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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Prospect HeightsPark Place (S)
Eastern Pkwy (2, 3)
Botanic Garden (2, 3, 4, 5, S)
They were out of sangria on a Saturday afternoon which was a bit of discord to my party's ears, and the pico was pretty bland.
But those chicken flautas were off the chain.
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I have been really nervous about leaving my staple mexican restaurant in Williamsburg.
So it was pretty awesome to find Chavella's a la yelp.
We started with the corn... totally out of this world delicious.
I had cheese enchiladas with mole sauce. It was a bit too sweet for dinner, but still done very well.
SO was also pleased with his meal.
Bill didn't hurt too badly.
Intimacy of the place itself + attentive and sweet waitors= A
We will return!
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Chavella's is a tiny restaurant tucked next to barber shops, bodegas and a wonderful mural. The interior is beautiful yet funky and the service is always friendly. I love the chipotle chicken tacos, the mushroom and caramelized onion quesadillas and the elote. Everything I have had there is delicious though the vegetarian tortas are too much bread and not enough filling. The black bean soup is the best I've had. A great spot and inexpensive too.
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Loved the shrimp plate.. Invited my friends over last weekend...Food was great but space was a little too cramped for our taste.
We ended up stopping by Homage Burger Bar for pumpkin fries and cranberry lemonade (dessert..lol) for our girly chit-chat on our way to noisy Franklin Park for booze....Summer in Prospect Heights...yeahhh!!!!!
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DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE!!!!
This review is not some personal vendetta or one bad experience. I am providing you with very important ADVICE: do NOT, under any circumstances, order from this place. Yes, the food is reasonably good, especially for this area, but it looks like they're overwhelmed to the point of not being able to handle their workload. We've tried to support a local restaurant, but after waiting significantly over an hour for pick up and receiving no apology taking it home to eat the wrong order, then -- on another occasion -- calling to check on delivery after an hour and a half only to find they forgot to deliver and receiving the wrong order thereafter, give me a break. That's it. If you want to wait hours for the wrong, cold meal, fine, go for it, but please -- tell this decent restaurant to get their act in gear and tell them by not ordering until they do.
Sorry Classon Ave, our little treasure has been picked dry.
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What a sweet deal.. to have a delicious Mexican food restaurant just 3 blocks away from my apartment!
You would think BUT when it takes over an hour to pick up an incorrect order from a girl who refuses to apologize with no regard for the time we wasted I'd say think again.
SO I didn't and tried one more time. I had a simple meal delivered to my apartment... kind of. This time we waited patiently for over an hour and a half! When I called for a status update turns out our meal was sitting there but was noted as being for pick up not delivery and ONCE AGAIN the order was wrong!!! Can you believe such a restaurant is still in business?
Get your act together Chavellas! We like Mexican food and you're our local we WANT to love you!
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I love this place! I usually go for lunch during the week, so I get to enjoy the great food, cheap prices, and relaxed service with no hassle. The owner, Arturo, is always gracious, and his recommendations are always delicious!
I would not even think of going for dinner, because it's just too busy, and the staff seems to be unequipped for pressure. Also, my Mexican neighbor (who loves the food!) and I have ordered dinner for delivery, and they have sent us the wrong order on more than one occasion.
So if you understand and simply accept the limitations of how Chavella's functions, you will enjoy a really wonderful meal with sincerely pleasant service!
I'm thrilled to have this down-to-earth choice in my neighborhood: gentrification is not always disappointing!
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I am a fan--thanks to all the helpful reviews. This place is adorable, although I'd never go with more than 4 people--it is TINY. But for this So. Cal transplant this was pretty good Mexican---not the best Mexican I've ever had but very tasty--NON GREASY--mexican.
WE had the brunch, I had the Chilaquiles with queso fresco and crema, refried beans and two eggs any style---it was yummy--my friend had the chavella's omelet that she couldn't stop talking about--esp. the home fries served with it (they were goood). I will have to come back here and try the lunch entrees as they looked delicious.
This. place. rules.
Finally I went, after reading all your reviews, and it being so close to home, and all.
First, it's freaking adorable in there, It's all bamboo-ey and they're tropical flowers and vines and whatnot painted on the windows.
We got the guacamole which had a little kick and came with tortillas and was a great starter, and we had enough left over to put on some of our food.
I got chicken flautas. Awesome. Not greasy, good flavors. What I really liked was that the portions weren't huge. Sometimes I decline to get any kind of platter at places like these because I feel like I'll get punched in the stomach, they're just too big. But here, it's perfect.
ALSO, I asked for hot sauce! They brought me a tiny little ramekin of fresh salsa and said "be careful, it's very hot." REALLY?! Fucking finally! And it was!
My girlfriend got two quesadillas and loved them, and my friend got a torta which was gigantic and took half home for her lunch the next day (about that portion thing...).
They have beer, too. Yes!
I haven't been able to try their horchata yet, because they're machine was down, but I'm excited to. I know I'm not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition but fuck it, who cares.
Nevermind that the tacos couldn't even make an infant feel full.... Chavella's has THE creamiest guacamole in the world. It is amazing. And the fresh tortilla chips are a perfectly-sized circle, which make them perfect for multiple bites and scooping. Also delicious: the elote, which is super yummy, but a little heavy on the mayo!
They have the typical beers you find in most Mexican restaurants and (I think) some wines. I applaud them for having nopales tacos, but my fish taco was dry and I was disappointed in the size of both. Three orders of that heavenly guacamole became my dinner.
The waitress was nice, the service was good, the bathroom was clean and the place is cozy and pretty.
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I would like to give this place a horrible review so it doesn't get busier than it already is. But I guess the cat is out of the bag.
I have been in PH for 8 years and I have been craving some good food. Slowly my prayers have been answered.
I recommend all of the small plates and eating up tapas style. That way you get tons of different flavors. The tamales are insane.
A friend of mine and I like to frequent places that are BEC (Big Eaters Club) and this place qualifies.
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Delicious brunch food, with nice touches all around. All of the service was friendly and gracious. Clientele are remarkably adorable, too. The space is cozy and snug and festive (but not in an obnoxious way). Note, however, that I got the lucky seat NOT facing the Nursing and Rehab monolith across the street. All in all, yum. Kinda spicy. Yum.
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I go here pretty frequently (like once a week) and am always pleased with what I get. The chicken tortilla soup is in a wonderfully tangy & spicy tomatillo sauce and their tacos are wonderful little street tacos wrapped in corn tortillas.
I recommend sitting in because the delivery service is excruciatingly slow ( and i live two blocks away). The bulk of their food is palatable in the most standard sense, especially the corn on the cob. But I have to point out that the misnomered chicken tortilla soup is too spicy, too green, and lacks any poultry - which is disappointing because i had been craving a decent bowl all day.
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AMAZING!
I am a Mexican snob, really, (born in Texas, grew up in CA) and this is the good stuff.
It is authentic, inexpensive, and although the place is small, it is really well decorated-the owner/chef did it himself!
Just try it, you will love it!
If you love mole, this is the place.
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a very cute restaurant with good prices an great food. even writing this review right now makes me want to order take-out.
i recently ate there and had the cheese enchiladas with mole sauce. it was a huuuge portion, and very delicious. the mole had the perfect spice and sweetness to it. my boyfriend go the "plato don," a make it yourself type of fajita plate. we also go the guacamole appetizer. our entire meal (plus my boyfriend got a beer, sol i think) was about 30 bucks. and did i mention the food was awesome? im pretty sure i did. im really glad chavellas opened up in the neighborhood because the area doesnt really have the many great restaurants. if you want to go out to eat you usually have to walk towards park slope to vanderbilt or into park slope.
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The best Mexican food around. Spicy enough without trying too hard or being bland, authentic and just plain delicious. The chicken and fish tacos are my favorite, and though the tortilla soup seemed a little salty, it didn't stop me from finishing the bowl. I can't wait to try more of the items on this menu. They're finally serving beer and wine, too!
And I can't rave enough about the servers: polite, attentive and friendly, they are able to anticipate what you'd like from wine, while you wait for your companion, to green sauce for your tacos. They make friendly conversation and don't take forever giving you your bill when it is asked for. They're on top of it!
The place is small though--probably can't seat more than twenty-five people, is my guess, but it is cute and cozy and I enjoy eating my food in that environment.
For a glass of wine, two tacos and a bowl of soup, my bill was $18.00--pretty good I'd say! I'll be back since it is less than a five minute walk from home.
edit: tried the guacamole on tuesday and it was fresh and delicious! steer clear of the tasteless, stale, crispy tortillas though!
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Love Chavella's. Love. I think I've only had flautas and one or two varieties each of quesadillas and tacos, and I've only ever had it delivered, but it has never disappointed. And it is certainly leaps and bounds above the Mexican my roommates were getting delivered up until I moved in and found this place (Rancho Allegre - which, don't get me wrong, is an adorably kitschy place with the sweetest, chattiest owner ever... but the food there is just a whole lotta bland draped in inexplicable mozzarella cheese).
Anyway, yum, and I keep meaning to go for brunch but have yet to get there for it. Some free chips and salsa wouldn't hurt, but when you do bite the bullet and pony up the cash and see the pile of fresh fried tortillas you get for your dollar (or whatever it is), it's really hard to continue to fault the place.
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Had to try this place based on all the positive Yelp reviews. Life changing experience? No. Really good Mexican for very little money? Yes. The restaurant is small, maybe 10 tables.The service was good when I was there. Overall good, cheap Mexican without heartburn and bloat. 3.5 stars
**Also of note, last time i was there they had beer and wine available.**
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I'm in love with Chavella's. Such a cute little gem!
We went there on the day we moved in - took a break from unpacking the U-Haul - and the waitress was so funny and sweet and welcoming. I've been loyal ever since.
My picks: potato flautas & black bean soup, and of course, the guac!
Delivery was impeccable. Went down something like this:
doorbell.
who is it?
Chavella's.
open door, exchange of cash and food.
buzzer rings.
uhh....yeah?
Chavella's.
uh, what? (roommate and i look at each other, look from bag of food to delivery guy, then back at each other. thinking: are we about to get killed in some brooklyn scheme gone bad?)
2nd delivery guy comes up stairs, delivering 2 bottles of Jarritos soda that came free with the order. phew! what service! haha, and we thought we were gonna die...
...die of goodness, maybe! this was the most authentic Mexican food I've experienced since living an hour from the Mexican border in Tucson, AZ. Fresh tortillas, and none of that tex-mex nonsense. Platos Don consisted of a container of succulent beef with sauteed onions, another container of seasoned shredded chicken, and a 3rd container filled to the brim with lettuce, real salsa, guac, and cheese. Tortillas wrapped in foil. A very large container of rice and beans came with each order. Chicken in the flautas were slightly dry, but the dish as a whole was not greasy at all, a real plus. Were also given little containers of VERY hot jalapeno sauce and black salsa.
YuMmMMmmmm. May bump this up to 5 stars after more experimentation with other items on the menu.
UPDATE 12/17/07: oh yes, 5 stars baby! Between me and the roomies, there's been 3 Chavella nights in 6 days. Wow, really? 6 days? I didn't believe it til I saw the date on my original post. The mole sauce was really really good. Enchilada's come in a huge portion, all delicious.
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Eaten here twice now, once I had the chile rellenos (made the way they're supposed to be made) and then the large plate with beef, chicken, a little guacamole and rice and beans. Although the rice was on the bland side, the rest was terrific. Their salsa plate is good as well, a little mild but that's fine with me. The room is bright and crowded, two qualities I nearly always loathe. But here it's all fine, in fact it's more than fine. I think the key is that the people working here seem happy and take pride in what they're doing. They're happy, so we're happy. As for the waitress, all I can say is I want to marry her. And I'm gay!
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Go here in person to eat. The food is really good. Lovingly prepared. And best served hot and fresh out of the kitchen. And the dining room is totally charming. And the waitstaff so nice. It's a great place to linger.
The food is still really good if you order it for delivery, but it loses some of the charm. Guacamole sides taste better when served by a happy waitress.
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Wow. How did this place end up on Classon Avenue? Some things are better left off unanswered.
We ordered delivery and had a very pleasant conversation with the waitress despite our somewhat complex order (and delivery). The food arrived, and what I tasted exceeded all expectations. The chorizo/potato sandwich was slightly smoky, and the sausage flavor didn't overwhelm as chorizo is wont to. The chicken taco was made on an authentic soft taco with some of the freshest ingredients available (where, preytell, are they finding this stuff in the dead of winter?) Thumbs ups were also given to the steak taco and the chicken sandwich as well.
My only problem is asking myself what took so long to try this little gem!
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I arrived eagerly, encouraged to eat here by the enthusiasm of my fellow yelpers. However, my hopes of discovering the indiscoverable authentic Mexican restaurant in New York City slowly fizzled. My tacos were dry, lacking the spice and complexity of flavor that so many reviews had readily promised.
I'll give it a 3 for the grilled corn, the relatively cheap prices, and the BYOB policy. At least I got to drown my disappointment in cheap beer.
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After finging out about this place through yelp I had to finally join so I can give it a proper review. Until the Red Hook Ball Fields open this will be my go-to place for mexican. I went there for the first time a week ago and it was so good I went back 2 days later! Both times I had the guacamole and the flautas and both time they were great! Eating here has definitely messed up my "get my body ready for summer" fitness routine but it is so worth it!
Super nice people, super tasty food! They make everything fresh, so sometimes they run out of a certain dish. They'll make all kinds of reccommendations for other things if they're out of anything and they're really accommodating for special requests or for veggie entrees. BYOB, so bring some nice wine or beer & have a really great meal for not a lot of cash.
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This place is super cute. The staff is nice. The bathroom is giant compared to the cozy eating area and looks amazing. That's pretty much it though. The food, though authentic, is bland and uninspiring. There's really no reason to go back a second time.
Not a bad place. When it first opened up the food was spicier and seasoned better. Recently I ordered Mexican shrimp and pepitos with a side of guacamole. The shrimp was pretty good, although not as spicy as I'd like. The rice that came with it was pretty standard tasting. The pepitos, a black bean spread with melted oaxaca cheese and pico de gallo on a baguette was a paradox. The beans, cheese and pico mixture is pretty good but the baguette has a cotton candy texture you find in Italian/ French breadf you get at most delis and supermarkets.
I have a feeling that Chavella's has dumbed down there food somewhat to appeal to Whitey's taste. Something that inevitably happens when a neighborhood goes hipster. Kids who move into Brooklyn from anywhere west of N.J. can't take the heat or exotic cuts like tongue, a Mexican staple that when cooked right is heaven. Therefore ethnic restaurants tone down their menu or go out of business. Still, Chavella's food does taste great. Service as stated in other posts is impeccable.
Service is impeccable.
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On a super hot day, cold bottles of water upon seating are the proverbial tits. No pressure from our friendly waitress - she also had good recommendations for us as veggies. The place was pretty hot and a tad noisy (Spanish reggae emanating from the open kitchen), but really, really good.
Rundown of our order:
Trio of Salsas ($3) - 6 small tortillas, three salsas. Chipotle was ok, salsa verde and pico were quite good.
Pepitos ($3) -5 smallish pieces of "mex bruchetta" with oaxaca, black bean paste, lettuce, etc. Tasty!
Quesadilla de hongos ($3) - sorta gamy carmelized mushrooms in a homemade tortilla. Crumbled cheese on top, not melted. Fair.
Taco verduras ($2.5) - tasty!
Torta de aguacate con queso ($6.5) - baguette with plenty of avo, tom, lettuce, melted oaxaca, a chipotle mayo. Fucking awesome! Reminded me more of a grinder than a torta, but excellent. Enough to bring home, which says a lot. I will have this again.
Beans and rice ($3) - beans bland, rice tasty, although not overtly flavorful.
No beer service, but there's a deli next door. Kickass dinner for two for $23. I only wish it were a little closer to a train and had margaritas for the ladies. They lose half a star for that, but I round up.
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OK, I've passed this place grumbling to and from work everyday and refused to eat there despite its obvious coolness in choosing the exact shade of green which makes me think of the Maya riviera in Mexico. I refused to eat there because it is so cool, so right there, so discovered,and therefore useless to my cool potential on yelp( I want more firsts damn it!). Today I caved.
Having come all the way from Manhattan on a half work day just to find myself locked out of my apartment, my frustrated stomach hurled me to Chavella's. I plunked my sweaty body down defeated only to have my sweetheart of a waitress (totally not being sarcastic, she's freakin' precious to me because she actually read Maus, and likes graphic novels) tell me that it was cash only as she poured me a lovely glass of water. Slightly annoyed that there was no sign outside to warn my broke butt I heaved myself to the corner store to be hit with those cruel transaction fees.
By the time I got my order of chicken flautas and was sipping on my Mexican mango soda the sweltering day had melted away into bliss. The tortilla of my flautas was perfectly fried and the queso was delightful. I agree totally that the plates are too small; I was definitely used to getting more rice with my meal, but I think that resentment just comes from loving the food (I thought I caught phantom flautas scents in the subway after wards for god sake) and being greedy for it.
Also,at the time I would have liked not to be stared at. I was looked at curiously by the waitstaff as I ate. I thought at first it was because they were used to people usually just picking things up with their hands while I knife-and-forked the whole lot. Later I realized that my habit of turning food over, staring at it, and ponderously chewing every bite while scribbling random thoughts could seem a little disconcerting to those in the restaurant business. Maybe it's my fault in hindsight. I seriously have to learn to keep a lower profile.
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Chavella's deftly avoids the decorative faux pas committed in egregious fashion by many other Mexican restaurants in Brooklyn. A handful of otherwise decent Mexican eateries in Kings County subscribe to an almost touristy notion that the customer is not benefiting from an "authentic" Mexican dining experience if not surrounded by an ungodly amount of gigantic sombreros, a monstrous eyesore of a mural (usually depicting a bullfight) and music blasting at earsplitting levels from jukeboxes seemingly operated by a phantom deejay. This kitsch factor tends to devalue the overall dining experience. Chavella's opts for a clean, but more understated decor, allowing the cuisine to be the focus for a first time diner, rather than the worry of being concussed by poorly hung Mexican headgear.
Ever so grateful I am to have been in an adventurous mood on the Sunday afternoon I decided to eat at Chavella's. Had I opted for a more traditional item from their menu, I would have been spared Chavella's fabulously noteworthy, south-of-the-border spin on eggs benedict. Jalapenos are infused with a traditional hollandaise sauce to create a superb and altogether different Sunday brunch experience. I was very pleased that the jalapenos were subtle, and not so hot as to leave me in the throes of red faced convulsions as they often do. The presentation is quite amazing, as well...something I'd expect from a more upscale joint, rather than a hole in the wall with a big heart like Chavella's.
While there was no line to speak of on the day I went, bear in mind that Chavella's is located in Prospect Heights, a blossoming neighborhood in rapid transition. Experience Chavella's now, because I predict that the lines will soon be out the door for this Brooklyn gem.
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Although $11 for brunch is a bit expensive if you take into the fact that coffee and/or orange juice (or something alcoholic) is not included with your meal **this either changed or I was mistaken., Chevella's makes sure your food is worth every penny. My french toast was so delicious on its own that I didn't need to use the syrup they provided (a lovely bottle with dried jalapenos inside- no aunt jemima here). It rested on a huge fruit salad which included banana, papaya, pineapple, kiwi among other tropical fruit. I could only eat two out of the four pieces and enjoyed the rest of the french toast and fruit salad over the course of the next two days.
Since then I've fallen in love with their aguacate and milanesa sandwiches... they are absolutely incredible.
The decor is very simple. It's very tiny, but extremely homey. I almost don't want to write such a positive review because I'm afraid of sacrificing Prospect Heights' best restaurant to the hungry masses. At least if I'm not able to get a table, I finally have a place to order awesome take ou!
I have since moved to Williamsburg, but sometimes I trek back to Prospect Heights (well, the Prospect Heights/Crown Heights border) JUST for Chavella's food. When I get a craving for their food it can't be ignored.
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The best food ever!
The nicest employees!
I go there every lunch break
I'm addicted!
Thanks Arturo!
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oh, the MOLE! so good. and the taquitos, and the enchiladas, and the quesadillas, and the rice and beans! i love chavella's for dinner. the service is always friendly, and when i'm too lazy to go over there, delivery is fast and the food is always piping hot. i'm not a huge fan of the brunch, but i'm not a huge fan of breakfast foods in general, so i will always prefer enchiladas to scrambled eggs. it's always satisfying and scratches my mexican-food itch until i can get back to texas (or castro's, at the very least)
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We haven't eaten IN Chavella's yet, but ordered take out three times, and they are hands-down the best food news in the Prospect / Crown Heights area. I cooked professionally in Mexico, and this is the first food that feels right -- complex spices, fresh corn tortillas, potatoes, pickles...all the great Mexican flavors that are almost always missing from New York joints. The hood needs to support the the hell out of these folks -- who not only are great cooks but exceptionally nice, too.
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Chavella's, you
tiny Mexican gem,
you bring en-chi-ladas
to my 'hood.
Sit-down
or delivery.
Bring your own
bottle (!)
Sweet-friendly
waitress,
showering care and
(dare I say it?)
love upon
my dining experience.
Mmmm, Chavella's.
Salsa trio for
tres dolares--
ay dios mio!
(Such value,
unparalleled.)
Cozy atmosphere,
where I shall bring
my favorite
boys & girls
and feast on
tasty comida
followed by
tiny,
unlimited,
free gum.
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Food 8 + ambiance 5 + value 10 + service 6 = overall 7.6 / 10 (good)
I'd heard good things about Chavella's and so was expecting some good food. Frankly, in my experience, that's usually a set-up for mild disappointment. Not so with Chavella's. My expectations were met and exceeded.
This is basic, down-home Mexican fare, somehow juxtaposed with just the right sophisticated textures and flavors. Everything fresh. Delightfully crispy when you don't expect it. Piquant at the right moments.
I highly recommend the bistec taco. And, let me not forget, this markedly good food is cheap, by any standards. My only gripe is that the plates are too small to easily eat Mexican finger food without spilling on the table.
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Mexican for brunch? OHHH yeah. It's amazing here, and made me a believer that great mexican food is here in ny (well, Brooklyn at least). I had the poached egg with jalepeno hollandaise and guacamole. I detest egg yolk, but under the guise of avacados and jalepeno... it's like a door into the narnia of flavour.
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Having recently moved from Berkeley where there was super good and super cheap food around every corner, it was a bit of a struggle finding a Mexican place in the area that satisfied those very tall demands. Luckily, we found Chavella's only a few months after coming. Even though it doesn't serve burritos, the food is extremely good, the service is great, and it's very well-priced. We almost went back in the same week, and I have a feeling we will be going back pretty often.
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