Empellon Taqueria Waterline Square

I was very happy with my experience with Empellon. The outdoor seating is very nice and you can watch everyone in the park. You can't really see the water though so it was a bit misleading. Service was excellent, everyone was really nice and food came out fast. We also went there during Happy Hour and they checked on us multiple times including right before it ended to ensure we got our orders in. Side note: The happy hour deal is great here. They have a lot of drinks and food are very good prices. Food: The food was yummy. We got the nachos and all the veggie tacos. All the sauces/salsa were well spiced and seasoned. We loved both of the veggie tacos we got. Price: During happy hours the prices were very reasonable. Insta: @TheShahLALand

Nice vibe, has potential to be great, food took forever (about 1h for our 3 tacos to arrive), taste was okay (arrived cold). Tacos are $8-12 each and drinks $15-25.. guacamole seemed good, we had the seven salsas and it was a cool experience mixing them. Overall I’d recommend if you are looking for something low key… good option around the area since there are not many restaurants around…

I absolutely love the fish tacos here, and they make a mean margarita. We live in the neighborhood and eat-in or takeaway every other week or so. I was excited to try the brunch but left rather disappointed. The chorizo sandwich was mostly hash brown, which itself was cold and undercooked. Also, the churro French toast was too sweet for our taste. The Chilaquiles was the best of if the dishes we tried. Strongly recommend their tacos, but I don’t think we’ll be back for brunch

TLDR: It's not the best or most traditional Mexican food you will find but prepare to be surprised. It's definitely a must-go for the fun, the vibe, the drinks, and the good food. The restaurant is perfect to treat yourself, for a special occasion or to bring friends. For all this don't expect the regular prices of hole-in-the-wall or delivery, it's not that kind of place or food. It's nice to see a Mexican restaurant make a difference targeting the more upscale, cool, and elegant vibe. It has a modern restaurant feel; forget the stereotypes because you wouldn’t know you were in a Mexican restaurant at all. The menu is very limited but has different items from what you'll find at your regular Mexican place and that's a great thing, I hope they expand with more options soon. Empellon is a perfect place for drinks and small plates. The staff was consistently super friendly and very efficient. FOOD: The guacamole is one of the very few I've tried that nailed the acidity perfectly and the small bits of onion and cilantro give it the perfect balance of texture and freshness. The tortillas that come with it have an amazing flavor and crispness, you really feel they put an effort into this dish and not the usual afterthought to "go with drinks". The Hamachi Crudo is found in many places and most of the time just boring raw fish but this version with lime sticky rice brought it to a different place with nice acidity and some starch as a base. The popcorn chicken is a nice dish, crunchy and with well-seasoned meat, although it would do better with a little more sauce to round it out. The carnitas is quite a nice portion, can feed 2. The tortillas are as fresh as they can be, you can eat them plain and still taste the flavor though I wish they were a little bit thicker to hold the weight of the fillings. My only problem is that since the pieces of pork are so small they got extremely dry and slightly burnt but the delicious salsas and jelly that come with it are amazing and can make up for it.

I stopped in on a random Sunday late in the afternoon, and the place was very quiet. We were the only ones in the restaurant, but it was very lovely. The atmosphere: is a modern restaurant feel; you wouldn’t know you were in a taqueria. The staff: was friendly, and the service was quick. The food: was good. The guacamole was pretty authentic and right up my alley. Cleanliness: as expected, clean.

I’ve visited a few times for drinks and small plates. Staff has consistently been friendly and very efficient. Margarita flavor seems to vary significantly depending on the bartender, however, most drinks have been good. My go-to is the ¿Por Qué No? margarita. I also love their authentic guacamole and 7 salsas.

so sad! one of our favorites bites the dust. this used to be an AMAZING spot, but it’s horrible now. i ordered two tacos i’ve had many times: skirt steak and hot fried chicken. the fried chicken was freezer burned nonsense (see photo) and the skirt steak was smothered in extra hot salsa that burned our mouths and couldn’t finish. we know this salsa … it’s left over from the ‘seven salsas’ that no one was eating and they are pouring it all over the food. YIKES. don’t go here, we are sad.

I got a ticket to Empellon at Waterline Square's 4th taco tasting event where you get to eat and vote on 4 different tacos. The taco with the most votes makes it to their main menu. The event gave you a $60 pre-fix menu and you get to start with their house made guacamole. Real quick, shouldn't all restaurant guacamole be house made? Anyway, it was phenomenal. The chips have a perfect texture and crispness and just the right level of spice. I rate it a 9.5/10 and it's already on their regular menu so I recommend it. Taco #1 was a shrimp po' boy with a remolade and pasilla mixe. I feel the shrimp could have been cooked to a deeper firmness. I gave that taco a 7/10 Taco #2 was a Cochinita Pibil with pickled red onions and a habenero salsa. The spice level on this taco had me sweating and it was very flavorful. I gave it an 8.4/10 Taco #3 was the Chicken Fried Steak taco with queso-chorizo gravy. I really like the flavor of this taco and it was my waitress' favorite of the 4. I had to cut it in half to eat it as a taco because the piece of meat was pretty big. This to me was an 8.8/10 Taco #4 was a Galbi taco (aka beef short ribs) with green chile kimchi. This was a massive taco and my personal favorite. I gave this a 9.3/10 and voted for this to hit the regular menu. They ended you with a Corn Ice Cream Taco that I thought was decent and had a really good texture. If you've ever had a corn based dessert this will remind of that taste. I gave it an 8.2. Shout out to Empellon for letting its customer's be part of their process and I highly recommend checking out any of their locations for amazing tacos.

I sat at the bar and I always say you get to know the restaurant by your bar experience. The drink was good. I did the spicy cucumber margarita and I would come back for that. I also ordered the nachos... which were very tasty. However, see the attached picture of how they were delivered. Where do you go that you pay that money for an appetizer that is delivered in an aluminum container when you are sitting at the restaurant?!? Then to add to it - I was given plastic utensils. It was basically ordering food out but sitting at a restaurant. How do they think that is appropriate and normal service?!? It's unfortunate because I would probably come here more often if it weren't for that delivery. How hard is it to put the nachos on a plate instead of making me feel like it's already packaged to go?! Huge disappointment

I was very happy with my experience with Empellon. The outdoor seating is very nice and you can watch everyone in the park. You can't really see the water though so it was a bit misleading. Service was excellent, everyone was really nice and food came out fast. We also went there during Happy Hour and they checked on us multiple times including right before it ended to ensure we got our orders in. Side note: The happy hour deal is great here. They have a lot of drinks and food are very good prices. Food: The food was yummy. We got the nachos and all the veggie tacos. All the sauces/salsa were well spiced and seasoned. We loved both of the veggie tacos we got. Price: During happy hours the prices were very reasonable. Insta: @TheShahLALand

A lovely little upscale Mexican place by Waterline Square! Coming from California, where I'm used to a lot of cheap and good Mexican food in large portions, this was different from what I was used to, but still very good. We enjoyed happy hour with a bunch of different tacos and chips with salsa, along with glasses of good wine. We sat outdoors since we sat outdoors, and they even brought a water bowl for the dog. Our waiter also helped us get photos of us, which was really nice of him to do. Had a great dinner here!

TLDR: It's not the best or most traditional Mexican food you will find but prepare to be surprised. It's definitely a must-go for the fun, the vibe, the drinks, and the good food. The restaurant is perfect to treat yourself, for a special occasion or to bring friends. For all this don't expect the regular prices of hole-in-the-wall or delivery, it's not that kind of place or food. It's nice to see a Mexican restaurant make a difference targeting the more upscale, cool, and elegant vibe. It has a modern restaurant feel; forget the stereotypes because you wouldn't know you were in a Mexican restaurant at all. The menu is very limited but has different items from what you'll find at your regular Mexican place and that's a great thing, I hope they expand with more options soon. Empellon is a perfect place for drinks and small plates. The staff was consistently super friendly and very efficient. FOOD: The guacamole is one of the very few I've tried that nailed the acidity perfectly and the small bits of onion and cilantro give it the perfect balance of texture and freshness. The tortillas that come with it have an amazing flavor and crispness, you really feel they put an effort into this dish and not the usual afterthought to "go with drinks". The Hamachi Crudo is found in many places and most of the time just boring raw fish but this version with lime sticky rice brought it to a different place with nice acidity and some starch as a base. The popcorn chicken is a nice dish, crunchy and with well-seasoned meat, although it would do better with a little more sauce to round it out. The carnitas is quite a nice portion, can feed 2. The tortillas are as fresh as they can be, you can eat them plain and still taste the flavor though I wish they were a little bit thicker to hold the weight of the fillings. My only problem is that since the pieces of pork are so small they got extremely dry and slightly burnt but the delicious salsas and jelly that come with it are amazing and can make up for it.

Friday 6pm This is one of my local spot for happy hour ( daily from 5-7pm). There aren't a lot of options on the west side by the water and was happy that the opened a location by me. I've frequented the midtown east location which is always busy because of the corporate crowd . This one is more for the neighborhood. I enjoy sitting at the bar which is perfect to meet up and gather with friends . In addition to the drinks , there are some small bites on HH as well ( tacos and nachos ). They used to have the chips with 7 sauces but have been discontinued as the restaurant is trying to keep afloat (and have cut down on their food offerings. ) . I was gutted hearing the possibility of them not thriving as I think there's so much potential for this restaurant ( ie make it a slightly less casual place a taqueria perhaps with more vibrant decor and fun music ). There's definitely a need for more food options in this area so even slight changes ( ask the locals ) , this could be a hit spot !

Sadly it's gone downhill assume it's closing any day now. Everything is on plastic now, most of the menu is gone and it's a skeleton crew.

3.5 stars - I think this is a solid restaurant for what it is, a more upscale restaurant serving a luxury community. Is it the best Mexico food? No. But do they have decent food, good service, and nice environment? Yes. I came here with my mom and her friend on Thursday at 6:30pm with a res. We were seated next to the window. The waiter was attentive and service was very fast. We ordered the fish tacos, 7 salsas, and carnitas (although I think they ran out and replaced it with steak?). The chips and salsa was fun, with crunchy chips and 7 different flavors of salsa with varying degrees of spiciness. I actually didn't love many of the salsas but thought it was fun to try. My 2 fish tacos were solid, with a crispy battered fish, avocado crema, and slaw, but they tasted better with salsa. The steak? came in a skillet with 4 sauces and tortillas on the side. I only tried a bite of the meat dish and thought it was a little dry and not salted enough, but the sauces were good and the tortillas seemed fresh (although on the thinner, less textured side). Overall decent place if you live in the area and want somewhere close by to take a friend for dinner.

I want to start by saying I've been here 20+ times. I live across the street. I love it there! Recently it's gone downhill. Tonight I went to Empellon and the plates were paper, silverware plastic. The salsa was in a paper cup and broke through the paper it was in... The staff is always so wonderful. From the servers to the bartenders to the runners, everyone is welcoming! However, the direction management is driving this spot in is not giving us the same excitement it once had. I plan to return and continue giving it more chances but I truly hope this trend doesn't continue

We have been here before and it was amazing. We went back tonight and It seems as though they are preparing to close. We went for dinner and the mediocre food was served on paper. What gives? Just close the doors already.

I got a ticket to Empellon at Waterline Square's 4th taco tasting event where you get to eat and vote on 4 different tacos. The taco with the most votes makes it to their main menu. The event gave you a $60 pre-fix menu and you get to start with their house made guacamole. Real quick, shouldn't all restaurant guacamole be house made? Anyway, it was phenomenal. The chips have a perfect texture and crispness and just the right level of spice. I rate it a 9.5/10 and it's already on their regular menu so I recommend it. Taco #1 was a shrimp po' boy with a remolade and pasilla mixe. I feel the shrimp could have been cooked to a deeper firmness. I gave that taco a 7/10 Taco #2 was a Cochinita Pibil with pickled red onions and a habenero salsa. The spice level on this taco had me sweating and it was very flavorful. I gave it an 8.4/10 Taco #3 was the Chicken Fried Steak taco with queso-chorizo gravy. I really like the flavor of this taco and it was my waitress' favorite of the 4. I had to cut it in half to eat it as a taco because the piece of meat was pretty big. This to me was an 8.8/10 Taco #4 was a Galbi taco (aka beef short ribs) with green chile kimchi. This was a massive taco and my personal favorite. I gave this a 9.3/10 and voted for this to hit the regular menu. They ended you with a Corn Ice Cream Taco that I thought was decent and had a really good texture. If you've ever had a corn based dessert this will remind of that taste. I gave it an 8.2. Shout out to Empellon for letting its customer's be part of their process and I highly recommend checking out any of their locations for amazing tacos.

Overall it was bad. We should've known walking into a completely empty restaurant at 6:00 pm - paper plates and plastic utensils - Curdled sour cream - Tacos with "spicy sauce on side", habanero sauce was inside, and we ate it and was too spicy. Then they brought curdled sour cream to help. - it's not real Mexican food, and it's not even that good. Don't come here

Big new location of the taqueria, located in the new little Waterline Square community, which means it was completely full with families right when they opened at 5pm on opening weekend. The menu is mostly tacos (obviously), so you should always ask what the special taco is, right now the great Latke one. I wish they all had the Avocado and the rest of the desserts from the midtown location, but this is still an excellent restaurant and the best thing around for sure.

Great (bar area only) happy hour deals, with $10 margaritas, $6 tacos, $12 nachos, $5 beers. Now I acknowledge $6 tacos are pricier than most, but these are pretty interesting tacos. Shrimp with pumpkin seeds, veggie chorizo, straight brussels sprouts, whaaa?! On the standard menu they're $16-$22 for a pair of tacos. However, I think the quality of the tacos doesn't command that price point. The very foundation, the tortilla, is a little floppy. I expect they're fresh, but we found them broad, unable to hold up to marinades and dampness. The taco toppings were hit and miss; the chorizo was memorably crumbly. Clean, fancy space.

This place has really fallen off. Used to be amazing. Went in tonight and the menu has drastically changed. Gone are the amazing Seven Salsas. Gone are the 2 tacos per order. And the worst part, everything is served on paper plates and with plasticware. We live in the neighborhood and it used to be our go to for dining with out of towners. I cannot see that continuing as I'm almost embarrassed to take anyone there.

I do not understand what had happened to this place!! This was one of our favorites in the neighborhood (You could refer to my last review). However, in Jan 2024, they shut down the previous menus and opted for a menu that is worst than a food truck! They now serve amusement park quality chips and salsa and quesadilla on paper plates and utensils at premium restaurant price?!?!?!?!?! We were astonished and walked out in the middle of the meal. We were deeply disappointed...

Overpriced and underportioned. Margs were good tho. I don't plan on coming back......

I stopped in on a random Sunday late in the afternoon, and the place was very quiet. We were the only ones in the restaurant, but it was very lovely. The atmosphere: is a modern restaurant feel; you wouldn't know you were in a taqueria. The staff: was friendly, and the service was quick. The food: was good. The guacamole was pretty authentic and right up my alley. Cleanliness: as expected, clean.

Empellon opened not too long ago, but the outdoor terrace just opened with the great weather. It's a welcomed new Mexican eatery to the far 'West Side'. I love the Queso Fundido Green and Red Chorizo! The bar is very cute and the bartenders are amazingly nice. The seating in the indoor main dining area is a little tight between the tables, which is why I prefer the bar or new outdoor area, but otherwise, that's the only criticism that I have of this great new UWS spot.

As others have posted, this location has gone downhill after such a promising start. I completely agree that dining out, especially in a location like Waterline Square, and being served food on paper plates with plastic utensils, is plain wrong. So unappealing and unfortunate. The food was fine but I couldn't get over the picnic-like utensils and overall lack of effort. I have no idea why they have changed their model to something so basic but it's not working.

Great food and staff! Happy hour is a great deal. Love the tacos and margaritas. Don't skip dessert.

My wife and I go to the Empellon location in the west village often and it is one of our favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, this Empellon location was not good. For drinks, we ordered margaritas, but they were watered down and tasted like they were made from a bad margarita mix. For appetizers we ordered the shishito pepper cheese fondue and a sticky rice tartare. The shishito peppers (and even the melted cheese) were undercooked. The "sticky rice" tartare fell apart as the rice was hard and also undercooked. For an entree we ordered the steak tacos, and while the tacos were not bad, they were not even close to the same as what you get at Empellon's other locations. We just moved to the upper west side so we were very excited to have one of our favorite restaurants nearby, unfortunately it was not even close to the same. All around it just wasn't good.

Empellón was a fav to go to especially during warmer months as its outdoor space is great. However, I went last night for the first time this year and was very disappointed and confused. When you dine inside at the restaurant you are now served plastic utensils, paper plates and the nachos are served in aluminum. If I was at a picnic OK, but customers are paying hefty prices to dine here. They have completely changed the presentation of their food. For $18 you can get a paper plate of some lettuce and cucumbers. This used to be a favorite salad due to its simplicity that was previously served in a wooden bowl with a generous portion. The tacos used to be 2x and presented beautifully. Now you get one taco on a small paper plate. Also their lettuce wrap is now a thin piece of lettuce that you can't eat as a wrap, so had to cut it. I'm writing this review because dining in NYC is getting ridiculously overpriced and customers deserve to get value for what they pay. Footnote, the wait staff is wonderful and super nice which is why I gave it 3 stars. Overall I would stay away not worth the money!

Completely disappointed. My husband and I lived in Waterline when Empellon first opened and it was amazing. Good music, great food, great drinks and an overall great vibe. We moved out of the city and came back and decided to book a reservation and have friends meet us. Friday night, walked in and it was empty. The bartender was great and the server was great, but what the hell happened? Paper plates? Plastic forks and knives, the chips for the guac - only a small handful of chips that did not even fill the stupid paper plate. The sea bass tacos were horrible, fishy and seemed bad, we had to return them. The carnitas tacos were good. The overall experience was horrible. No music playing, we asked the bartender and he said the upstairs tenants complained about the music, so they can't play it anymore. Overall it was very sad and disappointing. This was a place my husband and I would go to several times a week to have a drink and food and enjoy the vibe. It seems as if they are about to close, if not they should. In addition, the bill was still $275. I mean seriously. you are serving food on paper plates, and only tacos and the bill was this much. NOT Acceptable. Just close at this point.

Place has changed! No more 7 salsa dip (honestly grocery store salsa is better than what they use now), no shishito pepper/cheese wraps, smaller/not great tacos, paper plates and plastic silverware! Of course the prices didn't change - It was $43 for two small tacos, one margarita and a basket of chips and bland salsa (w/ tax and tip). Terrible value - such a disappointment! Not sure how this place will make it.

We had been here last summer and loved it. It had a great vibe and the food was good. We returned this past Sunday and were shocked. First of all, they now have a limited menu but we decided to stay. We ordered a few appetizers and tacos. Everything came on paper plates with plastic utensils. We ordered an $18.00 salad and expected it to be substantial for the price, but it was a small little salad on a side paper plate! A few pieces of lettuce and nothing more. Really?! Something is up with this place but if you want people to come in, dont insult them by charging so much for what should cost $5.00. We will not be going back. Dont waste your time.

You ever wonder, "I wish I could eat Chipotle, but pay 30x times more"? Wonder no more. This place is catered solely to the rich folks upstairs, who won't know any better. Honestly, writing more about this place is just a waste. Is the food edible? Sure is. Is it bland forgettable drivel you could replicate with a Betty Crocker cook book? I'm certain. Trash. Insanely expensive trash.

Everything was good, it wasn't great but as someone who lives in the area I would return. Server was nice. For my personal tastebuds, chorizo sandwich could use some onions. The sandwich was also messy to eat. The best was the breakfast tacos, the churro French toast is too sweet and somehow a bit salty

Great location, service, food, and drinks. I was attended by the bartender Natalie. She answered all my questions that i had about the menu. She was also educated on mezcals and wines. I was also approached by the GM Ismael who kindly asked me if everything was okay. Outside the restaurant is a beautiful hang out area, great scenery with benches, people walking their dogs, right by the water. Food was amazing! I'm a big taco gal, flavor is everything and many restaurants don't know how to season their meat well. Their spicy cucumber margaritas are a hit! Nonetheless, this place knocked it out the park. I was greatly satisfied overall. Would definitely come again!

I live in the area and went with high expectations. This place is right across from Harry's Table (which is exceptional). The service was good but the food was mediocre. We got a fundido, the quesadilla, and the tacos. All three were bland. The cheese in each had no flavor, and there was no seasoning which could possibly add flavor. Even some salt would have been in improvement. Will not be coming back.

The restaurant is Aesthetically pleasing, Mediocre food, They should step it up a few notches on the food... the seasoning and the options. Outstanding service.

7 salsas and Margaritas are excellent. We really enjoyed our food here! Thank You!!!

First time eating here and it did not disappoint! The fried shishito peppers in the melted queso were so delicious. The perfect amount of spice mixed with savory. The lamb barbacoa tacos were my favorite! The lamb was cooked to perfection. Tender and shredded topped with pickled cucumbers. The cucumbers added a nice refreshing flavor. The chicken quesadilla was a little bland, but the side dipping salsa packed a lot of flavor. As a mezcal lover, the mezcal margarita was delicious! The inside has an upbeat and cool vibe with an open kitchen concept and bar area. This place is perfect for a date night or grabbing drinks with friends!

Nice ambiance, great food and amazing drinks Love the location as well. I can't wait to eat outside on summer evenings

been waiting for ages for this location to open! It's conveniently located in the waterline square complex and is a great addition to an otherwise sparse dining district. They got quite filled up on a friday so I would highly recommend a reservation. The restaurant is on the smaller side but has a welcoming and bustling atmosphere. The drinks are a real draw. I had the spicy cucumber margarita which was bomb! They also have a great mezcal margarita option as well. For the appetizers, we tried the 7 salsas and the guacamole. I was a little underwhelmed by the guacamole which could have used some more seasoning. The salsas were fun though; I think the cashew salsa was my favorite. For the food, they have a number of taco options (and a few vegetarian friendly ones) and limited other entree dishes. Each taco dish comes with 2 tacos - they are medium sized so if you're really hungry you might need to get an extra set. I tried the fried fish tacos which were very delicious. Overall, I think this is a strong addition to the area. The food is solid, the drinks are poppin, and the service was prompt. It's family friendly and good for small groups.

Had dinner for the first time here on a Sunday night with my wife, very nice ambiance and waiter was super nice. We had the Margarita, (We like the pineapple "?por que no?" better then the original) popcorn chicken (feel like more of a salad dish with light cream dressing and popcorn chicken combination was nice and light) Chorizo Queso, (different taste of green and red Chorizo flavors over the cheese was really good), then we got the Skirt steak Taco (the most perfectly cooked steak and perfect marinate flavor that I had for a long time def coming back for this one) and fish taco (crispy crunch and fresh fish and super delicious). It was amazing dinner! Will come back again!

This place is fantastic- I highly recommend the tempura fish tacos- yum! Go in the summer and you can sit outside and watch kids and dogs play in the sprinkler fountains too. Grab a soft serve from the trucks outside for dessert on your way out.

Really unreasonable and rude manager. Their food or drinks can't be good enough to make up for the how rude she is. Not worth it.

I stopped here with some friends for a quick bite while exploring the area. We had a table outside on the patio. The service was attentive and great. We were in a bit of a time crunch but I was able to try their margarita (tasty) and their quesadilla special - a blue tortilla, with cheese and some peppers inside. It was unique but good. A friend had raves about their green salad. It looked tasty so I think I would try that next. I definitely want to go back and try some more food as everything on the menu looked great. Hopefully I can do it next time without a time crunch.

* I Just chose the 3 star option because one bad experience shouldn't necessarily hurt the overall rating average. However, wanted to post a note expressing my disappointment when visiting the restaurant this evening. I live adjacent to the restaurant and needed a quick early dinner before a show. I came to the front door and asked the woman working the floor if they were open. She said they were - but clearly they were only just beginning the evening service - as I was the only one there and her demeanor was FAR from welcoming. I explained that I could eat there at the restaurant or perhaps order takeaway - if that was easier or they weren't ready for service. She replied 'whatever you would like sir'. I was honestly just trying to be flexible. I then asked her which option would be quicker. She seemed annoyed by the question and said that the restaurant had more options if I sat down. I explained that I just needed something quick and again asked which option (takeout or dining in) would be quicker. She again seemed annoyed by the question - and quite frankly the intrusion - but finally answered that dining in would be quicker. As I went to sit down, I almost apologetically explained that I really did have to pose the 'which would be quicker?' question to her - as she was obviously in the best position to answer it... seeing as, you know... she kind of works at the restaurant. She simply replied 'still or sparkling sir?'... again, in a manner that was more in keeping with a parole officer than a hospitality worker. I then said 'you know what, don't worry about it' and left. I'm now happily eating my takeaway Thai food. Anyway, just needed to get that off my chest - and hope it serves as a reminder that when we work in hospitality, we kind of have to at least pretend to be gracious and hospitable if we are greeting guests at a restaurant - no matter how much we wish our job wasn't dependent on them.

Extremely overpriced and very basic tacos. My husband and I ordered 6 tacos, nothing else no chips or drinks and it was $72!!! Ya nuts, we won't be back

Fantastic! Our family of five started with the shishito pepper queso fundido which was probably my favorite of the meal. It was served with tortillas and the peppers were so tasty. We ordered a taco for each kid and three tacos for both adults each. Our favorite was shrimp...a bit sweet but so good with pickled onions, avocado, and pumpkin seeds! The Brussels sprouts and veggie chorizo tacos were also delicious. My wife said the chicken was good but not on same level as the others. We shared a banana tamel for dessert which was tasty and the kids shared an ice cream sandwich. The serving staff was friendly and understanding of our children although you could tell some patrons weren't thrilled with the many kids present. This area is very kid friendly with a huge playground, splash pad, and grass area just outside the restaurant. For us, it was amazing on all parts. If you want a trendy, adult only place, this is not it. But if you want an elevated taco experience in a family friendly place, come here...you won't be disappointed!

Fine for a drink on the patio which is very pleasant. Food -- slimmed down menu vs the midtown Empellon. Same guacamole and salsa which goes down a treat with a beer. Avoid the hamachi which is totally weird on a refrigerated hockey puck of rice. Didn't care for it, waiter's response? Present the bill and ask if this is what came to the table. Don't come looking for service :)

My family was turned away from a (literally) completely vacant restaurant on memorial day Monday at ~1pm because we wouldn't give our phone number to the host (as walk ins). He cited his name as Jason/Justin (?) and identified himself as the manager of the restaurant. Can someone from ownership/management confirm your policy, that you refuse to seat any patron without them providing a phone number? Even as a walk-in, or for the outside communal tables? I've never heard of this policy from any restaurant or merchant of any kind in 40 years so please let me know so I can avoid your restaurant in the future and just go to Harry's or Friedman's nearby as we did today. My wife also told me this employee was rude to her previously, so I'm looking for corroboration from anyone else on the empellon team to confirm your policy. Thanks

Great margaritas! Cute spot for a drink with friends. They have some nice appetizers too. If you live in waterline, you get room service from them which is clutch!

Why this place gets a 3 plus stars is beyond me. Great food, service, and a magical space.

Beautiful modern layout and amazing drinks; lamb taco was one of the best I ever had as was the chocolate custard in terms of desserts. Will be returning

I've visit this establishment twice and honestly it's mediocre; food and drinks are super cliché and truthfully the attraction is "the park" and it's convenient location. The servers are great but if you are looking for a family friendly place this is NOT it. The manager is NOT kid friendly despite the fact that the restaurant is located directly in front of a "kids friendly" park one would think it would cater to family and parents. Unfortunately this is not the case. Outdoor seating overlooking the park is not ideal for families to enjoy, due to management unprofessionalism. Therefore please save yourself the harassment from management and go elsewhere. This place is not family/kids friendly at all. Ps. Food takes forever and is not worth the wait.

Just dined here for dinner. We had a lovely waitress. Get the chips and salsa tasting, Mezcal margarita, lamb Barbacoa tacos, and banana dessert.

Long story short I called them at 6pm and they said they had no tables available until 9pm, 10 seconds after I called them I got a reservation at 8pm through internet....less than a star for customer services would be more appropriate!