My Spot: Calexico In Red Hook, Brooklyn

Complex fashion editor Kelly McCabe swears by this low-key Mexican restaurant.

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What do the Complex editors do when they're not serving you with endless hours of entertainment? My Spot takes you inside some of their favorite destinations, both in the 'hood and around the globe.

Real estate brokers call it "Carroll Gardens" or "Cobble Hill West" (shit, real estate brokers might call it "Outer East Village"), and tough-guy hipsters who want to sound hard call it "Red Hook," but whatever its name (we're going with "Carobbled Hoolldens©"), the stretch of Columbia Avenue between Atlantic and Hamilton in Brooklyn has developed quite a little retail and restaurant scene in the past few years. Smack dab in the middle of said scene is Calexico, a Mexican restaurant that recently won Time Out New York magazine's Readers' Choice Award for "Best New Mexican Restaurant", and is also Complex Fashion Editor Kelly McCabe's (@kellycomplex) fave spot (and let's be honest, that's a much larger feather in an eatery's cap than some flimsy "Readers' Choice Award"). The down-to-earth atmosphere is great, the food's even better, and if you go there, you might meet the beautiful young lady who plays a major role in producing Complex's epically awesome fashion coverage. But let Kells explain why it's so dope, in her own words.

cracksauceTHINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
-Befitting its name, this joint has got the best carne asada in all of Brooklyn, hands down. Fucking amazing! Hella juicy, with major flavor (and you'll note that since I said "hella," I know what I'm talking about regarding Mexican food). Vegetarians are in for a treat, too, as they've got some amazing tofu as well as black bean tacos that vie for best in the borough.

-Vegetarian or not though, you need to try the Crack Sauce. They've got a sauce bar with the typical variety of Mexican flavors, but the Crack Sauce is a must-try. Trust when we say it's so appropriately named.

-This is a spot that began as a street cart that became a restaurant that recently became a restaurant that serves alcohol! Beer and sangria on deck.
calexicodine-They also just announced that they're opening another location in Greenpoint, sometime in October. Why not share the greatness, right?

- If you're not in the Carroll Gardens/Red Hook area but you're really trying to get down with some Calexico, don't sweat it because they've got meals on wheels. Food trucks are posted around the city. Check out CalexicoCart.com for locations.

calexicocart

Calexico
122 Union St (between Columbia and Hicks)
Brooklyn, NY 11231-2908
(718) 488-8226

What's your spot? Hit us at @ComplexMag and let us know by using the hashtag #myspot.

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