By Laura Weiss
Before Hurricane Irene, Cascabel on Broadway at 108th Street was one of the few restaurants in the area that was open. That was also true immediately after the storm had sped north to New England. So I wound up eating there twice in two days.
The tiny place was a mob scene, filled to overflowing with Columbia students as well as with locals chowing down before le deluge.
What do you order at Cascabel? Well tacos, of course!
Day 1 (pre-Irene), I ordered carnitas. Sorry to say the shredded pork was dry as dust.
Day 2 (post-Irene), I went back to Cascabel with my hubby. He tucked into hanger steak tacos and declared them, “great.” I took a bite, and found them dry, as, you guessed it, dust.
But there were winners. We fought over the queso fondido, a molten pool of chihuahua cheese, studded with house made chorizo and roasted poblano. The guacamole was satisfying, nicely hot, but not chunky enough for my taste.
On Day 2, Cascabel was packed with college kids. The service is amiable and the food comes out quickly. Plus, it’s cheap.The taqueria has located itself in just the right place, near starving hoards of Columbia students.
Cascabel (UWS)
2799 Broadway (Broadway at 108th Street)
NY NY 10025
212 665 1500
Laura Weiss, a journalist and food writer, is a West Side Rag columnist. Her book Ice Cream: A Global History came out this year. She blogs at Food and Things, where a version of this post first appeared.
Photo by gsz via flickr.
I was, too, very disappointed about Cascabel. I am from Guatemala so I’m very familiar with the flavors of Mexico/Latin American. I got very excited when I heard a new Mexican rest. was coming to the neighbood, especially when they say it was street food. So, my husband and I went – I ordered the guacamole which was the most boring guacamole I ever had. It had nothing but the avocado. My husband ordered marinated beef tacos – the beef had no flavor at all and it was boring. The tortilla soup was ok. Mexican food is one of the most flavorfull foods so Cascabel, unfortunaly, does not come close. I will have to wait for a betetr restaurant or just stick to my own cooking!