We stumbled in this past Saturday night close to 10pm expecting the place to be dead. As we walked through the non-descript front entrance, we encountered a nearly full and lively bar and only a few empty tables in the back.  We were warmly greeted with a smile and led to a table.

The menu boasts “New York’s Best Kept Secret Since 1959,”  an indication this place is keenly aware of its status as a hidden gem. As opposed to trendy restaurants with their strict set of rules (“no substitutions”, “20% tip mandatory on all parties of 6 or more”), here there is a more congenial and customer-friendly attitude.  Another note on the menu didn’t escape our attention. It read: ”Please feel free to ask for any old favorite dish that you like but do not see on the menu.” That’s pretty darn cool. I didn’t know at the time, but I hear you should ask for the off-the-menu queso fundido con chorizo.

We started things off with a couple of frozen house margaritas, which were big, potent and delicious. We would need them to cool us down for what was about to come — one of the most bizarre and spicy bites to eat I’ve had in a while. When I first saw the Jalapenos Rellenos with option of chunky peanut butter (can also come with anejo cheese), I thought it was some sort of joke. But the waiter said we had to try them. I think they may also come breaded and fried. Can’t hurt to ask.

These are some no-joke jalapenos. If not for the bit of cooling from the peanut butter, I’m not sure how much I could have handled (and I have a high heat tolerance). Thankfully our waters and margaritas were filled early and often. This interesting combination of super spicy and sweet worked and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different and out-of-the-box.

The menu provides a nice mix of Mexican cuisine, ranging from casual eats like nachos, fish tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and fajitas to more culinarily complex dishes like bouillabaisse in a jalapeno and garlic broth, a 24-ingredient chicken mole and grilled double-cut lamb chops with a chile and garlic adobo rub. There’s also a menu insert with a list of 6+ specials. Jill went with the special of spice-rubbed cod in lobster broth w/ green beans and zucchini while I tackled the chicken mole w/ its 25-minute preparation time.

Everything we ordered was very good. The mole was beautifully presented in a large clay pot and there was much more than the 1/2 chicken that’s advertised. It was subtly spicy and quite sweet and the chicken was a perfect moist conduit.  Jill’s fish, while not as substantial in portion size, was delicate and delicious in its mild broth.

As for the service, it was friendly, efficient and accommodating. We overheard the table behind us complain nicely about a dish being too spicy, and with no pushback whatsoever the server said he would be more than happy to bring something else out.

They also have some pretty good deals. We didn’t realize at the time, but they offer 2 happy hours (3-6pm and again from 10-12am) with all beer, sangria and house margaritas offered for $5 and a selection of 1/2 priced appetizers. I knew $80 didn’t make sense for the amount of food and drinks we ordered.  If you’re in the area during lunch, you can go with the new $20 3-course prix-fixe lunch.

For authentic, sophisticated, soul-satisfying Mexican food and some great margaritas, to boot (well hopefully not to boot), El Parador Café is your place.

El Parador
325 E 34th St Frnt
New York, NY 10016
212-679-6812

We started with a drink at the bar where a crowd of locals-meets-weekenders and 50’s-meets-30’s fuels an energetic and lively atmosphere. The bartenders seem to know their wines, pour a clean tap beer and mix up some strong cocktails. The restaurant and bar interior has a classic feel to it with Tommy Bahama-esque sail linen fans, wicker chairs and open-air bay windows onto Main Street infusing the space with a laid-back, summer ambiance.

Once seated, our dinner got off to a bit of a slow start as there seemed to be some confusion as to which server had our table, or if our table even came with a server. But things eventually got sorted out and the minor delay gave us ample time to plot our ordering plan of attack. We like dining out with large groups so we can try an array of menu items. With the other Andy quarterbacking, we settled on a dozen oysters, crab cake, clams casino and crab claws to start. Everything was good…very good. The crab cake, which is chock full o’ large chunks of sweet crab meat and served with a mustardy remoulade, was a standout. As were the crab legs, which for a fleeting moment took me back to Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami.

When you want to go big, you get the Porterhouse. When you want to go huge, you get the Porterhouse for 5. Thankfully, Andy and Anna have been to this Bobby Van’s enough to know that to order the ‘Porterhouse for (insert # of people in your party)’ basically puts you in Man vs. Food territory. And you can likely get away with ordering the ‘Porterhouse for (insert # of people in your party minus 2)’. Here’s a little tip: here you always want to order the Porterhouse for an odd number. They aren’t going to cut a Porterhouse in half so whether you order ‘for 5′ or ‘for 6′, you’re gonna get the exact same amount of meat, and it’s only going to cost $45/person either way. So our ‘Porterhouse for 5′ for 6 of us was pretty much a no-brainer.

For sides, we went with the hash browns, onion rings and asparagus. The lobster mac n’ cheese on the blackboard list of specials caught our eye and so we ordered up a couple of them, too. There was to be no messing around at this meal.

It’s pretty obvious that Executive Chef John Stella knows what he’s doing in the kitchen. Plain and simple this was one of the best Porterhouse steaks I’ve ever had. It couldn’t have been a more perfectly executed medium rare. We’re talking original Peter Luger’s good, if not better. The lobster mac n’ cheese was fabulous as well (i mean, how could it not be) and a little bit of truffle oil essence took it to the next level. The hash browns were also excellent and ultra crispy around the edges, just the way I like ‘em.

This Bobby Van’s may be a victim of its own name recognition. With five Manhattan locations, many New Yorkers have eaten at a Bobby Van’s or otherwise come to form an opinion of it as a steakhouse. When people hear Bobby Van’s Bridgehampton, they likely equate it with the locations they have come to know in the city. But this Bobby Van’s is different. It has a different audience, a different menu and, overall, it’s a different experience. Chef Stella has added a Mediterranean and Asian flair that you won’t find on the menus in the city, as evidenced by items like Thai Shrimp Tacos, Miso Black Cod and an olive oil poached Halibut with Mediterranean orzo pilaf. This isn’t your typical old school men’s club steakhouse. It’s more sceney like a Prime 112 or STK, and a perfect example of a place that can do it all without sacrificing quality. This is pretty much everything you want in a steakhouse dinner. An iconic steakhouse meal start to finish.

Bobby Van’s Bridgehampton By the Numbers:

1969 — year cabaret piano player Bobby Van founded Bobby Van’s restaurant in Bridgehampton

14 – number of people that would perish if Lizzie Grubman drove her car through the front of the restaurant

5 – number of times I uttered “this is damn near the best porterhouse I’ve ever had”

3 — number of times I woke up during the night with “meat sweats” after our attempted Porterhouse for 5 takedown

52 — number of laps I had to run around Anna and Andy’s pool the next morning to burn off calories from the meal

1979 – year Bobby Van moved his restaurant across the street to a newly-renovated building (World Pie is located in the original Bobby Van’s space)

8 — number of steak sandwiches we were able to make the next day using the leftovers from our ‘Porterhouse for 5′

21 — how many dollars it costs on a Tuesday night for the Lobster special — 1 1/4 lb lobster served with a local baked potato and corn on the cob

Resto’s Beer Dinner Series Presents ‘Blue Crab Feast and Summer Whites’: Resto (111 E 29th St) continues its Monday night beer dinner series tonight at 7 p.m. with a three course blue crab feast prepared by chef Bobby Hellen and paired with specially selected summer white beers. For reservations call 212.685.5585 or email louann@restonyc.com. $70/person including the beer.

Zagat Presents ‘Traditional Sauces of Mexico’ at Crema: The next in the Zagat Presents series features a 4-course dinner prepared chef Julieta Ballesteros at Crema (111 W 17th) highlighting three beloved Mexican sauces: pipian, mole and achiote. Beverage pairings will be available with each course. 6:30 p.m. $65 for four courses; $85 with beverage pairings; tax and gratuity not included. Call 212-691-4477 and mention “Zagat Presents.”

The Burley ‘Cue Review: Fatty ‘Cue (91 S. 6th St; B’lyn) is holding a live burlesque event tonight at 9 p.m. it’s calling The Burley ‘Cue Revue. A ten course meal and two hour burlesque show for $65 a person. For reservations email Events@fattycrew.com with “Burlesque” in the subject line.

d.b.a. Brooklyn Presents ‘Liquids of Interest’: Did you know every Monday night at 7 p.m. d.b.a. owner Ray Deter hosts a free beer/spirits tasting? Neither did we. d.b.a. brooklyn is located at 113 N 7th Street.

Artisanal Cider Tasting with Farnum Hill & Crispin Ciders at Rattle ‘N’ Hum: Taste some of the best ciders around as well as a delicious array of cheeses from Murray’s Cheese at our fave NYC beer bar. Rattle -n- Hum is located at 14 E 33rd b/t Madison and 5th Ave. Tasting begins at 4 p.m. and continues throughout the evening.

Manchester Pub Presents ‘Case of the Mondays’ Comedy Show: Great lineup of 6 comedians from HBO, Showtime and Howard Stern at this Midtown East beer-centric bar. They have tons of drinks specials and 50 cent wings. Showtime is 7:30pm. Manchester Pub is located at 920 2nd Ave.

The Mermaid Inn (E Village) Teams Up With Big Gay Ice Cream Truck:  They always give away free pudding on Monday nights, but tonight The Mermaid Inn in the E Village (96 2nd Ave b/t 5th and 6th Sts) is offering a free cup of key lime ice cream from the Big Gay Ice Cream truck.