It seems like hip restaurants come and go in Williamsburg, and the ones with staying power continuously seem to have a loyal fan base. De Mole is one of those places. This is the restaurant’s second location, the first being in Woodside, Queens, so their success speaks for itself.
The newest iteration of this mole-focused concept sits on the quiet, cozy corner of Metropolitan and Hope Street, smack in the middle of one of the coolest areas in Williamsburg.
Here’s what we ate:
Beet Ricotta Salad
Hunks of roasted beets are nestled atop fresh ricotta and frisée and garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds and thinly sliced pears. Not an avid lover of beets, I really enjoyed how this dish was put together.
Ceviche
Flaky white fish ceviche is poached in fresh lime juice, diced up and mixed with the classic elements of tomato, cilantro, and onion. This dish takes it one step further with the addition of cuucmber, avocado and jalapeno, and it is well balanced and satisfying.
Cocktail Camarones
A twist on a classic shrimp cocktail, the shrimp are elegantly positioned amid a house-made cocktail sauce and garnished with cilantro, avocado and a saltine cracker, which may sound odd but really worked. While the two raw fish dishes are similar, both are different enough in their flavor profiles so as not to be redundant.
Chicken Mole
Decadent and rich, this mole dish was everything it should be. The moles here take 3 days to make, and the nuance in the flavors shows. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and the simple side of rice and beans made it an unfussy, home-cooked dish that checked all the right boxes.
Overall, if you live in Williamsburg, you should absolutely check out De Mole. It’s subtle hospitality and excellent food will solidify it as your go-to neighborhood joint.
