El Vez

Sehr freundlicher Service.
Man kann drinnen und draußen sitzen.
Wir haben nicht gegessen und somit kann das Essen nicht bewertet werden.

Came during lunch with some coworkers recently. I have passed by El Vez hundreds of times but never ventured in.
Inside it’s really spacious and gorgeous. We were all seated in a nice half round booth and our waiter came by immediately. I don’t recall his name but he was very attentive which was super. I ordered a Michelada and it was spicy and tasty!
They still had their restaurant week menu available (I think I caught them on their last day) so I took advantage! I started with guacamole and chips, then a chicken carbon and ended up with a tres leches. The guacamole was okay, I’ve had better but it was still an improvement over the packaged kind I buy at the grocery store. The main dish was huge — I was expecting smaller portions for restaurant week, but it was a nice grilled and seasoned chicken over some fajita vegetables — onion and peppers. Came with 4 warm and thick flour tortillas and a side of more guacamole, sour cream and salsa. It was pretty good but the chicken a bit bland.
The tres leches was probably the best thing I ate — it was nice and moist, not too soggy and came with some chopped pineapple on the base of the plate.
My review of El Vez is more of 3.5 but rounding up for the drink and dessert.

Fantastic service, killer Margaritas, extensive premium tequilas and delish dishes would be enough for most people but me, I will forgive a lot if I just receive gracious hospitality. And this place killed it.
I was that idiot that left their credit card at the bar on a Satuday night. While traveling. By Monday, Brooks, the Manager and Lindsey, the adorable bartender got it back to me. Catastrophe averted, customer overwhelmed. #elvezforthwin.

Props to El Vez — you were way tastier than I’d anticipated. Came for the first time for Restaurant Week and really enjoyed myself.
El Vez is the epitome of dressed-​up Mexican; the space is huge, well-​decorated, and hoppin with the post-​work Wall Street crowd.
And their Restaurant a Week menu is a serious bang for your buck. Most establishments serve 3 courses for Restaurant Week, but El Vez serves 4 (appetizer, appetizer/​entrée, entrée, dessert).
My friend and I ordered the guacamole, tuna tostaditos, tortilla soup, queso fundido, 2 orders of shrimp tacos, flan, and tres leches.
The tuna tostaditos were delicious but the guacamole was a bit too smooth for our liking. I’m more of a chunky guac person. But it was still flavorful and there was no shortage of tortillas. It also came with tomatillo which is always delicious.
I didn’t try the tortilla soup but I heard it was great. My queso fundido was also really yummy but a bit too greasy. There was literal grease running down my mouth and hands; sexy, I know.
The shrimp tacos were pretty good, but not show-​stopping. They are served in a soft corn tortilla shell and I think swapping that for a hard shell would’ve added some needed texture and punch. To be fair, I may have to come back and try these on an emptier tummy — we were pretty full by this point so it was hard to stomach anything!
Dessert was stupid delicious. The tres leches was clearly the winner. Perfectly soaked, sweet, and milky, I could eat that cake every day.
Top everything off with some margaritas (order the blood orange!) and I was a happy lady.
The service was also wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive and the manager even came over to check if tables were enjoying themselves.
Overall, El Vez is a great place for sexy Mexican food and I’ll certainly be back!

On the one hand, I liked my grilled fish tacos, but on the other hand, there was no chicken in the enchilada, the margarita was way overpriced for what you got and the guac had hair in the chips… not ours. 3 stars is probably too much, but I really did like my grilled fish tacos…
The enchiladas was comped too, so that’s appreciated. We live in the neighborhood and have been to this place a few times and really want to like it since I like Mexican and it’s the only place… it’s just not working out.

El Vez was just what I was looking for and more! My friend and I came here tonight for restaurant week. This menu was amazing. There were four courses on this restaurant week dinner menu, which is one more than most restaurants.
I ordered a classic margarita, which was delicious. I had guacamole as my first course which was pretty good, and my friend had the Tuna tostadas which were really good. The second course I had the Chicken tortilla soup, which did not disappoint! It was super flavorful and had the perfect amount of heat. Then I had shrimp tacos which were good, not my favorite, but the shrimp were well cooked and had some good flavor. For dessert I had the Tres Leches, which was AMAZING! I would order that any time and any day of the week. It was super sweet and not soggy like a lot of tres leches can be.
Our service was really good overall! Our waiter kept checking on us, and the manager also checked on our table too. I would most definitely go back!

Cute spacious place for a date or for a big group to chill at the bar
Interior: Cute and casually intimate. Nice place to look at when your in the area and want some quick food or beer. I love that it has a lot of space for your to eat and relax in.
Wine: Brought a bottle of Chardonnay bc I’m bougie like that. Tasted great and better chilled in ice bucket.
Food:
Crispy Mahi Mahi Tacos: Smaller than you think. The price wasn’t so good here and I feel like I over payed for the food I got. It was good but the taco itself fully absorbed the mahi mahi which was only in the center of it. Presentation of the meal was plain but the green sauce on the side made it better. I’d probably recommend enchilada or burrito next time !
Overall: Bring a date or a friend here for some good wine and a-​ok mexican meals.

Went to an El Vez in Philly and found myself really underwhelmed. when my friends decided to have a surprise birthday party, I huffed and puffed and headed over grumbling – but I love these friends so I headed over thinking at least the company will make up for it.
let me just say… DAMN. The menu was pre-​set by the birthday boy’s wife but me and a new friend went to TOWN. from the guac to the pizza thing to the fajitas… I mean everything that came out me and homeboy went in and threw away being shy about it.
I still wont ever go back to the El Vez in Philly, but this place – I’d definitely hit up again

***DRESSED UP MEXICAN FOOD***
The Big Sean of Mexican Restaurants. Decked out and braggadocious, but with basic substance that’s executed rather unoriginally. And, oh yeah, its on the WEST SIDE.
Guac — The shaved cheese on top and cucumber give it a unique, strong flavor, although not a huge serving for the price.
Nachos — Looked like a pizza when brought to the table. Flat but spread out over a large area. Not bad, but then again, nachos never really are.
Enchiladas — Pretty mediocre. Two not so large enchiladas but covered with plenty of sauce. The sauce was great, but this was not particularly filling without other apps. It also spelled the detriment of the corn tortillas, which tasted over-​drenched and soggy. Accompanying beans and rice were very basic. Probably more food though than the tacos though. The individual taco dinners here are pretty tiny — you get 3, but its not going to fill most people up. The Tacos for Two looked like far more food and had a frankly more cool presentation. If I returned, I would buddy up and get this.
Drinks were good but standard.
The interior features some über hip bottles of different colors surrounded by lights, with some skulls thrown in for good Mexican measure. Exposed pipes and hanging lights complement.
FINAL VERDICT: Fun interior but WHOA DERE… mediocre food for the price.

This place gives off a TGIF vibe. From the initial entrance /​greeting to the layout of the bars and tables to the waitstaff. It’s all nice, but very generic.
The waiter mentioned to us that they do everything with a twist. The only twist I noticed were that there «Taco» platter turned out to be fajitas. The sangria was standard, the guac was standard.
Price was also a bit high for what we had.

Came here with a coworker on a summer Friday and have been coming back ever since! Perfect for happy hour or brunch. Their blood orange frozen margaritas are the best. 1 – 2 of them puts me in my happy place. Just get the pitcher. Chips and guac is good, enough to share between 2 – 3 people. Brunch is also great — get an entrée with potatoes as the side. SO. SO GOOD! Location is convenient too to walk off your buzz — right by Brookfield Place and the river.
Also, this place is HUGE. One of the bigger restaurants I’ve seen. Definitely good for larger groups.

Came here for brunch.
Overall: Great food, great service, way overpriced.
Food: I had the huevos rancheros –very tasty, eggs cooked perfectly, nice flavor. $ 14
My friend had chicken tacos –she downed them with no complaints –but it was just 3 tacos, no side for $ 15.
Gauc –nothing to right home about, good but not great, the bowl was not even filled up all the way. Needed some salsa to go with. $ 15
Crazy the gauc was more than the food.
Pellegrino water: $ 7.
Service: Outstanding, very attentive.
Space: Very pretty, perfect for large groups.

Came here for a Sunday night dinner because my boyfriend and I were craving some good Mexican. Unfortunately, this place was just okay. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and the service was very nice. As for the food, it was okay.
We got the macho nachos and shared the oxtail enchilada. The macho nachos were quite good. The chips were laid out like a pizza with a ton of toppings all over. I was afraid that it wasn’t a lot but it was a good portion to split between 2 – 3 people. There was plenty of melted cheese, beans and chorizo on top of the nachos. The nachos had a good crisp to it, only the very middle was slightly soggy.
As for the oxtail enchilada, it was okay. I’ve officially determined that I am not a fan of enchiladas. They, for the most part, are over-​sauced with very soggy corn tortillas, which was what this enchilada was. The oxtail however was very plentiful and moist but overall it was too much mole. It also came with rice and beans which I was not a fan of which isn’t a good sign because I love rice and beans. The rice was too mushy.
Overall, the food was fine with adequate quality. It was just more of a casual dinner with average food. The saving grace was the nachos.

I was pretty disappointed with this restaurant. The décor is amazing. The restaurant is physically beautiful to look at, and so I assumed the food would match the décor. Alas, I was rather unimpressed with both the food and service. I had to hunt down the wait staff to get lemon for my water, and the wait staff generally was overworked (more wait staff was needed) and therefore underattentive. For these prices (the restaurant is not cheap!) I expected better food and better service. I ordered the mole trio ($ 23), and found it was actually not super flavorful. I could not force myself to finish this. Our table also ordered the pomegranate guacamole, which was fine, but honestly, I make better guacamole at home. I don’t usually like paying $ 15 for merely acceptable guacamole. The drinks were similarly absurdly priced ($ 13 for a frozen margarita). Friends of mine ordered enchiladas, but the size of the entrees were simply unimpressive.
In summary, the food was not terrible, but small portions given the price; the quality of the food was simply fine, but unexceptional.
Anyway, for better food, I highly recommend Rosa Mexicano nearby. I had an awesome experience at that restaurant.

I came here for dinner with a larger group. Thankfully we were seated away from the bar, which was rowdy and bustling with the happy hour crowd. The sit down dining area is definitely much more manageable than the bar area, especially if you hope to have any sort of conversation over dinner.
We shared guac and chips as a table. The guacamole was super creamy and fresh. I usually like my guacamole a little more on the sour side, and the El Vez guac definitely delivered!
Go with the enchiladas for more bang for your buck. A few people at our table ordered the tacos and the portions are… sad, to say the least. For $ 15 you get 3 tiny tiny tacos. On the other hand, chicken enchilada was served with a side of rice and beans. I devoured everything so quickly that I didn’t realize until much later how full I really was. Good thing I chose to walk home that day.
I’m not usually a fan of sit down Mexican restaurants, because fast Mexican food is probably better Mexican food, but I think El Vez has potential.

Pretty cool for big groups. My team and I went here for drinks after work. El Vez was a close-​by option. I had the blood orange margarita which I liked, the guacamole was good too! Before I could snag a second margarita, it was time to go, so I wasn’t able to try the food. Good experience, four stars!

Named after the world famous Elvis Pressley impersonator «Elvez».
Located close to One World Trade Center and ⁹⁄₁₁ memorial area. Next to West St.
River front downtown/​financial district, very chic, very upscale. very capable people.

Below is my detailed reason why I give El Vez 1 star. Further down is my review of the food.
One time when I came here for brunch, I noticed that there is a large depiction of a person hanging from a noose painted on the wall of the women’s restaurant. Though the figure is shadowy, I was disturbed and complained to management. The manager told me that he didn’t even know about it (understandable since it is in the women’s restroom), and told me that something would be done about it immediately. This was over 4 months ago. I went there 2 days ago and it is still there! I complained to management again and was told that nothing can be done about it because that decision is up to corporate. Excuses were then made by management comparing the noose painting in the women’s restroom to a risqué painting of a Hispanic woman in the men’s restroom. Though I do find the painting in the men’s restroom tasteless, that does not compare to a large painting of a person hanging from a noose.
My point is, though I enjoyed my times at this restaurant, I will not be returning to an establishment that supports noose hanging paintings and thinks that such paintings are appropriate to have in their restaurant. Shame on El Vez!
Review of food: I have been to El Vez a few times now, and I have enjoyed the food, drinks, and energy of this place. The margaritas are definitely good (I recommend the frozen blood orange and the hibiscus margaritas), chips and guacamole is tasty and fresh, and the dishes I have tried have been good.

After countless happy hours, I finally came in for lunch one day & I can fully appreciate all of el Vez’s offerings.
Chips and Gauc are always a must have and great to share. I have to say I was pretty shocked when my Lamb «Arabes» Tacos came out looking like two medium sized burritos.
They weren’t what I would call authentic Mexican by any means, but the lamb was delicious!
If you’re coming for Happy Hour, I’d recommend the Queso Fundido con Hongos. It’s one of the messier apps, but if you like the people you’re drinking with, it’s really tasty!

IN SHORT: A young branch of Stephen Starr’s flagship Philadelphia cantina serves adulterated versions of south-​of-​the-​border classics for the sake of glamorizing the menu.
THE STORY: There is a lot going on at El Vez. From the accordions and guitars mounted on the walls, to the menu that doesn’t seem to discriminate against any ingredient, the restaurant feels rich and unrestrained, a themed party that is simultaneously upscale and raucous.
Yet at 9 PM on a Saturday night, when I enjoyed my first visit to El Vez, I was taken aback by the hospitality of the front of house and the servers, who seem to mellow out what could easily be a friskier restaurant. Located in the northwest corner of Battery Park City, just steps away from the Goldman Alley, El Vez seems to have cautiously adapted to its neighbors, ever so slightly tempering its spirit to make a dinner enjoyable as just a dinner, and not as a pregame.
Sure, some of the food reads as a disaster in the making, a potent combination of hot, name brand ingredients thrown together by the likes of a 5-​year old with access to a luxurious pantry. I was convinced by my date to not order guacamole, and from the stories of the hellish landscape that is avocado served with goat cheese, chili flakes, pistachios, mango, red pepper, and jicama, I’m glad I didn’t. Instead we enjoyed the Queso Fundido con Hongos, with truffled wild mushrooms (see what they did there?), huitlacoche, and squash blossoms served alongside soft flour tortillas.
This and the Nacho Mama with melted jack cheese, black beans, salsa ranchera, sour cream, pickled red onions, jalapeño, and chorizo if you make it a «Macho,» seem to grace every other table to start. Rightly, the guacamole is nowhere to be found.
Among its main dishes, the Enchiladas are some of El Vez’s best options. The Pollo Rotisado is particularly good, with roasted chicken that seems to melt inside its tortilla blanket covered with a thick mojo de ajo sauce that tastes of chipotle peppers, lime, and garlic. Tacos are average fare, although the many options make the menu more intriguing. Like most of the tacos offered, the Grilled Fish Tacos come in three soft flour tortillas topped with a strangely shaped piece of rectangular white fish, cabbage slaw, and guacamole. If the Crispy Mahi Mahi Tacos sound better to anyone for the same price, be warned that you’ll only enjoy 2, topped with red cabbage, avocado, and a chipotle pepper remoulade. Both will satisfy the craving every Californian has for daily fish tacos, but with a limp, watery slaw and a few too many ingredients, they will not break any records.
The size of the margaritas might, though, served in the large glasses that you’d want come 6 PM on a Friday night. The tequila and cocktail lists are also appropriately long, consistent with El Vez’s attempt to add to serious Mexican cuisine in New York, and yet ending up squarely in the middle of what we expect from it.
Ultimately in the scheme of things, El Vez is likely the best stop for Mexican in the neighborhood. Though that’s like saying that On the Border is the best spot for Mexican in East Brunswick — it’s not saying a lot.
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If you’re looking for some good margaritas, come here after work! The blood orange margaritas are so good and are pretty strong too. My be got the original El Vez which wasn’t bad either. But seriously, get the blood orange because you won’t regret it.
We got food as well:
Chips & Salsa (⁵⁄₅): Big plate of chips and salsa for $ 5! The chips are addicting and the salsa is really good.
Grilled Fish Tacos (⁴⁄₅): I personally really liked these but the portions were too small. They only give three tacos and are pretty small too. Flavor is good though!
Oxtail Enchilada (3.5÷5): Bf ordered these and they were good but could’ve been better. Too much tomato sauce flavor in my opinion. But the beef was nice and soft and flavorful.
I heard a lot of people come here for after work drinks but don’t worry about the dress code. Just come here for a good time! And the margarita!