Caliente Cab
We’re not quite California or Texas, but New York’s got it’s own share of amazing Mexican food, ranging from street fare to high end. Today’s foray into the New York food scene took us to Caliente Cab, a West Village eatery featuring a diverse selection of Mexican cuisine.
I always judge any place offering hispanic food by its salsa. There needs to be options, of course -- mild, spicy, scorching -- but definitely no fruit/salsa mashups, and nothing with a flavor verging on sweet. Caliente Cab did not disappoint. The spicy salsa I ordered was just that - hot, but not so much so that you couldn’t taste the underlying ingredients. I almost filled myself up on just the salsa and complimentary tortilla chips, but was deterred by the arrival of our appetizer, the tasting platter for two.
Be forewarned: this tasting platter is huge, and everything on it is packed with cheese, meat, and salsa. I particularly enjoyed the “El Dorado chicken quesadilla,” which can also be enjoyed as a full sized dish. My friend, on the other hand, preferred the Mexican sliders, noting that he hadn’t even known it was a thing. Also featured on this dish were flautitas and al pastor tacos, both tasty and great compliments to the heavier sliders and quesadillas.
For our main course, at the advice of our server, my friend and I ordered the Taco Tower special -- layer upon layer of tortillas, cheese, salsa, beef, guacamole, and sour cream. It’s a dish more to marvel at than munch -- to eat it, we ended up cutting into the side like a cake, pulling the “slices” onto our plates. The end result was a little messy, but delicious nonetheless. Our advice? If you get this dish, take pictures before it’s inevitable destruction.
The giant portions made it difficult to eat anymore than we did, but looking around, it’s clear that Caliente Cab, with it’s festive decor and monster sized margaritas, is designed for large groups looking for a chill, casual place to unwind.
So, whether you’re searching for authentic, inspired, and instagram worthy Mexican food, or just a great place for a group dinner, Caliente Cab is your best bet. For more information, check out their menu listed below!
