Mary Ann's
86 2nd Ave
(between 1st Ave & 4th St)
New York, NY 10003 (212) 475-5939
- Nearest Transit:
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Astor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
26 Reviews for Mary Ann's
I'm So-Calian therefore Mexican is at an impossible to reach bar, but I'm cool with Mary Ann's. First off HUGE in my book is that a Mexican establishment actually make their own tortilla chips. This they did - the salsa was Really good as well, the tomato's acidity is muted by what I think was a little creme fresh.
My entree was good - but nothing to really rave about. I could have used some tomatillos and some cilantro, but that's just me.
However - remember CASH ONLY.
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I was walking around East Village with my out-of-town friend and we decided to eat something there. It was pouring rain that evening.
They give you complimentary chips and homemade salsa, which was very tasty.
We decided to drink beer (XX Equis Amber) and some appetizers (nachos and flautas).
Not my favorite spot but I would go there again.
Food was okay. I can't complain because we were so hungry to be food snobs.
mary ann's is fine...
something always turns me off though and i can't quite figure out what it is.
maybe it's because it feels like a vegetarian restaurant.
maybe it's because the service is mediocre.
maybe it's because the food is just okay.
maybe it's the hype.
i feel like i've heard a thousand people say :
"WE TOTZ SHOULD GRAB SUM RITA'S AT MARY ANN'S!"
which - the rita's aren't great either.
i might be a snob
or i might have good taste and a highbrow mexican palate.
flip a coin while i order a negra modelo.
Someone told me this was their "favorite mexican restaurant in new york". This person obviously has only been to the 1 place. The food was awful, service sucked, and the drinks were watered down. I went with 4 others, so it's not like we were a big group a got screwed. The enchilada looked like, well, i won't go there, but it didn't look appetizing. I'd say skip it and head to Tortilla Flats.
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My date and I went to Mary Ann's on 2nd Avenue in the East Village. This was our biggest mistake. She wanted a margarita, so it was the most logical choice for dinner, but given my experience last night, even the Chipotle on St. Mark's would have been a better choice.
We walked in and were seated right away. There were about five occupied tables in the entire restaurant, so we pretty much had our pick of tables. And that was about the only good thing that happened in the entire hour and a half we were there.
First off, I sat down to look at the menu and saw roughly 27 mentions of the fact that the place is cash only. Welcome to the 21st century, Mary Ann's. I don't carry around wads of cash anymore for various reasons. One of those reasons is that when I go to a restaurant, I expect to be able to pay with a credit card. Don't give me this bullshit about transaction fees, either. Plenty of other restaurants have been accepting credit cards for years and get by just fine.
Realizing I had no cash on me, I told my date I'd run to the ATM down the street. She said she'd order me a drink while I was gone.
I stepped out, walked down the street to the Bank of America a block away, got some cash, and walked back to the restaurant. The whole process took roughly five minutes. By now, you'd expect that our drinks would be on the table.
"Yeah, uh, the waitress hasn't even come by yet," my date told me.
So we waited for her.
She walked by and took the order at another table.
And we waited.
She stood around by the bar, seemingly doing absolutely nothing but chatting with the bartender.
And we waited.
About ten minutes later, we flagged down a bus boy, who, expectedly, spoke little more than five words in English. We asked him, "can we get a waitress over here?"
"Yes, yes," he said, as he walked back towards the kitchen, shouting rather loudly at our waitress in Spanish.
At this point, you'd expect her to come right over to us. Instead, we waited another five minutes. I looked at my date. "Do you want to go?"
"I don't know," she said. "Do you?"
I took out my cell phone and put it on the table. "Two more minutes," I told her. "Starting... now." It was 7:05. We had walked into the restaurant around 6:45.
Finally, less than 30 seconds before we were about to get up and leave, the waitress finally came over and took our order. We ordered both drinks and our entrees, unsure that we'd ever see her again.
We should have left at that point.
We watched, dumbstruck, as the waitress continued to go about doing other things. After we ordered, she spent about ten minutes at the bar, then walked over to another table to serve them their drinks. It was at that point that my date very audibly stated, "I could really use that margarita right now."
The waitress then came over and told us, "your drinks should be right over."
Two minutes later, our food arrived. We still didn't have our drinks. It was at this point that I looked over and realized the problem with our drinks: the bartender wasn't bartending. Despite the fact that absolutely nobody was at the bar and he was standing behind the bar, he was not making any drinks. Regardless, ordering a margarita at a Mexican restaurant should not be an alien concept.
Finally, after sitting for several minutes with our dinners cooling in front of us, our drinks finally arrived. A margarita with salt, despite the fact that we specifically ordered it without salt. But at this point, there was no use in trying anymore. If we had her take our drinks back, we may never even get a drop of alcohol before we leave. And by then, we damn well needed some.
This whole meal was emotionally exhausting. The food was incredibly bland to boot, the waitress overcharged us for the margarita, and it took fifteen minutes of sitting in a near-empty restaurant with our near-empty plates before the waitress asked us if we needed anything else.
I was dumbfounded by this level of service. There was never a single apology made by our waitress. She didn't even try to come up with an excuse for the way we were treated. Never in my life have I been ignored in a restaurant the way I was in Mary Ann's last night. Except maybe on my last Delta flight.
For the first time in my life, I felt like the service truly deserved a sub-standard tip. On a $28.25 bill, I tipped her $2.75. I have absolutely no intention of ever going back to Mary Ann's again. I think I was still too generous.
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Chips and salsa are good, yes.
Went with a group of 5 on a Friday night, called ahead for a "reservation" but apparently when I said "party of 5 for Chris at 8" they took that to mean "you will wait as long as we feel like making you wait".
We had some delicious margaritas at the bar while we were waiting.
Food was GREAT. I had just bite of just about everything at the table. The chicken was fresh and moist. The sauces were good.
HUGE PLUS - the soy cheese was melty, creamy and delicious.
So why only three stars? Two reasons.
1. I specifically ordered some sort of crazy jalepeno shrimp appetizer from the server no less than three times. It never came out. Then it appeared on our check. Then she argued with me about taking it off. HUGE no-no.
2. Overall service sucked. Small place, plenty of servers. Seriously, what gives?
I don't know if I'll be back because the service was so horrible. The food was SO GOOD and reasonable though! Who knows which way the wind will blow me...
BTW I think they are cash only.
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Went here last night. This was the next stop of my "2008 Tour of the East Village".
The food is decent. It's not authentic Mexican so if that's what you're hoping for, go somewhere else. It's very cramped but you can make room. I heard the margaritas were good but I'll be drinking my ass of during my Superbowl party tomorrow. Anyway, cute place. The decor is really nice, too. Service is good. I think I'm only saying that because I was fixated on my hot Domincan waiter all night, though.
Also, they don't accept credit cards so make sure you hit up the ATM before you go here.
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I haven't ate here yet.....
but 5 stars for the flavored margaritas alone!!!!
YUMS and I don't even like alcohol!
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I think im giving it all those stars because of 3 things
1. the amazing 'Rita's, oohhh son, very strong and nice, on the cheap side too.
2. The huge vegetarian menu, not many Mexican places have such a vast list to chose frm.
3. Location location location, a ton of bars,clubs, shopping and 3 different movie theaters makes Mary ann's a good place to start or end the nite.
ok i like this place, i have been walking pass it for 3 years now, almost went in once, but i couldn't find the door(its on the side and looks like it leads to the apt above). This time i made it in, and was happy. The decor is pretty, but cramped. The meals aren't that big, my table of 6 got a the nachos, a slap fight ensued.
Service was quick and friendly. I had the veggie burrito, which was made like an enchilada, hummm, i ate it anyway, the veggies were cooked amazingly. My friends seemed please (see below Kristy R.) and i liked it, its not real Mexican food but its damn close lol.
p.s they dont take plastic and the only dessert they have is flan. wtf yo?
I give it 3 stars on the chips and salsa alone. They are the best I've had. The salsa is really fresh, I know that sounds weird but you can tell that the ingredients in it are fresh once you eat it. Everything else on the menu is hit or miss. The Supreme De Pollo is pretty dope, but the Chili and Green Chili burrito sucks! The first time I went I didn't realize it was cash only so I ended up staying the whole night and washing the dishes, hahaha sike! But yeah I had to go the ATM. They also just raised the prices on everything. That's not a good look at all.
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Went here for a very hung-over lunch last weekend after deciding that the diner across the street was a no-go due to the noise level. We definately got our wish for quiet at Mary Ann's... the place was practically deserted. That should have been a sign. The second sign that we failed to notice until after we ordered our food was that not a single other table had any items of food on it, other than the chips and salsa (which I have to admit were not bad).
Two of us ordered Chimichungas, and one (myself) a fairly simple plate of eggs, rice, and beans with avacado. My dish was edible (though lacking in any flavor or taste), but the 'chungas were utterly terrible - first off, aren't they supposed to be fried? These were a pile of over-tough meat and other assorted toppings, wrapped loosly inside a practically-burned flower tortilla. Isn't that called a burrito? The lettuce was soggy from being placed inside, and the dishes were also lacking in any kind of seasoning or spice.
Oh, and possibly the biggest insult of them all - they were apparently "out of coffee". Not, "we're making more"... nope, completely out. I echo the above comments about the service.
How is this place still in business with so much good food in this town?
I went here the other night and the food was pretty damn good. The service was really quick, and the staff wasn't the friendliest when bringing things out, but overall it was a good time. The music was loud, but it was okay for a Saturday night. I don't know how I'd feel about blaring dance music on a Tuesday or something. I had a combo platter with a chicken taco and some sort of cheese stuffed tortilla thing. It was really tasty. I walked away full and still had money in my pocket.
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I went to Mary Ann's the other night for enchiladas and cocktails and I have to say both were great, neither were bland. The service was super speedy and made sure we were never without chips and salsa on our table (very tasty, crispy chips and very cilantro-y salsa, yum.) I had chicken mole enchiladas and a strawberry margarita (super cheap, I think it was like $6-7.) Yum! Don't knock it until you try it.
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So what if Mary Ann's is a mini-chain? I still love it. This place has one of my favorite salsas in town - big chunks of tomatoes make me so happy. I became well acquainted with the Chelsea location when I worked nearby and needed some food to soak up the happy hour booze. The margaritas are great (you can get by the glass or pitcher) and there is a lengthy selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu. Best of all, it's very affordable. Not San Loco affordable, but I would still call this a Cheap Eats place. And the food comes pretty quickly. Like sometimes shockingly fast, which is great when you are about to chow down on your own hand.
Writing this review reminds me...I need to go eat at a Mary Ann's sometime soon. It's been way too long.
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Went here recently, the food was pretty good. Alright it wasn't authetic mexican food, but it was much closer than chain places like Chevy's. The food was pretty good, and you do get a pretty good bang for your buck. I dropped a star because the waitstaff is less than perfect. And I can't believe nobody else mentioned this. What's with this cash only thing? You're in New York City baby. Haven't they seen the can't leave home without out commercials.
This is a chain, right? But somehow, the food I had at the Chelsea restaurant was far better than this version. I think i got something enchiliada-like in both places; the Chelsea place veered towards black beans, cheddar cheese, and good seasoning, whereas this East Village location essentially wrapped torillas around monterey jack and called it a day. What is up with serving enchiladas with no enchilada sauce? Also, the rices were miles apart in texture and flavor. Authenticity aside, this location was far, far less tasty.
The salsa is pretty delicious regardless of location.
The first time I had Mary Ann's, I thought it was bland. I also think everyone deserves a second chance, so when a few pals invited me to dinner there tonight, I accepted with an open mind and an empty stomach.
Well, guess what? The food is still bland as sin. My friend's chile relleno had more sauce than my cheese enchiladas (because, um, my cheese enchiladas had NO sauce...) and when i requested a small side of it, I was told I would be charged $1 extra. I balked and claimed enchiladas should already have sauce, and the waitress made me dissect my food in front of her to prove that it was in fact sauceless. Classy!
Also, my soda was flat.
Oh well. at least it was loud/fun/festive? Definitely a place to take a friend on their birthday and force them into wearing a huge tacky sombrero.
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If only I was writing this a couple of years ago, I would have been more generous in my rating. But the fact is, we are continuing to see new and able entrants in the Mexican restaurants market here in New York. I have fond memories of lunches and dinners at the UWS location. But that ain't enough for fellow yelpers to make an educated choice.
I must compliment Mary Ann for good service and for the nachos. All else is cheese-laden and relatively gross compared to the treasures that await you at Chipotle's (yum!), Dos Caminos, Rosa Mexicano or Mi Cocina.
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Best salsa in NYC (if you love heavy cilantro). The variety is outstanding, portions are on the large side, and the overall food quality is very good. But its not really outstanding food. But then again, what do you want from a place with dirt cheap food prices. And did I say they have the best salsa in NYC?
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Sure, it's not authentic Mexican food. Not even close. But it does have a lot of great options for your vegetarians in the crowd, and sometimes their specials (like an awesome tequila chicken dish they had one night) rock out. And do I need to say anything about the pitchers of sangria or margaritas? Well, they've got pitchers of sangria. And margaritas. And those will take you far in this world, my child.
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I love this place so much that when I met my friends from Italy for one meal, of all the places in the city to have taken them to, I chose this one. The drinks are awesome, the salsa is the best in the city, and they have a large selection of healthy alternatives to traditional Mexican fair. (I love the grilled shrimp salad or the spinach and mushroom rustic whole wheat quessidia most of all.)
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I think of Mary Ann's in the East Village as a dining destination for delicious Mexican comfort food. It's inexpensive, the portions are large and the food is always tasty. I like to tuck into the enchilada sampler plate on a regular basis. At just $8.95 this hefty serving of three different enchiladas, all smothered with red sauce, cheese and sour cream, could easily feed two. And the variety abounds! One is filled with turkey chili, one with monterey jack cheese and the third with juicy, shredded chicken. Be prepared to take home extras if you're dining alone.
The menu is full of other delicious options - quesadillas with spinach and chicken, fish tacos, and many, many different burrito versions. My favorite part of the meal is the free homemade salsa and chips that greet you upon arrival. Pair these with a margarita and you're off to a great start.
This is our staple fall-back Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. I've brough the same out-of-town friends here on definitely more than one or two occasions. The staff is pretty cool, not the gushingly friendly type--but attentive, nice, and quick. They make their own salsa which comes out to your table mere minutes after you're seated. Oh, and it is good! Then you want to focus your attention on choosing your flavor of margarita. Go ahead and get the big one! I always default with the strawberry because it's time and tested to be my favorite. Although, the mango is not bad! The prices are great and the food has some creativity attached to it. Plus there's a whole section for the vegetarians in the bunch! This place won't do you wrong!
One of a handful of locations of a Manhattan mini-chain infamous for its bland, cheese-laden Mexican cuisine, so-so salsa, and greasy chips. Lean Cuisine makes frozen enchiladas and Santa Fe-style rice and beans that have more flavor than the food you'll find here.
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the food at this place was pretty good - the few Pacifico's probably helped. the ambiance is neat, the crowd is fun the reason for the 3 stars is the service. my friend and I had two entree's, were planning on chilling for a bit but the waitress kept asking us if we were done or if we needed anything else. uh, I have half a beer left and am still picking at my food - does it look Iike I need anything? did I need anything 2 mins ago? I've worked in the service industry before, so I realize that at 9ish you want to seat your last customer and get home. but you WORK IN NYC sister, not Po-Dunk Nebraksa. When you wait tables at a outdoor restaurant in NYC, let alone the East Village, expect to seat people at 10 or 10:30 and be there way past 11 - even on a Tuesday. Its the nature of the beast, we eat late. but I digress, we ordered some more drinks and wanted to chill....but again, agro wait lady asked if we could settle the bill because the place was closing. I failed to ask about the 15 or so other patrons that were sitting outside. anyho, food gets a B, or B-, service gets a C-.
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The food is okay, but the margaritas are better.
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