Hecho en Dumbo

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HECHO EN DUMBO is not closed… they’ve moved!!!
354 Bowery (btwn. Great Jones & East 4^th Street)
(212) 937‑4245 no deliveries as of yet
Here’s their website:
Brunch: 7 Days a week (10:30a-4p)
Dinner Service:
Mon-​Thu 5:30p-12a
Fri & Sat 5:30p-2a
Sun 5:30p-11p
No reservations;
Parties of 7 or more are encouraged to call ahead after 4pm on the evening of their visit.
Local Delivery Coming Soon!!!
Good for you Downtowners, horrible for us Brooklynites.

My mom, a huge fan of trendy, frou-​frou restaurants, heard about Hecho in Dumbo and wanted to check it out while were were exploring the neighbourhood. The whole setup was a bit confusing as the place is a café during the day and they only serve dinner after 6p, which was somewhat rudely (or perhaps just typical NYC manners) relayed to me by the woman behind the bar.
Not wanting to go through the hassle of finding somewhere else to go, my mom and I waited around for an hour for dinner service to start. In the meantime, I don’t know what they were cooking, but perhaps it was just my ocular sensitivity, but the peppers or whatever they were cooking were seriously burning my eyes. You would think my childhood pet had just died, I was crying so much. It was so bad, I had to keep popping in and out to keep it together (one time of which I had a hilariously awkward interaction with Spike Lee, ha).
When dinner service finally started at 6, despite sitting there for a while, *we* had to seek out the server to get water and a menu. The food itself was interesting and mostly good (never had cactus before), but I wasn’t incredibly impressed (perhaps the service killed it for me a bit).
I’m willing to give it another chance though. Maybe.

There are only two reasons I can’t give Hecho en Dumbo 5 stars.
1. The music on the weekend evenings. It’s SO loud not only can I not speak with my dinner companions, but I get a terrible headache. Many times, it is also angst-​ridden.
2. The people that frequent this restaurant (not including myself) are very cool. So cool they can’t even talk to themselves.
Despite it all, the food brings me back time and again.

Wanting to eat at Hecho en Dumbo since it was opened as many speak highly of their Mex. city fare. A coffee shop by day and restaurant by night, Hecho exudes that cool industrial Dumbo vibe. A few regular tables as well as the dreaded communal style table.
Fresh fried chips and guac. are extra. So many great sounding dishes. I ordered the cabbage salad with avocado and cracked pepper. Citrusy and vinegary tasting with the nice balance of creamy avocado.
The special poached lobster in a crêpe with a special semi spicy red sauce. The lobster was yummy the crêpe was a little soft in consistency for my liking, but all together was tasty. Much more to try at Hecho.

I went to Hecho de Dumbo with a few friends on a Friday night last month. We were able to get a table after a few minutes and shortly after the live music started. The best feature of Hecho is that there is barely any separation between the band and clientele, so the music is right in your face as you eat. As for the food, it is moderately priced but the portions are rather small. Brew is average cost as well. The bathroom situation is not the friendliest, but the tunes will keep you entertained as you wait. This is definitely a great laid back location to occasionally take a group of friends.

It’s a very cute place. I stumbled into this place on my way to an art show. I was starving so went into the first place I could find. I had their cactus burrito and it was delicious! It’s definitely not a Taco Chulo burrito. It was small, in threes, and not alot of stuffing. Just cactus, and spicy sauce. It was still good.
The place itself is very cute. The bad thing is that this place is cash only. So I ordered the cheapest white wine bottle on the menu… and it wasn’t that tasty. I can’t remember the name but it left somewhat a bitter taste at the end.

The great thing about Hecho is how flexible and fluid it is.
If you want to grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich, head to Hecho.
If you want a delicious light lunch of a fresh, homemade salad with local ingredients, head to Hecho.
If you want a rich Italian panini, head to Hecho.
And a night, if you want to sink into a corner of a dimly lit room with an attractive partner (or group of giggly friends) and suck down a spicy Michaelada with great tacos, guacamole, or real queso (none of that nasty orange stuff here), head to Hecho.
Hecho has so many different flavors, purposes and colors all that maintain their respective integrity and yet somehow fluidly work together. I’m a fan.

The website and menu boast the seal of «Authentic Mexican Restaurant» by the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, so I grudgingly accepted an invitation to eat it in DUMBO, a neighborhood that in my mind has no business having good Mexican. The space is normal for the area, a lofty-​type feel with tasteful, modern décor. Diners sit at large tables that they share with other parties, which is all in good fun. They make interesting and refreshing cocktails, and treat customers very nicely.
We were satisfied by everything until the portions came out and we realized our hungers were not going to be satisfied. The dishes are inventive and unique, and also quite tasty, but the portions here are set up so that you need to probably plan on at least two per person. An antojito is designed to satisfy a craving, but not fill you up.
I definitely would not recommend coming with the combination of an empty wallet (each antojito is $ 10 and up) and a large appetite. Afterwards, I snuck into Front Street Pizza to finish off the rest of my hunger pains.

This restaurant got me laid.
Thanks, Becca!
Sopes cactus, pollo, and chorizo make Homer something something.
Go crazy?
Yes I did, and it only cost $ 19 + wine + tip.
That is seriously hot shit.

So, I’m starting to think that every coffee shop in DUMBO turns into a bar at night. That’s the case for ReBar and apparently Café Bar as well which turns into this little place at night.
Darkly lit atmosphere, the perfect spot for a date to sip wine or cocktails as they looked yummy across the way.
Grabbed a quick bite before heading out choosing the Chicken Sopes. Three little pieces were perfect for my appetite at the time. Add in some spicy/​mild salsa selections and it was perfect. Will definitely come by again, hopefully for some cocktails at the bar.

Tasty libations, a simple margarita done well always deserves praise; however, if you’re actually hungry, head elsewhere because you’re in for some sparse hipster faire. The taco entrée is actually more like an appetizer with three mini tacos and no sides.
I’m a stodgy rememberer of that space as it was years ago, a lazy café that also sold industrial paints and art supplies.

Yowser, this place was good. My only complaint is that it didn’t exist when I lived in DUMBO! I came here for New Years and was able to sample nearly everything on their menu. Everything was perfect. I had to come for dinner.
So, I’m assuming their philosophy is quality over quantity. I was wondering why the guac was so cheap! We tried the pork taco, queso fundido with mushroom, cactus sope, and sausage burrito. The sope stole the show for me. I wasn’t too impressed with the burrito. My friends went nuts over the tacos.
DUMBO-​nians are very lucky to have this place. And New years at Hecho was a blast. The DJ was spinning like a madman, the guests were rocking out, and the bubbly kept on coming at midnight. Was a damn good time.

This place was a serious meh. I was expecting so much more given the other positive reviews and the great write-​ups I’ve seen in magazines.
I’ve had way better Mexican food in NYC and for cheaper and not mini-​sized. The sopes were not much to get excited about and the salsas were pretty straight forward.
The guacamole and home-​made chips were the only redeeming factor. You can get much better margaritas at several places on Smith St.
Don’t bother, unless you’re just coming for drinks and appetizers.

I work in DUMBO so I often eat and get coffee at Café Bar during the day. I finally had a chance to eat at Hecho last night and was blown away.
I’ve always heard it was good but I was not ready for how fresh and delicious the food was last night.
It’s a really good place to order a bunch of plates and share (my favorite way to eat a meal). We had the shredded pork tacos which were a special, the chicken sopas and the poblano pepper cheese fondue. Everything was very fresh, you can taste the corn in the sopas. The pork was melt in your mouth delicious.
The environment is bustling and cozy. We got there early so by the time we were done the live music was setting up so If you want to eat and see the show I’d suggest going a little later.
I can’t wait to go back!

This place would be 5 stars if it weren’t for the fact that they BLAST INCREDIBLY LOUD, OBNOXIOUS MUSIC at a volume that makes it not only impossible to hear your tablemates speak to you, but even impossible for your waiter to hear yuour order. When I finally shouted loud enough that my waiter could understand I was asking him if he could turn down the music, he shouted back «no, sorry, that’s how we roll.»
«that’s how we roll…“Hmmmm… classy.
Well, hecho, if you rolled a little bit more like a the cool restaurant that you otherwise seem to be, and less like a cheesy miami discotech, maybe I’d be more likely to partake of your amazing cuisine more often.

They had a special menu when we were there but it was good! We were able to pick a few items and they were served tapas style. The corn was very good and delicious guacamole. Not sure if you can still order them.
Yummy mojito too!

This is not your momma’s mexican.
I mean… maybe it is, if your mom is actually mexican.
This joint has ended my perennial search for good mexican food in NY (usually a gigantic failure). No, it’s not a mission burrito. The food has a much different flavor profile — more subtle. But damn, it’s delicious.
Minus one star for the fact that it makes your clothes and hair smell for several days.

I’m really very close to giving this spot 5 stars — it’s an absolutely charming repurposing of a space; they turn the DUMBO general store into a stylish, sexy restaurant with a top notch Mexico City themed menu. I immediately noted the potential for a party type of atmosphere in the space, and Ethan behind the bar gave me a flyer for a band performing this Friday. They do such things often.
The food was really solid. I had a trio of pork tacos dressed simply with cilantro and onion and garnished with fresh lime, diced tomatoes, and a pair of salsas. These were really succulent and savory, a visceral sensation, and totally satisfying. The pork was of a very high grade, and they were just bursting with flavor. I also had the duck mole, which I enjoyed — a duck leg confit and some vegetables in an Oaxcan style mole. This sauce could’ve had a bit more punch, and it’s slight blandness is the reason I’m giving 4 rather than 5 stars. The ducks was delicious and meaty, though.
They have an extensive specialty drink menu — one column of Mexico City Drinks and a second of NYC faves, and (of course) a selection of premium tequilas. I tried a Michelada Cubana, which is a beer based Mexican style bloody mary. I can’t really imagine a more perfect hangover cure /​hot day beverage! It’s beer poured over ice mixed with fresh lime, Worcestershire, Mexican Valentina hot sauce, and a salt rim. I had a deep yearning for this drink that I never even knew about consciously before tasting it here.
The staff was really cool — they asked how everything was, chatted with me, and were just really nice. I was totally turned on by this place and will be going back at least once a week as I can walk there!

My Unilocaler-​In-​Crime and I have been on a mission for that all elusive 5-​star review of a Latin restaurant. The latest quest led us to Hecho en Dumbo, a great place within the Dumbo General Store. The space is lofty, spacious, and conducive for casual group get-​togethers. On a Wed evening, the place was half empty for most of the night… but I could imagine it hoppin’ on a wknd night. If it’s not, then this is a good spot to keep in mind.
We started off with a few great cocktails… a Mexican sangria (later, a great mojito) for me and a classic margarita for my friend. The regular dinner menu was tempting enough, but with the daily special menu, we were even further confounded. After several minutes, we decided to go with the following:
— guacamole: very fresh and though i didn’t think much of it on the first few bites, somehow, it got better and better. oh, nice thick lightly salted chips that went perfect w/​the guac.
— sample platter: includes molettes (warm bread with black beans & cheese, similar to a bruschetta), a totally forgettable dish; 2 tacos (chile poblano and berkshire pork)… both were awesome… flavorful and left me wanting more; 2 mini pressed «burritas» (spicy mexican sausage and steak), such cute little burritos… perfect for about 3 bites… yum; 2 sopes (chicken and a cactus)… former was better than the latter.
*Note that you don’t get to choose the filling (i.e. type of meat) in this dish… it’s chef’s choice… i guess a mexican version of omakase. Good way to sample different fillings unless you know what you like (and don’t like).
— an asado dish (pork) that was on the disappointing side… this was a daily special and I was hoping for something similar to a lechon asado but this was much more like thin slices of pork loin w/​o much of the mexican /​latin flair i was hoping for.
— fruit-​topped torta for dessert… solid and though we were full, had no problems finishing it off but not sure i’d order it again.
Overall, I was very pleased with my meal here. It’s probably some of the better Mexican food I’ve had in a long time in the east coast. They offer a great menu with variety, the service is friendly, and I like the vibe. The service could be a bit more efficient but not bad enough to get me annoyed. It’s also nice to go to a Mexican restaurant that’s not gooping (is that a word? oh well…) on the cheese and beans… Hecho has more subtleties and detailed touches to their dishes that made it alot more memorable.
Hecho en Dumbo comes oh-​so very close… but not quite 5 stars worth. I’m giving it 4.5 but may change it to a 5 after my next visit since I now know better what to order.

Here’s how to seduce someone in Brooklyn:
1. Get yourself to Hecho en Dumbo, preferably after dark, so that the candlelight is already aglowin’.
2. Order two margaritas. They’re good here. And remember, daters, alcohol is often your friend.
Repeat this step as necessary.
3. Engage in (try, try, try!) engaging conversation while you wait for someone to take your order. Warning: You could be waiting for a while, so don’t use up all of your best one-​liners in the first five minutes. Pace yourself.
4. Order the sampler platter to share. For $ 17, you’ll get a plate of tacos; baby burritos (or «burritas,» in Hecho-​speak); delicious, cheesy bruschetta (molletes); and sopes, which are fantastic and taste a lot like arepas. It’s plenty of food for two, but if you (or your date) want a heartier meal, round it all out with an order of guacamole (bonus points if you end up feeding it to each other by the end of the meal).
5. Full? Liquored up? Pay (hope you brought cash; Hecho’s a no-​credit sort of joint), and then make your way to the Brooklyn Heights promenade. Check out the view, the city lights, the Brooklyn Bridge… It’s beautiful, all of it. The rest, my tequila-​fueled friend, is up to you.