I think our party may have tried everything on the menu? Or almost everything! Literally kept ordering more dishes because everything was so delicious! My out of town friends initially asked to come because of the jell-olives. It did not disappoint. The drinks were also delicious! The only not completely high note was the dessert but I think the fact that the starters, mains, and drinks were so so so delicious that it just did not compare. Will absolutely be recommending this place to everyone! If you go, we highly recommend the garlic knot monkey bread, fluke crudo, and bucatini con mackerel. (sorry we were too busy eating that I did not take pictures of all the items we ate but here are a few for reference)

Delicious and bold menu! The welcome drink was so special with picking your own glassware! The lemon bucatini was amazing especially! Love the funky decor and the fact that the servers were so knowledgeable about the menu! Will def come back!

Came with a group of 5 for a birthday so we did the prix fixe menu. That set up was perfect for us, you got to try 1-2 bites of every single item on the menu. Specifically, we LOVED the meatball dumpling with sesame and the lemon pasta were excellent. Two friends do not eat pork and they were flawless in respecting that and maintaining the integrity of the dishes. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic about the culinary work. The decor and vibes are fun/kitschy, not your typical Italian spot with brick and old timey vibes, it’s modern and colorful. I would highly recommend a group dinner here.

Rebecca Gleason

The food was very good! It’s a bit pricier compared to the neighborhood/brooklyn but overall was very happy with the dishes. The different types of mole were really great. The cod was cooked so well. My partner and I ate up the food so quickly we didn’t have a chance to take pictures but the drinks were also unique. I really enjoyed the mezcal Negroni.

Elaine Broe

Just phenomenal Oaxacan food. Everything was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. Great service. Cocktails were balanced beautifully. Highly recommend the bone marrow (oh mah gawd) and we loved the Duck mole and the Atuna tostada. Also the chocolate cake at the end was sublime. Lastly as someone with celiac, this place was a dream. The chef is celiac so everything is gluten free, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’m putting this as a last note, because everyone will love this food, even without the gluten. It is stellar and my new favourite recommendation.

+2

Andrew Dabydeen

Probably one of my new favorite spots to get mole in NYC. All the dishes here were delicious and the cocktails were very unique. We only ordered one entree, one appetizer, and two cocktails but the bill was quite expensive as a warning beforehand. Will definitely come back to try out other mole dishes but nothing else on the menu really stood out. Would recommend if you’ve been thinking about stopping by however.

Heidi Liou

Highly recommend the Le Club drink! Great place to celebrate my birthday with a friend, they made it special :) Love the cozy atmosphere, there was plenty of indoor seating on a Thursday around 6:30pm. Our waitress was very friendly and gave great recs. I would definitely come back.

+8

Andrew Chang

Truly the best Mexican food I’ve had in the city so far. I didn’t know what to expect but the meats and flavor profiles were so developed. We had the tacos, bone marrow, Short rib, bass entree, scallops appetizer, and the rice pudding. Meat was juicy and smoked. Scallops were the softest most pure flavor I’ve had in a while and the spice completely opened up my palate. The bass with its accompanied salad was extremely intricate and well thought out to connect the two. Highly HIGHLY recommend Claro. Definitely coming back to explore the mezcal side of the menu.

+2

Jing Shu

Great Mexican place! It feels like authentic to me , reminds me of those fancy restaurants in Mexico City. I like everything we ordered. The scallop appetizer is very spicy 🌶️ though. Sweet potato taco is my partner’s favorite. Our entry is a trout, the fish skin is well cooked, and very crispy. The chocolate mole cake is my favorite. It’s very special. It’s very chocolaty, not too sweet and has a little bit salty taste. Also mezcal here is amazing 🤩

+1

Tyler Browne

Celebrated my 28th birthday here and it didn’t disappoint. As a Mezcal fan, I needed to experience the food and Mezcal tasting. It was such a delicious and unique experience to try the food and the different Mezcals. I didn’t know how different they can all taste. Had the best lamb tacos of my life here, the red rojo pork cheeks were to die for and the desserts were amazing - rice pudding for the win. Loved the heat and spice of all the food. Such a quality establishment and would love to dine here again.

+9

C Wong

Came here Father's Day for the set menu lunch and was blown away. I've never had mole before and this experience sets a really high bar for it. The mole with short ribs was the highlight, but honestly every dish was very tasty and flavor combinations that I've never had. Dessert capped off the meal perfectly, with fresh made churros, mezcal ice cream (whaaattt 🤯) and chocolate mole cake. Service was great, our server Alan was very attentive and offered to help take a group photo for us when we were done. Definitely coming back again! Parking around the area was not bad at all on a Sunday afternoon, easily find a spot half block away around the corner.

+7

Nicholas Montoya

The food here was excellent, the drinks were strong but creative and delicious. I personally enjoy that compared to other Michelin starred restaurants, its a more laid-back vibe while maintaining a high quality of food. The dishes are creative, perfectly proportioned and will leave you feeling like you want to try the other menu items the next time you come!

+1

Piggly Wiggly

I love the 3-course brunch. All food are really good and the price is very reasonable. I recommend pork cheek and short rib as main dish. I like the churro for dessert. The first appetizers are all really good and creative too. Definitely wouldn’t mind coming here again!

+2

Cal Vin

Claro was fantastic - $48 for a 3 course meal at brunch was such a great deal, especially for a Michelin star restaurant. We got the tostada de atun, masa pancakes, chilaquiles, and mole rojo for food. Favorites were the atun and the pancakes - highly recommend both. The chilaquiles were good but a bit salty and gets a bit tedious to eat by the end; overall still great though. Cocktails, we liked the San Pascqualito Rey a lot, for dessert, we got 1 of eat - my favorites were the gelato and the churros Would def come again!

+3

Café Mars is such a funky place from their creative dishes to their interior design. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming throughout our time there! My favorite was the girelle pasta. Very strong lemon flavor that reminded me of similar dishes I’ve tried in Italy. Overall, we thought they were all tasty but not too memorable. Ended up being pretty pricey for each person (I somehow forgot to take all photos, but we’ve ordered more than what’s shown here).

Everything that was breaded and fried were excellent— the asparagus, mushroom. The breading was so light and crunchy and flavorful, and perfect with all the sauces that came with it. The monkey bread was amazing with the garlic butter. The lemon pasta was great as well. Portion sizes are on the smaller side.

i loved this place! we came after searing an water review and really wanted to try the “whimsical” experience. we weren’t let down. the olives are fun and should be gotten. lean into it!!! if you’re not here for fun why are you here? after we really enjoyed the lettuce and the octopus with pepperoni. both not just satisfying but delicious. in terms of the pasta we got the girelle (lemon) and triangle penne (beef cheeks). i 10/10 recommend the triangle penne, but i do wish we got the waves (prawns) instead of the lemon. next we had the bluefish with kohlrabi agrodolce — SO GOOD. wow. who knew bluefish could taste so tangy and meaty and yummy? lastly - the strawberries and olive cake. the olive cake - being made literally with black olive purée - was a total winner. i also got an espresso martini with mine which was a little too bitter for my liking. other than that one drink - beverages were great. really like the candy with the check and the first welcome drink on the house. our only negative comment - just wish service was faster. it seems they have limited staff, and way too many tables for their small kitchen. we waited quite a long time between dishes and were there over 2 hours. not a big problem but would prevent us from dropping by on a weeknight again. all in all - a great new spot.

There are some amazing items on the menu. And the staff is fantastic. We ordered almost everything. Favorites included the jell-olives, the anchovies, the chicken liver mousse, the grilled octopus, the roasted kabocha, and for dessert, the breakfast in sicily. That said, the whole concept is a bit too gimmicky for me. Bottom line, I'm really glad I had a chance to check it out but it may be a while before I come back. It reminded me a little of when (back in the day) molecular gastronomy was all the rage.

Maria Amigon

Very cute little Mexican spot tucked in the middle of Gowanus. The service was honestly excellent, our server was super nice and really attentive. When I asked how he recommended eating the short rib mole, he told me, “Usually with a fork.” I had to laugh, I told him I’m Mexican and I’ve never heard of eating mole with just a fork. It needs a carb. Tortillas, rice… something. He smiled, went to the back, and brought me a whole order of tortillas. Very sweet. Now, the mole itself, it was good. Not great. Definitely not the best. I’ve been to Pueble and had my fair share of mole. It was a bit overpriced, but that’s probably the neighborhood and whatever rent they’re paying , I get it. Overall, the food didn’t impress me. It’s not a place I’d come back to, but the experience itself was good, and I genuinely appreciated the service.

Kevin Zeng

Claro is a restaurant that has been open for just over a year. The food is delicious and the staff are friendly. Claro is a restaurant that has been open for just over a year. The food is delicious and the staff are friendly. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an amazing brunch experience! — We arrived for an early brunch. Was wonderful, had an amazing date over The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. The ambiance is perfect for a date or a family gathering. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a great brunch spot in the area. If I could, I'd give Claro six stars. It's that good! — If I could, I'd give Claro six stars. It's that good! We arrived for an early brunch. Was wonderful, had an amazing date over. Claro is a new restaurant in the neighborhood and you should check it out if you haven't already! — Claro is more than just a place to eat - it's an experience worth living over and over again.

+14

The inside is cute and we appreciated the creativity! The food was 50/50: monkey bread and lemon pasta were ah-mazing and worth the trip! The fried figs, while individually delicious, was overall a clunky dish. The scallop dish missed the mark. The service was good, however, it was really odd to have the utensil drawer being restocked at our table multiple times during our meal.

The place is fun, the decor is great, the service was very attentive. Fun surprises, like a complimentary drink at the beginning of the meal. The cocktails had really strong flavors. The menu is interesting, features creative dishes that are well executed. The menu changes regularly which is great. Have been here twice and would come back again.

More fun than good. The quirky atmosphere and great service was unable to fully compensate for the meal - that while beautifully plated, failed to live up. The lemon lemon lemon pasta was the standout dish. Bring friends and a light mood and you will have a good time.

Saif Dia

TL;DR - Overpriced, with small portions, but they can fix things. I’ve been meaning to try Claro for a while, and finally had the chance to do so. A combination of location and dietary restrictions had limited me from doing so in the past. When I arrived, I found the menu was different from the one online (not a big issue), but while I was waiting to order, I saw the table next to me get the quail mole rojo and the duck mole negro. Though both dishes looked lovely, the portions did not seem commensurate with the prices, so I opted to order something from a different section of the menu. I went with the taco vampiro and the tuetano - bone marrow with black mole and tortillas. Which the waitress informed me would be sufficient for the amount of hunger I had. First up was the vampiro. It was three fried tortillas, with the beef and cheese filling between them, and then sauce drizzled on top. It was a good dish, but at $24 I definitely expected more beef on the inside. Next up was the tuetano. It comes with four tortillas, so you’d expect a decent amount of bone marrow, right? This one unfortunately came with barely enough for one tortilla, about a teaspoon full to be exact. When the waitress saw I was done, she asked me how it was, and I politely told her for the price its a very meager amount of bone marrow, she looked at the bone and seemed to acknowledge it with her facial expressions. I do get that it is tough to judge how much bone marrow is in a bone, but this was unacceptable. After I came back from washing my hands, she came and informed me that they’d be sending another one over (no apology mind you). The second one came and it was a by far better portion, maybe 5 times the amount of bone marrow, but it was definitely still a little short on marrow. There was enough to fill one tortilla, and if you’re rationing maybe two. Also, the mole was effectively a glaze on top that did not add anything to the dish. The restaurant is actually doing itself a disservice having this dish on the menu for $22. It’s nothing special, and too pricey for what it is. I was not even asked if I wanted anything else, not even offered the dessert menu. My bottle of water and cup were taken away and I was just given the cheque. I honestly felt ripped off spending $46 before tax and tip to end up eating 7 tortillas and a few fillings, leaving disappointed on many levels and hungry to boot. Service on the whole was good - it was kind that they sent a second bone marrow, but in retrospect it might’ve been better had they comped it and I just left as quickly as they apparently wanted me to - but there is definitely room for improvement, in terms of speed too. Lastly, I was a little shocked that the man who appeared to be the manager simply said “thank you, see you back here soon”, as it felt as though there was a disconnect. The weird part is that I feel that there is potential in this spot, but it’s going to need either fixing the pricing, or adjusting the portions. However, I do not see myself coming back any time soon.

Rovik Robert

Point on dishes being priced highly for the amount of food provided is generally accurate here. Worse was that they sold out of a lot of food by 7pm which was surprising. Bone marrow was very good, and the rice pudding. Everything else was okay. Service can be a bit all over the place here as well.

Dawn Chin

Miserly portion(s). $9.00 guacamole was a few ounces in a (literal) side sauce dish. Runny consistency. Tostado de tuna was also a comparatively small portion at 26.00. As a native, the quality does not deliver the 5-star price point that this establishment is trying for. Service and host were friendly. Good location.

Food_travel_girl

Simply my type of restaurant. Food was bland, not interesting at all, simply just not tasty. For an oaxacan restaurant it’s considered only an alright restaurant. Service was extremely slow. We waited 40 minutes for our main and another 20 min for dessert. I really question why it could possibly be so slow. Only thing I can say it is very affordable for lunch and that’s great. I really question their star.

+3

Miguel Quijada

We were really excited to try Claro and went in with high expectations, especially considering its former Michelin star and all the great reviews. We live in New York and dine at Mexican restaurants often, so we were hoping for an experience on the level of Quique Crudo, Oxomoco, or Casa Enrique. Unfortunately, we left quite disappointed. While the ingredients seem to be of good quality, none of the dishes we tried really lived up to the hype, and the value for money felt quite low, with portions being very small. For the same price, we’ve had far more satisfying and well-executed meals at places like those mentioned above. Service and ambiance were both fine, but overall the restaurant felt overrated. It’s not a bad spot, but we’d recommend thinking carefully before spending this much here, especially with so many higher-quality Mexican options available in the city.

Shaun Seukumar

A Disappointing Fall from Grace: Loyalty Lost at Claro As loyal patrons of Claro for seven years—visiting 10-20 times annually—we considered it our go-to spot for Oaxacan cuisine in Brooklyn. After a nearly two-year hiatus, we returned expecting an old favorite. Instead, we found a restaurant we barely recognized. The Claro we once loved, a hub of passion and creativity, has been replaced by a "business-oriented" model. The vibrant, experimental spark that made its Oaxacan food a highlight is gone. The most glaring issue is the elimination of their brunch service. Claro's brunch was, in our opinion, the restaurant at its most inventive. Its absence is a massive loss and perfectly illustrates this new, less creative direction. We have to assume this shift is connected to why they lost their Michelin star in 2023. This new, profit-first feeling is hammered home by the menu. The portions are shockingly small for the high prices—a complaint we'd never had before. To add insult to injury, we recognized multiple items on the dinner menu that were staples of their old brunch service, now listed at nearly double the price. We left feeling not just underwhelmed, but deeply disappointed and frankly, ripped off. Claro was once a gem. Now, it feels like it has cashed in its soul, and that was our last visit.

Stephen Lloyd Helper

Bland Mexican food, despite the enticing menu descriptions. I'm talking BLAND. The bartender agreed saying "it's bring your own hot sauce" when we asked for it and the maitre d' said they didn't have any. And the prices are outrageous. Absolutely outrageous. My partner and I had two drinks at the bar - while they tasted good, it is clear they hold back on the alcohol. No buzz at all. Just as bad, when we arrived without a reservation, the maitre d' said they were fully booked until 7:30 but we could sit at the bar which we did. There were still FIVE empty tables inside and more outside when we left at 7:15. In short, from our experience, there is nothing to recommend this place.