Mole Mexican Bar & Grill | New York City

This past weekend my friend was in town visiting New York City after her exams were over.  During her week stay in NYC, she spared 2 days and stayed with me which gave me a chance to really catch up with her, so thank you MM for listening.

As you know Mexican food is my favorite cuisine in the whole world, and aside from Dos Caminos, I didn’t really have another favorite Mexican spot, until NOW!  YES PEOPLE, Mole is amazing, authentic, and I am so happy to let you guys know that I finally found a restaurant that serves better food than Dos Caminos with a lot more variety.
Although Mole is located in the West Village, it is bordering the Chelsea district.  The West Village and Chelsea are my 2 absolute favorite districts of New York City due to the variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, and the cobblestone streets that resemble Europe.  This past weekend my husband, friend, and I headed to Mole. 


LOCATION
57 Jane Street
New York, NY 10014
(West Village) – other locations in NYC
MENU: Mole Menu
COST: $$$ – Entrees range from $15 to $25, whereas drinks start at $11 and go up to $15. 
CUISINE: Mexican
RECOMMENDED TO: Casual Dining, Couples, Small Groups, Romantic Dining.


AMBIENCE:
Mole is a small restaurant, cramped, dark, and with candles on every table.  When I first walked in, I was a bit irritated by the number of people in such a small space, but I’m so glad we dined here despite our 40 minute wait. 

MY REVIEW:
We waited at the bar and started off with drinks.  My husband went for the Margarita.  I thought his drink was good, strong, and I loved the salt colors on the rim. 
My friend and I went for the Mango Mojito.  This drink wasn’t actually on the menu, however the bartender was nice enough to cater to our request.  Smooth and amazing drink with a strong mint flavor.  Check out the size of this drink which came in at $15, and worth every penny.
We were served complimentary chips, the salsa was smoky and smooth, loved it. 
Once we were seated, we were pretty hungry, and ordered from the entrees directly.  My friend went for the Beef Chimichanga which is a crispy burrito topped with sour cream, lettuce, cheese, and salsa.  She said the dish was really good, however the inside was stuffed with way too much beef.  This is understandable given the size of the chimichanga. 
I opted for the Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with Verde Sauce.  Once again, I requested the verde sauce since it wasn't actually on the menu, and they were nice enough to accommodate me.  I love the verde sauce more than the traditional enchilada sauce because it tastes more fresh with a mild citrus flavor in the background.  The shredded chicken was amazing and I think this version is much better than Dos Caminos' – Dos Enchiladas.
My husband also went for the Shredded Chicken Enchiladas, but opted for the traditional Enchilada Sauce.  His dish was excellent and the sauce was slightly spicy.  Personally, I love the green sauce more, but for those of you who love the red sauce, you can’t go wrong with this dish.  Look at the deep reddish-brown color.  Loved it!
Both the enchiladas came with a side of Rice and Refried Beans.  I would have preferred black beans, but the refried beans were fine, too.  The side was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
On another outing we ordered the Guacamole which was good, but not amazing.  I felt it lacked cilantro.  Head over to Dos Caminos for the best guac in NYC.

The Vegetarian Fajitas at Mole is one of their best dishes, I think.  Obviously, sizzling and hot, but they are also slightly buttery.  So so good!  This entree is enough to share between 2 people, the portions are very generous.

My friend ordered the Chiles Rellenos which is 2 fire roasted poblano peppers stuffed with "queso fresco," and served in a fire roasted tomato sauce.  I know this sounds good, but this dish was alright, it was good, but not Mole good!

On one occasion my husband ordered the Chicken Chimichanga which is stuffed with shredded chicken and topped off with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and salsa.  It was definitely very good.

We also ordered the Pastel Tres Leches which was a letdown.  I've had much better Tres Leches, so this cake was just okay for me.

 

VERDICT: 4 / 5
The only reason I dropped the rating by ½ a point for Mole is due to the lack of space and the painfully long wait time for our seats and food.  Given the outstanding food, it is totally acceptable to wait here, however I do wish there was more space.  My only regret is not ordering the guacamole which would have probably been fantastic.  Definitely going back to Mole for more Mex.

Food: Excellent
Drinks: Excellent
Decor: Good
Service: Average (slow)
Value: Good

TELL ME: What is your favorite Mexican restaurant in New York City?