Food wise this was fine average Mexican. Had the chicken burrito. Nothing to complain or rave about. The service was another issue. There was no line and plenty of visible seats but it was 10 minutes standing there before someone met our eyes and acknowledged us. Sat us in the back room and another 15 min until someone came over to ask order. So far no big deal. I understand every restaurant is understaffed. Drinks came out about 10 min later and food 20 more after that. As stated food is good average Mexican, nothing bad but so many better places in Hudson Valley. Finished. Waitress came over to take plates. We told her no dessert and just bring a check. 10 min go by and she seats a group of 5 at the table behind us. Takes drink orders and walks by quickly ignoring our where's the check stance of me holding my wallet in hand. 10 more min go by. She goes back to table just seated and chats with them for 15 minutes while taking their order. Then attempts to quickly walk by again and I say excuse me. We've been waiting 30 minutes for our check. She apologizes and says she'll be right back. Another 10 to 15 min go by and while I've never dined and dashed I was starting to understand why someone might. Then she comes back and instead of dropping off the check so we have time to look it over and figure out the tip she stands there hovering over us saying nothing while we are reviewing it and pulling out cash to pay - I'm assuming to guilt us into a tip she thought we might not leave at that point. It was very awkward and uncomfortable and for average food we won't be returning. If you're in Ellenville there's about 5 other restaurants within 2 blocks of here. I'd suggest any of those instead. read more

My son and his family took me here after a trip to the Pine Bush UFO Fair. They have been before and really enjoyed the food and the experience as well as the wait staff. For the most part all was pretty good this time but the service was a little slow. We all ordered a daily special. I got the Pollo Romero, my son got a Burrito ( sorry not a special), and his significant other got the Fajita special. The Fajita was the disappointment. It was advertised to be Ribeye and shrimp. Those two ingredients were what attracted her to the dish and she was anticipating a great experience. When it came it featured what was obviously a whole pork chop standing on end (unsliced as is not usually the case for any animal protein in a fajita). We'll, she (and we all) looked at it strangely, trying to find a ribeye in there. We called the server over to show her and she insisted it was a ribeye. We asked for clarification from the kitchen, they said it was a ribeye. Finally, a manager came out to help and said it was a mistake. We'll, finally, we would get satisfaction knowing we weren't all crazy and never knew all these years we were mistakenly identifying a ribeye as beef when it was pork all along. However, the manager was here to tell us that, yes, it wasn't a ribeye but it was a veal chop instead. Apparently the kitchen decided to switch it out for some unknown reason. At this point we just gave up and paid the bill. They made no concessions, and only small apologies, which in the end would have to be enough. It wasn't a ribeye and it wasn't like any veal chop I had ever had, of that were were certain. So, we left, asking only that the establishment try to honor the specific foods mentioned on a menu or to tell patrons about any substitutions before cooking the portion and presenting it to an unsuspecting customer. Hope they do better next time. read more

Amazing! Great atmosphere and food. Also great for celebrations and family or group get-togethers. The bar is the life of the restaurant but the food they make brings the party right to your table. Never disappointed unless they're full for the night! read more

All I can say is if u pass by and dont come in,youre misding out..what a fantastic meal and great service

Awesome service incredible food. Danielle was our waitress the entire staff was great! The food was very fresh and prepared perfectly! We will be back. read more

Not sure if we were starving from our hike or if this place was just that good... but giving this 5 stars for sure. Everything was amazing and fresh. The salsa that comes with the chips was a little bland but ask for the habanero and chipotle hot sauce they have if you want a little extra kick! read more

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Great place. Found it on a random wandering. Strange to see such a great place of this ethnic variety in such a random area. I too saw that (like the other reviewers) they make the guacamole right at the table; similar to how some French restaurants mix up the tartar in front of you. It was, however, the guac or a margarita for me. As I was trying not to over do it. I got a peach margarita for myself and my wife. She loved it, which means it was sweet and not with too much alcohol. I thought it was girly, but then the server was aware we were splitting it. :) I got a great big blackened skirt steak burrito, which cam with everything all inside (including guac). It was great! Probably best burrito I've ever had. They advertise it as being cooked over a charcoal fire, which for my money is the best grilling technique for this type of fare. My wife got the chimichangas. I use plural, because they are a mite smaller than the burritos, however you get two instead of on enormous burrito. They had many types, however I cannot remember which kind she got. She was not a great fan, but then I didn't taste them because my monstrous burrito almost knocked me over. The corn chips and salsa that were gratuit were fantastic as well.... Great place overall. A definite must-go. And if you're ever passing through Ellenville, I insist you go! And check my photo of the burrito! A little grainy because of poor light, and I was missing a ruler as a scale or something. Trust, me; it was enormous! It was a monster! (snicker) read more

Gaby's Cafe - Peach Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Ellenville, New York

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Great food. Has always been a go to of mine while in the area. Chicken Cobb salad is my shit. And any flavored margarita. You won't be disappointed. read more

I have been to this restaurant a handful of times but have been disappointed every time. The food unfortunately has no flavor and is too expensive for the product they put out. The last time I was there, there was a Mariachi band which was great but when they are in the middle of the dining hall, I couldn't hear the person who was sitting right across from me. I will not be going back for bland, overpriced "Mexican" food. read more

Love this place. Bridges the fun/authentic divide expertly

Absolutely wonderful service I waited for like 20 minutes and boom came right out absolutely wonderful I recommend popping in

Great service. Great food. Never disappointing after more than 10 occasions to dine there. Make a reservation. Gets busy.

Love the food here! Very courteous staff and fast friendly service. I would suggest calling ahead just bc sometimes they get really busy.

Delicious! It's a great go to Mexican spot. They are always very busy, which is a good sign. My favorite is the steak fajita. I love that they make the guacamole right in front of you read more

Lots of people waiting on you at once, which is at times a little overwhelming, bit overall very fast and friendly service! I enjoyed the margaritas and fajitas! The atmosphere is great, big and roomy, very spread out. The owner always seems to be present for every dinner rush. This was my third visit, and I am very impressed with how dedicated he is! Highly recommend this hard working restaurant. read more

Three stars for the guacamole and main course that were delicious. 1 star for the owner who was rude and dismissive when we asked for a fresh basket of chips as ours were stale. The answer we received was a shoulder shrug and a response of "those are the same chips we give everyone and nobody else has complained". To reiterate her point she approached us upon leaving and loudly started her defense of the "stale" chips. Based upon her behavior and the rude wait staff I will pass on another visit to Gaby's , good food when accompanied by rude and unprofessional treatment by staff isn't worth my time. read more

Great restaurant! Food was delicious and quantity matched price. Employees were incredibly nice. Bar drinks options are great. Definitely recommend. read more

My husband and I love gaby's. The new location is absolutely beautiful I can't get over how much better it looks!! The $5 margaritas during happy hour is a steal. And the chimichangas are my favorite on the menu! And to top it off the complimentary salsa and chips are fresh and delicious. Great place! read more

Gaby's Cafe - Happy hour margaritas!!! - Mexican Near Me - Ellenville, New York

Jenell along with the delicious food is why we choose to order from Gabbys. Jenell is patient and really hears me when I make specific requests due to my many allergies. She is a phenomenal server. I thank you Gabbys for hiring her. read more

I'm not going to lie. I was not expecting much from a Mexican restaurant in upstate New York. I was proven wrong. Will you find all the same favorites here as you would in California? No. Will you still find many familiars, along with some new, and be happily surprised at how delicious they are? ABSOLUTELY. Chicken enchiladas verde were outstanding. The burrito supremo with carnitas was tremendously good carnitas. Fajitas were delicious, and all portions were very generous. Prices here are higher than you will find on West Coast, BUT I might lose my Cali card for saying that I do feel the quality of this food was higher than any I've eaten here at home. Just a great restaurant, highly recommend, and service was really great as well. read more

I was served lemonade with a bug in the glass last night. No apologies when I changed to cola. Actually charged me for the lemonade, that cost more than the cola. . I guess there was an extra charge for the bug. Bill came to $95.00 for 2 meals,1 Tostada and a $11.00 Bloody Mary with a piece of lemon and lime, would it kill them to add an olive at that price. The food was good but over priced for what they give. No sides,salad or soup or bread. Chips and salsa free. Manager, who I approached, gave me an annoyed look when I suggested that at the very least the "bug drink" should have be comped by the waiter with an apology. He actually said to me it is only $3.00 and the waiter does not know any better. He then ask me "what would you like for me to do",duh. I suggested he comp both the lemonade and Bloody Mary. In disgust, he took the bill to adjust and he minuses the $3.00 bug lemonade, what a sport. He did say I am sorry as he handed me the adjusted bill. That was my fourth and finale time at Gaby's., read more

Been here many times and it is always good - last night it was made even better by our waitress Bethany. We were whisked to a quiet corner in back - where she proceeded to take care of us as though she could read our minds - all with a smile on her face. The food was delicious and when one of my dinner companions asked if she could have a variation from the menu - Bethany responded of course." All in all it was a wonderful dinner on every level read more

I think the Half Pitcher of Margaritas with Patron is the best deal in all the Hudson Valley. And the Tableside guacamole is amazing! We eat here whenever we want good Mexican. The Paella is wonderful but takes 45 minutes so get some apps and spread them out. We love Gabby's in either location and highly recommend it! read more

What a friendly staff.. the owner is on premise at all times which in my opinion makes a huge difference on how my night with my girl is going to be.. As we all know it's hard to get out and choose which place to go when and if you have the time.. I'm from Brooklyn and know a good meal when I have one.. not to brag but if your from Brooklyn or ever ate there you know the only way to stay in business is to make sure your food is on point.. and believe me. . Word travels fast if the place is not on point! Gabys is always on point, probably the main reason why it's my first choice.. Can't wait to get back and dig in!! read more

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I was in the area staying at a hotel for my birthday, and Gaby's Cafe was one of very very limited places that popped up for me to try. And although the reviews were extremely good, i was very let down by the food. My firends and I could all agree every dish was just missing something. More salt..more lime... more spice..The presentation and portions were great, but everything was bland. Across the board, my friends loved their Aztec Soup--but that was pretty much it. We tried every dessert, but the flan, fried ice cream and lemon cake were good. NOthing amazing, but okay. My cesar salad had iceburg lettace that seemed kinda old and not too fresh, but there was alot of dressing. the seafood stuffed mushrooms looked beautiful and were baked well, but it had no salt or seafood flavor. Basically had this weird sweet flavor that none of us could figure what it was. The guac was not made at the table side, needed salt and lemon..and needed another day for the guac to feel perfect. The garlic and oil shrimp had the best flavor in my book--but the shrimp was over cooked. Like i said the dishes werent terrible, but maybe where im from, i get the pleasure of having mexican and hispanic food often and have had very flavorful dishes..but Gabys just seems to not meet up to those standards. Service was good, and they even sang happy birthday to me, the inside is awesome and the place is nice otherwise. read more

We went there for dinner the other night with friends for the first time. My wife and I made the drive from New Paltz, here are my pros and cons. I'm quite surprised​ at the number of poor reviews here. Pros: Good parking on the street and lot right across from the restaurant Nice, clean and welcoming atmosphere Friendly, professional staff Great service, from the time we sat down to the time we left (and they were busy) Good fresh food Good portions good menu reasonable prices cons: could use a higher quality rice I got the steak and shrimp fajita, which was good but a little bland at the same time. Two of my other friends got fajitas too and were happy with there's. Everyone has different tastes and it's easy to add salt, Lyme and so on to your food if you need more. read more

The margaritas were great!!!! I ordered mozzarella sticks and those were great as well. But the food and service was awful. And to top that off it legit took me 40 mins just to find parking. This is a place to just have appetizers and drinks. read more

Gaby's Cafe - This margarita was great! Banana Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Ellenville, New York

Receptionist rudely did not want to seat our party because she claimed that the kitchen was closing and there were no tables. They had 2 tables for 5 people and we came 15 mins before the kitchen closed. If I could give 0 stars I would, solely for the unfriendly reception. read more

The Chile rellenos were great - the peppers were cooked perfect and the meat stuffing was perfect

We are Mexican food snobs and this place is awesome! Great food, drinks, staff and atmosphere! Just go! Go. My top 3: El Bandito, Spring Valley, NY/Gaby's/Jalapeños, Glen Rock, NJ read more

I stumbled upon Gaby's after traffic court down the street. I'm in love! I walked in to a quaint little cafe decorated in typical Mexican decor. I ordered a sangria and guacamole with chips to start. The guacamole was out of this world fantastic! It was seasoned perfectly, it had the right amount of "chunk" and it was the perfect size for a side. I asked the waiter for his recommendation on an entree and he lead me to Enchiladas Verde and he was on point. I've never had the dish and it was delicious. The Verde sauce, chicken and cheese were perfect together. The rice and beans weren't "just" a side, they stood on their own and I could have eaten twice what was given. I read the reviews about the infamous pineapple tequila, so I ordered a shot. While in a shot glass it was not a shooter. The pineapple tequila deserves to be sipped. It was sweet but dangerous. I easily could have drank this on the rocks and fast. The service was attentive and friendly. The prices were a little steep for a local cafe but well worth the price. I can't wait to go back and try more. read more

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Great margaritas and food depending on the server, the bartender, lunar cycle and day of the week. The drinks are affordable. But, again it I hit or miss. Ambiance is festive and inviting. But, as I said earlier your made to order guac can be little or generous. The margarita's are a good deal by the pitcher but the bartender sometimes pays attention and sometimes doesn't. The food is affordable. The most expensive meal are the baby back ribs at $30 - The rice is good but everything else is pretty generic. They even have a burger. The menu is extensive to the point of wondering how everything can be prepared properly. My guess is they prep a ton and then assemble plates like Legos. Nothing was memorable, nothing was terrible. I'd go back, when I'm in Ellenville. I just wish with large Hispanic / Latino community in Ellenville (I'm one of them) we could get some real, home style Mexican goodness. Rather than this drab imposter. read more

Cute cute cute interior decor! Place was buzzing on a Friday night. Went to another place to kill time and came back when there wasn't a wait. We sat down and ordered 2 different margaritas and one peach mojito. The peach mojito was literally heaven in a glass, a perfect summer drink that I wish I had known about years ago. The freshly made guacamole was definitely something to write home about and the service was great. The chips were crisp and the salsa had some kick to it. I enjoyed my night here! read more

Food was amazing, service was great. Recommend anything on the menu, especially the guac. Love the new place. It's right across the street from the old location. Will be back! Thanks again! read more

Gaby's Cafe - Food was amazing, service was great. Love the new place! Will be back. - Mexican Near Me - Ellenville, New York

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Love this place for fresh Mexican food, colorful decor, and relaxed atmosphere.....they recently expanded and relocated and the new place is beautiful!!! read more

Gaby's Cafe - Gabby' new place - Mexican Near Me - Ellenville, New York

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Chicken wings were truly horrible. I question even if they were chicken wings?????? Take fried bread off and only a bone would be left. A very very small bone. I have had other food and had no complaints. Wings!!!!! Disappointed , what has happened?????? Staff very kind and professional. Recommend that friends decide for self. Not a total No Return. read more

Excellent guac. Stop in here before or after a show at the Shadowland Theatre across the street (dinner and a show!). They're open late.

On my way back to Manhattan after dropping my daughter at summer camp, an unexpected road detour landed me in familiar territory. When I realized where I was, my stomach said, "Dude, you have ignored me most of the day. You had best feed me." So I obliged and pulled up at a Mexican restaurant--Gaby's Cafe in Ellenville, NY. Plopped right on one of the main drags in Ellenville (I think there are only two main drags), Gaby's is very welcoming. There is outdoor seating (about 2 four-toppers) and a decent amount of seating inside including a full bar. The decor is simple and tries to emulate the vibe of a local Mexican cafe, and be just "safe" enough decor-wise so people feel like--well, they're in Ellenville. I've been to Gaby's a few times--first because we were hungry, new to the area and didn't know where else to go. After that, because it was familiar and convenient after a couple of hours on the road, it was on the route to our final destination. As far as *Mexican* food goes, Gaby's is nothing to write home about. The food (as food goes) is decent and filling, but it truly lacks any seasoning that says, "Mexican!" It's very much lower case "mexican" and no exclamation point. Maybe more of a question mark. They do table-side guacamole preparation which I always find, in most places, far more interesting to watch than to eat. Truth be told, I make more flavorful guac at home than Gaby's. I ordered the Vegetables a la Parilla Burrito-- flour tortilla rolled with "mexican rice", refried beans, sour cream, guacamole with assorted grilled vegetables. If you are looking for sheer volume, this is your meal. The burrito was as thick as my calf. The red and green sauce that topped my burrito, which I hoped would be thick and picante, was thin and watery. The colors were pale green and kind of orangey. There wasn't a great deal of flavor in the sauce either. I didn't see or taste any refried beans but it did have black beans. The rice--white. I requested some hot sauce so I could douse my burrito and give it some bite as all the flavors melded into one amorphous averageness. As far as pricing goes, Gaby's is not cheap. At $12 for quesadillas (really!?) or $15 to $20 for fajitas, you'll think you were in midtown Manhattan. I've ordered margaritas (on the rocks with salt) and mojitos. Both cocktails were done well. Good enough that I ordered one more! When I've gone to Gaby's with my family, they have ordered a variety of dishes from chicken and shrimp entrees to simple quesadillas. No one at the table ever said, "Damn! That was good." Usually it's a groggy, "I'm really full," or "No, I don't want to wrap it up." The wait staff is attentive and cheerful. On this visit I seemed to have three different people taking care of me. This may explain why, when I ordered sweetened iced-tea, I got unsweetened. And why three people asked me if I wanted a side. Or dessert. Too many cooks, as it were. While I ate my jumbo average-tasting burrito, I thought, the reason this place still exists is because--it's in Ellenville! There's no real competition for miles. Then I noticed a group of Hispanic patrons sitting two tables away. By their features and accents they appeared to be originally from Central America and a couple from Mexico. I wondered if they came to Gaby's with hopes of tasting something familiar and left feeling like they had been at McDonald's? By the laughter, it seemed they were enjoying their own company--the food was a sidebar. Gaby's isn't going to blow you away and it isn't going to make you say, "never again," but you're in Ellenville. Mexican food may not be best choice if you are looking for an awesome meal. read more

Best Mexican food in the area. Although pricy, try the guacamole. It's made tableside and you can supervise on spices while it's being created. Delicious. Burritos are huge, fajitas are very flavorful and tasty, and the soft tacos are a winner. Service is always nice. Although a bit too sweet, they don't skimp on the pour when it comes to margaritas. read more

This is my third visit to this establishment. I always seem to get the same waitress. I really didn't seem to have a problem with this place until today. I ordered food for my family. I asked to turn the air down a little since it was right below our feet. Three times I had to ask. Still was not turned down. Then I noticed what looked like the food we ordered going to another table. I said. Maybe they ordered the same food. Then the waitress put all the dishes on this table in front of them. I seen it with my own eyes. Then the lady at that table said we did not order this and picked the plate up and handed it to the waitress. The waitress picked up all the other plates and was laughing. Then brought it to my table when I confronted the waitress she told me it did not get touched at all. Nowadays with Covid 19 out there this should not have happened. My bill came to $63.18. I gave &100.18. The waitress asked if I wanted change back. I said yes. That's a $100 bill. She comes back and gives me $30. I had to call her over and tell her she short changed me $7. She thought she was going to gift herself $7 out of my money. I always leave a tip on the table. I did. But not $7. The food was not good this time. The pernil was all fat. The carne asada quesadilla was all rare. The beef was not cooked and the taco salad was ok. Not great. But ok. It's safe to say that I will not be going back to this place. The waitress was insinuating that I was wrong and did not see what was done with our food. I wish the owner was around to see what was going on there. I know he had COVID-19 himself. Not sure if he ever recovered. But this is ridiculous. I feel like I'm worried I will get Covid feom this place now because of what happened. I feel like they were laughing at my family. They really just lost a customer. Never again. If your smart then stay away. read more