Over all Los Mechetes is truly one of the best Mexican restaurants you will ever find. I highly recommend this. There are so many options on the menu. This family-owned restaurant is truly a gem. The staff were great as well as the food. 5/5 Sombreros for this restaurant.
Over the weekend I visited the most wonderful restaurant. Los Machetes is a family-run Mexican restaurant. Located at 1222 US-9 Ocean View in New Jersey this destination is truly a hidden gem. The walls are coated in a brown terracotta paint and cacti in pots inhabit each corner. The smell of seasoning and cooked meat lingers in the warm air. Sombreros hang on the walls like stars in the sky. Spanish music plays in the background as you walk in as well. Waiters led my family and me to our table almost as soon as we walked in the door. And Papel Picado hangs from the ceiling like stars in the sky.
The staff were very kind and seemed very stressed. This is probably because of the time that I arrived, dinner was paramount for most. Although it took some time for our food to arrive, they apologized. They did not need to however as business was booming at the moment. They regularly checked up on my family and me to see how we liked our food soon after it arrived. They answered calls, brought out water, and regularly; did the same for other families as they did for us. It is no surprise this restaurant is so successful, the staff are great and always ready to help.
The waitress first served us Pico, tortilla chips were a necessity with this dish. The chips were topped with various savory and spicy toppings, while the Pico had a cold less bright taste. The onion, tomato, and cilantro blended nicely with the spices. While the crunch of the chips certainly outweighed the texture of the Pico, flavorwise the chips won as well. Still, the Pico blended nicely like a smooth cookie batter. The cold texture of the Pico also threw me off in this instance, but with the chips adding just the right touch of flavor, the dish ended up with a .
After about 30 minutes our tacos were served. I ordered the El Pastor. This pork-based soft taco is filled to the brim with flavors. This was the main course. Overall presentation was very good as it came perfectly laid out on the plate and came with cucumbers and radishes. Each taco was overlaying the next. When I first picked up my taco I noticed it was double wrapped, this is a very smart way to not have your food fall out. On top chopped pineapple sat, added a sweet yet complex flavor to the taco. Along with the pineapple, onions, and cilantro graced the meat like dancers on a stage. The onions soaked up the flavor of the meat and added to it at the same time. While the cilantro twined in with the pineapple and gave the taco a flavor I'd never want to forget. The meat tasted very savory, but not smokey. The middle was soft and rich, while the outside was chewy and seasoned. The pineapple was so sweet and complemented the pork very well. Over all this dish truly deserves a high rating. The presentation was very well set and the flavors complemented each other. 5/5 for this dish.
Following the El Lemon and the Pico, we were served dessert. Served in the coconut shell itself, was coconut ice cream. The treat was sweet and fridged but very enjoyable. I could taste the bits of coconut in the ice cream but that made it all the more better. Using a spoon I was able to scoop this treat out of the shell. As it hit my mouth a flurry of flavors set in. The cold mixed with the tasty and frozen coconut created such wonders for me and the rest of my family. We had to share this dish so I did not get much of it, but for the bites I did get, they were simply amazing. A 5/5 for this delectable dish. read more