Chappaqua’s up-and-coming restaurant – Mexcellent Deli – has had quite the positive buzz surrounding its fresh food and quick service. Taking the spot of our beloved Villerinas, just across from Starbucks, Mexcellent had big shoes to fill when moving into this new location.
We were pleasantly surprised by how kind the staff was; they accommodated our dietary restrictions, gave us a free churro, and were most amiable at the register.
Chips and guac can say a lot about a Mexican restaurant, and it was exciting to see that Mexcellent Deli gave us a lot of it! The guacamole had a bright and colorful presentation that appealed to us. Although we were slightly disappointed to find that the guac was a bit over-mashed, the generous amount of tortilla chips made up for this. The sliced skirt steak on top of the mango salad was nothing short of delicious: perfectly seasoned and sensationally seared. It was surely the highlight of this dish. It paired perfectly with the fresh avocado, the sweet mango, and the peppery arugula. At first, we were a bit hesitant about the consistency of the sesame dressing, so we refrained from mixing it throughout the salad. We quickly concluded that the dressing was too heavy and did not fit with the salad’s other components. If you order this salad, we recommend you substitute the dressing with something lighter.
Now, onto the entrées. How could you skip tacos at a Mexican restaurant? We knew we couldn’t pass on pork and cilantro tacos with a double tortilla. While the pork was perfectly cooked, iit lacked flavor. Even the addition of the salsa verde over the taco did not suffice for the slacking taste. The most exciting flavor in this taco was the unexpected kick. The side of rice and beans that accompanied the tacos, however, tasted amazing; make sure you try it with some of the salsa verde – trust us. Overall, the pork tacos were pretty mediocre.
Speaking of spice, we were pleasantly surprised by the hot cherry peppers in the “Netos Sandwich. ” Besides the potential of you reaching for a jug of water after the first bite, you will find that this sandwich contains the perfect combination of flavors. One bite will include layers of chicken cutlet, some red onions, lettuce, tomato, and salt and pepper (and mayo, which we declined due to allergies). Despite the ever so slightly soggy chicken cutlet, we give Mexcellent credit for this sandwich after finding ourselves continuing to pick it up.
If Mexcellent were a movie, the “Yankees Panini” would be the star of the show. Although some may consider it basic, nothing tops a classic mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato, and balsamic between thin, hot-pressed slices of bread. We split the panini, and the commendable staff took considerate notes of allergens and set our sandwiches aside in separate wrappings. Just so you don’t forget: do not skip the Yankee!
And for everyone’s favorite part – dessert! Just like the tacos and the chips and guac, we felt that churros from a Mexican restaurant were a must-order. This little sweet treat felt like an added reward after all of the savory goodness we had just consumed! The man behind the counter informed us that the churros were not your standard churro — they were cream-filled — and made for a delicious after-dinner treat. They should definitely be on your ‘to try’ list.
We can all agree that Mexellent had some large shoes to fill when replacing our beloved Villarinas. We can already predict that this relatively new deli is promising for the Chappaqua community. Lots of the dishes have changed with the new owners, but the friendly service has remained a constant. However, if you ask us, although Mexellent has some great dishes, it just can’t quite beat its predecessor.
Overall, we were satisfied with the food we ate, even though it was a bit costly. The bill was higher than your typical deli, even taking into consideration the abundance that we ordered for the sake of this review. At Mexcellent Deli – and practically all restaurants – your food experience is dependent on what you order. Like always, even if you aren’t completely satisfied with your food, great service while you order and pay have you walking out the door feeling good. So, what’s your favorite part of Mexcellent Deli?
⭐⭐⭐ 3.3/5
