Some people say this is among the best Blockheads locations, and others, of course, loathe it
What else
Blockheads
Category:
Mexican
499 3rd Ave(between 33rd St & 34th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill, Kips Bay
(212) 213-3332
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
33 St.28 St.Grand Central - 42 St.
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 11 pmFri-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
- $$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
325 reviews for Blockheads
Review Highlights What's this?
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"The margaritas and mojitos are really cheap and really good." In 109 reviews -
"The nachos with beef and their burritos were phenomenal." In 54 reviews -
"Make sure to try the Black Flower (half-margarita, half-sangria." In 13 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
325 reviews in English
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Review from Crystal S.
Manhattan, NYI may be the outlier here, but I came here as a midday bar recco from a Lady Footlocker employee.
As usual, I dined alone. Monday evening around 5pm and it was fairly empty. The hostess asked me where I preferred to be seated and I got a fairly quiet table in the back. The free chips and salsa were really good. I ordered the double taco plate. One fish, one steak and a few Coronas. I enjoyed it all. The waiter was super attentive and the food/drinks came quick. As was said before, it's no West Coast Mexican food, but I really can't complain. It all had surprisingly good flavor!
Great prices and good Mexican food?
Would recommend -
Review from Elizabeth J.
Staten Island, NYI came here on a Wednesday afternoon, around 7 for an impromptu dinner with a friend. It was packed, which to me, was a good sign. We had to wait about 15 minutes to get a table, which wasn't too bad, the weather was nice and the minutes flew by. I wasn't starving, anyway.
So we get in and they stick us at this table against the wall with about a foot of space between us and the next table. We were so tightly squeezed in that we had to move the table whenever we needed to get up. OK, whatever. I guess they were going for the cozy effect? If they were, they failed miserably, because the music was blaring so loudly that I had to shout over the tiny table just so my friend could hear me. I kinda forgot about the cramped quarters when the waitress brought over a basket of tortilla chips and some pretty good salsa. At least the chips were warm, and the salsa had a little kick, which I like. I can't stand bland salsa. Anyway, then our waitress comes by with the menus. I don't know about you, but dining out is an experience for me. I need to make sure I'm going to the right place, with the right people, the right time according to what I feel like eating, etc. Before I got there, being that this was my first time there, I was like "Mexican restaurant? I bet they have really good Chile Rellenos..." and I was thinking about how good they would taste before I got there. Sadly, no such thing when I read the menu.
They had what I would call your "cliche" idea of authentic Mexican food is... tacos, burritos, nachos grande, quesadillas, taco salads, regular salads and the like. So to be safe, I went with the beef picadillo quesadilla, which is a cheese quesadilla with ground beef, and to drink, a smoothie type alcoholic drink with a bottle of Corona suspended upside down in the cup.... great presentation, very tasty, and basically two drinks in one for maybe $8. Not bad. We got our drinks first, which we downed in about a minute because we were trying to figure out if there was any alcohol in them at all (there obviously was, it just tasted that good).
Then, we got our food. It was a pretty generous portion, four thick slices of quesadilla with sour cream on the side. My friend ordered a quesadilla with black beans inside. I dug into mine, and was disappointed that it didn't look like how it tasted. It had this sweet aftertaste that I didn't like, but hey, at this point, we were slightly buzzed. Did I mention the tortilla was slightly burned? I guess they were going for a "blackened" effect? I don't know, but may I just say that restaurants who are well known for their drinks, or bars that serve entrees shouldn't assume that everyone is drunk so they won't be able to tell if something is seasoned properly, or not care because it's food, and well, food tastes better when you've been drinking because your taste buds are slightly numb due to the alcohol. We know exactly what you're doing, and we probably won't come back. Unless your drinks are really good. I'm just saying. Anyway... we ordered another drink.
This time we went for the Patron flavored slushy with the Corona in it. It was strong, and good. Then, after the drinks were done, we were waiting. And waiting. And waiting for any sign of our waitress. I think she was the only waitress that night, no lie. She was gone so long that I was starting to lose my buzz, and a migraine had begun to immobilize me. It had to be about 45 minutes after we finished our drinks that she showed up, and asked if we were ready to leave. Hell yeah!! Now I'm tired, I have a migraine, and I'm pissed that I felt like I wasted my time coming here because the night didn't end on a good note.
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Dear Blockheads,
I know you value my business. Let's make a deal. I will become a repeat customer if you agree to the following terms:
a) Turn down the music.
b) Try to add more variety to the menu, or perfect what you do offer so that you'll always be the reference for good Mexican/American food.
c) Beef up (no pun intended) your waitstaff. Maybe one two or three more people would keep the customers happier? If you'd like, I know someone who needs a job... (who doesn't?)
I'm looking forward to a progressively better relationship in the future. We'll be in touch.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
(thanks for reading =) )-
Beef Picadillo Quesadilla -
Two Drinks In One! Delicious!
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Review from E K.
New York, NYI've been here before for drinks and their margaritas are excellent. But that was 4 years ago. Came through this Friday night and was stopped at the door when my date and I mentioned we were just there for drinks. They said that all tables need to order food as well. Since we already ate, we opted to leave. Wasn't too happy but tried to understand they were trying to make money. Just read the review below and notice that a pretty blonde was allowed to go in for JUST drinks and now I feel like a second class citizen.
Fat black girl and black bouncer and the door. Unfair treatment, by letting some people in and saying no to others for drinks is not right. Should I cry hate crime or racism like you guys do? -
Review from J T.
ASTORIA, NYIt is loud and you will not be able to have a conversation without screaming. So why the 4-stars? I love their margaritas and they fact they are cheaper than other places makes me love it.
The food is not terrible either. I love their burritos and chips/salsa. Don't expect Southern California (aka West Coast) flavors but this is definitely as close as I have come on the East Coast (including Burrtio Box which is more of a take-out joint). -
Review from Kristina C.
ASTORIA, NYBlockheads has really good frozen drinks! I had some sort of vodka and pink lemonade frozen drink which was so good. Yummm.
The burritos are also very good. I had the veggie burrito and it was very big and filling. Plus it comes with sauce on the side. Different burritos come with different sauces! -
Review from Lauren A.
New York, NYI came here for drinks on a Saturday night and I was not disappointed. I got a frozen margarita with an extra float of tequila on top and strawberry flavoring - only $8, and it was a decent size, too! I was definitely feeling buzzed afterwards. The plain frozen margarita is $4 - you can't beat that!!
The inside was crowded but they were able to seat us outside immediately. Our waiter was prompt and polite and didn't mind that we were just there for drinks. Like many Mexican restaurants, they serve you chips and salsa - this was not very good here. The chips almost tasted stale and the salsa was spicier than I expected (I'm not a fan of spicy). I can't comment on the real food since we didn't order any. But I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun atmosphere and cheap yummy margaritas! -
Review from Molly G.
New York, NYHaving been to various Blockheads before, I knew what to expect. So-so Mexican food, a fun atmosphere, and solid drinks. On my most recent visit, however, I was beyond disappointed, and will hopefully never have to go back.
A group of four of us arrived at 6pm on a Saturday night (early, I know), and were seated right away. We were sat at high top smack in the middle of the server station and the entrance, which I wasn't too happy with.
We each ordered grande flavored magaritas, which were served in clear plastic cups, with the flavored syrup sitting at the bottom of the cup. Not good. There also didn't seem to be much alcohol in the drinks. Our chips were served in a sealed plastic bag - like a bag of chips that you buy at the deli. Salsa came in a covered plastic ramekin.
Everyone ordered various burritos. They came out folded in half, not rolled like a burrito usually is, and were hardly filled on the inside. I was surprised that many items - fajitas, taco salad, etc., - were no longer on the menu, and as a vegetarian I was at a bit of a loss about what to order as there weren't many options, not even a veggie burrito (though they did have a spinach one, which is what I ordered).
It was just under $100 for four of us, so it is definitely on the cheaper side, but Blockheads has definitely gone downhill and I will not be returning. Caliente Cab Co. across the street is a much better option.-
How our chips were served - in a bag!!!
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Review from Melissa V.
Manhattan, NYI would normally shout, " I LOVE Blockheads," from the top of my tiny apartment. But, this location has a really strange business model. I have attempted on 4 separate occasions - 2 PM, 4 PM, and 10 PM - with groups ranging from 2 people to 6 people to sit down - anywhere - for drinks. They would not seat us unless 1/2 of the group ordered entrees. Since when?
We are going to drop money on plenty of margs and then there is an 80% chance we will order your delicious appetizers. Why don't you want my business?? -
Review from Joe L.
Philadelphia, PAI don't understand the draw to this place. There are people waiting outside almost everyday. I live down the street and been a couple times, and each time was bad.
Service: Slow. The handful of times I've been there it has been awful. It takes forever to just get water and their (bagged) chips out.
Food: Mediocre. Nothing wowed me. People mainly come here for the cheap drinks, which is fine but you would expect at least the nachos to be good...wrong.
If you are just looking for cheap drinks I would just recommend going to bar and not having to wait for mediocrity. -
Review from Chris E.
Queens, NYI have never heard of Blockheads until last year when a co-worker invited me to her birthday dinner at this particular location. It was a Saturday night and the place was crowded. Some people in our party arrived earlier and we were given this chip after putting down a name. They don't allow your group in unless everyone's there. This location is bi-level. We were seated upstairs. The space and atmosphere is like a grittier version of Chevys, to me at least.
I had the chorizo quesadilla and a couple of frozen mango margaritas. The quesadilla was okay- it wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. The frozen margaritas were great and gave me quite a buzz after 3 rounds.
I've been here one more time after and had more of their frozen margaritas and a burrito. The burrito was okay but filling and the frozen margarita was just as good as the first time.
The service the first time was good but the second time it wasn't that good (maybe because the first time, I was with a larger group?)
This is definitely a place for friends who feel like eating Mexican food that isn't very that great or expensive. I'd come back here- mostly for their cheap frozen margaritas. -
Review from Tara G.
Dartmouth, MAWe came here on Sunday and it was busy but not jam packed. Our server was very nice but not super attentive. The food was ok, nothing fabulous. My margarita was very good and strong. For the price of $40.00 plus for two burritos and one large margarita I would not be coming back. There are other restaurants in the city that serve much better Mexican food for a better price. -
Review from Kassie C.
Emporia, KSMet up with a friend here for drinks after seeing a show, and I was due to head back to Boston in a matter of hours so we needed something quick. This did the trick! Good drink, decent service, and good prices. -
Review from Erica R.
All I can remember was that my bill was $125 and there were 5 of us at the table and we all went home with a buzz, hungry and very happy!
LOL, we all will be returning.
Great staff, great frozen cocktails and quick service. I had the Pink Cosmo Frozen Cocktail and it was FABULOUS ... -
Review from Jennifer K.
Forest Hills, Queens, NYMy first Blockheads location! I was introduced to this place by a friend since we were poor recently graduated 20-something year olds. This place is a perfect place to have some tasty burritos and strong bulldogs. The only downside is that this location is extremely popular, so if you want a table, get here EARLY.
The food is nothing spectacular, but it's good and the portions are HUGE. The drinks are cheap and delicious (I love the pink and red bulldogs), and of course, as per any Mexican joint, you get free chips and salsa before you're served your meal and drinks.
Overall, I've never had a bad time at any Blockheads location, so I will always recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone!
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