Mama Mexico

Talk about a fun night out. The most important thing about this restaurant is the company that you bring with you. Yes, the food is ok. Yes the drinks are fine. The great thing about Mama Mexico is that it lends it self really well to having a loud, rowdy, and fun time. Mama Mexico isn?t enveloping to the point that you feel like you left Manhattan and ended up in Tijuana but the colors are bright and the mariachi band doesn?t let you have any deep, depressing and pensive dickens moments. No, the food wasn?t amazing, but it was actually fine, (maybe a little on the expensive side.) I had a camarones cancun, which was shrimp in a red cream sauce with onions and peppers ($19) and a few mojitos, which definitely cheered me up. My friends all had one version of a burrito or another but everybody?s food was ok. What actually bothered me was that the service was so hurried that they couldn?t take a second to do their jobs with ease. We had a few more drinks in lieu of desert, which I prefer any way because if I am going to pack on the calories it might as well get me a little buzzed. No offense to flan, but I will skip the desert this time. more

Talk about a fun night out. The most important thing about this restaurant is the company that you bring with you. Yes, the food is ok. Yes the drinks are fine. The great thing about Mama Mexico is that it lends it self really well to having a loud, rowdy, and fun time. Mama Mexico isn?t enveloping to the point that you feel like you left Manhattan and ended up in Tijuana but the colors are bright and the mariachi band doesn?t let you have any deep, depressing and pensive dickens moments. No, the food wasn?t amazing, but it was actually fine, (maybe a little on the expensive side.) I had a camarones cancun, which was shrimp in a red cream sauce with onions and peppers ($19) and a few mojitos, which definitely cheered me up. My friends all had one version of a burrito or another but everybody?s food was ok. What actually bothered me was that the service was so hurried that they couldn?t take a second to do their jobs with ease. We had a few more drinks in lieu of desert, which I prefer any way because if I am going to pack on the calories it might as well get me a little buzzed. No offense to flan, but I will skip the desert this time. more

this place was recommended to us by a chef downtown, but it was lame and the food was mediochre and way overpriced for how mediochre it was. everyone at my table got either fish burritos or fajitas, and the food was boring, as if it was americans trying to do mexican food. it wasn't authentic in the least. there is a loud mariachi band that plays constantly, and the waiters will upsell to you without telling you the costs of things -- then you get your bill and realize the little bowl of guacamole you shared at the table was $12. i've had much better guacamole for much cheaper at bonita's in williamsburg. and i've had much better seafood burritos at downtown bakery in the east village -- for $8, not $16 like at mama mexico. do yourself a favor and don't waste your money at mama mexico, you will be sorry you paid so much for such a lousy meal. Pros: good service Cons: the food, the atmosphere, the prices more

this place was recommended to us by a chef downtown, but it was lame and the food was mediochre and way overpriced for how mediochre it was. everyone at my table got either fish burritos or fajitas, and the food was boring, as if it was americans trying to do mexican food. it wasn't authentic in the least. there is a loud mariachi band that plays constantly, and the waiters will upsell to you without telling you the costs of things -- then you get your bill and realize the little bowl of guacamole you shared at the table was $12. i've had much better guacamole for much cheaper at bonita's in williamsburg. and i've had much better seafood burritos at downtown bakery in the east village -- for $8, not $16 like at mama mexico. do yourself a favor and don't waste your money at mama mexico, you will be sorry you paid so much for such a lousy meal. Pros: good service Cons: the food, the atmosphere, the prices more

Not sure if i am being unfair, but being from California I guess my ""standard"" of mexican food is different from what east coast mexican food is. Have been to this place 4-5 times, with several different people and I can only say the good is horrible - I mean really really bad. This food is bland, uninspiring, tasteless. The ""spanish rice"" is just white rice soaked in tomato sauce, the guacamole is horrible overpriced at 12 bucks and not even that good. If this is mexican food, no one sent me the memo. Just a really bad, overpriced place. The only people who seemed to be enjoying it were all the gringo's that live on the UWS, surely not a place for those of taste. If you want mexican food, go to california, Pros: Service is decent. Cons: Food, food, food. more

Not sure if i am being unfair, but being from California I guess my "standard" of mexican food is different from what east coast mexican food is. Have been to this place 4-5 times, with several different people and I can only say the good is horrible - I mean really really bad. This food is bland, uninspiring, tasteless. The "spanish rice" is just white rice soaked in tomato sauce, the guacamole is horrible overpriced at 12 bucks and not even that good. If this is mexican food, no one sent me the memo. Just a really bad, overpriced place. The only people who seemed to be enjoying it were all the gringo's that live on the UWS, surely not a place for those of taste. If you want mexican food, go to california, Pros: Service is decent. Cons: Food, food, food. more

First i have to agree with the previous reviews. I always wanted to go to this place because a couple of my friends had recommended it. From the minute my boyfriend and i got in it was a total mess. First i asked to be seated by the window. The guy instead wants to offer a sit in between two people. Keep in mind this place has plenty of seats and it was not pack. Then they sat us by the window, but in a crowned corner, every time someone pasted by we had to make sure they didn?t spill our drinks. They took forever to bring the menu---hello the menu!! It got to a point i had to ask for the menu. When we finally got our drinks, my boyfriend?s orange juice was horrible. When he try to tell the waiter it wasn?t good, the waiter argued back, then finally he took it back. I felt I was been rush from the minute i sat down. I thought why are they rushing when it wasn?t pack nor they had a line of people waiting. When we did get the food it was horrible. I tend to be picky about food, but my boyfriend will eat anything. This time he didn?t. He?s food looked as if they had cooked it the day before and heat it up again. I only took about 2 bits out of my plate. The one thing I could not believe was that they actually changed the tablecloth while we were still sitting!!! Who in the world does something like this? Other thing is that some waiters are just standing there looking to see if you are done to get ride of your stuff. Im telling you this restaurant should be called ?Rushing?. When we did get our bill, it was very confusing. Instead of putting something like drinks or beverage they put something else and we had to ask what was that. This place is too pricey, has horrible service, nasty food, therefore I will never go back to this place and will not recommend it to anyone. Pros: close to subway Cons: service, price...too many to name more

First i have to agree with the previous reviews. I always wanted to go to this place because a couple of my friends had recommended it. From the minute my boyfriend and i got in it was a total mess. First i asked to be seated by the window. The guy instead wants to offer a sit in between two people. Keep in mind this place has plenty of seats and it was not pack. Then they sat us by the window, but in a crowned corner, every time someone pasted by we had to make sure they didn?t spill our drinks. They took forever to bring the menu---hello the menu!! It got to a point i had to ask for the menu. When we finally got our drinks, my boyfriend?s orange juice was horrible. When he try to tell the waiter it wasn?t good, the waiter argued back, then finally he took it back. I felt I was been rush from the minute i sat down. I thought why are they rushing when it wasn?t pack nor they had a line of people waiting. When we did get the food it was horrible. I tend to be picky about food, but my boyfriend will eat anything. This time he didn?t. He?s food looked as if they had cooked it the day before and heat it up again. I only took about 2 bits out of my plate. The one thing I could not believe was that they actually changed the tablecloth while we were still sitting!!! Who in the world does something like this? Other thing is that some waiters are just standing there looking to see if you are done to get ride of your stuff. Im telling you this restaurant should be called ?Rushing?. When we did get our bill, it was very confusing. Instead of putting something like drinks or beverage they put something else and we had to ask what was that. This place is too pricey, has horrible service, nasty food, therefore I will never go back to this place and will not recommend it to anyone. Pros: close to subway Cons: service, price...too many to name more

Went a couple of times but won't back at least someone pay my bill. The musicians are fine for the first two songs but afterwards become annoying... the food is ok... nothing special. It tasted the same as the enchilladas I buy for lunch in a chain restaurant. As per the prices, they want to look upscale.... NO NO NO NO... quality of food and atmosphere don't match price. Pros: close to subway, always crowded but you can be seated Cons: extremely loud, pricy, average food more

Went a couple of times but won't back at least someone pay my bill. The musicians are fine for the first two songs but afterwards become annoying... the food is ok... nothing special. It tasted the same as the enchilladas I buy for lunch in a chain restaurant. As per the prices, they want to look upscale.... NO NO NO NO... quality of food and atmosphere don't match price. Pros: close to subway, always crowded but you can be seated Cons: extremely loud, pricy, average food more

I went here for a friend's birthday recently and it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in 13 years in New York City. First, it took about 30 minutes to get our first round of drinks. Then it took way longer to get our food. They brought my friend a beef enchilada instead of the vegetarian one she ordered. She went tried to send it back they actually argued with her! After a long time they brought out the vegetarian one. Halfway through our meal they bussed all our full water glasses but left our empty drink glasses on the table. They also changed the tablecloth as we were still sitting and eating. After ages we got the bill and they charged us for both enchiladas, incluing the one they brought by mistake! We pointed it out and again, they argued with us. At no point did they ever apologize or anything. We left a 10%tip which we thought was generous considering how nasty and inept they were. The waiter came and - guess what - argued with us again, saying we were ""supposed to tip 20%."" Also, the strolling musiciains are really annoying and in your face. The food is mediocre and way overpriced. I don't understand why it is always crowded! Spare yourself a nightmare and save your money and stay far away! Pros: close to subway Cons: terrible service, mediocre food, overpriced more

I went here for a friend's birthday recently and it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in 13 years in New York City. First, it took about 30 minutes to get our first round of drinks. Then it took way longer to get our food. They brought my friend a beef enchilada instead of the vegetarian one she ordered. She went tried to send it back they actually argued with her! After a long time they brought out the vegetarian one. Halfway through our meal they bussed all our full water glasses but left our empty drink glasses on the table. They also changed the tablecloth as we were still sitting and eating. After ages we got the bill and they charged us for both enchiladas, incluing the one they brought by mistake! We pointed it out and again, they argued with us. At no point did they ever apologize or anything. We left a 10%tip which we thought was generous considering how nasty and inept they were. The waiter came and - guess what - argued with us again, saying we were "supposed to tip 20%." Also, the strolling musiciains are really annoying and in your face. The food is mediocre and way overpriced. I don't understand why it is always crowded! Spare yourself a nightmare and save your money and stay far away! Pros: close to subway Cons: terrible service, mediocre food, overpriced more

I live a few blocks from the Broadway location, and I've noticed that the food has detioriorated in quality over the years. The restaurant has become a bad tourist trap - lively and colorful, but with overpriced bland food. We ordered spicy guacamole and got mashed avocado with no flavor. Mushy flour tortillas abounded, and my burrito was about the most boring thing I've ever eaten. Mama Mexico has lost its way. Pros: Nice ambience Cons: Bland food more

I live a few blocks from the Broadway location, and I've noticed that the food has detioriorated in quality over the years. The restaurant has become a bad tourist trap - lively and colorful, but with overpriced bland food. We ordered spicy guacamole and got mashed avocado with no flavor. Mushy flour tortillas abounded, and my burrito was about the most boring thing I've ever eaten. Mama Mexico has lost its way. Pros: Nice ambience Cons: Bland food more

Love this place. Great service -- speedy, but not in a hurry to make you get up. The food is to die for. Best guacamole I've had outside of Mexico. Very festive, too. Pros: Good prices, Festive atmosphere, Incredible Guacamole, Efficient Service Cons: None so far more

Love this place. Great service -- speedy, but not in a hurry to make you get up. The food is to die for. Best guacamole I've had outside of Mexico. Very festive, too. Pros: Good prices, Festive atmosphere, Incredible Guacamole, Efficient Service Cons: None so far more

I went with a friend last night and we were seated promptly. We had several waiters who were very attentive, although bizarrely, immediately after we had finished our meal, they removed our plates, took everything off the table, and changed out the only slightly crumby paper table covering. It struck me as very intrusive. Although the manager stopped by to check in twice during our meal and I didn't find the mariachi band deafening, both the food and the prices were unforgivably subpar. I ordered the Poblanos del Campo ($14) which were all but flavorless, not at all spicy, coated with a flavorless breading and covered with, yes, flavorless red sauce. The margaritas and pina coladas, clocking in at $9, also did not strike me as a good value. While this might seem like a fun idea for a birthday restaurant, and clearly they're equipped to handle groups, if you care about taste or value, run, don't walk, to another restaurant. Pros: Attentive service Cons: Terrible food, Overpriced more

I went with a friend last night and we were seated promptly. We had several waiters who were very attentive, although bizarrely, immediately after we had finished our meal, they removed our plates, took everything off the table, and changed out the only slightly crumby paper table covering. It struck me as very intrusive. Although the manager stopped by to check in twice during our meal and I didn't find the mariachi band deafening, both the food and the prices were unforgivably subpar. I ordered the Poblanos del Campo ($14) which were all but flavorless, not at all spicy, coated with a flavorless breading and covered with, yes, flavorless red sauce. The margaritas and pina coladas, clocking in at $9, also did not strike me as a good value. While this might seem like a fun idea for a birthday restaurant, and clearly they're equipped to handle groups, if you care about taste or value, run, don't walk, to another restaurant. Pros: Attentive service Cons: Terrible food, Overpriced more

You might try this place if you like vermin. We had some edible (but pricey) food, served slowly. Then, I kid you not, a couple of vermin crawled out of a hole in the BOOTH we were sitting in. (City Search blocks the m-word describing the type of vermin, which is totally unconscionable, I thought this was America last time I checked. In any case, I'll call them ""mousses"".) Cons: VERMIN, unbelievably rude and grasping service more

You might try this place if you like vermin. We had some edible (but pricey) food, served slowly. Then, I kid you not, a couple of vermin crawled out of a hole in the BOOTH we were sitting in. (City Search blocks the m-word describing the type of vermin, which is totally unconscionable, I thought this was America last time I checked. In any case, I'll call them "mousses".) When the waiter saw it, he said "they must have run in through the door". (Did you ever see that Fawlty Towers episode where the waiter's pet mousse escapes and gets in the food? It was like that.) They then proceeded to add 18% gratuity to the bill, even though we only had 5 people! Why I didn't call the health inspector, I don't know, I feel a bit guilty about it. Anyway, the bubonic plague and mousse-harboring, tip-snatching waiters are great here, try it. Don't worry, they came in from outside and just built a nest real quick. I'm sure they are very clean. Cons: VERMIN, unbelievably rude and grasping service more