Yerba Buena
“The cocktails were delicious-but they sneak up on you so don't drink too fast! 🙂 I had the Poquito Picante- two actually- so yummy!!”
“Everything was outstanding, but especially the guacamole, the fish tacos, and DEFINITELY the ribeye.”
“As a main dish, I decided to go with the Lechon, which consisted of different kinds of Pork, perfect for pork lovers like me.”
Yerba Buena
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW: Yerba Buena is a pretty nice spot for brunch, especially if you want a twist to your typical Sunday routine. Plus, you can make reservations and avoid those long brunch lines!
My friends and I shared the guac and ceviche to start. The guac was absolutely delicious! The ceviche on the other hand was a bit more fishy than I would have liked.
For my main, I had the tres arepas, three arepas – chicken, pulled pork, and pork belly – mixed with scrambled eggs and cold slaw along with a side of mixed greens. The arepas were crispy, and the meats were all so juicy and flavorful. The dish, as you can imagine however, is already pretty heavy given all the meat and carbs. Combined with the oiliness, it was definitely on the very heavy end. Luckily, I was hungry and appreciated the hearty meal, but if you're feeling something light and simple, definitely don't go for this!
Overall, I really liked the plentiful food and drinks options that differ from those offered at most brunch spots in the city. The vibe is fun, yet it still gives off the feeling of a neighborhood cafe.
I came here on a friend's suggestion and I was not disappointed!
The food and drinks are absolutely fantastic! I don't think there is a bad thing on the menu. The drinks are fantastic too. The bartenders like to be creative and have fun with what they do.
The service was slow, but the staff was friendly and accommodating and sent us free chips and guac to compensate.
I'm looking forward to returning to explore more of the menu. I definitely recommend it. Make reservations though. It's small and looks like it fills up very quickly.
Had the most pleasant experience here! We were about 15 mins early from our reservation so we got seated right away – cute decor, and perfect for date night!
My boyfriend and I both got cocktails ($14 each) – both of which were expertly made and very delicious. When we went, we were offered a summer pre-fixe menu for $40 pp, which includes app, entree, and dessert. My boyfriend asked if he could swap out one of the apps for the cheese croquettes, which they happily complied! I got the lobster tacos (yum), churrasco (absolutely delicious – flavor was on point and steak was a perfect medium rare), and Bailey's Flan, which was so yummy and definitely had a generous amount of Bailey's!
Also loved that the staff was so accommodating – the waiter, the host, and even the manager (or owner?) stopped by to make sure we were doing okay, which really goes above and beyond standard service quality. And oh, did I forget to mention that we got complimentary champagne? Uh yeah, this place nails it.
Overall, this place excels in quality of food and service. It is a bit pricier than standard Spanish restaurants, but great place to celebrate a special occasion!
This place was outstanding! It started off with me asking for a house margarita and the manager standing behind me, insisting on a similar drink that included st Germaine with tequila. It was delicious. I highly recommend it. For an appetizer we got the avocado which domes with smoked whitefish. It was a unique dish but another outstanding choice. Great blend of smoky flavor and creamy avocado. For dinner I got the arroz con pollo. I was already halfway done when I realized I should take a pic of this masterpiece. The chicken was perfectly crispy and the rice was addictive. My friends got things like brisket tacos and a crab meat dish and no one had any complaints. We will definitely be back.
Super tiny restaurant that is excellent to celebrate a birthday party. Crowded, yet fun, with friendly waiters. Portions are small and a bit more expensive then I usually spend, but it won't break the bank. Get the trio of fries-the watermelon fries are really different and great and will leave you wanting more. The empanadas, tacos, and cod entree are delicious. I had the lechon entree which was a bit dry. I've had much better elsewhere.
Using up characters by saying I'm going to run out of characters. The eternal struggle. That's the only negativity you'll hear from me in this review, though. Yerba Buena has been on my list for ages before I finally dined here on Thursday night. So my expectations were very high. Usually that doesn't work out so well for me, but not the case here. The cocktails were superb, the food was even better, and the service was on another level. This place is all kinds of fabulous.
YB is located in one of the hotter areas of the city–straddles the LES and the East Village in the most platonic way. A friend and I made reservations because the space itself, though lovely, is pretty small. Though the place was filled with parties of friends on this particular night, I'd say it's just as viable for a date spot–especially if you decide to dine tapas-style. Despite YB being a smaller restaurant, they happily accommodate larger groups. We were very surprised to find a group of maybe 12 guys celebrating someone's birthday. Surprising, because how many guys do you know that can successfully rally ALL of the troops for a birthday dinner at a fun restaurant? Maybe I'm ignorant, but my friend was just as intrigued as I was. Anyway.
Though the prices at YB are pretty typical for Spanish spots, the hospitality and decor here are that of a much nicer restaurant. Everything is beautifully polished and refined, which was a pleasant surprise. Being the twentysomethings that we are, we were totally floored when several members of the waitstaff promptly offered to remove our jackets as we sat down. Not mad at it. As it turns out, we got double the love, because we had to switch tables soon after getting settled at our table. The host told us that he needed our space for a party of four but that he'd seat us in a booth right away. As we swapped, he told us that we shouldn't worry, for he'd personally take care of us for the rest of the night. And this didn't seem forced or overkill or anything like that. The dude was just all kinds of classy. When words like "decorum" and "etiquette" are thrown around, well, this was that.
Onto the drinks. I had the Poquito Picante (gin + jalapeño + cilantro + cucumber + combier + fresh lemon juice) and the Desert Rose (rose infused gin + prickly pear purée + lemon juice). The Poquito Picante, though not as aesthetically pleasing as the Desert Rose, is my ideal cocktail. If you've read my other cocktail reviews, you know that spicy cocktails are my jam (do people still say that?). This drink is thoughtful, creative, well-balanced and supremely satisfying. It's apparently their most popular drink, which doesn't surprise me one bit (sorry, I think I've used that word a lot in this review). The Desert Rose pretty much tastes like you're drinking a posh English garden, minus the dirt. It's not bad, but I'd pass on it if I got a do-over. Still appreciate the creativity though.
Our food damage was as follows:
Hojas de Salmon (black truffle vinaigrette, quinoa, green onion-jalapeño salsa, yuzu): A
The black truffle vinaigrette sold us. This was the perfect dish to start off our meal. Light but plenty flavorful, texturally interesting and more conducive to sharing than some of the over options.
Chicharron de Calamar (blue corn meal-crusted calamari, sweet plantains, tamarind vinaigrette): A+
I don't order calamari when I'm out unless there's some kind of twist. In my opinion, there's always something more interesting to order. Whoever decided to experiment with ways to bread calamari hit the jackpot with this one. The blue corn meal added fantastic flavor and texture which made for one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. Both the calamari and the plantains are dressed in equally tasty tamarind vinaigrette. For those wary about trying ceviche but are craving seafood, this is your baby.
Brisket tacos (chipotle braised brisket, corn tortillas, avocado, chipotle salsa): A+
What could be bad? Look at the ingredients and it's pretty damn obvious how drool-worthy these babies are. Sure, it's not the most creative dish on the menu, but who needs creative when you have perfectly-braised brisket, avo AND all the chipotle. Come on friends, make the right move.
Toro Taquitos (tuna tartar, peanut butter aioli, chile de arbol, cilantro chimichurri): A+
For whatever reason, I didn't expect these to come in "taco" form, despite the name. If you're hesitant to order to ceviche dishes, this is nothing like any ceviche you've have before. You get three thin, crispy tacos filled with all the fixin's here. They pair peanut butter and tuna in two dishes here, a venture I'm in full support of. Somehow it works. These are fresh, rich, herbaceous and satisfying. Seriously yum.
$100 bill. Standard for tapas in NYC.
As we were in the process of paying, the host approached us with two champagne flutes and poured us each a glass for a complimentary toast.
"I told you I'd take care of you," he said.
Mic drop.
Wow def the best service I've had in NYC brunch history. Great food. They always refilling the drinks for bottomless. They even help you take off your coat and hang up your stuff?? Amazing.
Pan dulce came out smaller than I imagined. The tres arepas were good! The margaritas were def the strongest of the bunch. The pineapple sangria was so delicious!
Would def come here again.
If you're looking for a chill and tasty brunch spot in Manhattan, Yerba Buena is a perfect choice. I recently came here with some out of town friends and we had a blast.
The ambiance is chic and modern. All the options on the menu are delicious. I had the Steak "a Caballo" which was beef short ribs, fried eggs, congri, salsa criolla. We shared some apps like guac and civiche too. You can opt to do the all you can drink, and once you finish one glass, they bring another over. Service was great and the food delicious. The wait can be long because it's an awesome value for delicious drinks and food for a Manhattan weekend brunch. Will come again, had a fabulous experience here.