Destino Restaurant                    Rating:  Excellent *****

1Church Street
Chatham, New York 12037
Tel. 518 392-6663
Hours; Monday--Sunday; 5:00-9:00

 Great Flavors of Mexican Food and Drink in the Hudson Valley



When you go to a restaurant that offers good fixings, and the food is so good and wholesome, you know your belly is in for a good culinary ride.  Destino restaurant located in Chatham, New York is a spectacularly casual dining oasis for authentic killer Mexican cuisine and excellent margaritas.  Many of the tapas, entrees and spicy salsas, and cocktails featured at this colorful eatery will inspire the most jaded gastronomes. 
Chef owners Zvi Cohen, and Gavriel Cohen have devised a menu more articulate and colorful than Aztec warriors.  The cuisine is inspired by Puebla and Oaxaca Mexican regional cuisine, flavors, and ingredients.  Also present at the helm of the kitchen  are two other chefs quite adept with regional Mexican fare presentations--  both having a great cooking expertise and impressive resumes-- Chef Moises Ortiz, and Chef Carlos Gomez--these two gods of Mexican culinaria will not disappoint. 

Destino has the look of a spiffy tavern at the intersection of an Acapulco ,Guadalajara or a Mexicali road . The interior is nicely adorned with Mexican artifacts.  The three interior dining rooms

are spacious with seating for about 60 patrons.  The space is comfy and clean, exuding a crunchy charm with plenty of Mexican culinary soul.  The outside patio area has a relaxed ambiance with seating for about 35 patrons.  Here, dining al fresco, you feel you're vacationing somewhere down Mexico way and not in downtown Chatham, New York. Destino is the perfect place to kicking back with a cold cerveza, or splendid Pina Rita margarita cocktail and eating some fantastic food--enjoying the good life and sipping the cocktails as they flow on and on.

On a recent autumn afternoon my good friend and I ventured to Destino for some real Mexican eats.

We have been here quite a few times and always have had a wonderful time-- our high expectations are always met.  As always the service staff is prompt and friendly Our server Michael Rohlfs was informative and courteous. We knew what we wanted and so we ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees and dessert.  Our dinner began with  an Enchilada: Two  corn tortillas of three cheeses.  And ordered it with  four cocktails and came with the complementary house made chips with salsa that are so famous and so very good.   Our drinks complemented the Three Cheese Enchilada fabulously.  The Pomegranate margaritas, the house Pina Rita and the classic mojitos were spot on as always.   The many margarita choices are matched by a wide selection of great tasting appetizers and entrees at this trendy eatery that locals love so well. At Destino, classy tequilas and mescal with a swell of artful concoctions of drinks, by expert mixologist Katie Joern, are the real attractions for many aficionados of fine and superb pours that pair properly with many  small bites. Ms Joern's bartending is impressively refined and well seasoned when serving her customers exciting drinks to accompany their delicious food.


Among the more familiar traditional items are the Plaza beef tacos  that we had.  Plaza tacos can be ordered with chicken, pork, veggies or tofu.  All tacos are made in house and slowly cooked .  The tender, moist, intricately spiced meat filling boasting flavors of Puebla and Oaxaca were excellent.  They are served with extra spiced sauces that add a real kick to them.  This main dish of Plaza de Puebla Tacos, (steak brisket sudero)comes with three house made soft corn tacos with small cube size beef brisket ,cilantro, onions lime and avocado and tomatillo sauce, served with rice and black beans, and  home made Chipotle and Habanero sauces on the side.  It is a superb entrée.

 Appetizers are a must here: The Empanadas al Horno, veggie or meat are heaven sent tasty turnovers with an oven baked flaky crust and served with scallion dipping sauce. Or  try the Quesadillas with spinach, mushrooms, and three cheeses. 

It's to die for.  Have it with a classy Cuban Mojito or a Prickly-Pear Cactus Margarita to enhance the experience.  Their Elote grilled corn cob with cheese, Oaxaca sauce and fresh guacamole is a must for corn lovers. And if you prefer a delicious vegetarian entrée to satiate a big appetite go for the Chile Relleno de Otono; Stuffed charred poblano pepper with cider-roasted butternut squash, spinach , manchego cheese, corn , rice and earthly black frijoles that were delicious and well seasoned. Once you tasted this wonderful food concoction you'll shout: Viva Mexico!
Chefs Moises Ortiz and Carlos Gomez  are the bright Aztec gods of Mexican food at Destino-- with every bite we took of the food before us at our table the skillful craft of the two chefs was highlighted.   When dining at Destino we are rewarded to the delights of a delicious dissertation on the exotic and luscious flavors of  real Mexican cuisine. It is easy to see why Destino is so popular,--bright articulate surroundings, are matched by big shiny food flavors, but come with a small price tag. We ended our dinner with a caramel custard flan and a glass of Herradura Reserva Tequila neat.

The restaurant carries a good selection of red and white wines and domestic and imported beers. The Ermita Rosado Rioja from Spain is quite good and so is the Casa Julia Cabernet from Chile.
Their most interesting liquor is the smart selection of fine tequilas and mescal that are available at the restaurant.

Far above the ordinary and mediocre Mexican fare found at cheap restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley, Owner Zvi Cohen, at Destino restaurant restores the rightful dignity of Mexican food as a world class cuisine.  Here is a class act in the restaurant business that is hard to beat by his competitors.

Everything is fresh, locally source, or brought in from Mexico, and made from scratch. For those seafood lovers the Fish Taco Ensanada, and the  Shrimp Tacos are a must.  So very fresh and delicious.
Chef -owner Zvi Cohen has a passion and great respect for his ingredients that he buys for creating his masterful dishes at Destino.  If food was live theatre Destino would be a hit Broadway show par excellence. Zvi Cohen has given Chatham, New York the most inspired translation of modern Mexican cuisine this side of Mexico City.  When in the Hudson Valley make Destino Restaurant your  destiny for great flavors of excellent Mexican food and drink.                 Rating: Excellent *****


Baron Corso de Palenzuela; Is a chef, an international food ,wine, beer, and chocolate connoisseur and critic..  He has written extensively on world cuisine in many leading journals, food magazines, and newspapers.   He resides in New York, and Virginia,  He can be reached at 845 706-1244.