Rosa Mexicano | New York City

Friday night, my friends (Jhiane and Kinjal) and I headed to Rosa Mexicano.  I love Girls Night Out.

Restaurant Week commenced in New York City Jan 16 and will continue until Feb 10.  So we decided to take full advantage of the 3 course dinner menu at Rosa Mexicano for $35 each.

LOCATION:
9 E 18th St
New York, NY 10003
(Union Square)
Few locations all over the country

MENU: Rosa Mexicano Menu
COST: $$$
CUISINE: Mexican
RECOMMENDED TO: Bar Scene, Casual Dining, Couples, Groups, Kid Friendly, Romantic Dining.
Surprisingly, I saw lots of kids at Rosa Meixcano between 7 pm and 9 pm which was nice to see in New York City.


AMBIENCE:
I loved the romantic and trendy ambience at Rosa Mexicano.  It’s a large space, swanky, and pretty in pink & blue.

MY REVIEW:
Each of started off with a drink since it was part of the Restaurant Week Winter 2012 Menu.  Jhiane and I went for their signature cocktail, Frozen Pomegranate Margarita.  The drink was gorgeous and delicious… had that perfect combination of sweet and salty.  Strong and so smooth – just one drink got me tipsy!
Kinjal went for the La Tradicional Margarita made with tequila, fresh lime, and organic agave.  She said it was excellent. 
Now the food.  We were served complimentary chips and two types of salsa. 
Each of us chose an appetizer.  Jhiane and I ordered the signature Guacamole prepared tableside.  It was definitely good, but it lacked lime.  So far nothing tops the mouthwatering guacamole at Dos Caminos. 
We were also served corn tortillas on the side with the guacamole so I made a little snack for myself.
Kinjal ordered the Queso Fundido which is melted Chihuahua cheese with wild mushrooms in a cast iron skillet.  As much as I love mushrooms, I found this to be just okay, it had a slightly weird taste that didn’t sit well with me. 
For our entrees, Jhiane and I both ordered the same thing, if you haven’t noticed, we’re very much alike.  Enchiladas Suizas/Chicken Enchiladas was our main entrée.  The enchiladas were served in a mild tomato sauce which almost tasted like marinara sauce to me – uhmm, no!  The chicken itself was tasty and the dish was light, meaning there wasn’t a ton of oil floating around which was great, but I couldn’t get over the fact the sauce lacked authentic Mexican flavors which was a huge letdown.
Kinjal went for the Enchiladas Rancheras/Vegetarian Enchiladas made with mushrooms and spinach and served with the same mild tomato sauce. 
All 3 dishes came with a side of Rice & Beans.  The rice was extremely flavorful and I believe they used brown rice.  The beans were average, could have been better.

To end our meal, we ordered the Banana Chocolate Chip Cake filled with peanut butter mousse and topped with a decadent dark chocolate sauce.  The cake was then topped with banana ice-cream.  I found the cake to be a tad bitter for my liking, however the banana ice-cream was sweet and perfectly complemented the cake well.  Personally, I wanted to order the Tres Leches Cake, but majority wins. 

VERDICT: 3.5 / 5 
In terms of ambience, Rosa Mexicano was over the top.  This place is romantic and so pretty with an occasional palm tree here and there, it makes you feel as though you’re on some pink island, if you will.  The drinks are delicious, and it’s a good idea to grab a drink during Happy Hour.  The service here is pretty good.  Now in terms of the food, the food was certainly good and not that oily which is great, however not a single dish delivered was amazing, something was off with every single dish we ordered, in addition to the authentic Mexican flavors lacking.

Overall, Rosa Mexicano is a romantic date spot or a place that’s good for drinks, maybe an appetizer.  Beyond that, you’ve got me. Though for the same cost, head over to Dos Caminos for similar ambience and drinks, but much better food.

Food: Average
Drinks: Excellent
Decor: Excellent
Service: Good
Value: Good

TELL ME: What’s your favorite Mexican restaurant in New York City?  Or someplace else?  What’s your favorite dish to order at a Mex restaurant?