Nestled on Broadway in close proximity to two other Mexican restaurants sits Guacamole, which seems to be a hybrid of the authentic and unassuming Tacos Mexicos and the larger Las Margaritas a few doors down. Astoria has been experimenting with Mexican cuisine lately, with places such as MexiQ coalescing barbeque with Mexican food, and Pachanga Patterson offering unique and trendy Mexican fusion. Guacamole offers no such pizzazz, but delivers fresh, authentic Mexican food in a relaxed environment.
Guacamole’s interior isn’t anything particularly special. The main dining area consists of a large room, with additionally seating lining the bar located in the back. The back area is spacious as well, housing a delivery bike and bathrooms. The place is small enough where you can see everyone in the dining room, yet large enough that you do not feel crowded. Generic paintings of food, flowers, and a Mexican woman line the citrus colored walls, while the Mexican waitress greets you in broken English and lets you pick a spot to sit in. It’s a comfortable place, that is great for groups of any size.
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| interior of Guacamole |
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| interior |
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| bar area |
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| back area |
I recently went there with a group of fellow Astorians. Having just completed my taekwondo belt test, we were particularly hungry and looking forward to filling up with some hearty Mexican fare. Amongst ourselves, we ordered the Burrito de Espinaca, Burrito de Pollo, Mexican Taco Salad, Enchiladas Suizas, and Beef Tostadas. And Hot Mexican Chocolate. And some Pacificos. We also started the night with complimentary chips and salsa. While their taste was nothing special, it was appreciated.
The Burrito de Espinaca consists of spinach sautéed with onions, jalapeno peppers and garlic, and comes with your option of black or pinto beans, rice, and cheese all wrapped up in a tortilla served with sour cream and guacamole on the side. The spinach and ingredients were fresh, and the burrito was generously filled with the spinach. I had never seen a spinach burrito offered in Mexican establishments before, and found this particularly great for vegetarians or those not wishing to eat meat yet still pack some protein.
My Burrito de Pollo comes filled with grilled chicken, black or pinto beans, rice, and cheese and also served with guacamole and sour cream, and a sad four pieces of shredded lettuce. I thought they could have been more generous with the chicken, but not being a particularly carnivorous eater, this was fine for me. The ingredients worked together smoothly, and the melted cheese over the rice, beans, and chicken tasted wonderful. The sour cream and guacamole on the sides were delicious as well. The guacamole is made fresh and chunky with pieces of avocado and tomatoes. I thought it could have been more flavorful with the traditional red onion, cilantro, and spices but in most restaurants, you also pay extra for the guacamole, whereas this came included. I also wished the dish came with pico de gallo, which also comes at an additional cost.
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| Burrito de Espinaca + Burrito de Pollo + Jamaica Aqua Fresca |
The Mexican Taco Salad came in a hard tortilla shell filled with mixed greens, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo, and grilled chicken (my friend substituted her chicken for black beans) with a honey mustard dressing. The dish was quite large and satisfying, and the toppings all contributed to a more kicked up salad.
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| Mexican Salad |
The Enchiladas Suizas consist of three soft corn tortillas filled with chicken and topped with a cream tomatillo sauce, melted cheese, onions, and sour cream. The dish also came with a side of rice and beans. This was a winning dish, as the cream tomatillo sauce mixed with the sour cream, onions, and cheese fused together so well. The sauce was incredibly rich and robust, and the enchiladas practically melted in your mouth. The rice and beans side dish was also very tasty.
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| Enchiladas Suizas |
The Beef Tostadas came on a fried corn tortilla shell, topped with black beans, lettuce, sour cream, and queso fresco. Presentation alone looked delicious, and the taste was light, fresh, and good.
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| Beef Tostadas |
Guacamole offers a few bottled beers such as Corona and Dos Equis, yet our waitress recommended the authentic Mexican beer Pacifico to us. I hadn’t tried Pacifico before, but enjoyed the light, almost wheat beer taste. Two people in our group also ordered the Hot Mexican Chocolate which tasted incredible. I don’t even like chocolate but I genuinely enjoyed the richness and deep flavors of the hot chocolate. This chocolate wasn’t some store brought Hershey’s bar. There was definitely a hint of chili and some other spices that gave this such a satisfying taste.
On a previous visit, I had gotten their Mango Guacamole and Jamaica Aqua Fresca, which came in a dark berry hue. I was never able to pinpoint exactly what fruit was in this aqua fresca, and upon asking the waitress before ordering was met with a "it's good" and a point at the Horchata below it, but if I had to take a guess, I thought it had a guava base. The aftertaste was a bit bitter but I enjoyed the what-I-thought-was guava taste, and it is a drink I’d order again. The Mango Guacamole came loaded with chunks of mango. The mango wasn’t particularly ripened yet, which I blame on the off-season, but the sweetness of the fruit mixed with the creaminess of the avocado made it an enjoyable combination.
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| Mango Guacamole + Pacifico |
Guacamole offers solid, authentic Mexican food in a casual, comfortable, unpretentious setting. I’ve enjoyed my meals there and find it a good hybrid of authentic Mexican food mixed with a restaurant setting that is great for a sit down dinner or group outings.
