by C. Garrett Keidel, Sports Editor
Manhattan College students have love supporting local businesses, whether it’s a favorite deli, pizza place or coffee shop; and whenever a new establishment opens up, the excitement builds in the hopes it becomes a local favorite.
Recently, a new restaurant has popped up on Broadway called Estrellita Poblana. Located at 5975 Broadway, the restaurant is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is located only a short walk away from Lee and Horan Halls.
As an ‘Express Taqueria’, this new establishments sets out to be a local place to get authentic Mexican cuisine. And with its close proximity to campus and the 1 train 242nd street stop, this restaurant hopes to be budding with Jaspers.
The Ambience
When you walk in to Estrellita Poblana, you’re greeted by a fairly small and cozy location with a small dining section at the front of the restaurant. You have the option of having a sit-down dining experience or take out.
The overall feel of the restaurant is quaint and cozy. The decor is very stereotypical mexican restaurant. Manhattan Students will feel very welcome having a sit down meal with friends, roommates and the like with the non-intimidating and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant.
The Menu
Students will feel very comfortable looking at the menu filled with traditional mexican dishes. There’s a large yet manageable variety of options including empanadas, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, tamales, fajitas, other soups and sandwiches and, of course, tacos.
All of these items have a variety of options so that everyone can find exactly what they’re looking for. For example, you can have any variety of fillings for your tacos including steak, chorizo, fish, shrimp, carnitas and chicken.
Price ranges are also very modest for students looking to shop and eat at local restaurants. Appetizers start at the very affordable price of $2.50, while entrees and the like start around the $9 to $15 price range.
For Dinner: Tacos de Pescado
On the night of Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2019, I decided to skip Locke’s Loft and try out Estrellita Poblana for the first time. I was in the mood for some tacos, so I knew I would try out one of the various options of tacos. I ended up ordering the Tacos de Pescado or ‘Fish Tacos.’ The preparation of the food was “3 Baja Style Fish Tacos with Avocado Pico De Gallo and Chipotle Sour Cream Sauce on Flour Tortillas” and tasted absolutely wonderful. The baja style breading on the fish was crispy and tasted extremely fresh along with the avocado pico de gallo. And the chipotle sauce added the perfect amount of spiciness to the dish that made it extremely satisfying.
The tacos themselves were rather large and substantial filled to the brim with all of the ingredients. I went in rather hungry and was extremely satisfied with only three tacos to eat. With the Tacos De Pescado costing $13.95, I was also not disappointed and thought that you get exactly what you pay for if not more.
Overall Insight
With all things being considered, I would definitely go back and eat again at Estrellita Poblana and I encourage other MC students to do so as well. The food and service is good, mine being prepared in roughly the same amount of time it would take to get a sandwich at a local deli, if not slightly quicker. The price point is roughly the same as well, meaning you do not have to break the bank in order to get more variety in food options near campus.
Estrellita Poblana is a great option for MC students looking to try some new food near campus. With its accessible location along with its affordable pricing and options, students should be able to find exactly what they’re looking for. And for an extra special tip, if you’re not in the mood to sit down in the restaurant or wait there while your food is being prepared for you, order online ahead of time and just pick it up in location when its ready!