Vibrant Mexican-American spot w/ killer cocktails & creative small plates. Must-try: masa pancakes & rotating jello dessert!
Willa Moore reviews Hellbender, a Mexican-American restaurant in Ridgewood that excels in its relaxed ambiance and flavorful small plates and tacos. It's highlighted as a great spot for drinks and group gatherings.
Morgan Carter reviews Hellbender, a new Mexican-American restaurant in Ridgewood from Gramercy Tavern alums, highlighting its cocktails, chef Yara Herrera's heritage-inspired dishes, and unique ambiance.
Hellbender offers a vibrant Mexican-American dining experience in Ridgewood, with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for groups and brunch. The menu features creative small plates, standout tacos, and a unique rotating jello dessert. Don't miss their flavorful cocktails, particularly the margaritas and bloody marys, which complement the adventurous dishes.
Hellbender offers a Mexican-American menu with notable small plates and tacos. Standouts include their heirloom masa pancakes, crispy lamb tacos, and creative jello desserts. While many dishes receive positive reviews, some customers have found certain items like shrimp tacos or ribs al pastor to be disappointing or overpriced for the portion size.
"Standout dishes include the crispy lamb tacos, 3-cheese empanadas, and the heirloom masa pancakes, especially recommended for brunch. The mezcal cocktails are also highly praised."
Customers generally find the food to be good with highly recommended cocktails and brunch options, though some note that portions can be small and prices high for certain dishes like tacos.
Important Note
Some customers have found the tacos to be small and overpriced, and certain dishes like the ribs al pastor have been described as tough.
"hellbender was listed as a restaurant where the original poster might be able to stay under $60 per person with drinks, by limiting to one entree and one drink each. This suggestion was made in the context of a tight budget."
Neutral"Hellbender in Ridgewood is recommended for its really good, thick masa version of a popular pancake style."
Positive"Hellbender is listed among several other restaurants, including Chez Ma Tante, Comal, Super Nice Pizzas Brunch, and Jeans Lafayette."
Neutral"This commenter had a negative experience attempting to get a table at Hellbender. After being told to wait at the bar, they were later informed they were not on the waitlist and faced a significant wait time, with the hosts appearing to laugh as they left."
Negative"The commenter suggests that the pineapple margaritas at Hellbender are great. They also advise against posting about the restaurant on r/ridgewood due to perceived unusual hate towards the establishment there."
Positive"In response to a recommendation for Frijoleros, this commenter enthusiastically endorses Hellbender for its cocktails."
Positive"The commenter found the lamb dish and the cocktails at Hellbender to be excellent."
Positive"This commenter believes Hellbender is run by the same people as Rolo's and had a satisfying meal there that was not overly expensive."
Positive"This commenter recommends Hellbender for brunch, specifically praising their masa pancakes."
Positive"This commenter specifically enjoyed the pancake served at Hellbender during brunch."
Positive"The original poster visited Hellbender in Ridgewood, Queens, for Mexican food and cocktails. They found the skirt steak, calamari, oysters, churros, and polar punch cocktail to be decent, though a bit pricey with small portions. Overall, it was considered worth checking out."
Neutral"Hellbender in Ridgewood is recommended for Mexican new wave cuisine."
Positive"This user found Hellbender to be a pretty forgettable place, despite its hype, in a discussion about restaurant experiences."
Negative"User DrFaustPhD estimates that a dinner bill for three at Hellbender, including appetizers, drinks, and entrees, would be around $150-$200, suggesting this is a reasonable price point for NYC dining."
Neutral"User DrFaustPhD clarifies that Hellbender's tacos are priced at $15 for three, not $8 each, and notes a happy hour deal of $13 for a margarita and three tacos, suggesting the previous user's assessment of its expensiveness was inaccurate."
Positive"User haribobosses points out the $8 price per "tiny taco" at Hellbender to support the argument that the New York Times reviews predominantly cover unaffordable restaurants."
Negative"The Original Poster reviewed Hellbender, highlighting their mezcal cocktail as a standout and enjoying the 3-cheese empanada and lamb tacos. Although the ribs al pastor were tough, they expressed interest in returning, particularly for brunch."
Positive"This user describes Hellbender as good, but notes that it is overpriced."
Neutral"This user indicated that Hellbender is not as good as other spots mentioned."
Negative"The user lists Hellbender as a 'non-traditional option' for pancakes, indicating a positive opinion."
Positive
