Come to Maria’s Bistro Mexicano in Sunset Park when you need some cheering up. The vibrant space and Mexican tile-topped tables will put you in a festive mood. (We call a visit here “color therapy.”) To start, you can get things like queso fundido, tortilla soup, and tostadas, and they have several different kinds of enchiladas, including one topped with mole and tomatillo. If you’re in the mood for tacos, we highly recommend the beer battered crispy fish tacos with chipotle mayo. You’ll definitely want more than one, so it’s good that each order comes with three. This restaurant is a great choice for brunch, so gather some friends, request a table in their large back patio, and share a bunch of pineapple-infused margarita pitchers.

photo credit: Kenny Yang