Empellon Taqueria Waterline Square

I really wish I could say better things about this spot. The food is good - I will say that. But the service here was awful and I hate to say it, but I feel like I need to let people know (especially with the prices). Our server didn't check on us, we had to flag him down to order/get the check (and we were the only ones there for the first half of our meal - it's not like there were other tables to attend to). The restaurant says they have vegan options, but it wasn't marked on the menu, so we had to ask our server who had no idea. We had to ask him multiple times before he went to the kitchen to check (that's crazy!). All food was served on paper plates with plastic utensils - SO weird for dining in at a supposedly "nice" restaurant. My friends have been to the Midtown location and have had a great time, so maybe check that out, but I can't recommend the Waterline Square location.

Sorry but only having paper plates and aluminum take out containers for your dining room is just sad and incredibly wasteful. A plastic fork?? Get out of here. The food is solid but for the cost of the food and for the sake of the planet they should have real dinnerware.

I don’t usually write reviews, but this place was my favorite local spot for dinner… until recently. They reduced their menu to become more casual, got rid of the best dishes (seven salsas, queso fundido, carnitas entree), and now use paper plates and plastic utensils. So tacky! The tacos still taste great, as do the drinks, but why would I want to spend money on a Chipotle-like experience?! To the business manager, please bring back the original proper dinner menu, dishware and formal vibe! I would hate to see this spot lose business to dining experiences like Harry’s table across the plaza. I miss the original Empellon!

Very sad to see most of the best dishes are gone. Restaurant seems like it might be closing soon. Food has always been great! The Fundido, the Sopes and the 7 salsas were all so good. Now it’s plastic forks and paper plates. Really a shame!!

Excited when it first opened, but there are better values elsewhere in Manhattan for Mexican cuisine. Service was great. Quick neighborhood walk to get to, but grill closed at 9pm on New Years Eve? Pandemic has changed NYC forever, or do we overrate our culinary haunts? Menu changed somewhat. You can get better tacos on Governors Island Vegetarian options: Veggie chorizo taco

TLDR: It's not the best or most traditional Mexican food you will find but prepare to be surprised. It's definitely a must-go for the fun, the vibe, the drinks, and the good food. The restaurant is perfect to treat yourself, for a special occasion or to bring friends. For all this don't expect the regular prices of hole-in-the-wall or delivery, it's not that kind of place or food. It's nice to see a Mexican restaurant make a difference targeting the more upscale, cool, and elegant vibe. It has a modern restaurant feel; forget the stereotypes because you wouldn’t know you were in a Mexican restaurant at all. The menu is very limited but has different items from what you'll find at your regular Mexican place and that's a great thing, I hope they expand with more options soon. Empellon is a perfect place for drinks and small plates. The staff was consistently super friendly and very efficient. FOOD: The guacamole is one of the very few I've tried that nailed the acidity perfectly and the small bits of onion and cilantro give it the perfect balance of texture and freshness. The tortillas that come with it have an amazing flavor and crispness, you really feel they put an effort into this dish and not the usual afterthought to "go with drinks". The Hamachi Crudo is found in many places and most of the time just boring raw fish but this version with lime sticky rice brought it to a different place with nice acidity and some starch as a base. The popcorn chicken is a nice dish, crunchy and with well-seasoned meat, although it would do better with a little more sauce to round it out. The carnitas is quite a nice portion, can feed 2. The tortillas are as fresh as they can be, you can eat them plain and still taste the flavor though I wish they were a little bit thicker to hold the weight of the fillings. My only problem is that since the pieces of pork are so small they got extremely dry and slightly burnt but the delicious salsas and jelly that come with it are amazing and can make up for it.

I would normally take pictures of a place I liked this much, but I was honestly just too into my food and forgot! Everything we ordered was delicious. The shishito pepper queso, soft milk chocolate custard, and leche merengada were fantastic, but the popcorn chicken and the brussels sprouts tacos were especially to die for. My husband loved his quesadilla, but my tacos were so good that he kept stealing bites even though he was full. Vegetarian options: Multiple options, and they're genuinely worth eating even if you're not vegetarian (neither of us are).