El Parador Cafe

While my long term partner and I are not Spanish in ethnicity, we felt right at home here. The staff was welcoming and emphatic to make sure our experience was an enjoyable one. While there were no available tables at our reserved time, we waited at the bar for a few and found pleasure in a pair of aperol spritz. For our dining experience we shared some charming chimichangas and a passable paella. The staff was so jovial and even provided us with a complimentary shot of mezcal which we took with them on our way out.

El Parador in New York offers a dining experience that successfully combines atmosphere and culinary mastery. The establishment's lighting is particularly noteworthy, casting a soft, ambient glow that enriches the overall dining experience without overpowering it. This careful illumination complements the interior decor and enhances the visual appeal of the dishes. Among those dishes, the Chicken Mole stands out for its exceptional quality. The preparation is exquisite, balancing complex flavors and textures that pay homage to traditional Mexican cuisine. The sauce is rich and multi-layered, elevating the tender chicken to create a dish that is both comforting and sophisticated. Overall, El Parador excels in delivering an atmospheric dining environment where the Chicken Mole is a must-try highlight.

This was one of those great finds of a restaurant we didn't realise was so close to where we live. Been here several times now and the food has been consistently excellent. My favourite dish has to be the fajitas, but the tacos are good as are the enchiladas. All of them are big portions and come with lots of rice and beans. So, go hungry if you're visiting. The spice level of the dishes were just right for us, in that it's reasonably mild. Okay, probably not the spice level of normal Mexican food, but given the target market you don't want to blow your customers' heads off if they're not used to overly spicy foods. One of the interesting things they provide with the tortilla chips is a warm salsa. Unusual, but very pleasant. The tortilla chip basket gets replaced even before you finish it, so you can munch to your hearts content. Though I'd recommend stopping so you can eat what you ordered! The staff are very friendly, speedy, attentive and professional. The decor is very homey, lots of fun lanterns which provide an inviting vibe to the place. When it gets busy it can get a little loud. It's great for weekend brunch as it doesn't get too crowded. Apparently, it's the oldest Mexican restaurant in the city and with food as good as they produce I can see why they're still around.

I can see the history of this place but its very dark inside almost feel like a cave. But the ambience was nice and things were still bright enough with the tiny lights on ceiling. Attentive staffs they were all friendly but the portions were crazy. Pretty smol for the price and the flavors werent anything crazy. It was good tho, frozen margaritas were nice the mango flavor was just right. Guac and salsa were nice and they had diced jalapeños. The bathroom location is downstairs nd interestingly decorated w the ceiling low and sticker full. Bright and calm and away tho.

Old fashioned Mexican restaurant in midtown east. Place has been there forever and retains it's old new york charm without feeling dusty or dated. Excellent salsa that's actually served warm which is a departure from the typical tex mex places in nyc. Chile rellenos was delicious. Very good guacamole. Great margaritas. Almost feels like fine dining but still very casual and authentic. I love a restaurant that's managed to survive the nyc restaurant wars and is actually older than I am! 😁.