Mezcali — Restaurant in New York

Let me preface by saying I wanted to like Mezcali…so much! I live in the neighborhood and visited when Mezcali first opened. My husband is a vegetarian and didn’t like the cauliflower tacos, so we chose not to return again until March 2025.

Fast forward to March 2025. When we walked in, we informed the hostess that there were two of us for dinner and we did not have a reservation. After doing a quick lap, she informed us that there was a table available, but it was being set and she would seat us shortly. After 15 minutes of standing in front of the hostess stand with no communication, the hostess asked if my name was Elizabeth (no).

After a few more minutes, we were finally sat, but it took us another 10-15 minutes for someone to come over. In fact, I had to flag someone for water because I was starting to cough from talking so loudly over other guests. Upon receiving water, we ordered drinks (still not from our server). Finally, we met our server when he brought us our margaritas, but unfortunately, mine arrived with a hair in it. I asked for another one. Later, when we received the bill (covered below), I saw that my drink was not “comped”, and a manager never visited to apologize. Now that I think about it…our server never apologized either. He just said he would get me a new one. As someone that previously worked in hospitality, a hair is grounds for a free drink or manager visit. I don’t need both, but one, or at least an acknowledgment, would have been nice.

We ordered appetizers - nachos - which arrived quickly, but bland. Our entrees (Baja Bowl & Steak Tacos for me) were delicious, but once again, my husband struggled to flag down someone for a 2nd margarita. Thankfully, the food runner who delivered my entree offered me another drink.

Later, we received the bill. I was shocked by my charge for the “hairy margarita”, but also shocked to discover my husband was charged $5 for replacing the carne asada in his bowl with falafel. Not only does this not make sense given the cost of chickpeas vs. steak, but the $5 up-charge was not indicated on the menu nor was it communicated upon ordering. On the menu, falafel was listed as a “sub” option. Meanwhile, making a margarita “spicy”, for example, was clearly advertised as a $2 up-charge. When I questioned our server about the $5, he attributed the cost to Mezcali being a Manhattan restaurant. I’ve lived in Manhattan for 10 years and have never seen an up-charge for replacing meat with a vegetarian option (especially considering the fact that my husband does not eat meat for religious reasons).

All of that said, the ambience is fantastic. You just have to know what you’re getting. Like I said, I wanted to like it....

Title: A Mixed Experience at Mezcali

Review:

Tucked away in the bustling Financial District, Mezcali is a spot that thrives on its location and Southern California-style cuisine. I had the opportunity to attend a professional meeting there recently, and while the establishment had its merits, some noticeable flaws detracted from the overall experience.

Firstly, I need to mention the food - a vast array of Mexican staples like Fish Tacos, Tio's Chicken Tacos, Quesadillas, and Elote, to name a few. However, the spread was disappointingly bland, failing to deliver the vibrant flavors one would expect from Mexican cuisine. The Fish Taco was a saving grace, coming closest to capturing the traditional taste. Surprisingly, the dessert - a tiny slice of strawberry cake - was the meal's highlight, offering a refreshing and sweet note to end the underwhelming buffet.

While Mezcali's interior boasts a clean, modern design, its layout leaves much to be desired, particularly for events. A disruptive wall divided our group and distorted the sound projection, making following our meeting's speakers challenging. The in-house acoustic system fell short, failing to amplify the speakers' voices, which was frustrating adequately.

Regarding the service, it was inconsistent and, at times, annoying. Staff routinely cleared my table without confirming if I was done, resulting in a constant need to refill my plate. Furthermore, the sight of a worker routinely carrying black garbage bags past my chair was off-putting. While the waiting staff's attire might fit a casual setting, it felt inappropriate for our formal event.

Despite these shortcomings, there are merits to be acknowledged. The location is incredibly convenient, in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District. Although their service was less than perfect, the staff were courteous. Additionally, the restaurant was notably clean, which is always appreciated.

Overall, my experience at Mezcali was mixed. There's potential here with its good location and clean environment, but the lackluster food and ill-thought-out event space mar it. I hope Mezcali takes this feedback and improves on these aspects, especially given its prime location and...

Heard great things about Mezcali, so my friends and I went there after a show in the city. Was visiting from Seattle, and this joint did not disappoint!

Started the meal with drinks, chips, guacamole, and salsas, and everything was tasty! The cocktails were legit and on point. I had a passion fruit mezcalita, and I happily sipped it throughout the meal. The homemade chips were fried to perfection and were thick cut yet had the right amount of crunch. Guacamole was creamy, and the trio of salsas paired really well with the chips. My personal favorite was the pineapple salsa, but I’m partial to anything pineapple 😅…

For mains we shared Cali-Fries, a California Burrito, and the Barbacoa. The Cali-Fries were a delicious and fresh twist to the classic So-Cal asada fries because seasoned fries were used instead of regular fries. Although you can choose to add meat, none was required! The Barbacoa was juicy, tender, and smoky. Definitely one to share with others because you get a hefty serving! In my opinion though, the California Burrito definitely stole the show. It doesn’t get better than fresh, well-seasoned ingredients wrapped in a homemade tortilla that’s paired with a tajin mayo that has just the right amount of heat. I wanted something to bring me back to my home state of California, and Mezcali absolutely delivered!

We went there hungry and left perfectly satisfied and had great service to boot! Servers checked in on us often to make sure we were still good. Would definitely go there...