Arriba Arriba

I am an Arriba regular who's been going to this great little local spot for years. The food is standard Mexican fare, but the Crepa de Camarones is most definitely the best thing on the menu. Margaritas are some of the best in town, with tons of flavors and sizes to choose from. The staff are like family... chatty with the locals, which may seem off-putting to those tourists who wander in, but which we here in NYC love. With the DJ spinning in the back and the loud music, it has a club-like feel and gets busy most nights, and more often than not there's a line out the door for a table. I guess that means there's just more time to have another margarita! If you want a quieter experience it's best to go before 7 or 8 pm.

The bottom line: This place has been around since the early 80's, when Hell's Kitchen really lived up to its name, so they must be doing something right!

I went to Arriba entirely because of the great rating it received on this website and was really disappointed when I got there. I was a business traveler, eating alone, and they seemed clueless on what to do with me. They put me at a goofy table in the corner which wobbled. It took a long time to get my food and they never came back to ask if everything was ok or to refill my drink. It is not uncommon for business people to eat out solo, restaurants need to get used to it and not treat us like 2nd class diners! I am a very generous tipper when I am treated right, but this place really let me down.