Hellbender
Mexican restaurant · Ridgewood ·
Margaritas, fried Oaxacan cheese, lamb carnitas, churros
Margaritas, fried Oaxacan cheese, lamb carnitas, churros
"Since Hellbender opened, it has evolved from a late-night Mexican American bar with great food to much more of a full-fledged restaurant. Everything from the menu to the lighting has evolved, though standouts (the fried Oaxacan cheese, the creative cocktails, and the faux jaguar in the dining room) have remained. The star of our meal this time around was the crunchy but light-as-air ginger-spiced churros ($14). They were served with a healthy amount of whipped cream and a peach compote for dipping, and the combination of ginger and peach made for a wonderful transitional dish between seasons as we head into fall. Next time, I’m heading back for brunch to try their much-loved masa pancakes." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Hellbender gets some flack for being one of the more expensive options in the area. But the prices are about in line with those of sister restaurant Rolo’s, and the quesadilla with juicy picadillo and chorizo-spiced lamb tacos ($16 for two) are unequivocally some of the best bites in the area. The hybrid restaurant and cocktail bar, with its taxidermied jaguar and sleek yellow booths surrounded by brick walls, is all a bit Manhattan, but it’s also a good time. Pop in for drinks, snacks, or a full dinner, and order a pitcher of margaritas for the table." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman
"Martha Stewart will host a one-night-only dinner in Ridgewood, joining chef Yara Herrera of a Mexican American restaurant (which recently received a glowing review in the New York Times) for a menu collaboration as part of a larger Resy series matching up New York chefs with their idols. The sold-out dinner takes place on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m.; Stewart is providing ingredients sourced from her Bedford, New York, garden. The menu includes dishes such as fried oysters with jalapeño mignonette and a whole roasted chicken with vegetables and three-cheese macaroni. Seats are already sold out, though people can sign up to be notified if any become available." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Margaritas, fried Oaxacan cheese, a stuffed life-size jaguar—Hellbender checks every box for a romantic evening in Ridgewood. Think restaurant, but with the soul of a bar. Grab a few stools and get some crackly lamb tacos and piña coladas, or sit in a booth and eat a full meal. Ordering anything with tortillas is a good idea, like the strip steak with roasted onions and ancho brown butter." - will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja
"A former dive-bar turned Cali‑Mex spot that radiates sunshine, serving bold, playful items like chamoy-dressed apples and cheesy fried shrimp tacos in a lively Queens neighborhood near the end of the M line." - Caroline Hatchett