* Bonita
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Mexican
ADDRESS: 338 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
between S. 2nd and S. 3rd Sts.
PHONE: 718.384.9500
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 9am-11:30pm; Fri, 9am-midnight; Sat-Sun, 11am-5pm;
CARDS: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
AVERAGE ENTREE: $8-$15
MENU: Click Here
BRUNCH: Yes, Weekends 11am-5pm
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes, Division St. to N. 9th St., Kent Ave. to the Brooklyn-Queens Expy.
WEBSITE: Click Here
WE SAY: The best fish tacos in New York.
NY MAG SAYS: "We don't like new," says Williamsburg restaurateur Mark Firth. No kidding. Three years ago, he and partner Andrew Tarlow restored a 1927 Brooklyn diner (now Diner), preserving its quaintly dilapidated ambience while applying a veneer of hipness and-most important-assembling a talented kitchen. They can now be found, at Bonita, Firth and Tarlow's new cantina, four blocks away. In their trademark preservationist style, they've kept the former Latino lunch counter's sign trumpeting comidas criollas, the row of stools opposite the open kitchen, and a few nods to the old menu, like plantains. But cheese-dusted corn on the cob, fish tacos, and chiles rellenos, not to mention soft light flickering off multicolored tiles, set an entirely different tone.
Photo by Yun Cee Ng, NY Mag
From Village Voice
"Brought to you by the folks at Williamsburg's beloved Diner, Bonita adapts Mexican cooking for gringo tastes, often dispensing with chiles in the process. That doesn't mean it's not good -- it's just not spicy. Any appetizer is a good bet (don't miss the Mexican-cart-style corn), but among the small list of main courses, pick the rotisserie chicken with soupy beans or the chiles rellenos -- a pair of fresh poblanos breaded, fried, cheesed, and well sauced. Don't miss the chocolate cake for dessert, and don't drop your fork when you discover it's laced with red pepper."
Comments
Bonita Closed (Rent? Landlord?).
Their fish burritos had been delicious - too bad.
Posted by: Neighbor | January 9, 2010 02:03 PM
the portions are small and everything is insanely overpriced. i left hungry and broke. and nothing comes with sides. no beans, no rice, no nothing! go to vera cruz for better mexican food and reasonable portions for the cost.
Posted by: jay richardson | December 14, 2008 02:08 AM
OVERPRICED. I ordered from the specials list which does not have prices next to the meals and chicken enchiladas w/mole sauce was $19 when the bill came!! That is so much more than anywhere else I have ever been for mex food..and I've been to hundreds!!..including upscale ones. Chips w/guac for $9???
Everything was reasonably good, but so overpriced I couldn't believe it. First and last time I will visit
Posted by: way too much | September 13, 2008 07:53 AM
The most money I ever paid, or will again pay, for Mexican food.
Posted by: Skoa | June 7, 2008 10:29 PM
My husband and I went here last night. Had the fish tacos and the corn, so yummy. Loved it. The service was great, really friendly, some of the best in the area. Wish they'd make their margaritas with tequila, but Bonita is still one of our favorite places!
Posted by: alanna | May 3, 2008 02:20 PM
Really good food. Go here.
Posted by: DanB | April 26, 2008 08:05 PM
is everyone crazy!! i think sometimes people use these websites to take out their petty frustrations of their own lives on some really great restaurants and staff!!
This place is great! The food amazing! sangria is the best!
My boyfriend and eat out 4 times+a week and this is a regular spot.
The staff has always been sooo nice to us.
For all those kind of people...stay home. you are probably the most demanding and tip10% too. your other option is your own kitchen.
Posted by: Doreenie | April 12, 2008 11:05 PM
wow I cannot believe how misinformed people are I,d blame the wait staff but that is too easy! I ate there last night and have been a regular for years when i asked for steak tacos I was informed that they dont do them anymore as they are switching to sustainable meats and the grass fed top round is braised now not grilled the pork I was informed is naturally raised berkshire and the eggs now free range just like their other restaurants
marlow and Diner cost cutting? corner cutting? price gouging? doesnt sound like it to me, get your story straight eat healthy cough up the extra dollars and appreciate that at least some people are trying ps the beef taco was delicious
Posted by: nicco | December 21, 2007 08:03 PM
Once my favorite restaurant, the decline is rapid. Cheapening ingredients, no steak tacos or enchiladas (replaced with cheap braised beef), no table salsas, etc. Originally great value for amazing food, sadly, this is becoming another sad mexican joint. A disconcerting amount of chicken liver specials as well. Service is always great but when the waitress rolls her eyes at the menu changes, you know that corners are being cut everywhere. Quality is declining at the trio of once great Williamsburg spots, Diner, Marlow & Sons and Bonita, showing that after gaining local and visiting popularity, the owner of all three is merely maximising his profits. Shame.
Posted by: Sad Regular | November 25, 2007 12:39 AM
bonita's prices have gone up and the quality of the food has gone down. the service has also gotten worse. they no longer play good music, either.
Posted by: jackie sue | November 6, 2007 03:36 PM
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY !!
Posted by: Monte | October 15, 2007 10:49 PM
The food is good, sometimes excellent, but don't EVER order from them. I think they added a takeout charge, a delivery charge, and a fee for being more than five blocks away. Why not just put a line on the bill that says "F#$% you tax?"
Posted by: Peter | October 6, 2007 07:04 PM
I wish they would publish their delivery area / charges somewhere. We get a different answer everytime we call. Either: a) we won't deliver to you b) there will be a charge or c) ok be right there! It makes it very hit or miss and when your mouth is watering for some Bonitalicious cuisine, being told no just plain sucks.
Posted by: JpMaxMan | May 14, 2007 01:42 AM
THEY SHOULD BE SHAME OF THENSELF BEING AN ANTI NEIBORGHOOD.I USE TO ORDER FROM THEM AND FROM BEANS AND BEEN BEANS A LONG WALK FOR DELIVERY I WAS NEVER EXTRA CHARGE,NOW BONITA HAVE AN EXTRA 3DOLLAR CHARGE FOR JUST OUTSIDE 5 BLOCKS AWAY.FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT THEY DON'T BELONG TO A NEIBORGHOOD LIKE THE ONE WE LIVE IN.I WISH PEOPLE WOULD BE ENCOURAGED AN NOT ORDER FROM THEM.
Posted by: Jacinto | December 12, 2006 12:54 AM
I used to love the variety of the specials, but it seems like lately, they have only shrimp fajitas, carne asada and jicama salad. Whatever happened to pumpkin mole chicken and those crazy delicious meatballs with eggs inside?
Posted by: eliza | December 11, 2006 10:17 PM
We've been eating at Bonita consistantly for the past 3 years (at least once a week.) Although the food has been pretty great, the prices, service, and menu have all gone downhill. The "extensive" list of daily specials as cited in the very first review is no more. You cannot call menu items "specials" anymore if they never change. The prices have been raised. The service has been rather snotty at times....and for goodness sake, don't ever ask for a "side" of guacamole. They will charge you $3 for two tablespoons full.
Posted by: Seymour Butts | November 12, 2006 01:24 AM
Food is mediocre at best. Service is somewhat attentive. Despite the fact that they have fellow hispanics doing the cooking the place still lacks authentic flavor. If your in the burg go to Matamoros...much better, much less gringo, and much less expensive.
Posted by: Jose | November 4, 2006 12:24 AM
I went 3 years ago and hated it. Forgot that it was terrible, went again. Guess what? It's still terrible. It's always seems crowded and busy so I guess I'm missing something here or everyone else in South Williamsburg is. Mexican food is hard to find I guess.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 22, 2006 01:57 AM
Say what you will, but the ingredients are fresh and tasty. Nice service too, which is refreshing in Williamsburg!
Posted by: Linda | October 20, 2006 03:38 AM
Still bad. Don't eat here.
Posted by: Dinosaurus | September 25, 2006 08:51 PM
More bland mediocre Mexican food at best. Better than some, worse than others. Fabulously unspecial. The bar is set very low for food in Williamsburg, and apparently many of the locals can't tell the difference between ok, good, and great. Cucumber juice is disgusting on any given day unless you're a man wearing a dress to go out and hug trees all day. Please start getting more accurate reviews on this site before I have to start wretching some more.
Posted by: Dick | August 15, 2006 05:00 PM
there are some bitter folks in the Burg. Bonita is fantastic. yeah, its busy so you have to wait! omg. if that bothers you go to Loco Burrito and be quiet. fish tacos are fabu.
Posted by: dirtystan | July 10, 2006 03:54 PM
Overpriced....and the margaritas are wine based...not tequilla....some people like that, i don't...
Posted by: James | June 20, 2006 10:33 PM
Ghastly bad, especially after the good reviews. The beans are flavorless and soupy and the carnitas were dry. The chips are the out-of-the bag kind, just warmed up and the hot salsa is wimpy. The waitstaff was rude and disorganized. On the upside, they have lots of different flavors of Jarritos soda.
Posted by: Gemini | June 12, 2006 01:15 AM
pretty good food.
way too expensive. ask for a side of guacamole there for three dollars and they will give you the most miniscule amount you've ever seen, pathetic.
Posted by: local | June 7, 2006 05:45 PM
Love/Hate...
Food is good, but they doubled their prices. It's not horrible, it's not amazing, but it's pretty good, and very fresh.
They are nice people, but Mark is making too much money anyway, so I thought I'd bust him on the prices.
Posted by: Dutty Dutch | June 5, 2006 06:06 PM
Do you remember what a treat it was to eat Mexican food as a kid? Remember how flavorful all the food was?
When I have children, I am going to punish them by making them eat at Bonita.
C-
Posted by: Sam the Sham | May 12, 2006 04:32 PM
I was a lil unsure about going to Bonita for brunch today as it was about 95 degrees and all kinds of humid out. But I was in the mood for Mexican their food is always consistently very good. They’ve got these open grills at the bar where they make quesedillas and what not, so I had unfairly pegged them as being on the hottish side, but it was surprisingly breezy and cool inside.
We were seated next to a guy who was wearing a mohawk coupled with some no nonsense capris and a pair of birkenstocks. There was another chick in there doing the black mesh layer thing who topped off her outfit with a sailors hat. It was a competitive brunch indeed.
The monk and I ordered both our brunches off the special menu. I ordered the Enchilada Guijollo, and the monk got the Poric Pibil (pulled pork) in a burrito. As there was no alcohol license (and we couldn’t get some bloodys), I ventured forth and got this special green murky drink that was sitting in this large glass urn on the bar. Further inquiries revealed that it was peeled cucumber juice with some sugar and lime added. It was amazingly refreshing, and better and more interesting alternative than water. The enchiladas were really good, and they came in this spicy brown sauce. However, the portions were really not really that sizable and I was left a little wanting after I was done.
However in a fitting bit of the irony, the pulled pork burrito was pretty damn big and the monk could barely get through half of it. It was served with a side of greens with lil chopped tomatoes and cilantro thrown in to boot. There were also three different kinds of homemade hot sauces on the table that were all very special, unique and tasty in their own ways. I don’t know if they had desert or anything, but they did give us lil packs of Mexican chiclets before we left.
Bonita has had really good, tasty and interesting food everytime I’ve gone there. Its totally recommended.
Posted by: Jarkob | May 11, 2006 07:44 PM
The fish tacos are the selection of choice at Bonita.
Coming from a native Southern Californian, they're the most authentic I've had in New York City.
Posted by: curtyv | April 20, 2006 04:09 PM
Their prices did go up recently i think. a fish taco is now 8bux. it's pretty good food, but the hostess there is a total bitch and spacey and acts all stoned. it's not worth it. delivery is slow and spotty and they seem to not be able to handle it when it gets busy. i loved it when it first opened, but it's turned mediocre. i do love the head waiter, cant remember his name, but he is a total sweetheart.
Posted by: meowella | April 2, 2006 07:42 PM
blossom bigtitsroundasses*
body nadine jansen*
Posted by: Adgracia | March 8, 2006 01:36 AM
I just ordered delivery and was totally shocked! The prices on the menu that this page links you too are completely wrong. I was expecting to pay 14 bucks and it came to 22+ with tax.
$4 guacamole was $7
$1 pico de gallo was $4 - for a small container- way overpriced!!
$9 chiles relleno was $10
Make sure you know the prices before you order!
Posted by: wendy | February 28, 2006 02:28 AM
Bonita is consistently amazing. I've been going here every 2 weeks for a couple years. Friendly staff, great food, good music, and overall my favorite restaurant in Williamsburg.
Posted by: jenny | February 11, 2006 12:53 AM
i love bonita its the best mexican restaurant in all williamsburg, cheap and fresh, freindly staff and great sangrias!!!!
Posted by: sharon | January 2, 2006 02:40 AM
This place is just awful. Nasty, unhelpful service only made the lackluster meal worse. The guac is mediocre at best. The veggies burritos were served fresh from the fridge and were icy to the touch. A dollop of hot salsa could not hide the fact that the chicken was slimy and overcooked. A totally gross and overpriced experience.
Wburg has pretty terrible restaurants in general (except for Grand Cafe). You need to go to Manhattan to get good eats. You really do.
Posted by: Overrated neighborhood | December 23, 2005 09:23 PM
This place rocks - I just moved here from LA, been here 3 months and Bonita has restored my faith the East Coast can do great Mexican food. Awesome fish taco's. Don't tell anyone - it'll spoil it for us!
Posted by: newbie | September 1, 2005 02:09 AM
Mexico 2000 has better tacos, but Bonita's specials rock and they're giving out cool postcards with the check.
Posted by: cod | August 28, 2005 01:52 AM
I LOVE THIS PLACE! MY CULO HURTS AFTER I EAT HERE BUT.... OH! WHAT A FEELING... BONITA!
Posted by: EL GRAN CULO | August 8, 2005 08:42 AM
This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant. The regular menu has consistently fresh and flavorful standard Mexican fare, while the extensive list of daily specials are more inventive or based on seasonal ingredients. On the regular menu, the beet salad and pork enchiladas are outstanding. The atmosphere is cheerful and welcoming, although cramped at times; servers are knowledgeable and efficient.
Posted by: elizabeth cullen | May 9, 2005 06:52 PM