Last week I had the opportunity to check out a delicious Mexican gem in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood with my friend, KP.
The ambience at Ofrenda is cozy, casual, and loud.
image courtesy of Google Images
LOCATION:
113 7th Ave. S
New York, NY 10014
(west village)
MENU: Ofrenda menu
COST: $$
CUISINE: Mexican, Brunch
RECOMMENDED TO: Bar Scene, Couples, Casual Dining, Small Groups.
AMBIENCE: Casual/Cozy
MY REVIEW
We both started off with Happy Hour margaritas at only $7 each. I went for the Mango Margarita - perfectly sweet and had a kick. My friend went for the Blood Orange Margarita which was orangey and a little less sweet than mine. Both drinks were beyond delicious!
As our appetizer, we ordered the Guacamole Rojo, allow me to explain, this type of guacamole is prepared with all the traditional ingredients found in regular guacamole in addition to chipotle in adobo sauce and queso fresco. OMG… I was in heaven after the first bite, I can't believe I've been missing out on Guacamole Rojo all this time, it is spicier and chunkier than regular guacamole. 
For my entree, I went for my favorite Mexican dish, the Pollo Enchiladas Verde. This highly flavorsome dish was prepared with braised chicken in a corn tortilla and then topped off with tomatillo pumpkin seeds mole sauce. It was phenomenal.
Ofrenda is one of the few places where chicken enchiladas are prepared with shredded chicken instead of the usual grilled chicken. The chicken was so tender and flavorful, do you see all the spices? And the best part is the enchiladas were not topped off with a thick layer of cheese, but just the right amount plus some crème fraîche. Perfecto!
KP went for the only vegetarian dish on the menu, the Chile Relleno. Although her dish looks appetizing, it tasted okay. It just had a weird taste, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this dish. Unfortunately, it was just the wrong dish to order at a restaurant that clearly has great food.
VERDICT: 4 / 5
In terms of everything I ate, Ofrenda was perfection, to elaborate, amazing drinks, perfect guacamole, and the most tender and juicy chicken enchiladas. On the contrary, the Chile Relleno was just okay, and the restaurant was a bit too noisy which made it difficult to have a conversation. Ofrenda should consider adding a few more vegetarian entrees to their menu, and I'm sure it'll attract non-vegetarians as well. I'll definitely be back, especially for brunch, I’m looking forward to trying their Chilaquiles. Gotta love Mex Brunch!
Food: Very Good (guacamole rojo & pollo enchiladas verde)
Drinks: Excellent (mango margarita & blood orange margarita)
Decor: Good (cozy/warm/loud)
Service: Average (tad bit slow since it does get crowded)
Value: Excellent (especially during Happy Hour, otherwise standard Mexican NYC fare)
TELL ME: Have you ever tried Guacamole Rojo? Are you intrigued?
Khushboo says
Woah I've never even heard of guacamolo rojo but I need some of that in my life...yum! I feel like kinda an alocholic admitting this but the drinks appeal to me most from this review....both a Blood Orange Margarita & Mango Margarita sound delicious! I had an amazing cocktail last week with pomengranate & strawberry puree mixed with champagne...was definitely a refreshing change from my usual vodka/soda/lime!
Natalie G says
Mango margarita sounds so delicious, I am in love with Mexican food, but it has to be good 🙂
Parita says
Intrigued? My mouth is watering! Love the creative look and feel of the dishes. Makes the eating experience fun - love it when restaurants do this!
diaryofanindianmum says
I have had Guac rojo before and like you I was intrigued too. There are some restaurants here that make good guac rojo but the best I tried was at a private dinning tasting menu. Mango in any form of cocktail is a must for me- especially paired with Mexican food!
honeywhatscooking says
@diaryofanIndianMum - Sejal, isn't it amazing? Yeah, I've heard London has limited good Mexican restaurants, but I'm glad you were able to try amazing guac rojo. In the US, Texas and California have the BEST Mexican food. NYC is definitely pretty awesome, just gotta know where to go. Mango in any form rocks.. agreed! 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
@Parita - My mouth was watering too... rojo guac is amazing! I thought the food here was very authentic. You probably get amazing Mex food in Florida.
honeywhatscooking says
@Natalie - Me too!! I am not a fan of Americanized Mexican food.. love the traditional stuff.
honeywhatscooking says
@Khushboo - OMG, it is sooooo good! Haha.. I know what you mean, I think that's what I look forward to most when I dine at any Mexican place, the DRINKS! Pomegranate and Strawberry puree sounds refreshing, hey, at least you got a good dose of antioxidants. 🙂
Ameena says
I've never had guacamole roja...I've never heard of it! Not sure if Mexican restaurants in LA carry it? Maybe I'm living under a rock.
This place looks good. Definitely on my list for our next trip. 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
@Ameena - I'm sure LA has restaurants with Guacamole Rojo, maybe it's not that common. It isn't common in NYC either, this is one of the first restaurants I noticed that had it. This place was pretty authentic, I really enjoyed everything.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Yummy! I love the twist on usual margaritas! Intrigued about guac rojo's 😀
honeywhatscooking says
@Kiran - the margaritas were AWESOME! Guac Rojo was beyond amazing.. 🙂