New York Eats

Black Ant: An Epic Happy Hour Find

The Blank Ant is a Mexican spot down in the East Village that has good drinks, good food, and a nice atmosphere with a patio and all. The best part? A visit doesn’t need to break the bank! Happy Hour has decent deals that are well worth checking out Happy Hour runs 4-7 pm. While you won’t be getting $2 tacos or $3 beers, the price for the value reasonable.

The Drinks

Margaritas are $8 down from $11/$12, and boy are they good.  The Smokey Jalapeno has a complex flavor that pairs well with the chili, salt, and sugar rim. And the classic margarita is close to perfection, with the right ratio of tequila to fresh lime. If you want to get fancy, try the classic margarita with a smoky rim!  

The Food

The Black Ant fish tacos feature perfectly fried swordfish with a hibiscus slaw, spicy aioli, and some hot chili. Each bite has texture, a bit of sweet, and a bit of heat.  Happy hour will set you back $10 for two tacos ($15 on the regular menu.)  They were so good we decided to try out the chicken as well, but it proved to be fairly yawn-inducing with basic flavors and no punch.  

Would we pay full price at Black Ant? Nope!  But it’s a perfect “nice and trendy but not too expensive” spot to meet a friend or go on a date.  Two drinks and some tacos to share will set you back around $15 a person. Be warned, it’s hard to stop at just one of the Black Ant margaritas.    

Katie

View Comments

Recent Posts

Eating Around NYC On a Budget: A $30 Sunnyside Food Crawl

How far does $30 goes in Sunnyside, Queens? We're going on a Sunnyside food crawl…

10 hours ago

What Does It Take to Be a Centenarian?: An Ode to Mary Kowalski

My grandmother, Mary Kowalski, lived to 103 years old. What did it take to be…

5 days ago

The Birthday Questions: Goodbye 32… Hello 33!

Today I turn 33 years old, which means it's my turn to take the hot…

2 weeks ago

A $20 Manhattan Chinatown Food Crawl

How far does $20 in Chinatown in 2026? We embarked on a Manhattan Chinatown food…

3 weeks ago

Qantas Economy Class Food: A 31 Hour Journey from Hobart to Richmond

What is Qantas economy class food like? Here's a rundown of everything we ate on…

1 month ago

3 Tasmania Bakeries You Simply Can’t Miss

Tasmania bakeries are a forced to be reckon with. Here are three that should be…

1 month ago