Maizal Restaurant

A lovely Mexican dinner at Maizal in Clifton, Staten Island. Known for their margaritas, I had a spicy jalapeño and my friend had the grapefruit. For appetizers we shared queso with chorizo and a stuffed plantain with garlic shrimp. For main courses, more shrimp: tacos, a burrito bowl and their spicy shrimp special. For dessert, churros with vanilla ice cream. The food and the service were both good, as well. They have a great happy hour: Monday through Thursday + Sunday all day; Friday & Saturday until 6 pm.

Food & drinks are delicious! Service and atmosphere are great. Outdoor seating was cozy and our service was warm and welcoming. We loved our tacos, passion fruit margaritas and guacamole. Will definitely return for more

LOVE THIS PLACE! wish we lived closer. over the many years, this place is consistent with their food quality, food selection, beverages and service. What a gem!

I havent had such a yummy 😋stuffed plantain since I lived in the Bronx

The environment, the food and the margaritas 12/10 Its to bad that I live upstate NY, Can’t wait to come back. The best margaritas in New York!

Me and my fiance went for our 11th year anniversary. Overall was a very pleasant experience. From food to drinks we enjoyed it all. We did have to wait a little for our food to which the server said there was some issues in the kitchen. When we did eventually get our food I noticed I got the wrong meat in my food (I ordered a shrimp bowl) the quickly remade and fixed the order without me even having to question it. The server also comped us for some drinks as a way to make up for the wait time and mistake with the food which was super nice and professional of her. Only other issue was it got a little to hot in the area we sat, i stepped outside for some cold air, but that was after eating and drinks which could 100% make you feel hotter. I would definitely go back when in the area.

Maizal Restaurant is an absolute gem! The food is nothing short of spectacular—each dish is crafted with care, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, offering a perfect blend of comfort and warmth that makes you feel right at home. The friendly staff truly go above and beyond to ensure a wonderful dining experience. We can't wait to visit again soon and savor more of their delicious creations!

The food was amazing, I had the lunch special which was coconut Chicken in tequila. Tequila is top-notch here. Along with decided to try Mexican coffee which I don't know how I will ever drink coffee the same. Ended up buying a bag of coffee. 10/10 most go!

Maizal has been around for quite some time. And now I can see why. Located on Bay Street in Staten Island what a delight. Their patio area is adorable and nice to kick back and eat. Many locals frequent this restaurant and that says a lot! The food is delicious! I went there and came back two days later! The service was good and the welcome is great. Definitely a great place to eat.

Here for restaurant week, the staffs are friendly. The dinner is $30 per person. We reserved via Open Table however, they took us right in and seated us even though we came in early. The interior was beautiful. For starters: - Chips and Guacamole: very rich avocado For entrees: - Chicken Enchilada: very filling - Beef Burrito Bowl: very filling For desserts: - Mexican Churros: two tiny churros - Tres Leches Cake: it was too sweet. Would recommend eating here!

We hadn't been there in years so we decided to check it out. It was ok. We started with an appetizer and while my partner was still eating she came and grabbed the plate away. Not cool. Probably won't go back

This place is a perfect example of a place that doesn't necessarily have the best food. But the everything else is real good. We had a reservation for 4. Went with my daughter and son in law. We had the guacamole and salsa. Guacamole was pretty good. The rose sangria. Yum. I had the paella. Which really wasn't paella. It was ok. The service was great. The music playing made it feel festive. Didn't have dessert. But did have the hibiscus margarita. Which was good also. This was a three for food Five for everything else. So its a solid 4 I would come back

We went here for Mother's Day and everything was excellent. The food is fresh and delicious, the drinks are awesome and the service is wonderful. I highly recommend this little gem.

Maizal is a fabulous place for delicious Mexican food. We had fish tacos and shrimp in tequila and lime, and both were wonderful. We started with freshly made guacamole which was put together by our hostess/server. She was amazing all through our visit, helpful, courteous, and above all very welcoming. She treated us to a tour of the garden which we'll have to go next time. I can't recommend Maizal enough.

HORRIBLE customer service. HORRIBLE happy hour deals. Good food. First thing I asked after coming in was is there a happy hour. I was told yes the proceeded to order a chips and guac while pointing at the happy hour menu. Then the chips and guac come and other food items come. When it was time to check out they charged me for a regular sized chips and guacamole. I told them about their mistake and they said because I already ate it there's nothing they can do... there is something you can do. Charge me the happy hour price because of YOUR mistake. Also, why would you have a bite sized guacamole and chips? What does that even mean?

I normally don't come to this part of Staten Island but I was craving some Mexican food. The entrance is unassuming but when you go inside, the decor makes it a more elevated dining experience. My boyfriend and I decided to do their pre-fix $34.95 menu which comes with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. What We Ordered - Appetizer - black bean soup (8/10, seasoned well and good portion but nothing too special), guac + chips with empanada (10/10 this was delicious and I wish there was more guac!) Entree - tequila/lime shrimp fried rice (8.5/10, PLENTY of vegetables, I loved the sweet potato wrap thing they put around the rice; not a fan of the shrimp but my boyfriend loved it!); steak fajita +$6 (10/10, they made it medium rare as we liked, there was a char grill taste which made it even better! I liked the DIY style and we made our own little fajitas. Dessert - churros, tres leches (9/10, churros were warmed with melted chocolate + dusted sugar, tres leches weren't too sweet and were the perfect texture) Service was excellent, they were attentive and always filled up our waters. I would definitely come back. Maizal definitely serves quality Mexican food without breaking your wallet.

Great spot to check out especially for some delicious food. The margaritas are soooo yummy and great price during happy hour. The sweet plantain appetizer is a MUST try it's sweet and spicy at the same time and absolutely delicious

This has been a go to for me since I moved to Staten Island four years ago. The food is delicious and consistent. I enjoy their drinks. I have no issues with the service and there's a nice ambiance. I've gone time and again. Had their pre fix menu last night and loved it. Can't wait to go again and again.

That's good Mexico restaurant months ago Probably my favorite tacos in the area, super light and well balanced. The fish tacos are my go-to and the fish ceviche is a close second. If you're in the Stand land definitely stop by.

My family has been coming to this restaurant for years, and it's our favorite Mexican restaurant on Staten Island. The service is consistently kind, warm, and welcoming. . . . We got guacamole, nachos, lobster paella, chicken quesadillas, coconut tequila chicken, churros, and Mexican coffee!

Mediocre at best. Incredibly disappointing Nothing was notable. The outside area is lovely

Quaint Mexican place with a pleasant atmosphere and flavorful menu. Margarita selection is amazing and the mezcal hit just right. Would definitely recommend for a date night.

Fish tacos made from cod are great and high quality. The chorizo and cheese appetizer is delicious but eat it before the cheese gets cold. Guac and chips is always a must. Drinks are tasty and strong enough. Service is great!

The food is delicious, amazing serves, with lovely waiters, I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family!

I found this place on yelp!! I went tonight with a friend and sat outside in their outdoor section, they had heaters it was perfect! They have lights, paintings on the walls its a great ambience. Their food was great we had the stuffed plantains and the paella so yummy! And ofc we had to try their margaritas, I totally recommend the cucumber margarita. It was their special and it was so fresh. I loved this place and will totally be returning! I recommend for a chill night out with a friend or for date night!

Excellent menu and customer service. Fresh guacamole. Lively atmosphere. Vegan friendly.

What a find. Finding a restaurant that's open with seating nowadays is such a struggle so my choices were limited. But luckily the limit included this restaurant... which was amazing. Food was way better than I expected. Very authentic. Guac was on point. There was a jalapeño app that we tried that wasn't that good .... but I'm willing to overlook that because everything else was spot on. Can't wait to come back here again.

I have been meaning to try Maizal for a while now. I have passed it multiple times and never had the chance to go in. But when heading home from Brooklyn and my mom wants to grab Mexican food for dinner, what better opportunity?! We did call on our way there to see how long he wait was for a table of 2 and luckily they had availability. However, this place is TINY so if you're going to stop by for with a party larger than 2 - make reservations. Service was also a bit slow, however it should be kept in mind this was a busy Saturday night. For appetizers, we started off with the small guacamole. This was served in a volcanic stone and was a decently large size for a small order and the guac was incredibly fresh. We also ordered the super nachos with chicken - I'm not a huge nachos fan but his was delicious. The chicken had wonderful flavor and the juice hit every nacho on the platter. For dinner I ordered the fish tacos (two per order) with a salad on the side (you do have the choice of rice and beans as well). The grouper fish was so fresh and flakey. The batter was nice and light and the jalapeño mayo added an additional layer of flavor to every bite. I would absolutely order this again. I am happy I finally got to try this place out and will definitely be back!

Excellent food all around at Maizal. Don't leave without getting the guac and the plantain with shrimps. The chorizo quesadilla was excellent. If it's a nice day sit outside and enjoy the outdoor seating area with a classic margarita. If you like your food spicy and are not afraid to try, ask for their special hot sauce. It's spicy and packs a ton of flavor.

We were in town visiting a friend and she brought us to this terrific restaurant. The service was friendly and professional. A complete 5 star service experience. We had the house Margaritas for $8 Happy Hour price. They were so delicious. One of the best classic Margaritas any of us has had. We had more of them than I want to admit here. The garlicky shrimp plantain appetizer was AMAZING. Our various entrees were also delicious. I'm only sorry we don't live closer so that we could visit again.

I enjoyed my food. I got the plain rain stuffed with garlic shrimp and cheese and the chicken burrito bowl. I got it for takeout and I will say they could have included napkins and plastic utensils in the bag even if it's to go. Cost $42 and I tipped.

Great restaurant! Loved the atmosphere and the staff was very attentive and nice. Giving it 4 stars because everything was great and I have no complaints, but it didn't blow my mind. I had chips and guac (which was good), and the paella (which was good, but not impressive.. I've had much better on Staten Island).

I noticed Maizal as I was going home from Sofia's Taqueria one night and quickly made a reservation for the following weekend. Although both Mexican restaurants have a similar menu, Maizal has an intimate and upscale atmosphere, making it perfect for date night.The outdoor seating was very nice at night. Our table was in a small, secluded garden area, with string lights along the fence and little fire torches on the ground. The food was delicious and the staff was excellent! The only drawback is the cocktails were a little weak for the price.

I have to add to my previous review. Their mole is actually my favorite item now. Ive had the chicken poblano enchilada and its great every time.

Went for the first time. Sat outside.. super cute; Great atmosphere, music was good, food was good, very happy. Definitely be back!

Every time I come here I forget how disappointed I was the last time I ate here. The prices are inappropriately high for the portion size and quality of the food. Today's Mother's Day meal was especially disappointing because the menu (which was not posted online) was super limited. To top it off, even though I repeatedly asked for my meal to not have onions due to dietary restrictions, the dish still had onions and I could not eat it. Will not be forgetting this experience and definitely will not be returning!

Excellent food, atmosphere, service was great, went there for Cinco de Mayo however was rushed at the end but in fairness to the restaurant with Covid it was limited seating. All in all a great experience

First time ! Amazing food Saturday night . Great service and amazing food from the Appetizer, soup and Guacamole! Entree delicious, Enchiladas Roja , Steak Tqco and Quesadilla amazing ! Social Distance was perfect, fast service and the place is spotless. Our waitress was very professional and full knowledge with menu . This is our new place !

We ordered the specials they had on restaurant week. Chicken burrito, pork burrito, chicken fajitas, guacamole, and chicken tortilla soup. I also ordered margaritas to go. Everything was fresh and delicious. Will definitely go there again! Thanks for feeding us Maizal!

Maizal never disappoints. They have the best guacamole on the island and their drinks are always delicious as well. We got empanadas off the regular menu, and the special menu as well as their stuffed sweet plantain which was delicious. I ordered the lamb on special that night and it was absolutely falling off the bone tender and flavorful! Highly recommend.

Good but not great. Menu prices elevated beyond the menu's offering and ambiance. Expected a better experience. Once waitress was very nice while others appeared less friendly. They can work on that. Big fan of Bayou and frequent patron. Heard this restaurant has same owner, expected more, but failed to live up to the experience. Prices were defiantly way too high for the offering. Drinks! Probably a one time visit.

I've eaten here numerous times. I love the service, atmosphere, drinks, and food. Last night, I visited with three friends. It was busy for a Sunday night and s table was waiting for us( made a reservation). The drinks are delicious and the atmosphere is more Brooklyn than Staten Island, which is what I want. We shared the guacamole and the plantain with shrimp apps. Both were delicious and ample enough for more than two people. I usually order the enchiladas but decided on the healthier shrimp and rice entree. This was also satisfying. We ended with the tres leches cake which is always delicious. Maizal has always been one of my favorite places on the island.

Came here on a recommendation, food was very good. We ordered the Stuffed sweet plantain with garlic shrimp & avocado, as our appetizer- very decent size it was big enough to split. I had the quesadillas and my husband had Enchiladas de Mole poblano, both were very good.Their backyard area is very cute with tapestry, lighting and different sized tables. We sat at a cute bistro table. Very nice atmosphere for date night/a night out. Call for reservations first to make sure there is room in the back.

Went here for dinner. My boyfriend did not like the enchiladas. We Asked for a difference because it taste bad. When the bill came the waitress told is she was paying for the enchiladas we did not like. I don't know if she did that because she thought black ppl don't tip, but it was extremely rude and unnecessary. I am a waitress and was going to tip for the meal and for the new enchiladas. Will never go back to this restaurant. Stay away.

Nice friendly out of the way place I found when exploring the small Staten Island branch of the MTA above ground subway. It's a few block walk from the subway stop, but there are several restaurants in the area. They had a special on very good margarita's ($5) when I came here on this Sunday afternoon. The service was very good. They have some backyard patio style outdoor seating space in the back. Inside is a little more cozy and comfortable. I enjoyed the large shredded chicken burrito, which I ended up bringing half home.

This is the BEST Mexican food I've had delivered on Staten Island. The mole poblano sauce is so freaking good. And the guacamole is so dense and delicious. This food is just so flavorful, fresh, and just so so good. Worth every single penny. And the delivery guy was so sweet, and got here quickly. My new go to for Mexican food delivery.

My favorite Mexican restaurant in the city! Gourmet and delicious. Nice atmosphere as well.

I loved this little Mexican spot! If I can walk into a restaurant and be taken away by the decor, music and food Im sold. For one thing the service here was fantastic. Our waiter Adel was on the money with everything and made our experience very pleasant. The food here is fresh and very delicious. They have backyard seating which is always a plus for us New Yorkers but even if you hang inside the vibe is very relaxed. I ordered the steak and shrimp dish. The steak was perfect and the shrimp was tasty as well. The rice was wrapped in a platano which is something that I have never seen before and thought was very cool. I really did enjoy every bite. I also tried the fish tacos which were delicious. The fish was lite and well battered. The side sauce was amazing too. For drinks I had the mojito which was splendid. To be honest although this is Mexican cuisine I thought it favored Puerto Rican style cooking to me. Very reminiscent of a Sofrito and/or Sazon when they were in their prime. Anyway call it what you'd like but this place is good! I was really impressed and this place has definitely won me over. When I am back on the other side of the bridge I will definitely be returning!

This is an update to my last post. My husband and I have gone back a few times since my last review and am happy to report that you are now getting your money's worth - so drink up - but don't drive. One thing I highly recommend is the happy hour brunch at Maizal. You have to try their pink sangria and the passion fruit margarita on the rocks (no salt - gotta watch my blood pressure ha ha) - so good!!!

Always spring for their freshly made guacamole. I highly recommended their tuna tacos if they're on the menu. Regular stand-bys are delicious like the burritos or fish tacos. Churros for dessert!

I've been wanting to come here for years and somehow we always wound up at another Mexican place. The food was divine. I flipped for the plantain appetizer with the shrimp. That is a must try if you go. The sweetness of the banana with the shrimp and the cheese. We all loved it. Their outdoor dining was also very nice and comfortable. We devoured out entrees and were too full for dessert. Definitely next time.

So I originally banned this place because it's just overpriced, not good Mexican food but my friend made me give them another try. Slow night for them, and yet couldn't even get my order right. I ordered a veggie burrito and they gave me a shrimp one instead. I didn't realize until I was half way through the rice and lettuce burrito (cause that's what 99% of it consisted of) that it was in fact shrimp, not vegetable. Good thing I don't have a food allergy. I was over it at that point and full off of rice, I then told the waitress when she decided to come by the table and she gave me a veggie burrito to go. Drinks were good, but the food was not. The little bit of burrito that I did get to eat wasn't even flavorful, it was bland. Not only did they mess up my order, but they charged me for the shrimp dish. Needless to say, I won't be giving them another try.

Maybe I'm cheap but this is overpriced Mexican. They make great Margaritas but are really expensive and small but delicious not to sweet. The tableside guac is the best guac I ever had. I did not like the entrees. Fake fake Mexican. The restaurant itself is very small and crowded. I'd come back on a Sunday afternoon for drink and guac but that's it

I ordered for pick up the stuffed shrimp plantains appetizer, guacamole and chips, steak tacos, and 16 oz margarita, OMG! The margarita was amazing! Everything was very good. I'm not usually a steak person and I found it kind of tough (ordered medium well) but everything was good and I look forward to ordering from here again, especially the margarita.

Food was great! Ordered the guac and chips to start and it was amazing. Also had the plantain with shrimp.... it was to die for. For my main meal I had the steak with shrimp with the rice. Didn't enjoy the steak but everything else was great. Will definitely come back here.

Was looking for a Mexican restaurant that was more authentic than Taco Bell type and found this one. I am fir supporting people owned rather than corporate owned places when i can do we tried it. Small, cozy atmosphere with a nice staff. The one thing that caught my eye was freshly made Guac and it was. Has choice of 1 or 2 avocados as well as spiciness to taste cane with tortilla chips and we had an order of Mexican corn delish. I had enchiladas with green sauce and it came with rice, black beans and a small salad for a very reasonable price. You had choice of vegetable, 3 types of meat or cheese....I love cheese enchiladas so I chose that. I was full. My husband had paella and he said it was very good as well. We each had drinks ( vodka lemonade .....was good and he had a martini of some kind). ALL FOOD WAS NICE AND HOT WHEN BROUGHT OUT. Ended meal with coffee and churros with caramel sauce (could also get with ice cream). Prices were reasonable. Only downside is parking. Give it a try.....they also do Grubhub and DoorDash . Also enjoyed listening to some Richie Valens...not to soft and not too loud. Give it a try if your in the mood for Mexican food!

Appetizers and main entrees were delicious! Atmosphere was busy and vibrant! Went on a Saturday night for a birthday dinner with a bunch of friends..everyone enjoyed their meals..dessert was ordered and unfortunately we were disappointed..the chocolate cake was cold and wasn't fresh tasting..I would definitely go back for the guacamole & entrees!!