Interesting tasty food with a twist from navhos, to tacos to sides. Open kitchen so creates the ambience. Courteous service from coats, to bar to table.
danwE5810YL
Food and service were excellent, but the occasion was very much marred by the loud music - making it impossible to carry on a conversation with my friends. Turn it down! Guests are there for a good time with friends - not a concert. No one has ever complained the music was too soft.
Patrice
I come to New York frequently and Empellon holds memories of birthdays, re-gatherings and celebrations of simple moments. If I have not planned ahead to meet a friend, I also feel very welcome as a solo woman guest. I love the way that its menu continues to surprise. Last night my grandson asked me how is this different from the place we went to last month when you were here? I answered that this is nuanced fine dining Mexican with Latino infusions. I'm not sure he fully got that... But he and his brothers certainly loved the guacamole with the salsa tasting! And I have another birthday for the memory books!
Judy
I can't say enough about this restaurant The food is out of this world and the service is the best I've ever experienced. 
Veerendra
Great service; insanely loud. Had to yell to make each other heard. Food was good with lovely presentation; but I have had much better Mexican food.
Kaizad
Great food, service and ambience. The prices are outrageous. $24 for a small bowl of guacamole is robbery.
Mackenzie
Lovely spot! Definitely recommend the guac, dips, sweet potatoes and the little special pastry as an Appy
Maureen
Very attentive service. One of the people in our party has a significant allergy and our server was extremely detailed and attentive to her regarding this. He really went above and beyond. Also the food is very tasty!
Cruiser41949772330
We sat outside at first but it was no trouble to move our table from 5 inside... Such delicious tacos! I ordered even more! Fine service who comes to help you quickly and tells you with pleasure about the culture, drinks, Mexico and ... Again the food and service was great!!!
221mustaphal
I had an absolutely wonderful dining experience at Empellón Midtown; a true gem for elevated Mexican cuisine in the heart of the city. From start to finish, everything was exceptional. I began with the Crab Nachos with Sea Urchin "Queso", and wow! what a unique and indulgent twist on a classic dish. It set the tone for a flavorful evening. For the main course, I enjoyed the Branzino Alcaparrado, beautifully cooked and perfectly balanced with its bold, briny flavors, paired with deliciously crispy Brussels Sprouts that were bursting with character. I ended my meal with the Creamy Avocado Dessert, which was surprisingly light, velvety, and a delightful finale. What made the evening even more memorable was the warm and attentive service. The entire team was gracious, friendly, and genuinely service-oriented. A special thank you to Genc Islami, the Director of Service and Hospitality, whose presence and leadership were clearly reflected in every interaction. Caroline, the manager, was incredibly sweet and lovely, her warmth really stood out. And Hernan, the waiter, took great care of us with charm and professionalism. Empellón Midtown is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. I can't wait to return!
The first time we went, things were very good, especially the surprisingly delicious cauliflower soup. This time, the tomatoes we were promised were in season and wonderful were so underripe they looked like Subway tomatoes. The replacement cabbage salad with roasted fava beans was basically a mild coleslaw with too many chops crunchy salty beans on top. The skirt steak tacos has a slightly sweet sauce and not great tortillas; our local places are better at half the price for 50% more. The citrus flan was more a panna cotta withn okay orange creme anglaise and an odd pasty orange cap that didn't add any flavor. I wouldn't go back just for the nice decor.
b noel
Was sat 25 minutes after reservation, hostess was very rude, was sat in the bar area, no free item to make up for this, just bad hospitality overall. $34 tacos for just shrimp and barely anything else on them, total scam.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sel C
Absolutely loved this place! Every single item on the menu was fantastic, and the whole spectrum of hot sauces they had in a tray was really unique. I’ve never seen anything like it. But what really stood out was the service. From the moment we walked in to when we were seated, the entire staff, including the manager, was so attentive, constantly checking in and making sure we were enjoying our meal the right way. It made the whole experience really great aside from the fact that the food was already so yummy. What a great night 🥑
Edna Mugrabi
Unfortunately, they’ve charged more than what I authorized on the credit card. I wasn’t expecting this kind of issue from a restaurant of this caliber.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Jeremy Blaustein
We had lunch and everything was really outstanding. The guacamole was exceptional and it was fun trying all of the accompanying salsas. We really loved the carrot appetizer. Tacos are also a standout, with corn tortillas that are fresh and flavorful. I would love to go back. One nice touch we noticed is that cold dishes were served on chilled plates which made the food extra refreshing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guacamole with Seven Salsas, Fish Tacos
Interesting tasty food with a twist from navhos, to tacos to sides. Open kitchen so creates the ambience. Courteous service from coats, to bar to table.
Food and service were excellent, but the occasion was very much marred by the loud music - making it impossible to carry on a conversation with my friends. Turn it down! Guests are there for a good time with friends - not a concert. No one has ever complained the music was too soft.
I come to New York frequently and Empellon holds memories of birthdays, re-gatherings and celebrations of simple moments. If I have not planned ahead to meet a friend, I also feel very welcome as a solo woman guest. I love the way that its menu continues to surprise. Last night my grandson asked me how is this different from the place we went to last month when you were here? I answered that this is nuanced fine dining Mexican with Latino infusions. I'm not sure he fully got that... But he and his brothers certainly loved the guacamole with the salsa tasting! And I have another birthday for the memory books!
I can't say enough about this restaurant The food is out of this world and the service is the best I've ever experienced. 
Great service; insanely loud. Had to yell to make each other heard. Food was good with lovely presentation; but I have had much better Mexican food.
Great food, service and ambience. The prices are outrageous. $24 for a small bowl of guacamole is robbery.
Lovely spot! Definitely recommend the guac, dips, sweet potatoes and the little special pastry as an Appy
Very attentive service. One of the people in our party has a significant allergy and our server was extremely detailed and attentive to her regarding this. He really went above and beyond. Also the food is very tasty!
We sat outside at first but it was no trouble to move our table from 5 inside... Such delicious tacos! I ordered even more! Fine service who comes to help you quickly and tells you with pleasure about the culture, drinks, Mexico and ... Again the food and service was great!!!
I had an absolutely wonderful dining experience at Empellón Midtown; a true gem for elevated Mexican cuisine in the heart of the city. From start to finish, everything was exceptional. I began with the Crab Nachos with Sea Urchin "Queso", and wow! what a unique and indulgent twist on a classic dish. It set the tone for a flavorful evening. For the main course, I enjoyed the Branzino Alcaparrado, beautifully cooked and perfectly balanced with its bold, briny flavors, paired with deliciously crispy Brussels Sprouts that were bursting with character. I ended my meal with the Creamy Avocado Dessert, which was surprisingly light, velvety, and a delightful finale. What made the evening even more memorable was the warm and attentive service. The entire team was gracious, friendly, and genuinely service-oriented. A special thank you to Genc Islami, the Director of Service and Hospitality, whose presence and leadership were clearly reflected in every interaction. Caroline, the manager, was incredibly sweet and lovely, her warmth really stood out. And Hernan, the waiter, took great care of us with charm and professionalism. Empellón Midtown is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. I can't wait to return!
Restaurantji Recommends
The first time we went, things were very good, especially the surprisingly delicious cauliflower soup. This time, the tomatoes we were promised were in season and wonderful were so underripe they looked like Subway tomatoes. The replacement cabbage salad with roasted fava beans was basically a mild coleslaw with too many chops crunchy salty beans on top. The skirt steak tacos has a slightly sweet sauce and not great tortillas; our local places are better at half the price for 50% more. The citrus flan was more a panna cotta withn okay orange creme anglaise and an odd pasty orange cap that didn't add any flavor. I wouldn't go back just for the nice decor.
Was sat 25 minutes after reservation, hostess was very rude, was sat in the bar area, no free item to make up for this, just bad hospitality overall. $34 tacos for just shrimp and barely anything else on them, total scam.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolutely loved this place! Every single item on the menu was fantastic, and the whole spectrum of hot sauces they had in a tray was really unique. I’ve never seen anything like it. But what really stood out was the service. From the moment we walked in to when we were seated, the entire staff, including the manager, was so attentive, constantly checking in and making sure we were enjoying our meal the right way. It made the whole experience really great aside from the fact that the food was already so yummy. What a great night 🥑
Unfortunately, they’ve charged more than what I authorized on the credit card. I wasn’t expecting this kind of issue from a restaurant of this caliber.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
We had lunch and everything was really outstanding. The guacamole was exceptional and it was fun trying all of the accompanying salsas. We really loved the carrot appetizer. Tacos are also a standout, with corn tortillas that are fresh and flavorful. I would love to go back. One nice touch we noticed is that cold dishes were served on chilled plates which made the food extra refreshing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guacamole with Seven Salsas, Fish Tacos
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