfectly. It was crunchy but soft. Around the plate there were pico de gallo and Mexican green sauce. I wished there were more of the sauce. It worked so well with salmon.

It is a decent and provide good foods. The energy is easy and friendly.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Mike B.

 

14

89

Mike B.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
10/5/2009

Really enjoyed the place.  Had their Huevos Mexicanos.  Tasty!

My wife and I went there for brunch on our anniversary day out...it was really nice.  Service was attentive and friendly...I would go on a weekday, whenever possible.  I can see where it would get packed up on weekends.  

I love the neighborhood...it's a great place to enjoy a leisurely morning of people watching.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Katie B.

Elite '09

11

77

Katie B.

New York, NY

4 star rating
10/11/2009

We had been trying to come to this place for months, but we were never able to get a table.  (Let me rephrase: We were never patient enough to wait for a table.)  The place is really tiny, so if you're not there early, be prepared to wait.

I promise you, however, that it is definitely worth the wait.  I had fish that was cooked with tomatoes and poblano peppers and capers, and it was SO amazing.  The two guys I was with each had the meatballs, and said they were good.  It all sounded really good, and, having tasted the things that we did, I am sure that it all is.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Pamela S.

 

2

16

Pamela S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/6/2009

quick and friendly service, great food (not excellent, but great), reasonable prices, cozy atmosphere. love the open kitchen.   i went with a friend on a weekday (twice now) for dinner.  No wait, but very few tables so beware.

i had the rack of lamb (w. chimichurri, cauliflower, mashed potatoes) and my friend had the seared scallops... both delish. (we ordered the same dishes the 2nd time we went...)
the serving sizes are small-to-medium, so you may want to order an appetizer.  the pumpkin ravioli's (starter) sounded really good, but i haven't tried them yet.  perhaps next time.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Shelby V.

 

2

18

Shelby V.

New York, NY

4 star rating
9/15/2009

Things that are minimal at Cafe Condesa:

-The square footage
-The attitude
-The tab

This place does tiny-village-bistro nearly perfectly.  The space is cozy, the service genuinely friendly, and the food?  The food is good.  If the food were amazing, this would be a five-star-find for sure.

After scanning the simple, single-page menu, the hubs and I settled for sharing the brie appetizer and chicken mole entree.  Both were delicious, if just a little lacking in creativity.  I mean, Brie+honey+pine nuts=tasty, but definitely something I could make at home if I wanted to.  The chicken mole was also pretty good, but I kind of coveted the skirt steak that the guy at the next table was eating....next time, next time.

Anyway, splitting both dishes was more than enough food for our light dinner.  Throw in a couple of glasses of wine and we had a lovely night out for 50 bucks!  We will definitely be back.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jacob S.

 

7

6

Jacob S.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
10/1/2009

Ok so this cafe is kind of inconspicuous down in the village, I stumbled upon it with a friend one day and it was so good that I have taken multiple friends since.  Cafe Condessa has the best, hands down, french toast Ive every had in my life! I know that's a bold statement but it's true. They use a baguette bread and do some magical stuff with it in the open kitchen, literally five feet away from diners so u can smell everything cooking, and serve it with fresh maple syrup and fresh berries.  Their other dishes look tasty as well, but I recommend going their soley for the French toast.  Oh, and the prices can't be beat.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Christine P.

 

3

31

Christine P.

New York, NY

2 star rating
11/7/2009

Tried Cafe Condesa the other night for dinner with some friends. I love trying all of the small cozy restaurants in the villages. We had a reservation, but still had to wait outside for almost 30 minutes because our table was not ready.  I guess it's tough when you only have a few tables in a restaurant, but then they shouldn't have taken 3 reservations for 4 at the same time.  The food was OK.  It was a large portion for the price, so if you are watching your spending this is a good choice.  They had a good wine selection, and I thought the quality of the 2 glasses I had was high.  However, towards the end of the night 2 of us saw a big roach running along the floor towards the open kitchen.  We didn't tell the other 2 guests so as not to ruin their dinner.  I realize this is NYC and there are roaches and mice everywhere...even rats in some places. Ugh. But you never want to see them while you are eating dinner.  If I wouldn't have seen that roach I probably would have given Cafe Condesa 3 stars, but to me I don't think this place deserved 4.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Debie K.

Elite '09

22

88

Debie K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
7/9/2009 2 photos

Cafe Condesa is an absolutely adorable spot to grab food in the west village if you don't want any 'tude, long lines, or a big bill.

A few friends and I stopped by here for a low-key birthday dinner on a weekday night.  The waitresses looked like the "aspiring actresses" variety but they were helpful and nice.  We started with the warm brie, pine nut, and honey appetizer which was just as delicious as it sounds.  The softshell crab appetizer had a nice crunch and came with a light, refreshing vegetables on the side to cut through the deep-fried crab factor.  

I ordered the cobb salad appetizer as an entree and was surprised at how full I was by the end of the meal.  At first glance it looks like a huge mound of guacamole but upon closer inspection it's just chopped pieces of lettuce, chicken, corn and a mishmash of other ingredients.  My friend's entrees of striped bass and seared sea scallops were just as delicious, although the scallops portion seemed a bit paltry compared to the other dishes.

The space is tiny but I loved that the kitchen was right in front of our faces and we could see our food getting cooked before our eyes.  It got a bit smokey at times but it wasn't an issue opening the door couldn't solve.  Our bill, with the addition of a beer each, came out to $90.  A pretty good deal for the neighborhood.  Cafe Condesa-- cute, charming, and cheap!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Evan G.

Elite '09

29

262

Evan G.

New York, NY

4 star rating
5/25/2009

This place is always a delight.  People kind of look at it and go "eh...are you sure?" and I always say "Yes!"

Good wines, unendingly friendly staff, and very good food.  I was there recently and had the salmon with mashers and asparagus (even though the menu said spinach) with avocado salsa.  Sooo tasty.  Friends enjoyed a delicious pinot gris.  Previous visits for lunch have uncovered an out-of-sight ginger carrot soup and a tasty watercress salad.

The room is simple and unpretentious (with its wood floors and lightweight, well-worn chairs), and the guests are too.  Far less of a scene than some nearby restaurants.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Tim R.

Elite '09

53

247

Tim R.

New York, NY

4 star rating
5/11/2009

I'm generally feeling a bit "meh" while reviewing places I visited last week. This stands out as slightly less "meh" than the others.

They were able to seat a party of 8 immediately, with no reservation, at 7pm on a Saturday. This should have raised our suspicions, but the menu looked pretty good. I had some very filling meatballs with rice. Service was quick, friendly (despite our inebriation), and pretty well priced.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Tina B.

Elite '09

47

252

Tina B.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
9/6/2009

I was in the West Village recently moments before a huge downpour.  I checked my Yelp bookmarks and was reminded about this little spot.  Fortunately I sat down just in time! The place was empty so I was able to snag a window table and watch the rain fall.  The food was tasty, but not outstanding.  The setting was comfy and the service was friendly.  If I wasn't on a schedule, I would have loved to kill a couple cups of coffee from that table and do some general spacing out and people watching. I've passed it a couple of times since and noticed plenty of folks waiting for a table.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jamie C.

Elite '09

11

108

Jamie C.

New York, NY

5 star rating
Updated - 8/3/2009

Took my family here after seeing a matinee show. It's official, have to go for the fifth star. I love this place.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/7/2009

    What a lovely place! It's small, but unlikely the typical tiny New York restaurant, they manage to… Read more »

Photo of Aimee O.

Elite '09

97

185

Aimee O.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
6/12/2009

i spotted tate donovan here. i had a brief compulsion to ask why he and jennifer aniston broke up, but thought better of it and left the man alone to enjoy his dinner. uninterrupted.

yelpers, you should be proud. only reason i picked this spot for dinner with friends is because of the awesome reviews i'd read beforehand. oh, and its convenient location near my former office. but, seriously, the high number of stars was the main motivation!

although my company was 20 min late, we were able to nab the last empty table inside. (just so you know, tate sat at the bar. alone.) the cafe is a really charming spot with large windows and old-fashioned wooden decor that overlooks the corner of 7th ave and 10th street. since it doesn't have any conspicuous signage in the front, i realized quickly that i'd walked by this place several times in the past, failing to realize its potential.

shame on me. :(

we quickly ordered some fruity cocktails to quench our summer thirst. as for the main meal, i ordered the pan-seared sea scallops which came with roasted cauliflower and brussel sprouts. yup, true to form, i gobbled the whole thing up. i can't even remember what the rest of the table ordered since i was so entranced by my own meal. i can tell you that there was beef...

good portions, great ambience, great location.

love it.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Priya P.

Elite '09

67

141

Priya P.

New York, NY

3 star rating
12/16/2008

I really enjoyed my veggie plate here. For $15, I got a large plate of mashed potatoes, asparagus, brussel sprouts (my favorite), broccoli rabe, and collard greens. I'd take this over pasta any day! We ordered goat cheese galettes to start- they were like turnovers with red pepper and goat cheese, served with greens (with a bit too much dressing). Also tasty!

I saw a small roach on the wall, which put a damper on my meal, but I guess they're everywhere? This place is really tiny so make reservations before you come.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Aileen L.

 

9

49

Aileen L.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/13/2009

Came here for brunch after circling around West Village one afternoon in the cold. I can't think of another place that does hole-in-the-wall better. Omelettes (a la Mexicana) were light and fluffy as they should be...improved by a side of chorizo. It was a little drafty sitting by the door when it's 15 degrees outside, but at least my food was piping hot (unfortunately so was my entire plate).

Service was friendly albeit not particularly efficient, but my coffee was always refilled and I left more than well-fed.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Henry J.

 

0

10

Henry J.

New York, NY

5 star rating
9/17/2009

very tasty & fresh food. warm staff. cosy w.vil spot. cheap and (very) cheerful. one of my favorites. thanks Condesa

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Juni D.

Elite '09

25

188

Juni D.

New York, NY

4 star rating
3/4/2009

Me likey! Went for brunch with my roommate, who loves to try to impress me that little tranny, and I have to say, he did a great job!

Croissants w/ the strawberry jelly are to die for!!!... yummm!

The food was good. Lacking a bit of drama in presentation, but overall good, and very cheap!

Cute atmosphere... very tiny restaurant, which gives it a sort of neighborhood-hole-in-the-wall type of feeling... great feeling that is!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of grace y.

 

9

16

grace y.

New York, NY

4 star rating
3/17/2009

After seeing the outrageous line at Extra Virgin, P and I strolled around the West Village looking for an alternative for a Saturday night dinner.  We stumbled upon Cafe Condesa and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food they had.  The restaurant itself is small and cozy and great for a dinner date.  Since they had a reasonably priced wine list, we ordered a bottle.  We shared a butternut squash soup which was really tasty.  I had the pan roasted salmon and P had the rack of lamb.  The portions are a bit small, but both were well seasoned and well cooked.  Needless to say, we cleaned off our plates.

I must say that I don't quite understand the Mexican influence on the food, and kind of feel like their menu is confused as to whether it is Italian/Mexican/American.  However, if you're looking for a good meal that won't break the bank - I don't think it's that important.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of annie t.

 

8

29

annie t.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
3/7/2009

Went there based on yelp reviews. Was not disappointed. it was a cold, windy, week night. our waitress was very attentive (well she had no choice, we were the only clients in this susceptible tiny  place)

our appetizers came pretty quickly. we had the warm brie cheese, which was sweet and filling. i had rack of lamb while he had the hanger steak. Both so tasty! The  seasoning made even the veggies taste good. We cleaned up our plates. On a side note, expect the food to linger on your  clothes since the kitchen is literally  behind the bar. This place has a very cute atmosphere. prices were reasonable. I'm glad i experienced it.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Lauren B.

 

14

45

Lauren B.

New York, NY

3 star rating
12/3/2008

Was strolling along the area with a close girlfriend and wandered in due to the cold, only to be pleasantly surprised. The menu was small but with delicious dishes, seemed to me that they rotate their entree selections. Everything being very reasonably priced. Decent wine selections by the bottle and delicious deserts. The perfect setting for my gal pal and I to sit cozy, knock back a cheap bottle of red and catch up. Our server and host were super sweet. Oh and the warm, baked brie appetizer with honey and pine nuts drizzled on top... YUUUUM!

Glad it's in my neighborhood, I will definitely go back again soon!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Vanessa T.

Elite '09

120

190

Vanessa T.

Atlanta, GA

5 star rating
8/15/2008

Even when I ate here two or three times a week, I knew how fortunate I was to be doing so.

Every single meal here has been of the highest quality: fresh ingredients, complementary flavors, clean presentation.  

And that's just the brioche French toast.

::sigh::

I miss this place. I wish I could take it with me everywhere.

If you're ever in the neighborhood -- or within a 50 mile radius -- stop in, you won't regret it.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Charlie H.

 

2

11

Charlie H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
9/8/2009

Cozy, open, spot where everything tastes good. Utra-affordable menu and wine list. Often smells fishy, but otherwise a good choice for sharing a few bottles amongst friends.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Alexa B.

 

4

91

Alexa B.

New York, NY

4 star rating
9/14/2008

The servers here are really busy ad really nice, so I think its totally weird that Chi N. said that they seemed "bitchy" for not making eye contact with one another?? Sounds like Chi came in with a ton of luggage and just started judging. I don't usually comment on other people's comments, but there has to be some recognition when it sounds like the reviewer could use some reviewing themself. Sigh.

This is a dependable local joint that does a LOT with its tiny "kitchen". Great omlettes for brunch, I love the scallops at dinner and a well tailored wine list. This is the kind of place you can eat at every week and never get bored. And I do. It feels like home without making "home" a nauseating theme.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Brian H.

Elite '09

10

145

Brian H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
6/6/2009

This place has some of the most outstanding French toast around (they use baguette). Service is generous with coffee. A cute, humble interior, and priced accordingly.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of diana y.

Elite '09

185

339

diana y.

New York, NY

4 star rating
6/17/2008 1 photo

How they manage to make such great food in such a tiny kitchen is beyond me.  I was at a loss for words when I first tasted our portobello mushroom salad.  Perfectly cooked, earthy mushroom balanced out with the creamy flavor of goat cheese and a light, flavorful dressing over fresh mixed greens.  

My vegan friend was able to request the puttanesca pasta without cheese, and they were very obliging.  We were able to choose whatever combination of berries we wanted in our mimosas.  I think I like these people.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ina C.

Elite '09

275

477

Ina C.

Cambridge, MA

4 star rating
7/9/2008

Our gracious host, Ryann K. brought me and my traveling buddy to Cafe Condesa for dinner last week, and it was close to perfection!

We started with the warm brie cheese for our appetizer, and the unexpected combination of the mild, creamy brie with the sweetness of the honey was just amazing. I had the hanger steak with guacamole for my entree, and the flavors worked really well together (expect a lot more than a steak burrito from Chipotle). The other beautiful ladies I was with ordered the cobb salad, something else (can't remember!) and the halibut (this was the winner). The sauce for the halibut was just amazing, and I was a little upset that I didn't order it. :)

Our server had a bit of trouble with my friend's requests for her cobb salad (think Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally."), but she fixed it quickly enough. The service overall was good enough.

Because the space was small, it has an intimate atmosphere - great for a date! Reservations highly, highly recommended.

The menu that the website shows is a bit outdated, but you get the picture of what kind of cuisine this place offers.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of luis ..

Elite '09

815

652

luis ..

Fremont, CA

4 star rating
5/21/2008 3 photos

What a pleasant little nook for a nice bite to eat or beverage with your choice of caffeine or alcohol (beer or wine).  I stopped in for breakfast today and chose the poblano eggs benedict with a side of ham rather than the chorizo con huevos.  The english muffin was nice and toasty, the eggs were well cooked with a nice oozy yolk, and the poblano sauce that replaced the hollandaise had a nice rich poblano chile flavor although it was probalby a .5 on the heat scale of 1 to 10.  It came with potato wedges that were only slightly altered with a very light sprinkling of seasoning that the potato stand out.  It also had a small side salad but I didn't touch it.  The side of ham was a little dry but still good.

The place itself is on the small side with only a few two person tables here and there.  You don't want to come with a large group for breakfast/brunch unless you plan on taking over the whole place and maybe even eating in shifts.  The waitress was very nice and attentive without being overbearing.

If I lived in New York and came by frequently I could potentially give it 4 stars but being my first and possibly only visit I'll just say that I enjoyed my breakfast and would love to come back.

*edit:  I went back for breakfast another day and was able to sample their spinach/goat cheese omelet and chorizo con huevos.  Both were excellent.  4 stars!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Hank C.

Elite '09

103

1214

Hank C.

Jersey City, NJ

3 star rating
9/6/2008

The juevos rancheros - not bad.  Extra jack cheese and extra salsa verde wasn't bad.

Best thing here (that made it three instead of two stars) was the side of ham. Amazing, thick-cut, and looked like it came off a real ham, as opposed to the super-thin slices or round-off-the-rack cut ham slices.

But they have a great kitchen, although the menu is small, they have a decent selection of wines if you're interested.  Slightly slow on the service, and didn't refill the water, though they were able to accomodate our double pieces of luggage which we were dragging around.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of M M.

 

3

61

M M.

New York, NY

5 star rating
6/8/2009

I love this place for a casual stop. I love the atmosphere. It is small but somehow the place always makes me relaxed.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Karen D.

 

0

1

Karen D.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/22/2009

This tiny little Mexican eatery is definitely as good as it gets!  Quaint, west village spot with an open kitchen that delivers food much bigger than its one burner should allow.   The owner and the managers here are always smiling.  The food is simple but always good.  I love the Berry Compote and the Scallops! good wine is always flowing... brunch is stellar as well!

Dont miss it!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jennifer F.

 

10

35

Jennifer F.

Morganville, NJ

4 star rating
12/23/2008 3 photos

What I love about Manhattan: you get to choose between big, fancy schmancy places that charge an arm and a leg for mediocrity, and the "no bullshit, just good food for value" places that you find after making a wrong turn down a street.

Cafe Condesa is the latter.  The place is cozy and fits no more than 6 or so tables.  The smells from the kitchen waft over the space and linger; it does get in your hair and clothes, but that isn't a bad thing here.  It's like you're taking a piece of the goodness home with you.

Order: Rib-eye steak comes with double baked potatoes, roasted sweet onions, guacamole, and watercress.
Friend's order: Salmon
Dessert: Chocolate Souffle with cinnamon ice cream

The rib-eye was made a perfect medium rare.  The potatoes were a great side, and it was the first thing I finished on my plate.  The roasted sweet onions came in the form of one half of a red onion- not really contributing much to the dish.  It's not that it didn't taste good, but why  didn't they just chop it up and lay it over the steak?  Kind of a waste of space on my dish.  Could have done without it.

My bite of salmon was good.
I don't usually like chocolate souffles because I find them on the heavy side, but I loved the cinnamon ice cream they used.  The flavors were great together.

Overall, the food was delicious, and I do hope to return!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of pat b.

Elite '09

97

225

pat b.

New York, NY

5 star rating
11/30/2008

Absolutely divine.  Yelp does not fail at these hole in the wall places that are intimate, cozy, and tasty.  Listen to us.

The wait staff was not over-bearing, the wine selection was good enough, the salmon & cavatelli were uh-may-zing.  portions were just right.

while the food was great, its really the tucked away cozy feeling this place gives off that makes it stand apart from all the other choices in the area.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Nicole A.

 

9

33

Nicole A.

New York, NY

5 star rating
5/16/2009

I wandered in here randomly with a friend from out of town a few weeks ago and was very impressed!  The place is tiny but it has as cute atmosphere and friendly service.  My friend and I both ordered the three cheese portobello salad, so this review is fairly biased, but it was seriously one of the best salads I've ever had.  The portion was a little on the small side, but still left us feeling very satisfied.  I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a cute little lunch spot.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Marc A.

 

21

179

Marc A.

NY

3 star rating
2/18/2008

I wish I could give this place 4 stars.  I really do. I like to be helpful and today, with the sun out and the subways empty, I'm in a generous mood.  But, alas, Cafe Condesa just does not cut it.

Cafe Condesa is a very small and charming place. The decour is excellent, the atmosphere cozy and lovely, and I feel in love with their tables.  It looks and feels like a small bistro and someplace that is equally intimate and calming and it should be amazing.   And the food almost is.

While you look at the menu, you'll realize that the "Mexican" part of the menu is non-existent.  This is not a mexican place - it's very neuvo-Americana with a few Mexican influenced dishes.  The menu is very french/italian based though and the restaurant excells at that.  After we placed our order, my girlfriend and I received bread.  It was warm and delicious but not memorable.  Bread, to me, makes or break a meal so, by all accounts, the meal was going well so far.

I ordered the ravoli to start and my girlfriend ordered the butternut squash soup.  Both were delicious and excellent.  We both devoured our dishes, shared with each other, and had a lovely conversation revoling around gossip (probably).  And as my girlfriend was finishing her plate (but wasn't quite done), the service kept trying to take it away from her.  She literally had to bold the dish down to the table to make sure that the waitress not take the dish until she was finished.  There was no "are you done? can I take that?" asked.  They.just.took.

That is not how a restaurant does service.

For entrees, my girlfriend ordered the cobb salad which she loved.  I tried it and noticed that there was really very little chicken in it but my girlfriend prefers it that way.  I ordered the chicken mole.  The mole was bitter and less sweet than I'm use to and the chicken sits on a bed of white rice.  The chicken is cooked in a way that renders the skin slimy and disgusting.  That was the same way that my parents cooked chicken when I grew up.  I'm now 1700 miles from home.  I think there's a moral there.

And, like before, both my girlfriend had to keep our hands physically on the plate or else the service would take it.  Le sigh.

The prices at Cafe Condesa are right.  The atmosphere is perfect. Some of the dishes are superb.  But the extremely rushed aspect of their service and the utter ridiculousness of their chicken mole drops them a star.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Barrett S.

Elite '09

34

61

Barrett S.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
12/28/2007

This is my first-ever Yelp review and I've chosen to write about Condesa, so that alone should indicate how much I love this little West Village cafe. It's my perennial recommendation to friends looking for something new, and everyone I've directed here has been a convert.

Why? It's the culinary perfect storm - the right mix of price (although they seem to have gone up recently), taste, ambiance, and service. I've never had to wait for a table on a week night, the food comes quickly, and I love the large plate-glass windows that look out onto 7th Ave. On wine, I usually elect the dartboard method (i.e. pick randomly, or based on price), but I've never had a misstep here. The reds are especially great, and they're served in those tantalizingly oversized glasses.

Try the rib-eye steak or the chicken mole for dinner.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Lisa F.

 

5

24

Lisa F.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/17/2008

Really enjoyed this place for dinner and really liked it. It was very fresh and the service was great. They didn't mind we stayed around slowing finishing our wine for about an hour after actually finishing. This may be a different story on the weekend, since it is such a tiny place, but I'd definitely go back.

Had the Striped Sea Bass with tomatoes, rice and plantains. Except for seeing plantains and "tinto y blanco" vino on the menu, i wouldn't exactly say it was a mexican restaurant. They were correct to say "mexican influenced." It was definitely fresh food and non "cheese" based food.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Carmen P.

 

2

28

Carmen P.

New York, NY

5 star rating
3/28/2008

I love this restaurant. It's charming, dark, cozy, warm, intimate with a simple euro feel. There are about 5 tiny tables, an open kitchen and one waitperson.

It was the perfect place to stop in after a long night of shopping in the bitter cold. A friend and I were hungry and started trolling for restuarants; when we walked by Cafe Condesa, we had to stop. The  mix of aromas just draws you in.

We ordered a salad, sweet potato ravioli (AMAZING) and two orders of the same salmon dish. Everything was divine...I don't often expect much from the sides but the mashed potatoes and asparagus were noticably good. I wish that we hadn't ordered the same meal so I could have sampled a different dish. The scallops were ordered at a neighboring table and looked extremely tempting. The dessert menu also looked pretty good but we didn't give in. The portions are perfect and the prices were pretty reasonable.

There was a small line of people waiting outside by the time we were ready to leave. This tiny litle place obviously has a few dedicated fans and I am now one of them. I plan to go back soon.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Tech A.

 

0

11

Tech A.

New York, NY

3 star rating
4/20/2009

The food is a bit better than I expected not that bad at all, its a different style than most food but the flavors tend to balance themselves out, and the steak seems to be cooked properly.

The only problem with this place which gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is the pricing for small portions. Granted the prices were reasonable maybe 1-2 years ago because someone had says it was $15 a meal, now its more like $20 a meal.

I had the rack of lamb and rib eye steak. This place is great for taking your friends but a bit small so it may be crowded at times. They have take-out which is great. The meals were great but small , the rib eye steak had the proper texture I ordered and the rack of lamb was fine.

The rib eye steak could use slightly better sauce pairing, now even though the food was great and better than most typical spanish and colombian places that try to be authentic, the food really is not worth the price. I had the steak medium rare.

Your paying $40 for 1.5 meals and while great its not something out of the world or something complex or though of. Since many places don't serve food even close to this caliber if you want latin/mexican food you should try this place if you can afford it.

This is food that is not that extraordinary but served and cooked the way it should be , since most restaurants and places don't do it properly this place deserves at least 3 stars. Granted its not your ordinary style of food that is normally cooked up and its not simple take-out food that is normally but its not out of the world its sort of in the slightly higher than  middle range of food.

I would like to give a 3.5 stars but yelp doesn't allow for .5 ratings in between aka 4.5 or 3.5. If you go here with friends I recommend

maybe ordering an appetizer and maybe 3 dishes and sharing them possibly.

Was this review …?

 

1 to 40 of 66 |  
Page: 1 2
Write a Review

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

  • Photo of Mexicana Mama

    Mexicana Mama

    3.5 star rating
     56 reviews

    Neighborhood: West Village

    Category: Mexican

  • Photo of Westville

    Westville

    4.5 star rating
     188 reviews

    Neighborhood: West Village

    Category: American (Traditional)

  • Photo of Itzocan Cafe

    Itzocan Cafe

    4 star rating
     54 reviews

    Neighborhood: East Village

    Category: Mexican

  • Photo of Cafe El Portal

    Cafe El Portal

    4 star rating
     62 reviews

    Neighborhood: Nolita

    Category: Mexican

  • Photo of Mercadito Grove

    Mercadito Grove

    4 star rating
     45 reviews

    Neighborhood: West Village

    Category: Mexican

People Viewed This After Searching For...