Bar San Miguel - Carroll Gardens

This place was GREAT. I don't often say that (I'm difficult). I am quite particular about Mexican food, and I have celiac disease, so I have to check out a place very carefully before I can go. I go to Mexican places often because the cuisine offers more dishes that are likely to be gluten free by default than many other culinary traditions (plus, I just love it). Bar San Miguel was highly recommended on a celiac chat site, so I made reservations for dinner for my husband's birthday. First of all, let's just say, outstanding, authentic Mexican cuisine, all around, just to get that out of the way. Everything was amazing. Everything from the guacamole and chips to enchiladas, salsas, etc. were just a little better and a little more special than anywhere else we had had them before. There were also some little modern updates/surprises: instead of Mexican rice , the side dish with my dinner was a quinoa dish. It was quite good. Next: super friendly staff. Our waiter was so helpful and knowledgeable. He immediately alerted me to something I was about to order that he knew to be at risk for cross contamination before it even occurred to me to ask. He already knew the entree I wanted (short ribs with mole) had no flour in the recipe, but he checked with the chef to be sure. For dessert, they had a flourless chocolate cake that was (for once) not bitter and not too acidic (because flourless chocolate cake usually is both), and also not too sweet, with just the right pop of cocoa -- fantastic. I will definitely be visiting Bar San Miguel again when I am on your side of the Hudson and East Rivers.