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Vicente's Mexican + Hookah (676 Franklin next to Indian restaurant) is going, going.... - Page 2 — Brooklynian

Vicente's Mexican + Hookah (676 Franklin next to Indian restaurant) is going, going....

2

Comments

  • goldemi1
    goldemi1
    Ate from there twice (once inside, once delivery) this weekend, and visited twice...friday and saturday for world cup.   

    The food is actually quite good and reasonably priced. But man, it really feels like they want the food to be a secondary part of the concept which is a shame. 

    I say this because on Saturday when I went in to catch a cup game, there was a dj with music blasting, I mean you could barely hear the waitress.  Guys in front were smoking some nasty strawberry stuff.   Very disappointing that a Mexican joint would have the volume off for a soccer game, and rap music on blast.  It was intolerable, I quickly finished my beer, had my food wrapped up, and took it home to watch the 2nd half. I wonder if they figure it'll be too hard to compete with the other Mex places around on food alone, and hope that smoking will be the draw.  Really too bad, I'd be a regular here for the food, but the music / smoke would keep me away.



  • dac545
    dac545
    Any interesting beer or just basic Mexican fare? 
  • goldemi1
    goldemi1
    Basic
  • mike dunlap
    mike dunlap
    Had lunch there a few days ago. Nothing special but not bad either... pretty typical Mexican food restaurant. Which is better than I suspected given its Indian ownership and hookah bar description.

    I actually wonder how often the hookahs will be used. They have nice TVs, decent food, and a bar. It should be a place to sit and watch a game over tacos and beer. The hookahs really aren't necessary.
  • Schmu
    Schmu
    Just a suggestion to whoever opens a new restaurant in the area, MIDDLE EASTERN.  Fez opened and closed and was a bit of a disappointment. Other than hiking over to Vanderbilt I haven't found a decent Mediterranean/M.E. restaurant in the area. Would love some good Zaatar bread, lentil soup, shepherd's salad etc. 

    Just a suggestion. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    A Greek place is in the works
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    OMG GREEK!!!!!!!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    Greek:

    http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44167/710-franklin-at-park-pl-is-becoming-greek-food/p1

    (note, this place ultimately did not become greek)
  • goldemi1
    goldemi1
    edited June 2014
    I guess mediterranean is an ok backup to good middle eastern, but by no means a replacement.
      i agree though, totally wanted middle east food, and Fez disappointed.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I think Vicente's best move would be to remove all references to hookah on its advertising and awning.

    It could become the local bland, somewhat cheesy mexican place

    ... our version of Burrito Bar (in Prospect Heights, on Flatbush)
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited July 2014
    Today, Ms Whynot and I ate at Vincente's.

    11 very local places eaten at!

    There were hookahs on display, but not in use. It is not operated by the folks who run the Indian place next door.

    The food was standard Mexican fare. A little bland. Good air conditioning.

    Nostrand and Lincoln is next.
  • tateinbk
    tateinbk
    I want to edit their menu.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    Were you an English major?

    After an intial period of being "checked out" by locals who had not tried it yet, I am seeing this place struggle.

    Many tables are empty during WEEKEND dinner hours, it doesn't seem to be making up for that via a busy delivery business, and I am only seeing a few stools occupied at the bar.

    Is this me being a pessimist, or are other people seeing similar things?

    Note: I want them to succeed.
  • tateinbk
    tateinbk
    I was not an English major.  :)  The place is contradictory from the beginning.  The front of the menu states it's Autentica Comida Mexicana, but the menu items don't feel terribly authentic Mexican.  So I'm left wondering if they don't know what authentic Mexican food is or they think no one else does.  Either way it doesn't put them in a good light.

    If you go by the Tex-Mex/American food items nothing looks particular inventive.  Considering this lack of creativity the prices are far too high.  It seems like they didn't consider their proximity to Chavelas and Gueros.  More authentic is covered by the former and the in the hand tacos by the latter.  Tex/Mex can run the risk of making all the food sound the same.  Protein, rice, lettuce, tomato, onions, cilantro.  If you're not going to make it interesting, make it cheaper and go with that.  American/Mexican seems like a good idea, but they need to lower prices on appetizers and soups for example.  

    When items are creative they seem to be in really weird, unappetizing ways.  Take the Mole Poblano.  "Pueba (sic) style Mole with Chicken in a light sweet red sauce, Made with Mixed Peppers, Sesame Seeds, Raisins, and Almonds."  Why is a mole sauce light, sweet, and red?  Calling the dish Mole Poblano would indicate the main ingredient is poblano peppers, but the description includes chicken.  I'm not a Spanish speaker, but it seems like the title should instead be Chicken Mole with Poblanos, except there is no specific mention of poblanos in the dish, just mixed peppers.  And perhaps most importantly, what are sesame seeds doing in "authentic" mexican food?  

    I haven't even tried the food.  If they're not clear on the important part of their meals and what is in them I'm not going to bother.  Half the nouns are in English, half in Spanish, most of the nouns are capitalized and others later on aren't at all.  I find it all very distracting.  

    And yeah, I don't ever see people in there.  Somehow they need to figure out who they are and clean up the menu.  The bottled beers are pleasantly affordable for the neighborhood, but they're not enough to pull in customers.  
  • mike dunlap
    mike dunlap
    The first mental images of the place are hookah smoke and Indian food.  That's a really bad way to sell Mexican food.  They might have a good delivery business if the food is good, but who is the target market for hanging out at an Indian/hookah-Mexican food restaurant/bar?  
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1268987&licenseType=RW

    This place has way too much local competition to be anything but a back up when the other places are full.

  • rogers_sterling
    rogers_sterling
    I walk by the place every day and it seems dark, sketchy, and the music is too loud. It reminds me of places I'd see under the 7 Train on Roosevelt Ave in Queens. At least if this were on Roosevelt I'd know the food would be legit. That said, if it's attracting a significant clientele, then I'm all for it since a thriving business is a good thing for Franklin Ave regardless of whether I personally want to frequent it.
  • montREALady
    montREALady
    We ordered (delivery) here shortly after it opened and didn't like it. The food was lackluster. My boxed Goya comes out better than their rice. We haven't tried since.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    As expected, Vicente's Mexican Hookah is not long for this world.

    An entity is presently talking with the landlord about renting the space it occupies.

    ...presumably Vicente will close if the deal is sealed.

    But fear not, if you are worried about only having about a dozen mexican places after this closes, another Mexican place is in the process of opening: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/comment/559461#Comment_559461
  • newguy88
    newguy88
    I'm not surprised a group of friends and I wanted to go get some nachos as well as smoke some hookah a couple weekends ago. We tried calling a couple times and couldn't get anyone to answer.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    @newguy88 -
    I am surprised to learn that you and your friends enjoy nachos and hookah.

    ...but, like the existence of Bigfoot, I remain suspicious.

    Have you and your friends ever been captured eating nachos and smoking hookah in a photo that is not grainy, and not taken from 1000 yards?
  • nothinlikeabklyngirl
    nothinlikeabklyngirl
    But fear not, if you are worried about only having about a dozen mexican places after this closes, another Mexican place is in the process of opening: 
    And if you are worried about not having a place for hookah, Maxwell's on Kingston has a sign saying it -- and a full Spanish-American menu (Panamanian, not Mexican) -- are coming soon.
  • newguy88
    newguy88
    @whynot_31 A picture of our last group hang out. We are very very good at hiding from cameras in out of focus areas. image
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    Let me guess, the guy who took this photo is a hunter.

    And he and his dog had been tracking an animal's scent for 3 miles when they suddenly saw you guys in the distance and took this photo.

    He has had a few run ins with the law, including 3 DWI's, but other people in town (including the most trusted guy in town, the one who runs the hardware store) swear they have seen the same thing.

      
  • mike dunlap
    mike dunlap
    I noticed a few days ago the "Hookah" had been deleted from the front awning.

    I guess Franklin Avenue just isn't yet ready for the Mexican food + hookah concept.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2015
    Franklin Avenue might be ready, but those who frequent Franklin Avenue are not.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    Vicente's will reportedly continue to exist in the short term.

    The entity that was in talks with its landlord, was also in talks with the guy who runs Docklands. He choose Docklands.
  • goldemi1
    goldemi1
    Not sure any neighborhood anywhere is craving mexican + hookah.  Maybe moroccan/hookah.  Now that they lost the hookah and will try to compete on food/drink alone with the rest of the mex places around, it can only be a faster decline without Chef Ramsey coming in to overhaul it.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited August 2015
    The last few times I have walked by this place, it has been closed during the evening hours.

    This makes me believe we are seeing the some of the final circles around the drain.

    http://www.yelp.com/biz/vicentes-bar-brooklyn-14?sort_by=date_desc
  • goldemi1
    goldemi1
    Really too bad.  The partners from the Indian restaurant next door are great guys, living "hand to mouth" as he said.  This has to hurt.
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