The Daily Catch

Restaurant Review: Sabroso’s Quesadilla, Chips, Decor and Service are Winners



Sabroso’s Fiesta Grande is a sampler of chimichangas, quesadillas, and nachos.

Sometimes a restaurant is about more than just food. It can be about charm or comfort or just the way it makes you feel. It can be about convenient opening hours. And it can be about expanding the cuisines and cultures to which you’re exposed. 

When you go to the Mexican restaurant Sabroso, located on a lonely stretch of Albany Post Road in Red Hook (at the site of the former sports bar Sidelines), you’ll get an experience that’s fun and vibrant and includes satisfying food, too. Sabroso, which literally means tasty in Spanish, is open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, a rarity for the area. And it offers an authentic Mexican option to supplement Cancun’s in the Village of Red Hook and Gaby’s in Rhinebeck, as well as Santa Fe in Tivoli.

I recently dined at Sabroso with a large group for a birthday party that included both adults and children, and you couldn’t ask for a more festive and inclusive atmosphere. A dazzling array of colorful murals fills the walls, authentic (and not too loud) Mexican music accompanies conversations with whimsy, and beautifully carved tables and chairs, painted in the bright Mexican palette for which the nation is known, adorn the dining room. There’s also a lively bar where standards like margaritas, sangria (fruity but not overly sweet) and beer are joined by a seemingly endless cocktail list that includes signature drinks: five different mojitos, specialty cocktails like a Tequila Sunrise (tequila, orange juice and grenadine) and a large number of rums, whiskeys and vodkas.  

It’s the kind of place where you can easily take a family with young children without feeling pressure to keep them quiet or entertained. The kids’ menu, which is expansive enough, includes a “kid-sized” quesadilla ($8.95) that is generous in size and comes with rice and refried beans. 

At the same time, you could also take your coworkers to Sabroso for an after-work drink. This may not be the place if you’re looking for an evening of culinary nirvana or a quiet, romantic date, but Sabroso fills a need in the community – and most everyone can feel comfortable and find suitable dining options.  

The service is cheerful and prompt, from host to manager to server, and you are immediately greeted with chips – the crispy, old-timey ones you get in a red plastic basket – and an onion-based salsa that’s a bit soupy but addictive, putting you in a happy place off the bat. The staff replenishes the chips throughout the meal; guacamole has to be ordered separately ($10.95 for a generous serving) but is bright and worthwhile.    

Sabroso’s decor was crafted and hand-painted by close friends of the owners’ family.

While the menu can be hit or miss, there are plenty of hits. I visited the restaurant again a few weeks after the party, and the chicken tacos ($16.95 including rice and beans) were flavorful and satisfying. The refried beans were creamy and perfectly spiced. The nachos, which came loaded with refried beans and cheese, were not fancy or artisanal, but nevertheless made for good comfort eating. Likewise, the cheese quesadilla was a winner, going down easy. 

The ceviche ($14.95), normally a traditional dish consisting of fish dressed in citrus, diced vegetables and seasonings, comes in an ample portion, but the presentation is closer to a salad than a typical ceviche, with large slices of onions, cucumber, tomato, and shredded lettuce. A sweet but tangy sauce delivers a kick so the dish leaves a hot, spicy zing that hangs on your tongue.   

Among the entrees, there were a few disappointments. The steak tacos, while tasty, could have used a bit more seasoning. The shredded beef in the chimichanga also tasted like tough brisket.  

Sabroso offers a range of desserts that can extend the festivities even longer. The flan ($7.95), a traditional caramel pudding, was cool and custardy to the bite, dressed in a sweet sauce with hints of amaretto. I could have gobbled up the whole dish, which was easily big enough for two to share. Similarly, one order of churros with ice cream ($8.95) would easily feed a family of five and was inhaled by children and adults alike. 

Considering the portion sizes, it’s worth adding that my leftovers held nicely the next day. 

In the end, Sabroso, while not a fancy dining experience, is a solid Mexican restaurant, a comforting and upbeat neighborhood staple that offers a refreshing departure from the other culinary options in Red Hook. The restaurant, which opened in September 2021 by the team of Elida Contreras, husband Carlos Contreras, Carlos’ brother Jose, and Andres and Reynaldo Godinez, is the group’s third in the Hudson Valley, and a welcome addition to the area. You’ll be treated well there, and will likely want to return. 

ALL IN THE DETAILS:
Sabroso Mexican Restaurant
Address: 7909 Albany Post Road, Red Hook
Phone: 845-835-8015
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday/Saturday
Number of seats: 99
Price range: $6.95 for soup to $35.95 for a large paella
Alcohol served: Yes
Party facilities: Yes
Wheelchair-accessible: Ramp to enter restaurant
Outdoor seating: Available on porch 
Take-out available: Yes
Website: www.ordersabrosomexicanrestaurant.com/

2 responses to “Restaurant Review: Sabroso’s Quesadilla, Chips, Decor and Service are Winners”

  1. Tracie Dedrick says:

    I’m happy to see a review for Sabrosa’s, finally. I have eaten there a number of times, and it was tasty every time!! With that said, I always wonder why the parking lot is so empty. There must be a curse on that place since Maty’s, lol
    On there 1 year anniversary, they even had a mariachi band – excellent!!

  2. John Rossi says:

    Just catching up to your review and wanted to say thank you for including accessiblity.

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