Location: 2888 Broadway, btw 112th and 113th New York, NY 10025
Cuisine: Mexican
Best Dish: Surprisingly the best dish was the Que Pasta. The rich sauce and spice was an unexpected treat.
Overall: Casual easy atmosphere and great food. This is a good choice for a low key dinner with friends or a casual night out.
We ventured out to Morningside Heights in search of something tasty and found it at Amigos, a quaint Mexican restaurant and bar. The decor is vibrant with red and white checkered tablecloths and colorful artwork displayed on the walls. The venue is surprisingly large with seating outside, near the bar, and at the rear. Bar seating is cozy and inviting; great for mingling with other patrons. For a more intimate meal, seating at the rear provides a larger area with the distance between parties and communal tables for larger groups. The menu is playful and fun with a mixture of traditional Mexican dishes and barbecue favorites.
Our meal began with a round of cocktails. I ordered the “Purple Piñata”, a spirited mix of Tequila, Blue Curacao, Cranberry, and Sprite. My companion sampled the “Jack’s Smash” a strong yet sweet mixture of Jack Daniel’s, mint and honey-ginger syrup. While enjoying our cocktails we nibbled on some appetizers. Despite the allure of their popular fried pickles, we went with the Nachos Grande and Potato Skins. Instead of the usual chili or steak, we had our nachos with shrimp. The jumbo shrimp were lightly seasoned and juicy on top of the cheesy nachos. This dish was piled high with black beans, sour cream, and Amigos’ famous guacamole.
Anyone who is familiar with bar food has had their fair share of potato skins. These scrumptious little carb vessels are usually filled with mashed potatoes cheddar, bacon, and sour cream. Amigos takes this familiar dish to the next level by filling the hollowed potato skins with tender pulled pork smothered in barbecue sauce, and topping it with cheddar cheese and jalapenos.
After the apps, we dove right into some entrees. We started with the Chicken Enchilada. Unlike some enchiladas which are prepared like a smothered burrito, Chef Alex Garcia layers the tortilla and filling like a casserole before covering it with a blanket of spicy Morita chili salsa and Queso Chihuahua. The dish also comes with a serving of rice and beans. For an added crunch, we ate our enchilada with the complimentary chips we were served at the start of our meal. The crunchy chips added a unique texture to the tasty dish with a satisfying crunch.
We took a quick break from chewing and ordered another round of drinks. For our second round, I had the “Tipsy Palmer” a smooth refreshing drink of sweet tea vodka and lemonade. My compadre ordered the “Los Amigos” a cocktail made with El Mayor Plata Tequila, Barenjager Honey Liqueur, Orange Juice, and cinnamon. They both quenched our thirst.
Our next entree was the blackened catfish. The catfish is served with your choice of sides and jalapeno cornbread. We chose the collard greens and BBQ beans. The greens were good and mild-tasting with very little acidity. The beans were sweet and tangy.
The last entree for the evening was the Que Pasta. No one goes to a Mexican restaurant in search of good pasta but maybe they should. This dish was delicious. The sauce was rich and savory with just a hint of heat. The rigatoni is tossed in a light cream sauce with generous amounts of shrimp, chicken, Andouille sausage bell peppers, and onions.
We were all set to call it a night when someone mentioned peach pie. There was no way we could leave without a slice. Then someone else mentioned peanut butter fudge brownie and we had to have that too. Desserts at Amigos are chef’s choices, so ask your server what is available. If you are lucky you will get there when the peach pie is on the menu. The pie is sweet and just a little tart served warm with vanilla ice cream.
The brownie is decadent and soft with rich chocolate flavor.
Amigos is a warm, friendly, affordable eatery. The weekday specials make Amigos Bar & Restaurant an ideal option for the after-work crowd. On Tuesdays for only $19.95 per person you and your cohorts can enjoy unlimited quesadillas and margaritas. The weekends offer an ultimate brunch menu with breakfast tortas and sizzling egg dishes. For more info browse the menu online at amigosnyc.com.