Mercado Sociale

Recommends

collettecay

Joined 7 years ago

Great Food & Atmosphere!. I love the food at Maria's, and since the expansion, the atmosphere is really comfortable and romantic. My only complaints are the margarita's and the service. The margaritas are so strong that I can't even drink them which is a huge disappointment since it goes so well with spicy food. The servers are a bit inattentive and confused, but I'll keep going back for the food!

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jwielgos

Joined 7 years ago

Great decor and nice ingredients but confused service. It's a totally beautiful room with brick walls, wood bar, shelves of designer tequilas, which you would never expect from the outside.

We were there for nachos and drinks. The flavors were subtle and ingredients were quality, a big step up from the usual. Prices were not a lot more than what you'd pay for standard bad Mexican. I had the feeling the food is inconsistent, like they can't quite handle what they've taken on, but it's still a more interesting menu than the usual taco/burrito/enchilada.

The main flaw was the waiters and waitresses really seemed lost - visibly confused while seating us, bringing the bill. Understaffed, or undertrained?

Rough around the edges but has soul - I would definitely come back here with a big group, for the two-page list of tequilas and the chilled out atmosphere of the room.

Recommends

leslieh410

Joined 7 years ago

Didn't follow through. The service at the beginning was great. The guacamole was fantastic and fresh. Wine was great. The chips and salsa were not overflowing or refilled like typical Mexican restaurants. Steak dinner- wait was there any steak actually on the plate? The portions of the duck dish were sad. Even the rice and beans were not plentiful. Although the service seemed great at the beginning, that declined. Waitress took our orders and we didn't see her again until the bill came. Very anticlimatic. Incredibly small portions for price!

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

A sidewalk sangria scene bridges the gap between Park Slope and Smith Street's restaurant row.. The Scene
Sangria sippers and guacamole dippers arrive early to score a sidewalk table at Maria's, the one fun spot along Union Street's drab residential stretch. Inside, the tiny brick-wrapped room is candlelit, with wine glasses on wood tables, sepia-toned photos and a corner bar where tireless bartenders mash mint for mojitos all night. Attentive servers replenish chips, salsa and spicy sauteed mussels, while bouncy Mexican pop fuels a feel-good vibe.

The Food
The menu isn't as upscale as the setting--and that's a good thing. Simply prepared Mexican classics, like gooey cheese-stuffed poblano rellenos, fresh enchiladas and cocoa-spiced grilled chicken mole, are fantastic with rice and bean sides. Paella is a more refined success, stocked with shrimp, buttery scallops, chicken breast and chorizo. Elaborate diversions can disappoint. Chunky onions overwhelm the seviche; jamon serrano can be too dry; and casserole-baked red snapper, though moist and fresh, arrives smothered with bland tomato-onion sauce.

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babyspinach

Joined 8 years ago

Excellent & interesting Mexican food. Start with great (and potent) margaritas along with delicious guacamole made as mild or as hot as you like. Move on to one of the specials (like the shrimps with goat cheese), the chicken mole, or the chicken or beef served with tortillas and all sorts of incredibly flavorful ingredients in a black stone pot. This place is really good. And the service is much improved from awhile back.

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erincrowell

Joined 8 years ago

Most Authentic Mexican Food in the City!!!. My husband and I are from Texas, and this is, by far, the most authentic Mexican food we've found in the City. Anyone who turns their nose up at Maria's doesn't enjoy flavourful, fresh Mexican food and drinks. We live in Manhattan and come all the way to Maria's as often as possible!!! We are obsessed with their Chilli Rellenos, or Pablanos, the margaritas, sangria and the fresh guacamole. If you've yet to grasp the message, we think this restaurant is fabulous, we love everything about it!!!

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taksa

Joined 10 years ago

Many Glitches. There're a couple of superior Mexican places in Park Slope/Carrol Gardens section and Maria's has been mentioned as one of them, I was not thoroughly impressed. First of all the space is adorable and the location off of 4th Avenue is refreshing. The margarita tasted home-made, but it was way too sweet. The shrimp ceviche was pretty standard, spicy, lime-y and tad too tomatoey, but the shrimp seemed strangely mangled for some reason. I was not happy with the grilled vegetable salad, that had carelessly large and oily bits of peppers and onions on top of an unimaginative pile of mesculin mix. The enchiladas with chicken were bland and forgetable. The waitress was a little spacey, asking us if we had our starters way after we finished them and were already on our mains; but the busboys were at the table every few minutes trying to clear our dishes.

Doesn't Recommend

waynenyc

Joined 8 years ago

To-Kill-Ya Margaritas!. Don't make a reservation.... they seat who they want. I noticed my name was crossed off the list and another couple who came after me was seated in my place. Not even an apology for the mistake!

A guacamole that was too salty started the evening and the margaritas are so strong, you only need one to party! The waitress was sweet (her first day) but when my food arrived I was dissapointed. "Salmon with a spicy orange sauce," but where the spices went I am still trying to figure it out! The portion was barely 4 ounces and had very little taste.

Nothing special at this restaurant except the rather over-inflated bill for under seasoned dishes.

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mcsaboot

Joined 11 years ago

Beats going into the city!!. Finally getting around to writing this (have been going there over a year) ... good service

wheather inside or outside. Food has ALWAYS been of quality (don't have the guacmole they can't seem to make it spicy enough) & hot (not many places seem to know how to do that today). Very romantic & with the Mexican coffee (at least 3) the night always ends on the plus side.

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ber1n0

Joined 10 years ago

The Best in Brooklyn!. My husband and I have been going to this restaurant for a while now, and it is awesome. We bring all our friends here and they fall in love this it. We have Never had a bad experience here, ever! The food is great and drinks outstanding - you have to have their Sangria, oh my gosh!