Shing W.
Yelp
Most of those who venture to Williamsburg hop off the L at Bedford and never look back. However, if you've been looking for a trendy yet authentic cantina to consume delicious yet strong margaritas and overstuffed yet affordable tacos at, you may want to hop off at Graham instead.
We chose to eat out on a miserably freezing night. The only deciding factor was walking distance so expectations were low. It may have been due to the temperature, but on this Taco Tuesday, we were seated right away.
We started off our meal, as one should, with drinks.
I ordered their CLASSIC MARGARITA ($14): appropriately strong and so refreshing, with their use of freshly-squeezed lime and orange juice.
He ordered their PALOMA ($14): it was equally refreshing, with freshly-squeezed grapefruit!
Actions speak louder than words-- another round of these silver tequila drinks followed.
Now, food:
Chips and guac is a comfortable choice, but we decided to spice up our appetizer repertoire with NOPAL ASADO ($9): grilled cactus topped with stringy Oaxacan cheese with a creamy poblano pepper sauce ladled on. The grilled cactus was so smoky in flavor and succulent....(haha), I would definitely recommend trying it!
We ordered two mains:
PULPO Y CHORIZO TACOS ($16): Comes in 3, overstuffed with sautéed octopus, chorizo, and cubed potatoes, delivered in a cactus tortilla and topped with avocado salsa. The octopus was smoky and tender, which was nicely complemented by the savory chorizo bits. I really enjoyed the shift in texture when I got in bites of the crispy potatoes. These were some of the most unique tacos I've tried!
POLLO CON MOLE POBLANO ($23): Roasted chicken, plantains, and rice were slathered with this traditional gravy. The mole was very rich and earthy-- perfect for the cold weather. The chicken meat was so tender; it didn't take much to fall off the bone!
If you are craving authentic, rustic Mexican cuisine and are in the area, I would give Mesa Coyoacan a try! The price is not cheap, but also not unreasonable. Everything on the dinner menu is below $30, with appetizers and tacos within $10-$20 and the plates falling in the upper range. The cocktails range from $14-$16.