La Palapa

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77 Saint Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003-7945 (at 1st Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

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(212) 777-2537
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La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
La Palapa - New York, NY
Reviews
( 29 )
( 24 )
( 8 )
( 12 )
( 11 )

Best

Best dinner I have had in NYC, the folks who own this place really know how to do Mexican the right way! We stopped in on a Friday night and we were treated to one of the best di...

Worst

After spending more money than intended, I felt even more disappointed in the food. The southwestern spices were more than overwhelming to the point where you couldn't taste the ...

tasty tacos 10/31/2007

Went to my friends bachelorette party there last week. What a blast! The margaritas were strong and so fresh we had a great time. The server was also so nice and we had a champagne toast on the house which really made the evening end on a happy surprise! Pros: champagne toast! Cons: pretty packed on weekends more
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Just Plain Bad 10/6/2007

Went for a friend's birthday (group of 12). We ordered guacamole for the table..TERRIBLE!....i've had better at the pizza place around the corner from me......and it tasted like garlic....garlic in guacamole!!?? \r \r Most of the people couldn't eat their entrees because they were either TOO GREASY or too spicy....and we like spicy food!! On a specific note, the camarones (shrimp) tacos were miniscule and extremely greasy and the tilapia tacos entree was just plain bad. \r \r The sangria was tasty but had very little alcohol in it. Good service and good (but very loud) atmosphere though. I like to think posively of restaurant experiences but just can't do it for this place. Pros: Service, Fun Atmosphere Cons: THE FOOD more
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Good Food, Good Ambience, but Bad Service 9/22/2007

The location is great - at the heart of the East Village. The ambience looks great from outside that made me go in with a friend. The menue is extensive with a short but selective wine list. However, the service was much below our expectation from an average restaurant in the area. There was a huge disconnect between the waitor and the bus boy's communication. We wanted some extra guacamole with our remaining chips which didn't come for about 10 minutes. Then the bus boy came to serve our second course, and decided to take away our chips without replenishing the guacamole and also took away one of our napkins! It took another ten minutes to get the situation straightened out. Would recommend this place for the food and th casual/friendy ambience - but be prepared for the poor service! Pros: Ambience, Food Cons: Service more
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Bad 8/21/2007

The Sangria was horrible; weak, watery, no taste and definitely no alcohol. We had to order 3 pitchers (very very small) just to yield everyone two very small glasses. I ordered three soft tacos which were totally small and came with nothing. The acoustics are horrendous so don't think you're going to be able to talk to anyone near you. Pricey too. Pros: nothing Cons: too dark, loud, lame lame drinks and food more
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Hard to Lose! 6/26/2007

I used to live down the block and I was very excited when I discovered such good Mexican right in my neighborhood. I usually go for dinner, but the brunch is very good as well. I would recommend anything with the chorizo, which is always the perfect amount of spicy. I?m also a big fan of the tacos, but they are very little so you have to order many of them. The good part is, that means you get to try many different varieties ? I recommend the pork.\r \r Also, a very big perk is the margaritas. Note that all margaritas are served in pitchers so it is the perfect place to share several drinks. Also, there are many many options so you will likely find some flavors you don?t usually find elsewhere ? i.e. blueberry or bloodorange. Even better, they will make any of the fruit varieties on the rocks, so you don?t have to deal with the brain freeze associated with the blended version. They also have a really good tequila list, so if you haven?t overdone it on the ?ritas save room for a shot at the end, the tequila is so good it will be a sipping shot. La Palapa is the perfect place to satisfy your Mexican cravings at a reasonable price.\r Pros: Margaritas on the rocks Cons: service can be so-so more
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Slightly upscale Mexican, has been good every time I've g... 6/12/2007

Slightly upscale Mexican, has been good every time I've gone. more
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Slightly upscale Mexican, has been good every time I've g... 6/12/2007

susan Provided by Partner
Slightly upscale Mexican, has been good every time I've gone. more
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Top 5 worst dining experiences in Manhattan 5/27/2007

I wanted to show my girlfriend the St. Marks hood so we headed down there and walked around and picked La Palapa b/c there was a table near the outside that was open and there seemed to be a good vibe. Our margaritas were basically non-alcoholic and it took 35 minutes for them to serve us our appetizers of a quesadilla and a few soft tacos. Moreover, the tacos had no taste. The only saving grace ironically was I cut my thumb on a broken water glass so they covered the cost of our watery margaritas so the total fare didn't break the bank. Lastly, you know it was a bad dining experience and you pass an Uno's on the way home and you both agree you would have enjoyed a Chicago style pizza from there rather than an ""authentic"" mexican dining experience at La Palapa. Oh..and we are now enjoying a PB&J sandwich. more
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Pricey, but the best Mexican I've had in Manhattan 4/21/2007

La Palapa has been my best Mexican food experience since I moved to Manhattan. The environment is chill -- dimly lit and romantic enough for dates, but also appropriate for an evening out with friends. Just make sure you make a reservation! The food is without comparison; everything tastes fresh and made-to-order. I can't even begin to make recommendations because everything is so delicious. There is only one downside to La Palapa (other than having to wait for a table if you don't have a reservation), and that's the price. Save this one for payday. Pros: Unsurpassed food and drinks, great location, open late, good for dates or friends. Cons: If you're counting pennies, look elsewhere. more
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Great Mexican food, lunch is good time, nice for dates 4/5/2007

I've been there a couple of times and it never seems to fail my expectations. Their appetizing nachos taste like they are fresh out the oven. The sauces that are provided with them can be a bit spicy but Im not afraid of a little spice. The food is delicious and if you don't bring a big appetite then a dish can be shared for two it's that big. Its enviroment is delightful at night, everyone seems to not have a care in the world. Another nice treat would be the Margaritas, I feel like Im back in Mexico. Prices are cheaper than Rosa Mexicano but equal in taste. Pros: Ambience, Food, Taste Cons: Parking, Not for large groups(w/out reservations) more
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Wonderful! 2/14/2007

If you are looking for great traditional Mexican food, look no further. I absolutely love this place! The food was delicious, the service can't get any better and the place is lovely. Our waitress was so sweet and attentive, and she was right about every suggestion. We had a beautiful, romantic evening and couldn't stop commenting on the food. The leg of lamb was extraordinary, the quesadillas and tacos were right on point and dessert was delicious. We dine out a lot, and Mexican is one of our favorite foods, and we both agreed that this place is now at the top of our list. more
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CHEAP HAPPY HOUR & DELICIOUS FRESH MARGARITAS! 1/14/2007

I went for happy hour last week and the atmosphere was really great for after work. The frozen margaritas are very fresh and delicious. There are tons of great fruit flavors. I tried the pomogranate and the orange. The appetizers are cheap and small enough to try several. And you HAVE to get the chocolate dessert- ""The Queen"" I believe it's called. Pros: cheap & margaritas Cons: happy hour only until 7pm more
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My favorite happy hour 8/12/2006

I have only been here during their happy hour, but I LOVE this place!! The staff is so friendly! You can't beat the margaritas and tapas menu. I also suggest the spicy salsa - it has a vinagarette flavor with kick - delicious! The atmosphere, food, and service have always been great. I would definitely recommend this place. Pros: service, food Cons: happy hour is only from 5-7 more
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Good upmarket Mexican 4/15/2006

This is way above your aveage burrito place but isn't insanely expensive. It has creative Mexican food without seeming totally divorced from standard Mexican cuisine. We were seated promptly, the decor and atmosphere were appropriate without being forced , and our server really was great- friendly and helpful in a real way. Plus, they have a million flavors of genuinely fresh margaritas (real fruit pieces!). Also, they're open late-ish. Portions aren't huge but by no means shabby. more
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Reservations? What a joke! 2/2/2006

I've been to La Palapa a couple and each time I have mixed feelings about my dining experience. I suggest going during the week day at a time when it's less crowded. We went on a Saturday night and it was very packed, so I understood mind the 30 minute wait. We had excellent food (love the spicy yellow & blue corn chips) and okay service. We figured next time we'll make reservations and head over at an earlier time another weekend. Well, we did just that and still waited for 20 minutes with reservations (!!!) and you can see lots of empty(party of two) tables around. Very odd. I HIGHLY recommend the frozen strawberry margaritas!!! Muy excellente! Pros: margaritas, elegant decor, very romantic Cons: long wait, a bit overpriced more
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Problematic with potential 11/12/2005

A friend and I walked into La Palapa off the street. The ambience and smell of food enticed in the doors. However, the experience quickly went downhill. First, our silverware was dirty, and our waiter scoffed at replacing it. Second, our table was wobbly. Our server, after two askings, fixed the table temporarily and finally gave us a menu after ten minutes. However, the table quickly wobbled again and spilled coffee all over us. We asked to be moved, which subsided the problems for a little while. Finally, the largest, inexcusable mistake occured with the check. We asked one server for change, and she gave our check with a credit card to our waiter. Who then brought us another check and forgot to give the credit back. In the end, we had to confront him about the missing credit card....all in all....a disaster! Pros: decent mexican Cons: service, ambience more
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Best Mexican in NYC 9/7/2005

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! I have been here several times, and enjoyed every vegetarian-friendly item on the menu. The waitstaff is prompt and courteous, the food is phenomenal, and the prices are reasonable. Try my personal favorite dessert, the tres leches cake. Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance Cons: NONE, NONE, NONE more
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Great food 7/29/2005

This is a great place to take out-of-towners. Perfect margaritas made with real lime juice, not a pre-mix concoction of sweet and sour mix. I'm surprised that one reviewer would actually complain about a soft taco costing $4.95. Um, you are at a restaurant. Not Taco Bell. And, is that really breaking the bank? I don't think so. Service has always been pleasant and helpful. We always sit as soon as our entire party gets there. Pros: Margaritas, Food, Cacti Cons: n/a more
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What a waste of money 6/16/2005

I went w/a Mexicana from Chicago. It didn't start off on a good note because there was no complimentary chips and salsa - a bad sign! And I ain't payin' $5 for that, ya dig? We had a decent appetizer, but I spent $20 on this combo plate that just didn't move me. My date had a soft taco, which cost $4.95(!) If that was not bad enough, a side of sour cream was $2! In total, bill with drinks and dessert was $69. I've never felt so ripped off in my life. For that kind of money, I could have gone to a nice steakhouse and been treated like a king (and queen). This city still leaves me cold for Mexican - why can't NYC get it right? Why aren't there any good hippie food burrito places around? A big deep six from me! Pros: great area Cons: WAY overpriced, food average at best more
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Very Good 6/12/2005

Once you go inside this restaurant, yuo are automaticly welcomed. The service is very warm and attentive. They will always offer you a smile. In addition the food is delicious. I have gone to many other restaurants but none as perfect as this one. Pros: attention, food, atmosphere more
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Menu for La Palapa


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Bringing the zest of authentic Mexican food to the streets of New York since 2000

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Soothing lighting and casual decor combine to create a calm, low-key atmosphere, with a full bar and outdoor seating.

    The Food
    This is the kind of...

  • 7/21/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-12am Sat-Sun 11am-12am
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Master Card, Cash
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, East Village
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