5 Burro Cafe

Frozen margaritas are not very good for one,
Not sure why reviewers are talking about them
Also while we are on the subject of Margaritas I one of their «cadlliac» margarita waste of money — nuff said.
If I may pile on, mediocre mexican fare + reggaeton music = just not for me
The backyard is nice, actually really nice, its just a shame I don’t see myself returning.

i love this place. when looking for great Mexican food in a casual setting and refreshing drinks I go to 5 burros. Love going in a group.

Excellent. We went on a Thursday evening and there was no crowd (obviously). I’m sure they will be just as crowded as the Forest Hills location was today (we didn’t get a table) so I’ll be sure to go back during a weekday. We ordered sangria especially made for us which was delish. We split the taco entrée with 1 chicken taco and 2 steak tacos. Everything was great including the salsa. I loved the homey feel and really wanted to sit in the back but hubby is weird about eating outdoors so we stayed in. It’s really small, only 5 tables, but cute. It’s definitely a place to chill and have a good time and I’m looking forward to going back soon.

My boyfriend and I came here last night for the first time — and had a LOVELY time. They have a huge backyard and patio and it’s the perfect place to hang out and drink some delicious margaritas. (Which were nicely served — mine even came with a little plastic koi perched at the top!)
The food is pretty good — not great — but that shouldn’t be the thing that draws you here. It’s an ideal spot to hang out, eat some food, drink outside, and enjoy the waterfront. Plus, the service was fantastic. Some really sweet people run this place and made us feel really at home.
We will return. We will bring friends. And we will drink more delicious margaritas with koi fish perched on top.

Terrible food. Especially the enchiladas — the sauce was sickening and way too spicy (and if you know me, you know I’m the spice queen). The salsa was sweet (???), but edible after pouring lots of Tapatio in and mixing it up. The shrimp in the fish tacos were definitely frozen shrimp, with absolutely NO seasoning. The only mediocre entrée was the chicken chipotle quesadillas, which the 3 of should have split. Huge portions. We asked the waitress for recommendations and she said anything chicken chipotle – should’ve listened. Anyhow, 5 Burro is nowhere near authentic Mexican food, especially since lentil soup is an option on the menu. WTF. This deeply saddens me as this place has a kick ass outdoor patio/​garden and is literally less than a block away from my apartment. Boo.
Now onto the drinks. The three of us split a ‘rita pitcher on the rocks. That shit is potent. Tastes delicious and you can barely taste the tequila. I’m still HUNGOVER as hell and it’s already 8:41pm the next evening, though I’m sure the two beers at other bars afterwards did not help the situation. I’m never drinking tequila again.

Definitely off the beaten path, but real quality food, hearty portions, fun drinks (a large variety of frozen margaritas and a plastic colored monkey in the cocktail for garnish) and great outdoor space. It also seemed like there were bar specials both times I went, but both times, I wanted to sit outdoors because I love the space.

This place is amaaaaaazing!!!
I first heard about this place before I even moved here via Missy Maintains’ blog. She would always go on and on about how great the margaritas were and how she could never have more than one or two– I found that too hard to believe so it was high on my list of priorities when I first got here.
I was FAR from disappointed.
She was not kidding. Their frozen margaritas mean business!
If you sit at the bar, the margaritas are buy-​one-​get-​one-​free!!!
For only $ 8 for two STRONG margaritas, you cannot go wrong.
I tend to be a creature of habit when I go out to eat, especially at mexican restaurants, and only get a bean & cheese burrito. But I forced myself to break that habit, and ordered the chicken fajitas… YUMMMM!
Much like the creature of habit that I am, I have gone back many more times, and always get the same thing. I have however had a few bites of the black bean soup– also delicious. Anytime any of my friends or roommates have ordered food, they’ve all been extremely happy with their picks.
If you can avoid it– don’t come here with a group. The restaurant is small, and it is very much worth it to sit at the (small) bar. The bar tender is also so freaking sweet. We always seem to go on the days this one girl works. — Love her!
It is a shame that there are only two locations, but maybe that’s a good thing… because I could drink their margaritas any night of the week!!!

THIS PLACE IS THE GREAT! Excellent authentic spanish food that is affordable and the staff is friendly, also unlike the one in FOREST HILLS, there is no wait time and more parking. :)
They also have a play area for young kids!

I just moved a stone’s throw away from here, so I really wanted to like it. Despite the Unilocal reviews, my boyfriend and I headed over this evening for some quick Mexican food.
Unfortunately, the reviews are 100% correct– while the drinks looked AMAZING, the food was totally mediocre. My boyfriend ordered enchiladas, which were covered in a sauce so spicy they were barely edible. And we both love spicy food! I got the burritos, which were just okay. They didn’t have a lot of flavor and when I tried to cut into them with a knife and fork, they fell apart. I took mine home with plans to cover it in good enchilada sauce and cheese to make it tastier. The rice and beans were also just okay… they put peas in their rice which I’m not a huge fan of. Even the chips and salsa were meh! The chips were totally cold and the salsa was alright but tasted maybe store bought.
I feel bad bashing the place, it was pretty much empty this evening besides people at the bar, and our food came quickly and our server was very friendly. But I think the neighborhood rule, as far as Mexican food is concerned, goes as follows: Go to Calexico for the food, go to 5 Burro to get your drink on.

One, their frozen margaritas are amazing.
Two, you will not be disappointed with the steak taco. the steak is tender and seasoned wonderfully, they arent stingy with the meat either. The rice and beans are good. im not a huge fan of that kind of rice but theirs is good. I also love taht you get a dollop of sour cream AND guac with your order… whereas other places charge you for it.
This location has 2 for one drinks at the bar. (heck yes!)
And the backyard is awesome!

Eh. This place is ok for a neighborhood joint and it’s very child/​baby friendly but their pretty expensive (for the mediocre food) and it seems like they try to up-​sell you at every turn. They kept bringing us bowls of guac and slapping them on the table even though we didn’t order it. At the end of the meal-​we were a party of 4 adults and 2 six month old babies, they added a gratuity without telling us. Shady. Ended up being a poor choice by the waiter, as I was ready to do my obligatory 20%, instead he got his sneaky 15%.
One the plus side, the service was prompt and friendly and the woman who runs the place is very friendly and nice. Lovely garden and the margaritas are very good. Also, they give you a little dinosaur with your drink– which the kids love. We will be back since we live in the hood, but will keep an eagle eye on the bill and odd charges.

I really wanted to like this place! Especially after reading the better reviews… unfortunately this is not so. I ordered my dinner via GrubHub; delivery was fast, but to be honest, the most delicious thing about my order was the sour cream that came on the side. The guacamole was good – but really, I’ve never seen anyone mess up guac. Now, the most disappointing part: the chicken mole wrap. It was sweet. SWEET. As in, I took a bite, thought it was my imagination, took another sweeter bite and was horrified. I know Molés are supposed to be a lot of things – but they are NOT supposed to be sweet.
I may try ordering from this place again… to give the rest of the menu a chance. But I’m still debating.
If you order from this place, I don’t advise against it, but I do suggest you steer clear of any Molé dishes.

I went here with my husband last night after enjoying the Atlantic Antic all day long, hanging out with friends and relaxing. This vibe did not continue when we arrived at 5 Burro Café and took a seat in the large, roomy garden. The hostess was lovely and sweet, but our waiter was very brisk, literally running around and seeming very rushed when this was a Sunday night at 8:30 and the garden was only about ¼ full with 2 servers to handle that. Anyway, I was overall unimpressed with this place for the following reasons:
Overpriced (and in a sneaky way), bad service. When our bill came, my entrée of shrimp tacos had a hefty upcharge due to the inclusion of shrimp, when on the menu an upcharge was indicated but it was not at all clear that the upcharge was for EACH taco (3 in an order). The entrée is charged as a plated meal, not a la carte, so when an upcharge is indicated one would not assume that you have to apply that upcharge to each piece WITHIN the meal. That’s sneaky, and ridiculous. Also, this means that a plate of shrimp tacos was $ 18.50. That’s absurd! They were definitely tasty enough, and it’s a huge portion (I gave one entire taco to my husband and was still stuffed), but come on– this is casual Mexican food. Also, the waiter charged us $ 9 for the guacamole we had ordered, rather than the $ 4 listed on the menu. When we pointed it out to him, he acted like we hadn’t been clear about which guac we wanted. Listen: it’s a small bowl of guac that comes with nothing else (chips and salsa are already free) — there’s no way it’s $ 9.00 and if it is, that’s insane! He changed it to $ 4 on our bill, but was snotty and impatient about the shrimp upcharge situation. I get it, my misunderstanding, but I think it’s ludicrous.
Perhaps worst of all, my husband’s chimichanga (ha! I can’t say that without laughing) was a still-​cold, fried brick. It was literally ice cold in the middle! As in, it had been premade and was hanging out either in a refridgerator or a freezer and was then chucked in a deep fryer for not even long enough to heat it through. Itold him to tell the waiter, but he wasn’t even up for getting into it with the guy. Did I mention this was late on a Sunday and the place was not even half full? No excuse for this. He ended up throwing half of it away.
I still give the place two stars because it wasn’t horrendous in terms of my food (although the pricing and service was pretty bad), and also because I tend to be overly generous… the food was decent enough, and I would consider getting delivery in the future, although it’s still overpriced, and in my husband’s case, not even fully cooked. I also happened to have better and cheaper Mexican food the day before at a place in Prospect Heights, so it can certainly be done.

Came here on a whim as a friend had a Groupon. Had some frozen margaritas, pina coladas, all the fun frozen drinks that are perfect for a hot summer day. Note that it was over 90 degrees, but we were fine in the garden as they have a nice tent that provides some much needed shade on days like that.
We split the stuffed avocado, which I thought was very good (with shrimp) and a steak quesadilla. The quesadilla was fresh and the steak was tasty, not rubbery or overdone like some places where they just try to hide the poor quality with cheese.
Service was fine, but my disclaimer is that I came at an off time in the afternoon (¾ish) so it wasn’t hugely busy and we definitely weren’t in any rush.

I’ll amend slightly to say that the food has gotten better since they opened. Still not great. The guac was much better on my most recent visit. Drinks are on point, though (love the margaritas!), and the staff is awesome. The atmosphere is great, you’ll feel like a regular after just one visit.

In case you did not know, I am a New Yorker and a Brooklyn Girl. While I roam the entire city in search of great food, I pay special attention to the eateries located in my home borough, so I was pleased to hear about the opening of a 5 Burro Café in Brooklyn. Earlier this year, I visited the the original 5 Burros location in Forest Hills, Queens which you can read about here.
The new 5 Burro is located on the Columbia Street Waterfront just south of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The park, which has a planned extension all along Columbia Street, offers spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. It is a perfect place to soak in that ‘New York!’ feeling.
The café is so new that it squeaks. Everything is shiny and new, even the staff. As I was seated, it became apparent that while the slightly worn, homey feeling of the original had not yet developed, the management had recreated the welcoming, local hang-​out vibe which characterizes 5 Burro Forest Hills. A key element is the great garden dining area. The garden practically begs you to linger over a few pitchers of margaritas with some good friends. It is equipped with a flat screen tv, heated tent, wooden deck and a mix of tables, both large and small. The garden also boasts a play area for toddlers which is a magnet for the stroller crowd before sunset.
The Burro still needs some breaking in. The waitstaff is pleasant and energetic, but still a bit uncertain. The kitchen is also still finding its feet. My food ranged from very right to wrong. I will note that the ‘wrong’ was apologetically and promptly corrected.
Between the great setting, welcoming vibe and good margaritas, I will definitely be back again to see 5 Burro hit its stride. Hope to see you there!

Great food, Friendly Staff and a wonderful patio. Try the steak salad!!!

I know… its new and its not the more established Forest Hills location. But its the same owners, the same chef and the same great food. It just needs to get up to speed because like any new place they need a little time to work out the bumps. But when I went during their first week of business the only thing lacking was that the waitstaff was new and they couldn’t get us our food as fast as they usually do back in the Forest Hills location. That’s understandable so if you are reading these reviews, I’d recommend you give this place a few chances to get up to speed… because it will. And wheen it does, you’ll want to be there on a regular basis.
On the night I went the food was all fresh, tasty and as excellent as I am used to eating at 5-​B | Forest Hills.
And I love that now I can enjoy it at this location too since I often find myself looking for food late at night in that area. I’ll be back… often I hope. And I’m looking forward to a hot summer day, just hangin at the bar and grabbing some Frozen Margaritas.

2.5 stars…
This is the second location for 5 Burro Café (the other is in Queens), they just opened here in the Columbia Waterfront District last month so obviously the place is spotless at the moment. The main dining room is pretty small as is the bar (which doesn’t have any beers on tap), it’s the back patio that really shines. The back patio «garden» has more than twice the tables and chairs as the indoor area, is mostly covered, and features a big flat screen playing sports. Part of the back patio is an uncovered area with a few tables and 3 picnic tables that are unusually short for adults and two Petanque courts (sort of like Bocce but different). Ok enough about the facts.
The prices here are pretty ridiculous. Their prices are the same (or very close to it) as the much better and bigger Alma a block away. And more expensive than my favorite Mexican restaurant in Greenwich Village, Florencia 13. We’re talking $ 14 for Enchiladas, Tacos, or a Burrito here. The portions were average and the taste just wasn’t there. The salsa they give you when you first sit down tastes and looks like canned salsa but the chips do taste homemade. I got the enchiladas which were 3 tiny tortillas rolled with nothing but slightly seasoned chicken inside topped with a watery and odd tasting red sauce. My friend’s $ 16 steak fajitas were boring and forgetful but the redeeming factor was the perfectly tender steak (the reason I rounded up from 2.5).
As far as drinks go the Margaritas (I had mine on the rocks) weren’t bad but weren’t amazing either and came to me served at room temp.
The people working here were very nice but the service was horrible. I asked for their 16oz ($ 8) Margarita but I got their smaller 8oz one ($ 5) but stuck with it anyway. The waiter also charged me $ 6 for it and I didn’t feel like arguing over if it was him or the menu that was wrong so I dealt with the mistake. The waiter also failed to let me know that they had specials (something I later found on a paper wedged between the salt shakers and the hot sauce). I finished my margarita early and was never asked if I wanted another one and overall the service was pretty inattentive at best. They do take cards which is nice but there really isn’t any reason for me to go back here, even though I live on the same block.

You know what I never ever do? Go to a restaurant during their first week. Sure, it might be cool to have that lovely «First to Review» tag on your review… but, you always get a frantic and incomplete version of the restaurant (kind of like when you review place based on it’s brunch service).
We went here this past Saturday for dinner and being that this was their first weekend service and they were quite busy I’m going to ignore a few service hiccups.
Five Burro (I kind of don’t want to write «5 Burro») is basic American-​style Mexican. They have a backyard that was crazy packed so we sat up front which I kind of think might have been the best choice. Lots of people watching and a great breeze coming from the harbor. It’s a fairly straightforward menu and they get points for good fish tacos (although the pork tacos were very dry).
The staff was friendly and took good care of everyone even though they were clearly swamped.
Compared to the rest of the offerings in the neighborhood, I don’t think it’s on the same level as Oaxaca, Calexico, Alma, or all my favorite places in Park Slope/​South Slope (although it’s light years better than Pacifco (the Joya of Mexican food)) but it is fine for fish tacos and beers and is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood.