Rocking Horse Cafe

After not having been back at Rocking Horse in two years, I?m adding it to my list of restaurants to come back to. Last weekend?s dining experience with friends was overall more than satisfactory. The shrimp tamale appetizer was tasty. It was lightly drizzled with a chipotle sauce added a spicy kick to it. I also got the pan-seared tuna steak that was cooked perfectly to the way I asked for it, raw and juicy while crispy on the outside. Accompanied w/ delicious rice and little pieces of chorizo, it was a completely delectable dish. It does get a little loud in the restaurant, but not more than your average bistro. With its charming and friendly staff and delightful food, it was a pleasant place for a date with girlfriends.

Pros: friendly, charming, and attentive staff, tasty food

Cons: can get a little loud, but not more than your average bistro

Posted 02/22/07

This cafe serves up some of the most original and creative interpretations of Tex-Mex favorites. Not usually a huge fan of this type of cuisine, I was definitely blown away by the innovative use of unexpected ingredients, such as papaya with grilled shrimp and a calamari salad with a citrus dressing. Completely mouth-watering. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, and the waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable and efficient. A perfect place for amazing food, good friends, and delectable cocktails that won't break the bank.

Posted 02/20/07

I went to the Rocking horse for the first time over four years ago, since then it has been one of my favorite places to dine at. I have to honestly say I have never been disappointed. Being a vegetarian can make it difficult to find restaurants that will go out of there way to accommodate the vegetarian lifestyle, I have never had that problem at the rocking horse, not only do they offer vegetarian plates , on many occasions they have adjusted certain entrees to suit my needs. The margarita's are Delicious.... The staff always willing to go that extra yard. So I can say without hesitation, go to the rocking horse, you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Good margarita's friendly staff

Posted 02/19/07

My visit to Rocking Horse Cafe was outstanding. This was my second or third visit and each time I go I walk away having had a great meal in a friendly fun setting. Our waiter, Diego was very helpful in explaining the specials and offering suggestions His attention to detail throughout the meal couldn't have been better. Something for everybody can be found on the menu. We all decided to get different things and do a bit of sharing, so I got a taste of it all. My favorites are the azteca budin which is an appetizer that is the perfect blend of cheesy ,spicy, chicken goodness and the tuna. The tuna steak which I had med rare is over a chorizo rice and it is out of this world. Not to forget the desserts. Tres Leches and the lemon tart!!!
The great thing about the Rocking Horse to me is if you are in the mood to sit and watch the eighth ave crowd you can sit and do so in the front, but if you want something cozy the back is where to go. I love this place and would recommend you go and see for yourself. Ask for Diego.

Posted 02/18/07

This place is definitely one of our favorites in Chelsea as far as Mexican goes. By far the best Margaritas in the neighborhood and the food is a great twist on the everyday Mexican. The last time we were there we had a super tasty appetizer of a hanger steak Sope (first time I've had this). It was a sort of thick version of tortilla placed flat with the steak on top. Yum. And my main course was free range chicken breast on mushroom-jalpeno rice. Yum-Yum. Overall the meal was great as usual. And the vibe is always very fun. Especially on the weekends.

Posted 02/12/07

I come into the Rocking Horse about every other week. The best place to enjoy great food, and get the best service. I always make sure I say Hi to the bartenders Duane , Samantha , Sergio , and the russian guy V... They always welcome me as soon as walk in... that's a great feeling. Most times I stay at the bar eat with them, however last week , I sat at a table and Ayashi was my waiter... She was amazing...I had the usual Steak Burrito and Tres Leche. My cocktail was this Tangy Plum cosmo. Rocking horse will always be the place for Mexican food for me.

Pros: Drinks and service

Cons: Music should be a little more hip for the enviroment.

Posted 02/12/07

A really fun place with great Margaritas. The staff is attentive and makes you feel at home. The food was excellent. I had the Sope de Res, which is grilled hanger steak on a masa cake. Delicious! The Lime tart is excellent.

Pros: great atmousphere and great food

Cons: a little noisy.

Posted 02/12/07

We went to Rocking Horse at about 10pm on a Friday night, and found the restaurant to be busy, yet the service was friendly and prompt. We had reservations and were seated immediately, and the maitre d' was extremely friendly. Our waitress got our drink orders immediately, and we really enjoyed our passion fruit cosmos. The food was fresh, creative, very tasty.

Posted 02/10/07

My experience at Rocking Horse Cafe was positive right from the start with a delicious pinapple frozen margarita & only got better from there. The menu is very diverse with many traditional Mexican items as well as very upscale cuisine such as seafood. Our server, Diego, was very friendly, knowledgable & attentive. The food was not only delicious, but artfully presented. The "happening atmosphere is enhanced by funky decor, a hip crowd & great music. Overall, I was very pleased with my meal, service & surroundings & would recommend Rocking Horse Cafe to all.

Posted 02/10/07

The Rocking Horse is a can't miss great meal. We started going there about 9 months ago and have been there maybe 5 times now. Each time the food is excellent. My wife usually gets a special and I do the regular menu and we share. The Pork dish on the regular menu is maybe the best pork I have ever tasted. Try it! The other thing about this place that is better than pther restaurants is the level of service. The wait staff is amazing. Very unassuming yet informative and friendly. This is a can't miss place!

Posted 02/04/07

The Rocking Horse is wonderfully conducive to being out with friends. From the Calamari salad through the Shrimp with Papaya to the sorbet sampler, the food was excellent. The service was friendly, helpful and timely. I heartily recommend it!

Pros: A fresh twist on Mexican food

Cons: Too long a drive from Massachusetts!

Posted 02/03/07

My husband and I were visiting in New York this past weekend and happened upon the Rocking Horse Cafe. What a charming place!! The decor is inviting and we felt comfortable from the time we stepped in the door to the time we left. The service was great.....attentive but not overbearing. The food was well prepared and you could tell that the ingredients were fresh. The salad greens glistened a bright green with a light dressing. I had scallops and my husband had shrimp. Each were uniquely done ...not your traditional fare. The desserts...well suffice it to say that not a morsel was left. We will absolutely go back when we come to the City and recommend it highly.

Pros: Fresh uniquely prepared food, good value and charming ambience.

Cons: None that I noticed

Posted 02/03/07

Had brunch and dinner at Rocking Horse Cafe in December - and both meals were fantastic. The vibe in the room is fun and the service is friendly and efficient. And the food: perhaps the best Mex-inspired food in Chelsea. Even the staples (freshly baked/fried chips, quac and frozen margharitas) are wonderful. Definitely worth a visit.

Posted 01/02/07

Just had brunch there. Food was great when we finally got it. Our waiter took our order and didn't check in again until he brought the bill. Restaurant was empty and I think our order was not submitted because we had to ask the manager about it a couple times. Notice another table having issues (they were smart and left). We stayed and the food was great, but there was never an acknowledgment of a mistake or an apology for the delay. The bus boy did say he was sorry, neither the waiter nor the manager did. I hate that I have to tip in these situations so I tipped exactly 15% on the bill prior to tax to make a point. I am sure it was lost on the waiter, but I did leave him a note. Shame that the food is so good.

Pros: food

Cons: service

Posted 11/09/06

Whenever I am in the Chelsea area for gallery meetings I always make a point to stop by and have dinner or a drink at the Rocking Horse Cafe. I have been going to the Rocking Horse Cafe for the last four years now. They are known for their margaritas but I always try their drink special or have a glass of wine. The tuna dish is to die for and I cannot get enough of their lemon tart dessert. I dream of it sometimes. The nice part of the whole experience is the staff. The staff is friendly, they get it and are always on top of things. I will be back soon. Thanks!

Pros: Tuna ! Lemon Tart !

Posted 07/06/06

After my experience earlier in the week at another Mexican restaurant, I was thrilled to have delicious food and attentive service at Rocking Horse. Every member of the waitstaff - from the host and bartender to our server and their assistants- were helpful, quick, and gracious. The food and drinks were all so flavorful - nothing ordinary here. My friend's passion fruit margarita was delicious, and my mojito was refreshing and yummy. Highlights of the entrees were the tuna with wild rice, (order it medium rare), the quesadilla - never greasy, the shrimp with papaya, and the key lime pie....amazingly tangy yet not overpowering, with a rum (!) whipped cream. I definitely recommend it.

Pros: Delicious flavors all the way around.

Cons: Crowded on weekends, short wait.

Posted 07/04/06

Best Huevos Rancheros in town. Chips & salsa were exceptional. OJ fresh, just the way we like it. Polite waiters and great atmosphere.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Wait for outside seating

Posted 06/25/06

I went there a couple of months ago with some friends. As other people have noted, the food is nothing special. I did however like the drinks and the chips. The worst part was that they rushed us through the meal from beginning to end. They started clearing the appetizers away in less then 10 minutes while people were still eating them. We were actually told after an hour and a half that they needed our table and they asked us to leave. We were a large group and everyone ordered an appetizer, main course, dessert, and several rounds of drinks. I am surprised they didnt just give us our meals to go. There are much better restaurants in the price range who appreciate your business. I recommend you go somewhere else.

Pros: Drinks, Chips

Cons: Service

Posted 10/19/05

We had dinner here last week... we were seated right away so that was good. The service was adequate...but I think they were more concerned about taking the order quickly to get us in and out. The chips that were brought to the table at the start of the meal were good. But I thought the rest of the meal was ok. I thought the lobster emp. were dry and flavorless. I had the prawn main dish and it was adequate. My wife had a pork dish, but I don't remember anything about it.

Pros: quick seating

Cons: avg food, bland service

Posted 09/06/05

The food here is delicious and slightly different from the standard Mexican fare! The MARGARITAS ARE GREAT- stick to a regular Margarita, on the rocks and use Silver Tequila! The place is small, quaint and yes, it does get noisy at times - but thats part of its ambience. Have found the staff very accomodating, adjusting our Margarita if we did not like it (we ordered 2 different kinds of Tequila). All in all, its a great place and I would go for the food! We've never been rushed out of there and that could be because we have ended up at Rocking Horse at non-peak dinner hours.

Pros: Food

Cons: Chairs!

Posted 04/03/05

Nuevo Mexican food and good drinks make this a fun place. A far cry for Tex-Mex fare. Only complaints were the noise level. When a crowd is that loud, loud music only makes everyone talk louder. A truly undesireable effect.

Pros: Tasty unusual fare, Good drinks

Cons: , Lighting up and down

Posted 03/19/04

I went to Rocking Horse with a bunch of ladies for a night on the town. The food was really good, the margaritas were smoking! And the service was pretty good, until they asked us to leave (little frustrating, but I understand). And the total bill was only $41/ head. Awesome! I would definitely go back!

Pros: Inexpensive, Good margaritas, Good Food

Cons: Tight Space, Rushed Tables

Posted 12/21/03

The host was horrendous and insisted I didn't have a reservation when in fact I did, but the manager and the waitstaff were completely accomadating and professional, with a sense of humor. The food was terrific, everyone in my party enjoyed themselves and the atmosphere leaves little room for improvement. I highly recommend it.

Pros: manager, mojitos

Cons: host

Posted 10/27/03

margaritas...poor, though strawberry was better than raz. cosmos- absolutely awful and green, on purpose?!! best to do a beer, as the bartenders can't mess that up! food was decent, service was not attentive. overall, not even close to impressed... try zarela's for the best mexican (and margaritas) this far north of the border!!

Pros: ambience

Cons: poor service, bad margaritas

Posted 09/10/03

jan mendelson the chef really knows authentic mexican cuisine.what a beautiful place

Pros: great food, lucious margaritas, great waiters

Posted 07/18/03

The best Strawberry maragritas this far north of the border. The food was fresh, authentic and not too heavy. The staff was very attentive and quick. Great place for lunch.

Posted 05/26/03

I was not thrilled with the resturant. It seemed to gourmet for Mexican and it was pricey. The combination of flavors used in their dishes was amazing - I just wish there was more there for the price. The mango sorbet is good and the avacado sorbet is great.
The service was top - notch. So I would go back.

Pros: Service, food combinations

Cons: expensive

Posted 05/12/03

good buritos and nice interesting salsa made with bean sauce? consistant service do not expect great mexican artistry

Posted 02/21/03

... but a little inconsistent. Decent food, great neigborhood staple, but lunch there is better than dinner. Dinnertime brings you small portions for high prices, unfortunately.

The food here used to be spectacular, but a year or two ago it slipped to the "just pretty good" spot on my food-o-meter. I wonder if it changed chefs or something, because it suddenly stopped being as consistently fabulous as it used to be. Still, a decent place to grab a bite, but not worth waiting more than 10 minutes for a table if you get there at peak time.

Posted 12/24/02

Low key, fun atmosphere, friendly service and scrumptious Mexican-inspired food. The dishes were creative without venturing into that dreaded territory of so-precious-we-forgot-you-would-want-to-eat-it.

Weekday lunch is less crowded and the staff cheerfully tolerated a 3-year-old. (He was pretty darn well-behaved.)

Pros: Great food, Excellent service, Easy atmosphere

Cons: Can get crowded

Posted 11/16/02

The staff is wonderful! They were very nice and extremely accommodating to a large group. I have never seen such great service in New York. In addition, the decor is cute and the food was good too. A group of 12 of us went and did not pay very much for a good meal and great service.

Pros: Friendly, Accommodating, So nice

Posted 08/12/02

I went here for lunch and enjoyed their spicy salmon burger and fries, as well as a mango margarita. The atmosphere was colorful and relaxing. The prices could have been cheaper though. All in all a nice place to eat.

Posted 06/26/02

The mango margs are great and the food is always tasty! Great outdoor seating and people watching too!

Pros: Fun

Posted 06/26/02

This place has the potential to be great. The chips and salsa are different than your average chip. But they are good. And so are the margaritas. Try the Mango Margarita. Try the glazed tuna.

Posted 06/20/02

Rocking Horse is a good restaraunt. We've been going for many years. The food is usually very good...you could never go wrong with the chicken or steak burrito. The chips and salsa...one of the best in the city! Some of the special dishes are excellent too. Rocking Horse could be an excellent restaraunt all around. However, it is a bit pricey for what it is and the staff could try to remember their clientele. Margaritas are delicious and the sidewalk cafe is great for people watching along 8th avenue.

Posted 06/13/02

This is a great little spot for drinks, dinner and dessert....especially if you're a gay man and want to look at the cute but flamboyant waitstaff. The steak burrito is killer, the mussels appetizer is delicious and large enough for a meal. Great guac and salsa as well. The desserts were the real highlight, though...the key lime napolean is to die for. Drawback: tiny, crowded, noisy and you may have to wait.

Pros: Desserts

Cons: Crowded, noisy

Posted 05/29/02

Dinner's nothing to scream about (although there are a few winners on the menu), but solid margaritas and appetizers are well-suited for a summer evening.

Posted 05/19/02