Bite Of The Day: A Family Feast At El Acuario

If you’ve never stopped into El Acuario (1217 Church Avenue between Westminster and Argyle Roads), you might be interested to hear it’s a great alternative to spots farther south of the park. For Caton Park or Prospect Park South residents especially, or just for folks who can’t summon too much excitement over various Cortelyou, Coney Island Avenue, or Newkirk spots, El Acuario is a fantastic place to get your belly filled.

The restaurant is owned and operated by Ernesto and Maria Rebollar, who serve mouthwatering authentic Mexican food. On the recent afternoon when my three sons and I enjoyed their fare, Maria acted as waitress, server, and chef. She uses basic ingredients like corn meal to create magic, as with the above tamales, which melted in my mouth.

We ordered tortilla chips and salsa ($2.95) to start. The salsa was spicy enough to ignite a “who can go longest without drinking water” contest, but not so spicy that between the boys they couldn’t finish off both bowls. (The contest ended in a draw. Neither boy had any water before the food came out.)

The boys ordered burritos ($9.95-10.95)–the only Mexican food they know. The burritos were rated “actually a little better than Chipotle,” which is about the highest review you can get from a (or at least this) 13-year-old boy. El Acuario’s burritos come with guacamole, which is a plus.

I ordered the trio of sopes ($6): one pork, one refried beans, and one chicken. The crust was both soft and crispy at points–comforting and delightfully sinful.

The baby only likes flour tortilla tacos with ground beef and cheese. These aren’t on the menu (El Acuario’s regular tacos are $2.50 each or $9 for three with a side of rice and beans), but Maria was accommodating and I was grateful. The baby left satisfied.

El Acuario is a short walk from the B/Q at Church, and just around the corner from the B68 bus route. See their full menu here, then stop by to enjoy Maria and Ernesto’s delicious food from 3-11pm daily, or give them a call at 718-940-4999 for delivery, catering, or party rental information.