El Toro Blanco

I haven't seen Z in for-ev-er!! I think the last time we hung out was post Vendy's!! Crazy right? I've noticed that we end up at Mexican spots frequently, but I'm a fan. So when we were deciding between two places, it was pretty easy to pick El Toro Blanco.  The space is well designed with a simple and clean look. It was pretty lively in there and had good energy but it's definitely not a space for quiet intimate dinners. Thankfully we were definitely more on the lively end that night. We of course started our meal with guacamole.

It was creamy delicious avocado with the right blend of spices. But the true winner in the starter column is the spicy habenero salsa in the trio that accompanied the guacamole.

We loved it so much we ended up asking for more to kick things up later in our meal. Although the menu had lots of terrific options, we both decided on the tacos. Z ordered the Baja  Swordfish.

The meaty taco included avocado, roasted jalapeño aioli and citrus slaw. She added some spice to kick it up but definitely enjoyed the tacos. I went with the Camarones en Barbacoa.

It was a good looking taco and definitely lived up to expectations. The roasted tomatoes were not as flavorful as I expected so I also spiced it up with the salsa. There was nothing left on my plate. Of course we had to try something else so we went with a side of poblano rice.

Although it looks tasty it was definitely the most disappointing part of our meal. The rice was undercooked and boring! We mixed in the queso fresca but still got nothing out of it. There was no kick or flavor. Overall a very disappointing side. I had to make up for it with dessert.

The Mexican Chocolate Cake was a notch above what I usually expect. The matchstick churros and dulce de leche ice cream definitely brought this dessert together. The rich chocolate was completed by the ice cream and churros. I was quite pleased and this was the perfect end to the meal.

Our service was definitely subpar but it didn't take away from the meal. I was a huge fan of the variety on the menu and loved the tacos as guacamole. The rice was a low point, but the cake was a fantastic end. I'll definitely be back to more thoroughly explore the variety of the menu!

Hungry yet?

El Kallejon

I've never been a fan of the east side. Something about it just never appealed to me as a child and I find it even less appealing as an adult. This is especially true in my neighborhood. I don't cross fifth avenue uptown but when Shrutster suggested that we find tapas in Harlem, I figured it was the perfect opportunity. El Kallejon is the kind of restaurant you would miss if you didn't know where to look. Tucked away down a few stairs on 117th and 3rd, it is overshadowed by its brighter, more colorful sister restaurant, Agua Fresca. The restaurant has only been open for about 9 months and doesn't have much of a weeknight crowd. The menu had several notable options and we were starving. We started with the Picudo Fish Ceviche.

It was like a bowl of never ending deliciousness! The fish was bite size and perfectly proportioned. The blend of jalapeño, red onion and lime juice was tart with a spicy bite. The ceviche was easily the highlight of the meal but the other dishes also didn't disappoint.

The El kallejon garlic shrimp tostas were a delicious surprise. The mix of garlic shrimp, chipotle aioli, avocado and roasted pineapple were creamier than I expected. I was a little hesitant to bite in, but was thrilled by the delicious shrimp and refreshing avocado. The pieces if bread were lightly toasted but thankfully not crispy.

We also ordered the Pollito tacos. I'm definitely a soft taco kinda girl so I was excited when these arrived. The bright colors and mix of adobo marinated chicken, black beans and salsa was even better when I added the avocado jalapeño sauce. I was overstuffed so it was hard to finish the tacos but I enjoyed every bite. Our server was kind enough to offer us a complimentary dessert.

The flan wasn't particularly delicious. I don't think it was because I was full. I think it had more to do with the consistency of the flan. The heart shape was cute but that's about the only thing desirable about the dessert. Next time I'll skip it or order something else. Thankfully the meal was otherwise worth it. I'm thinking East Harlem will be seeing more of me soon.

Hungry yet?