On the way back from the Providence Amtrak Station I had the opportunity to do some solo restaurant recon for lunch. I pulled out my list of potentials for the drive back and stopped in New Bedford to try Elizabeth's Restaurant at 1461 Acushnet Ave. (right off the I95). For those who prefer a pithy review--and you know who you are--I offer this "Cliff Notes" version: Casual, clean, and comfortable with delicious and authentic tastes of Latin American cuisine, primarily from Guatemala, and friendly service (though I wish I spoke more Spanish). For those who enjoy reading, let's move on to an actual review. Easy, on-street parking, right in front of Elizabeth's (bring quarters for the meters). As soon as I wanted in the aromas hit me and I knew that was going to be the real deal. Jennifer came around from the front counter (which contains a long buffet filled with all sorts of Guatemalan stews and pre-made dishes) to seat me at a booth. I'd reviewed the menu prior to going there and knew basically what I wanted to try--which would have been just a few dishes short of everything on the menu. But that's not reality, at least not any more. So I ordered a medium Jamaica to drink (my favorite), a chicharron and queso pupusa, which came with a small bowl of curtido, and a bowl of Mondongo (which was the primary reason I had selected Elizabeth's as a new place to try in the first place). We lived in southern California for nearly 40 years, so my palate is fairly well trained when it comes a range of regional Mexican dishes. I was at Elizabeth's for the Mondongo because one of my litmus test dishes in a Mexican restaurant has always been the Menudo--a slow cooked tripe soup flavored with various chilis and typically including hominy. If a place can make a flavorful, fresh tasting bowl of Menudo--which takes care, patience and time in the cleaning and pre-cooking of the tripe--chances are most of their other dishes are going to be tasty as well. Over time, I've easily sampled a few hundred bowls of Menudo and most of them were not very good--too musty, too chewy, the broth lacked flavor, etc., though I did have two favorites places in Orange County when I would go to remind myself of what a properly made bowl of Menudo was supposed to taste like. So I was at Elizabeth's for the tripe--since I have yet to find a Mexican restaurant in New Bedford or Providence which has Menudo on the menu. The Jamaica, which is made from steeping dried Hibiscus flowers and tastes somewhat like unsweetened cranberry juice, was delicious and arrived quickly. Ice cold and beautifully tart. I waited about eight minutes and Jennifer arrived with my food, she then went back to get the silverware and some salsa which she warned me was "hot." LOL, it actually wasn't very hot, at least not for me, but it was especially delicious. I would later ask Jennifer what chili was used to make the salsa, she smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and said "only chef knows." Fair enough. Chefs need to keep some of their dishes a secret. It was not as hot as a Habanero salsa, but it was hotter than a salsa made from only Chili de Arbol. Don't know what it was, but it was incredibly tasty. I've never had Guatemalan tripe soup, though I have had Mondongo in the Dominican Republic (and really enjoyed their version of it). Elizabeth's version, which came with rice and a few limes for squirting as well as the hot sauce, was absolutely fantastic. Easily one of the best three tripe soups I have ever had from within the Latin American/Caribbean culinary tradition. The tripe was clean, none of that funky odor which many people associate with tripe dishes. The tripe itself and there was a lot of it was perfectly cooked--soft enough to almost just melt in your mouth, but with just the slightest chew left to prevent it from being mushy. But the star of the dish was clearly the broth. It was similar to a Menudo broth, but far less fatty and far richer in flavor. The broth also featured very small
Joseph Smith
Their food is excellent the service is excellent Elizabeth restaurant in New Bedford Massachusetts 02746 zip
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jesmine A.
Tienen muchas MUCHAS cosas en el menú. Tantas que creo que por eso están todos asustados. Lo que sí me gustó mucho fueron las popusas estában muy ricas y frescas 10/10. Éramos los únicos en el restaurante aparte de un muchacho y la verdad se tardaron como si ubieran estado súper llenos pero nada que ver. Llego la comida de mi compañera y se la dieron como si la hubieran calentado en el micro y no le pusieron suficiente tiempo. Estaba súper fría y no sabía rica. No recomiendo el rabo. El servicio es muuuuuuuy seco. Ósea no saben vender al cliente para nada. Me a pasado que a veces la comida no es tan buena pero el servicio está del top y regreso y le doy otra chance. Pero aquí las meseras no comen la comida ósea no saben nada de los platillos que porque no comen allí y eso se me hico muuy extraño. Pero bueno si no hay otro lugar y solo queda este porfis te sugiero las popusas. Ah y el flan también 10/10
Jenn Fígaro
The employees are very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Katrina Heredia
Best flan in the cityKid-friendliness: Family dinning
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela
It’s a hidden gem in New Bedford. I order for delivery all the time and finally decided to eat in. The staff was so kind and patient. The food is always on point! Home made and traditional! You must give it a try! It is street parking. Michelelada! Caldo! Papusas! And street tacos!! So good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada, Caldo De Gallina, Quesadilla Carne Asada
ALEX MESA
Only 1 person work in the
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada
Bryan Maldonado
Pupusa were raw and service was
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Golden_ Phoenixz
Pricey and didn't really like the food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Romero Constantini
We ordered a cake and it was so gross! It tastes stale and it was all cracked.
I went in for some chicken noodle soup and I got a big bowl of hot water with a yellow color looked like flint faucet water it was so disappointing 16$ for a bowl of BULL no noddle's and some little chicken nugget drum sticks with a big chunk of carrot looked like a big old rock and just as hard, NEVER AGAIN.
Cindy Edwards
I enjoyed the food was great
Fernanda B.
No seasoning and poorly served food. And I didn't try it just once, I gave it more than one chance
Don
Love the Mexican tacos and lots of good Guatemalan food.
On the way back from the Providence Amtrak Station I had the opportunity to do some solo restaurant recon for lunch. I pulled out my list of potentials for the drive back and stopped in New Bedford to try Elizabeth's Restaurant at 1461 Acushnet Ave. (right off the I95). For those who prefer a pithy review--and you know who you are--I offer this "Cliff Notes" version: Casual, clean, and comfortable with delicious and authentic tastes of Latin American cuisine, primarily from Guatemala, and friendly service (though I wish I spoke more Spanish). For those who enjoy reading, let's move on to an actual review. Easy, on-street parking, right in front of Elizabeth's (bring quarters for the meters). As soon as I wanted in the aromas hit me and I knew that was going to be the real deal. Jennifer came around from the front counter (which contains a long buffet filled with all sorts of Guatemalan stews and pre-made dishes) to seat me at a booth. I'd reviewed the menu prior to going there and knew basically what I wanted to try--which would have been just a few dishes short of everything on the menu. But that's not reality, at least not any more. So I ordered a medium Jamaica to drink (my favorite), a chicharron and queso pupusa, which came with a small bowl of curtido, and a bowl of Mondongo (which was the primary reason I had selected Elizabeth's as a new place to try in the first place). We lived in southern California for nearly 40 years, so my palate is fairly well trained when it comes a range of regional Mexican dishes. I was at Elizabeth's for the Mondongo because one of my litmus test dishes in a Mexican restaurant has always been the Menudo--a slow cooked tripe soup flavored with various chilis and typically including hominy. If a place can make a flavorful, fresh tasting bowl of Menudo--which takes care, patience and time in the cleaning and pre-cooking of the tripe--chances are most of their other dishes are going to be tasty as well. Over time, I've easily sampled a few hundred bowls of Menudo and most of them were not very good--too musty, too chewy, the broth lacked flavor, etc., though I did have two favorites places in Orange County when I would go to remind myself of what a properly made bowl of Menudo was supposed to taste like. So I was at Elizabeth's for the tripe--since I have yet to find a Mexican restaurant in New Bedford or Providence which has Menudo on the menu. The Jamaica, which is made from steeping dried Hibiscus flowers and tastes somewhat like unsweetened cranberry juice, was delicious and arrived quickly. Ice cold and beautifully tart. I waited about eight minutes and Jennifer arrived with my food, she then went back to get the silverware and some salsa which she warned me was "hot." LOL, it actually wasn't very hot, at least not for me, but it was especially delicious. I would later ask Jennifer what chili was used to make the salsa, she smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and said "only chef knows." Fair enough. Chefs need to keep some of their dishes a secret. It was not as hot as a Habanero salsa, but it was hotter than a salsa made from only Chili de Arbol. Don't know what it was, but it was incredibly tasty. I've never had Guatemalan tripe soup, though I have had Mondongo in the Dominican Republic (and really enjoyed their version of it). Elizabeth's version, which came with rice and a few limes for squirting as well as the hot sauce, was absolutely fantastic. Easily one of the best three tripe soups I have ever had from within the Latin American/Caribbean culinary tradition. The tripe was clean, none of that funky odor which many people associate with tripe dishes. The tripe itself and there was a lot of it was perfectly cooked--soft enough to almost just melt in your mouth, but with just the slightest chew left to prevent it from being mushy. But the star of the dish was clearly the broth. It was similar to a Menudo broth, but far less fatty and far richer in flavor. The broth also featured very small
Their food is excellent the service is excellent Elizabeth restaurant in New Bedford Massachusetts 02746 zip
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tienen muchas MUCHAS cosas en el menú. Tantas que creo que por eso están todos asustados. Lo que sí me gustó mucho fueron las popusas estában muy ricas y frescas 10/10. Éramos los únicos en el restaurante aparte de un muchacho y la verdad se tardaron como si ubieran estado súper llenos pero nada que ver. Llego la comida de mi compañera y se la dieron como si la hubieran calentado en el micro y no le pusieron suficiente tiempo. Estaba súper fría y no sabía rica. No recomiendo el rabo. El servicio es muuuuuuuy seco. Ósea no saben vender al cliente para nada. Me a pasado que a veces la comida no es tan buena pero el servicio está del top y regreso y le doy otra chance. Pero aquí las meseras no comen la comida ósea no saben nada de los platillos que porque no comen allí y eso se me hico muuy extraño. Pero bueno si no hay otro lugar y solo queda este porfis te sugiero las popusas. Ah y el flan también 10/10
The employees are very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Best flan in the cityKid-friendliness: Family dinning
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It’s a hidden gem in New Bedford. I order for delivery all the time and finally decided to eat in. The staff was so kind and patient. The food is always on point! Home made and traditional! You must give it a try! It is street parking. Michelelada! Caldo! Papusas! And street tacos!! So good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada, Caldo De Gallina, Quesadilla Carne Asada
Only 1 person work in the
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada
Pupusa were raw and service was
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Pricey and didn't really like the food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We ordered a cake and it was so gross! It tastes stale and it was all cracked.
Restaurantji Recommends
I went in for some chicken noodle soup and I got a big bowl of hot water with a yellow color looked like flint faucet water it was so disappointing 16$ for a bowl of BULL no noddle's and some little chicken nugget drum sticks with a big chunk of carrot looked like a big old rock and just as hard, NEVER AGAIN.
I enjoyed the food was great
No seasoning and poorly served food. And I didn't try it just once, I gave it more than one chance
Love the Mexican tacos and lots of good Guatemalan food.
Tasty.