Intimate speakeasy-style Mexican seafood bar w/ killer cocktails & elevated small plates. A West Village hidden gem.
Bryan Kim reviews Quique Crudo, a hidden West Village gem serving Mexican seafood with a speakeasy vibe and exceptional cocktails. Perfect for spontaneous visits, this intimate spot offers high-quality small plates like crab tostadas.
This West Village gem, from the minds behind Casa Enrique, offers a unique speakeasy vibe with expertly crafted cocktails and exquisite Mexican seafood small plates. It's a perfect spot for spontaneous visits, boasting an intimate setting with around 20 seats. The menu shines with highlights like the deeply flavorful crab tostada, the complex scallop aguachile, and the rich Enmoladas, all prepared with high-quality ingredients and a distinct culinary touch.
Specializing in Mexican seafood, this restaurant is lauded for its crudo, ceviche, and tostadas, with the crab tostada and scallop aguachile frequently cited as must-tries. The Enmoladas dish, featuring a complex mole, is also highly recommended. While the food is consistently praised for freshness and flavor, some diners have experienced significant wait times.
"The crab tostada, scallop aguachile, enmoladas, and lobster ceviche are frequently highlighted as standout dishes. The 'coco loco' drink is also mentioned as a favorite."
Customers rave about the exceptional quality of the food, particularly the seafood and mole dishes, and the creative cocktails. However, some find the small space can be loud and seating can be tight or involve long waits due to the walk-in policy.
Important Note
The restaurant is small and can be very loud, with some users noting tight seating. It operates on a walk-in basis, which can lead to long wait times, and there are reports of the owner reserving a portion of the seats for friends, contributing to waitlist frustrations.
"Quique Crudo is a must-try and the commenter's favorite restaurant in the city, with most of their friends agreeing. It serves Mexican seafood."
Positive"This user recommended Quique Crudo along with La esquina del Camaron Mexicano."
Positive"This user stated that Holbox is the LA version of Quique Crudo and that both are excellent."
Positive"This user enthusiastically endorsed Quique Crudo, calling it 'insane' and 'amazing,' and recommended trying it before 6 PM to avoid potential waits."
Positive"Responding to the recommendation of Quique Crudo, this user expressed thanks for the suggestion."
Neutral"This user recommended Quique Crudo as an excellent place that hits the mark for the style of food the original poster was seeking, comparing it to Holbox."
Positive"Quiqe crudo is listed as a recommended restaurant."
Positive"The commenter found the food presented in the post to look delicious."
Positive"The commenter mentioned that they secured two seats at the bar by arriving right when the restaurant opened, even though it was already busy."
Neutral"The commenter questioned the meaning of the original post's statement that "this place fucks.""
Neutral"The commenter confirmed that the restaurant offers an à la carte menu."
Neutral"The commenter asked whether the restaurant offers a tasting menu or à la carte options."
Neutral"The commenter agreed that the restaurant is small and mentioned that the servers were uncomfortably close when taking their order while they sat by the window."
Neutral"The commenter praised the selections and shared their positive experience from a recent visit, highlighting the lobster ceviche as a standout. They also noted similarities to Casa Enrique and suggested Submarino Mariscos for a similar aguachile at a lower price."
Positive"The commenter has visited the restaurant twice and found the food to be very good, with the only complaint being the tight seating."
Positive"The commenter jokingly remarked about the abundance of red vein sorrel."
Neutral"The commenter expressed confusion about the appeal of eating red onion in a way that would dominate the flavor of a meal."
Neutral"The commenter made observations about the presentation, noting a lot of sauce and some annoyance with garnish stems, while also expressing a desire to visit NYC and this restaurant."
Neutral"The commenter defended their previous statement, noting that the restaurant's webpage mentions reservations for 5 PM only and that they were not being a smartass."
Neutral
