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Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: East Village2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
"OMG - this place was AWESOME. There is a wait to get a table because the place is small, but SO worth the wait. We had a cozy table and…" read more »
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They definitely roofied our drinks. No joke. After three, all of us blacked out, went home, napped for 6 hours, some puked - most didnt. But by God was it worth it...
The food was delicious, the value of all you can drink - magnificent, and the fact that getting a table for 6 was no problem for Saturday brunch - hells bells.
I am certainly coming back, right after i can convince my friends it was a good idea the first time.
We came here for brunch with friends from out of town who are a huge fan of the "all you can drink" brunches. The deal at Yerba Buena is all you can drink for an hour for $12. Considering a mimosa is $8 at most restaurants, you can easily get your moneys worth within that hour. They are, in fact, a bit slow at refills, but I think they got the hint about 4 mimosas in. Nevertheless I would say I got my $12 worth.
We started with the fresh guacamole. Don't let the brown color deceive you, I think it was only the chipotle flavoring. I usually prefer my guac with some lemon or lime, but this guac was as fresh as can be.
I then moved on with the Tres Arepas for my main course - three miniature sandwiches, one with bbq short ribs, one with pork belly, and one with chicken tinga. All delicious, but the pork belly was definitely my favorite of the three.
The best part is this brunch is actually very reasonably priced. I also enjoyed the decor and atmosphere. Our waitress made it clear that she would have rather been enjoying brunch than serving it, but the bartender was absolutely adorable and friendly. I'd def give it another go to try some of their other dishes on the menu.
Amazing solid food, great ambience, and friendly staff. I came here with my cousins and we were a big group of 8. We ordered family style so I had the opportunity to taste every appetizer, every entree, and every dessert we ordered.
Appetizers:
- Guacamole
- Arepa
- Papa rellena (potato mushroom croquettes)
- Empanadas
- Tacos de pescado (fish taco)
Entrees:
- Ribeye
- Lechon
- Arroz con pollo
- Black cod
Dessert:
- Tres leches
- Flan
- Churros
Out of everything I tried, the arepa, fish taco, lechon, ribeye, and tres leches were amazing! We ordered a lot of dishes, and everything was delicious. Though, the empanada was a little disappointing. The restaurant is on the small side and prices are a little steep for the area.
My favorite appetizer was the arepa - I couldn't stop eating it! My favorite entree was the ribeye, so soft and tender and full of flavor. For dessert, the tres leches was a perfect way to end the night.
definitely a great place to eat...went two times and wasn't disappointed at all...host was great, service is good...cerviches are excellent...tried a special they had the first time and was happy with it...tried the chicken with rice the second time and it was awesome...rice was fried...
empanadas are not as good as havana central...great wine list...definitely going back for me next time...
i really like this place!!! It has a cute atmosphere and solid food presentation. The food is soooo flavorful - and different - yum!
only thing is - it's a latin place - so if you're vegetarian - options are limited - so beware!
i eat fish - so i had some options. I ordered the blue cornmeal crusted calimari tomato and plantain salad with a tamarind-type vinaigrette. This was good - but its a bit too heavy - with regards to the vinaigrette and crusted calimari - and I had initially thought it would be more a salad then just creamy-ish crusted calimari. Nevertheless - it was really flavorful and I certainly enjoyed it!
I also got the beans and rice - which were yum!
My dining mate got the ribs - he said it was really good, but super heavy - to be fair, he asked the waiter for the most fattening/heavy thing on the menu.
For dessert we shared peppermint ice cream with chopped strawberry salad on top. It was a refreshing way to end the meal - and the ice cream tasted really fresh.
yum - i really like this place - i'd definitely come again - glad to find a new latin spot to add to my list of options.
Next time - I would prefer to do family style so I could try more stuff, but less portions of everything!
My first mistake was thinking I was taking my friend to Yuca Bar when in fact the restaurant I chose was Yerba Buena. The second mistake I made was recommending two appetizers that were really disappointing. The third and worst mistake I made was completely ignoring the "NO means NO" rule. It's not a laughing matter. If you get unwanted attention say NO from the beginning. I wasn't harmed in any way, just annoyed and I think it ruined my dinner at Yerba Buena. A simple no thank you would probably have sufficed.
Yerba Buena turned out to be a really nice restaurant. It's smaller, more intimate and classier than the casual Yuca Bar down the street. The restaurant is all about dim lighting. They are definitely trying to set a mood for something. Whether it's dinner by candlelight or get cozy with your neighbor I think they have their bases covered. Yerba Buena is one of those restaurants where they have to pull the table out just so you can squeeze on by.
We started off our dinner with two drinks (the classic Pisco Sour and Audrey Saunder's special Pisco Punch). Both were delicious and worth the hefty price. During this time the waiter had come over to tell us that the gentleman over there would be taking care of our drinks. Sweet! We then ordered the Empanadas and Chicharron de Calamar for appetizers. The beautiful plates arrived just as our mystery man made himself visible.
Oy! It was not the gentleman from the bar. It was in fact the guy sitting next to us. We smiled at our misfortune and thanked him for the drinks. He then proceeded with poor flirtation skills and the backup of his overbearing boss. The boss' fiance laughed at the two's desperate attempts to get this recent college graduate a date.
This was the moment where we should have said no. Thank you but no thank you. The attention got stale real quick just as our appetizers got cold. Biting into the empanadas, they were nothing special. You can get better empanadas from any grocery or bakery on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. The Chicharron de Calamar was calamari encrusted with blue corn meal paired with sweet plantains, tomatoes and tamarind vinaigrette. I found the calamari so salty that even the sweet plantains did not balance out the flavor. However, during this time, I could not determine which was more distracting- the table next to us or the unsuccessful appetizers.
Our suitor fed us one worse line after another. The funniest of them all was him telling us he was into commitment. The most lame tactic he used was asking us where we graduated from. That's not really a turn on when you graduated college over 10 years ago. Yes we look young but we're not cougar women into recent college graduates. The most offensive thing he said was that my friend should move to NY and give up everything she had going for her in CA. Note to New Yorkers: New York is not the center of the universe. The boy then told me that since I lived in New Jersey that was practically New York. He also bragged that he made pretty good money and that he worked for Citibank. Who the f*ck cares? Oh God, he wouldn't stop and his boss kept barging in.
Finally when our entree came, the two left us alone and we were able to eat in peace. We had to whisper at times so that they wouldn't eavesdrop on our conversation and interrupt. The main course was the saving grace of Yerba Buena. The Costilla was amazing. It was so soft almost like they had been slow cooking the short ribs for hours. It had so much flavor and was plenty for two people. They had used pomegranate to flavor the beef and it was served with potatoes. We took the leftovers to go. There was that much.
When we asked for the check the waiter said we couldn't leave without having a glass of champagne. He also said we needed it to prepare for the wine tasting. Wine tasting? How did he know? Creepy. The guys next to us must have paid the waiter to encourage us to meet them at their party afterwards. There was no way in hell we were going to meet up with those guys or talk to them ever again. I told my friend that if when we left there was a car waiting for us I was going to be really freaked out. We enjoyed the chilled bubbly, paid our bill and got up to leave. As we were leaving one of the other waiters ran after us to give us the business card of the guy we had clearly left on the table because we did not want. I found this really off putting and do not think a restaurant should have encouraged such behavior as to help ruin the experience of their customers.
The drinks and entree were good at Yerba Buena but I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone nor would I return. The place made me feel uncomfortable and it was an experience I wish my out of town guest could have done without.
Usually eating with family can be a huge pain.
Usually fusion food is not my favorite
Usually I don't venture to the les on weekdays.
Yerba Buena, I made exceptions for you, and thankfully, my instincts were right. You were worth it.
As a group of 6, we opted to order several appetizers and 4 entrees to share, family style. Out of the appetizers, I really enjoyed the ceviche, the tangy vinegar was a perfect balance, and the pine nuts added to the texture.
The entrees were much more memorable than the appetizers, and I enjoyed most of them, in particular, the chicken. I'm usually hesitant to order chicken since it has a tendency to be too dry....but, yerba buena exceeded my expectations.
I had a great time dining and enjoying my family's company here - can't wait to return and try out their drinks menu.
I was looking for a new brunch place, and the first thing that caught my attention about Yerba Buena is the unlimited Bloody Marys, Mimosas and Mojitos for $12. However, it turns out that's only for the first hour you're there, which they failed to mention on menu I downloaded from the Web site. Nonetheless, the BMs were delicious -- perfectly seasoned with a jalapeno kick -- and I was able to get three in before my hour was up.
The staff was somewhat inattentive, especially since there were only three other tables filled at the peak of brunch (around 1 p.m.), but the waitress was friendly enough. I ordered the beef short ribs with fried eggs, which also came with black beans and rice and a side salad of mixed greens. It was delicious -- the beef was tender and tasty, the eggs were sunny side up (which I did not choose, but ended up liking), the beans and rice were yummy, and the salad had a light dressing of olive oil, salt and pepper. Oh -- I almost forgot about the buttery spread that came with the complimentary basket of bread. It's a blend of butter, olive oil and aji amarillo, a spicy yellow South American pepper = to die for. I've never had anything like that, and it's reason alone to go back.
My husband had the tilapia tacos, which he said were great even though he usually doesn't like his fish breaded. And our friend had the Manchego cheese-filled French brioche toast, which he said was wonderful. All the portions were just right -- not too much, not too little. Also, a large group of people were there celebrating someone's birthday, and her dessert was brought out with flaming fireworks coming out the top -- quite a spectacle! If you're looking for something a little different for brunch (or a birthday celebration), this is definitely a spot to check out.
I wish I had a job so I could come to Yerba Buena more often. Or more than once. Well, honestly, the first time I came, I didn't even have to pay. So I ordered everything I could eat off the menu.
I'm all about Pan-Latin American cuisine, because it usually ends up taking a bit of all the good stuff from each country and making you think Latin American is the tastiest, most heart warming food in the world.
Our group of four had a wonderful meal here. We came on a Sunday night, and the place was full, but there were a couple empty tables. It's a tiny little restaurant: I say it could seat around 30 people. The host was friendly and on top of things, and our waiter was perfection. So definitely five stars for service.
I can't speak for everything that was ordered by our table, as I'm a pescatarian, but everyone was extremely pleased by their meals.
What we ordered:
picada
potato croquettes
palmito fries (I have a massive fucking crush on palmitos)
chupe de camaron
black cod
arroz con pollo
short ribs
churros with dipping sauce
tres leches cake
I wouldn't order the picada again, unless it's a party of two, because there aren't too many pieces of fried stuff in there. Plus, although good, it wasn't great, and I would recommend starting with potato croquettes or palmito fries over the picada. However, the salsa served with the picada was the shit.
The potato croquettes are served with a jalapeno truffle sauce that was just phenomenal. The croquettes themselves were the best I've ever had. The palmito fries were likewise delicious, but I think a big reason for this was the tasty dipping sauce. Also, the sauce containers are small, so if you are with a group who totally overdips (as I was) make sure and request two.
I had the chupe de camaron as my main, and it's certainly a big enough serving to qualify as an entree. I mean, it was a big-ass bowl of spicy, creamy shrimp soup. It has bits of yucca in it, and a nice bit of spice. It was perfection in soup form. I sampled some of the black cod, and it was cooked perfectly. I personally would never order arroz con pollo at a restaurant (hello, boring), but the person who ordered it loved it and devoured the whole thing.
For dessert we had tres leches and churros. Well, everyone else ordered tres leches and I ordered churros, and then everybody wanted to eat my churros, but they were MINE. My precious. I am not the biggest tres leches fan (I know, I know), but the rest of the table was, and they said my churros were better than the tres leches. Mmm, churros.
I saved the best for last: the cocktails. THE COCKTAILS! I am in love. I want to become a rich alcoholic and spend my nights sipping on these delicious concoctions. The table had the following drinks:
Poquito Picante
Pisco Punch
Pisco Sour
Sidecar
Mojito (why you would order this at a place with such creative cocktails is beyond me)
Boludo Yerba Mate
Whiskey Smash
Although all of them were carefully prepared, incredibly balanced, complex, and flat out delicious, the standouts were the Poquito Picante, the Boludo, and the Pisco Punch.
I was incredibly impressed by my evening here, and I definitely plan on returning. Given the prices, it is probably best for a special occasion, although you could stick to a couple appetizers and drinks for a casual night out.
P.S. They took Visa the night we were here; not sure what that's about, because their menu says Amex or cash only...
Wow! Who knew that in this corner of Alphabet City meet East Village, next door to the typical divey East Village bar, there stood such a place as this. The interior is sexy with its dark wood, candle lit white leather (or faux leather) brass studded chairs atmosphere. The maitre d' in his well cut grey suit is emanating raw latin confidence, looking more like a club promoter than anything.
Now, the true test was the food and drinks. Of course, I knew I'd be easy on Yerba. When a restaurant has its act together like this, unless it serves movie theatre nachos, you just enjoy yourself. But no, Yerba isn't one of those pretty faces with no substance. If anything Yerba is the amazingly fascinating, small but perfect menu type of place. It probably doesn't have more than 8 entrees to choose from. 4 of them are some of my favorites anywhere. I mean who turns down suckling pig, braised short ribs, paella or rib eye? And that evening they had a skirtsteak special as well as a lobster risotto. Brion R. And I did not know how to narrow our choices down. All the plates coming out of the kitchen looked delicious and with help of our waiter, we settled on the guac to start, the oxtail in noodle appetizer, the seafood paella and the chocolate cake.
The guac is good. The oxtail is innovative and is almost like a braised beef pasta dish of sorts. Brion R. and I couldn't figure out how noodles had ended into this dish as we all but licked the dish clean. The paella was probably the weakest link of the evening. Or maybe I was expecting the more traditional paella where the rice is crispy on the bottom of the dish. This felt more like a seafood stew with rice strewn on top as an afterthought. The chocolate cake (think flourless and melt in your mouth concentrated chocolate deliciousness) with the vanilla chocolate chip ice cream was the perfect ending.
Drinks were fabulous as well. The drink menu is everything and then more than you'd expect from this kind of place. Mixing rums I'd not heard of with everything from St Germain and yellow/green chartreuse to your standard Mojito (delicious), I'll come back here simply to sample the drinks alone. Brion R. started with the Poquito Picante and this was so delicious, I switched over as soon as I finished my mojito.
Prices are not cheap for this area of town with mixed drinks at $12, entrees in the mid-$20 range and appetizers in the low to mid teens. On a random Wednesday evening at 7pm, it was a 3/4 full room. As it got later, the room just got more and more packed. The crowd is well heeled and professional from the number of dress shirts and work appropriate knee length skirts. It is quite weird to find a place like this on Ave A and 2nd but maybe it'll help keep crowds away.
Two appetizers, one entree, a desert and 4 drinks came to just $120 and I can't wait to go back and try the suckling pig. Or the braised short rib... This would be great for anything from a romantic date, to a birthday to a work event.
This has become one of my favorite restaurants. Though pricey for their smaller portions, it is worth the money for the quality of food you get!! I have yet to find another restaurant that has comprable food, service, atmosphere and drinks. It is an all around memorable experience. It is a SMALL restaurant so I wouldn't recommend it for large groups (8 or more). However, we have had a group of 8, had a late arrival and a long wait because of my friends' inability to all be at the same place at the right time...we had to wait but that was noone's fault but our own...and the food is always worth the wait! I have yet to have a negative experience here.
SERVICE: The waiters were very knowledgable (of both the food & drinks), accommodating and attentive. The staff here are amazing and some of the best I've come across in all the restaurants in the city. I hate the pretentiousness of a lot of upscale restaurants. To me, this place has the down-earthy feel and attitude but maintains a more upscale (read: knowledgeable) staff and menu, especially considering the location in the LES.
FOOD: Top picks for meat eaters, Rib eye, Short ribs & any special they may have that night. Heard so-so things about their pork & brazillian paella. I don't eat red meat or pork and their menu still allows me to eat my fill and be satisfied. They have the best fish tacos (tacos de pescado) I've ever tasted. Their black cod was OUTSTANDING. Whenever I go, we ALWAYS order an extra side of their garlicky-buttery choclo (peruvian corn).
DRINKS: You gotta try them all. No, seriously. They all have something different to bring to the table. My favorites, Pisco Punch & Poquito Picante and sips from everyone else's drinks. All my friends have a different "favorite"...and worst comes to worst...if you don't like it, let the waiter know!!
DESSERT: I think I've only had the tres leches here all 6 times I've been there...ridiculously good. The best Tres Leches I've had yet.
They have a brunch I am dying to check out. My 3 closest friends and I agree this is one of our favorite restaurants so I'll have no problem getting them to go with me.
OH, they ONLY accept AMEX and CASH. Please keep that in mind!
Just one thing to say about this place - Pan Dulce!!!! OMG this brunch dish is soooooo soft and fluffy and good!!!! Melted manchego cheese blends so well with the sweetness of the pan. I have to say it scored much higher than Clinton St. Baking pancake for me.
Make sure to try a classic pisco sour and the more modern fresh guava pisco to start to develop an understanding of how complex these wonderful peruvian drinks can be!
The bar and dining room are hip and modern, the food is amazing, and the service is great (an unexpected bonus compared to other latin american restaurants). The nice thing is they've taken their short ribs and created a short rib arepa appetizer so you can still taste their succulent deliciousness while enjoying something else as an entree!
Oh, and definitely end it with the tres leches. You'll thank me.
After seeing Yerba Buena marked as one of the best newish restaurants I decided to head on over to the original before testing out their new location on Perry St.
Upon arriving, it seemed super familiar. Maybe that's because I have been here before!
Just for drinks the last time.
And this time I think I wished it was still just for the drinks - the best part of Yerba Buena...
Pretty empty on a Monday night, the majority of the customers there were slightly older - or in Anna Wintour's words..."senior citizens?"
A bit strange given it's location on Avenue A between Houston and 2nd Ave...but I guess it is another reminder of the gentrification of alphabet city...
I started off with the Pegu Club inspired Pisco Punch - pineapple infused pisco + grapefruit & lime cordials + fresh lemon juice = super sweet and delicious cocktail.
I almost didn't taste the alcohol at all until I felt it a bit later...
short ribsFor my main dish I chose two botanas - the short rib arepas and the crispy tilapia tacos. The BBQ short rib arepas were super juicy in a malbec sauce that dripped out the sides.
Wonderfully sweet and rich, with tender short rib meat the arepas were surprisingly filling.
fish tacos
As for the fish tacos, while the tilapia was cooked nicely, they were a little lacking in flavor as I would have like to see a little more acid and a little more spice.
My boyfriend ordered the Moqueca (Brazilian style paella).
Now we absolutely love Moqueca, having had it first at a tiny restaurant near Cambridge, Massachusetts called Muqueca which serves up wonderful fish and seafood stews.
moqueca
Unfortunately the seafood moqueca at Yerba Buena did not live up to expectations.
The seafood was a bit inconsistent with the clams being done just right, but the shrimp and squid being sorely overcooked. The flavor was a bit flat as well.
All in all, a somewhat disappointing version of moqueca.
If you are ever in Cambridge, MA - you must go to Muqueca to experience the real thing.
Overall, Yerba Buena was a bit disappointing, especially at a somewhat high price point. In the future I would go back - but only for the wonderful drinks.
But then again, maybe I should just go to Pegu Club for that.
Friday was my second time at Yerba Buena, and though I thought entirely impossible, I had an even better time than the first!
I called around 7:30pm to see whether they might have a table for 2 open for me and my Mama who was visiting. They said if I came over now, they had a seat for us and off we ran! The owner greeted us and overheard my Mom call me by name. The rest of the night he addressed me as Chantelle which I thought was a lovely touch. We, of course, started with their infamous cocktails (which are in the M&H class for your cocktail aficionados). I got one of my faves which was the Yerba Mate and my Moo got a Mojito. Both were superb and I secretly wanted to order 3 more (but that's a no-no when parents are in tow). Instead we got an order of the empanandas and ceviche to start, and the paella for our main as well as a few glasses of their Chilean Chardonnay.
Both of the appetizers were amazing and a perfect compliment, the paella, too was exceptional. Different from its Spanish cousin, it has hints of coconut and lemongrass and is well worth trying. As we were ordering coffees and dessert (you MUST get the Mexican Chocolate Cake - it's a lava cake. EEEEEEE!), the owner came by with a complimentary bottle of champagne and made our already amazing night, even better (and tipsier)
To conclude: the service is second to none, as is the food and cocktails. If you have someone special, Yerba Buena is just the ticket. Just keep in mind on peak nights, it can get a little loud as well as tight, but we thought that just added to the vibe.
PS: Their menu says they only accept AMEX, which sent my Mom and me into a tizzy as we both left ours at home (shoulda listened to that old commercial jingle before we left the house) But they now accept all major credit cards so don't fret!
I liked this place. I'll admit I was a bit taken back at first because I expected a bit more from the decor which is a step up from a sidewalk diner. We saw it was brunch- which were weren't expecting but we thought we'd give it a go. As soon as I looked at the unlimited hour of cocktails for brunch, I knew I'd be OK.
Their mojito was a bit different than I've ever had since it was made with gold instead of light rum. Gave it a deeper flavor that I liked a lot. The margaritas were classic, on the rocks. Guacamole has a smoky chipotle flavor to it, a nice change to the limey usual. Their fish tacos, eh- really weren't all that amazing but their rice and beans were terrific.
I'd go back and try their dinner if there was something interesting on it but I'll definitely be back for another mojito.
It's a crying shame they don't make them to go....
So, went here for my birthday, made a reservation, got a call confirming my reservation, we're on for 8 on a Wednesday. The place is tiny, we check in & they ask us to sit at the bar while they get our table ready and to get a drink. No problem there, the drink menu looks great. I go with Poquito Picante, a gin and jalapeno infused cocktail which was excellent. My wife gets the Desert Rose, which Gin, prickly pear & something else. My wife asks if its a girly drink, I tell her, it is pink & served with a flower in it, so yes.
We don't get seated until 9:30! We did get a round on the house, but at that point, I needed some food.
The food is excellent and lots of small dishes, so I can see how people would linger and get more food, more drinks and wouldn't clear out for a while. We got a hamachi dish which was very fresh and very good and a mix of fried sausage, yucca and some other stuff.
For a main, I got short ribs (I can't resist) and my wife had suckling pig. As much as I love short ribs, I would recommend the pig, that was so good, I kept taking from her food.
We finished up with a Whiskey Smash for me, very good, and my wife got a Pisco Sour, which was also very good. Service was very attentive and the food was paced out perfectly.
FYI - They take only AMEX. Next time, I think I'll go for the bar only with some of the apps.
I went to brunch with a friend today and I thought it was so delicious. The $12 cocktails brunch was worth it. I had the ham and pork belly benedict and it was so much better that what I was expecting. The two different pork meats were topped on crunchy bread with a green salsa hollandase sauce served with toothpick sized potatoes with a some kind of garlic aolli and a little salad with jicama and oranges. My friend had the huevo rancheros and she let me have a bit, they were really good too. Oh and we munched on guacamole and chips beforehand, also excellent.
The atmosphere is very nice. Too bad the table next to us were a bunch of loud, trendy wannabes.
I'll be going back here to try their dinner.
Went there for brunch on Sunday and it was very good. Try the Pan Dulce it was the best french toast i've ever had. Also if you get there right at 11am when they open there isn't a wait.
I went to this restaurant with my boyfriend and his cousins. We ordered a bunch of food and shared. We started off with the Papa Rellena - a potato mushroom croquette, with a truffle jalapeno sauce on the side. I am not a huge jalapeno fan but it wasn't too spicy and the papa rellena just melts in your mouth.
We then ordered the Arepa. It was like an arepa sandwich. It had BBQ Beef short rib shredded inside with a pickled jalapeno. This one was a little more spicy to me, but yet still very Delish!!
For our food we ordered the arroz con pollo, Ribeye that came with yucca fries and avocado salad. Castillo which is a braised beef short rib, that just melted into your mouth. Lechon which was also very tasty, it was almost like a vaca frita. The last one we got was the Brazilian Paella, that had shrimp. octopus, clams, cod & crawfish. This dish was also very delish.
I have to say that if I went back to NY, I think I would definitely go to this place again. It is very small, but the service is great. The manager is very kind and good with the customers. The drinks were also pretty good.
I recommend you try this place if you live in NY or if you are visiting and want some good latin food.
Still stellar. Exceedingly popular now, so the wait may be long, but it is worth enduring. Special shout out to our waiter who graciously accomodated my request that we only converse in Spanish so I could improve my rusty language skills.
Also, I don't necessarily recommend YB for vegetarians, but for a flexitarian (ahem, Preeti B.) appetite, I think it would do. Although the menu consists of a lot of red meat, there are good seafood options. I personally recommend the incredibly delicious skirt steak.
If you're looking for fun & festive on top of great food, drinks, & service, Yerba Buena is it.
Yerba Buena is SIMPLY DELICIOSO (not a reference to Ingrid Hoffman). Given my predilection for all… Read more »
We walked by this place about 3 times trying to find it as the sign is [tastefully] small and on the corner of the window. We got there late on a Saturday and didn't have to wait long. Thank goodness too because there really isn't much space for waiting.
The waitstaff, both men and women, were hitting on my bfff. But that's how Latinos roll. I appreciate a place that admires beauty. I shall be back.
I only ate here once and probably won't again. The food was decent, but the portions were small. In this hood the food can't be just decent with so many awesome options within a few blocks. The hostess was real bitchy too. When asked for a table on their practically empty patio she initially said no. We wanted to order drinks and appetizers, and she wanted us to stand in the most crowded area around the bar unless we ordered entrees. When asked why we couldn't have one of the many open tables she rolled her eyes and grabbed menus to reluctantly sit us. Classy.
On the bright side this place has a great happy hr and a lively weeknight crowd. I'll stick to that in the future.
Loved every minute of this dining experience, from the impeccable service to the delicious food. My favorite dishes: Fish tacos, Cod and Calamari.
First of all I want to say that this place is worth coming to for Raphael, the host/waiter, alone. He is friendliest, most awesome waiter around and gave fantastic recommendations for food and drinks.
But even if Raphael wasn't there, Yerba Buena was fantastic.
First off, they have a good selection of cocktails for $12 each. That's a little pricey, but they're delicious and well made by the bartender. I recommend trying the Picante, as it's absolutely delicious with a nice spicy flavor.
For appetizers, we tried the Piacada which was absolutely delicious. All the little fried treats were good, but the chorizo especially was amazing.
Finally on to the main courses, and they also all lived up the five star ratings (do you get the trend?). I had the lamb special that came with fries and tomatoes, and it was extremely rich and full of flavor. The lamb was a little tough to cut at points, but otherwise it was some of the best lamb I've ever had. If they don't have the lamb special when you go, my friend got the Costilla which was amazing.The meat was basically falling off the bones, and sauce was just perfect.
In short, if you're in the LES/East Village area you cannot go wrong with Yerba Buena for dinner.
I don't usually do Latin brunches, but I tried it at Yerba Buena -- I would never have guessed that Yerba Buena would be so packed at that time of day. Well, it was and we stood waiting for about 40 minutes before a table opened up. Note that this place takes reservations, and while ours didn't show up on screen, we were lucky to have worked something out with our (ahem) charms and "smooth talking".
I came here with some friends, and I ordered the ensalada de pollo (chicken salad) which was light, savory, and quite tasty. The portion was on the smaller side, but I was pleased with the quality so I didn't mind. Instead, I satiated myself on $12 all you can drink - 2 mimosas and 2 peach bellinis. By the time we were finished, we all left a bit light headed!
Overall, service was pleasant and attentive. No complaints except the wait and occasional smell of chlorine, and the exponentially increasing delay to serve as we moved along on our drinks. For me, I think Yerba Buena will be a remarkable one-timer. For some restaurants, it's just destined to be that way. 4 stars for memory keepsake.
My little sister lives in Texas, which means that the bulk of her alcohol consumption is accounted for by margaritas and Lone Star. Nothing wrong with that (I don't mean this), but when she comes to visit I feel especially compelled to fill the obvious void in her life with all the classic cocktails she's not drinking.
Friday night I took her on a fancy drinks/cheap food crawl. First, a Greenpoint and an American Trilogy at White Star, followed by a quick stop for dumplings, which we literally ate while speed walking across Grand street to make our Milk & Honey reservation on time. Sis was confused that one could swing so wildly and so easily between high and lowbrow, but she was too pleased that she just got 8 dumplings for $2 to complain. Next, a Blue Collar and a Morris Cocktail at the bar at M&H, which we washed down with a slice at Rosario's, her favorite NY pizza (slice).
Finally, we met up with some of my grad school friends at Yerba Buena. I used to live directly above YB, but before it was YB, and boy do I wish it had been YB instead of Samba Le when I was there. YB has succeeded in creating a Latin restaurant/bar that feels current and cool rather than tired and kitschy, as unfortunately often happens.
I was also impressed with the cocktail menu, which has clearly been carefully thought-out. Supplementing the standard mojito and capirinha are a smart selection of Latin-appropriate classics--the citrusy Hemmingway, Pisco Sour and Dark & Stormy, for example--and local originals. The drinks feature fresh exotic fruit purees (prickly pear, anyone?), cilantro, cucumber and jalapeno, and are nicely balanced between gin, rum, tequila and whiskey bases, all done without seemingly trying too hard. Most memorable were the Azteca--a refreshing blend of tequila, St Germain, yellow Chartreuse and lime--and the Jamaica 107, made with hibiscus tea-infused whiskey, lemon and egg white. I was also pleased to see the bartender do a "dry shake" with my eggy drink, suggesting he's no stranger to my world of expertly mixed cocktails.
I would definitely come back here for drinks, and I'd like to try the food, too. Given the prices, however, that will have to wait for fancy cocktails/pricey food night.
I am quite the fan. From the first drink to the final spoonful of the dessert, Yerba Buena did not disappoint in the slightest bit.
We started with the Poquito Picante and Pisco Sour to drink as suggested by our waiter. Both drinks were very unique and fantastic! The picante had a kick to it as the name would suggest and was surprisingly delicious. The pisco sour was also pretty good and is supposedly one of Yerba Buena's specialty drinks. Actually, everything on that cocktail list looked amazing.
For an appetizer, we started with the Picada, which was a basket full of bite sized fried chorizo, yucca, tostones, and chicharron. All really good!
I had the costilla (short ribs) as my entree and i could not get enough. The meat really did fall off the bone and melted in my mouth. Actually, it was kind of hard to even keep it on my fork as it just fell apart. I cannot begin to explain how juicy and delicious it was. My friend got the lamb special that was also juicy and melted in my mouth. Could not be more satisfied with these two entrees.
If that wasn't enough, my friend decided that we had to get a dessert. So we had the chocolate cake that was very rich and the ice cream complimented it well.
Service was amazing and our waiter was extremely friendly. 5 stars on food, service, and ambiance.
I'm pretty sure the guacamole was the best I've ever had. It was fresh, with a nice smokey-spicy chipotle kick, red onions (my fav), and a little salty queso fresco sprinkled on top. Spread on a crispy tortilla chip--heavenly.
For my entree I got the suckling pig with habanero-garlic cream sauce. It was delicious, but extremely rich. I needed some sort of vegetable or rice- something- on the plate to counteract the crispy shredded pork and cream sauce. The menu says there is supposed to be a yucca puree with it, but unless it was just painted on the plate, I didn't see one.
For dessert I had the tres leches cake, which was absolutely delicious. It had a pineapple-coconut flavor, and just the right amount of moisture.
The place was empty since it was a Monday night, so service was fast.
Muy Buena!
Generally, when I review a restaurant, I like to focus on the food and drink, and avoid any sort of personal anecdote.*
However, I feel the need to mention that I was legitimately frightened of the party of girls seated to my left. One of these girls was ANGRY. Not at the food, because everything we tried was delicious, and I'm sure theirs was as well. Not at the service, because it was stellar (more on that later).
From what I gathered, it was at a guy. She was furious. So furious that she started crying hysterically several times throughout her meal. So furious that two of her three friends started crying out of sympathy for her plight.** So furious that I think they were contemplating an assault on me simply for being nearby and having a Y chromosome. If looks could castrate...that would be scary. Wouldn't it?
In any case, we shared the blue corn meal calamari to start. It was a nice twist on the standard, and very flavorful. She opted for the tacos de pescado, and I had the costilla (short ribs) with a side of sweet plantains. Both dishes were delicious, and I wished there was a bit more of everything.
I had a difficult time deciding whether or not to give Yerba Buena 4 or 5 stars. On the one hand, it is a touch overpriced, as the portions are a bit too small (meaning this is the amount of food I SHOULD be eating, but not the amount I WANT to be eating).
However, the service is absolutely unimpeachable. My glass was never less than half full of cold, iceless water. And as weird as I feel saying this, they truly made me feel special.
Everyone in the restaurant is not only accommodating, but also genuinely friendly. Every staff member is ready to take care of your every need; they are there with a pat on your back, and to shake your hand as you walk in or out the door. They define going above and beyond the call of duty.
Generally I don't like to spend dinner in abject terror, but the Yerba Buena staff turned a good experience into a great one.
_______
*This is a lie.
**The other must be a heartless bitch. I want to date her.
Sometimes a place is all about the experience. Dining by yourself on business trips, always is an exercise in being alone and trying not to feel awkward. Forget it if you forgot reading material. Not at Yerba Buena. I sat at the bar and was immediately engaged by the bartender(s) and other guests. They were busy, very busy, yet brought me in their world for a couple of hours and transformed my evening. The pride they had in their food and drink was infectious and that small bar became a lovely community of shared experience and chatter till closing.
It doesn't hurt that the food is fantastic and the drinks.... transforming.
Sure its a bit pricey; but I've paid more to eat a bunch of attitude served on a plate of pretense.
Brunch at Yerba Buena FTW!
The food was great (though the buzz I had attained may have added an additional star) when my friends and I checked out YB for brunch on Sat.
I ordered the Tres Arepas. Though they are smaller than Caracas' arepas and yellow from yellow corn, I liked them better here. The three arepas contained short rib, pork, and chicken with egg, respectively.
The next time I go, I'm going to try the fish tacos!
Why was I buzzed? $12 AYCD (all you can drink) mimosas, bellinis, and jalapeno bloody marys (quite a powerful concoction) for the first hour of our brunch meal. Our group ended up squeezing in 4-5 drinks each.
I was very impressed by Yerba Buena. Its one of the few places I can remember where I came in with high expectations and they were met (if not exceeded). Our meal, drinks and the presentation were all excellent. Based on my dining experience here, I have to say that now I'm really excited to try out the new Perry St. location. Definitely one of the better dining options in the E. Village/LES.
Great drinks!
Beautiful Place.
Disappointing food.
The high quality & inventive cocktails makes this a prime happy hour/late night drink spot.
The beautiful marble and dark wood makes this a place you wouldn't mind hanging out at.
Just don't go for the food.
Disappointing. The guac had a smoked flavor just tasted like the avocados had been sitting out and oxydized although I think they add something smoked to make it taste that way.
Can't remember what else I had but that says enough doesn't it?
Go for a drink and you'll have a blast. Stay for the food and you'll be very disappointed.
This place is great.
The drinks are fantastic and the food delectable.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself here and need to come more often.
microphone check micro micro phone cheka
Bueno indeed. I met my charming date here for pre-NYE cocktails and nosh, and the atmosphere was so festive, we ended up staying past midnight. This family-run restaurant evokes a chic, yet warm atmosphere that makes you feel as if you are at a friend's house for dinner. The Peruvian-themed food is sublime, flavorful, unique. Ceviche, eggplant and foie gras appetizer, and duck were all standouts. The drinks are also fantastic and well-blended -- the pisco sours are deceptively sweet masking a strong amount of intoxicating alcohol. I wasn't keen on the azteca -- a potent concoction of tequila, bitters, and st. germain -- and the bartender graciously let me change my drink.
Again, watch the pisco -- it'll have you salsa dancing on the tables if you're not careful.
Great service from start to finish.
We ordered empanadas and tuna ceviche as appetizers. Ceviche was overpowered by cucumbers but the others liked it. Out of the three entrees, the ribeye was the most delicious, followed by my short ribs. Cocktails are good, Boludo being my favorite (yerba mate flavor). Dessert was the best part, highly recommend the fondue.
Went there on a sunday night for dinner. Place was about half full, very quiet and cozy. They didnt have music playing about half the time but when they did it wasnt too loud or anything.
Food was very good. I had the potato balls with stuffed with truffles and the jalapeno dipping sauce and my friend had the calamari both of which were very good. The calamari has a corn crusting which might not appeal to some but I liked it.
The entrees were the highlight in my opinion. I had the brazilian paella and it was fabulous.
I also really enjoyed the special key lime pie dessert.
As someone said the wait staff is attentive and they dont let your water glass get empty. Overall a fun and friendly experience. Would definitely go back.
Oh my....
Short yet excellent selection of wines by the generous glass (try the garnatxa). Guacamole spiked with chipotles and queso fresco. Ceviche sprinkled with a fresh, sweet, and lively beet and lime salsa. Calamari nestled inside a blue cornmeal crust. A plate of chorizo, short ribs, filet mignon, and a ribeye, next to mashed potatoes mixed with queso. Not to mention churros with a dulce de leche and a dark cocoa dipping sauce. And certainly not to mention a luscious dark chocolate molten cake. Or the most attentive yet unobtrusive service I've ever experienced in a restaurant.
I am in love.
And let me add that if you are there on your birthday, as was one lovely elegant older lady with several of her friends, they bring a luscious dessert, in which stands a flaming sparkler, to the table. And sing something to you in Spanish which does NOT sound like Happy Birthday but much something sexier considering all the men are crowded around your table. And then everyone in the restaurant clapped and whistled. I would rather crawl under a chair than have any such attention normally, but now I am hoping (just a little bit!) that maybe I too can have a sparkler and a song this year. If anyone is listening....
Came here for dinner on a weekday with 2 girlfriends. Very quiet and seated immediately. The staff was very attentive, pulls chair out, takes jacket off for you type stuff. The place sets up a very romantic mood, so great for taking a date out.
I think the food is nothing stand-outish. It's presented nicely, but a bit expensive for what you get. We had the guacamole, the peruvian shrimp soup (a bit spicy for me), the papa rellena, the rib eye, the paella and some sides. The drinks were pretty delicious though.
It's a nice place to try, but nothing I'd come back for.
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