La Barca Cantina offers New Yorkers a taste of Mexico—on a boat!
Gotham Guide is a weekly list of new restaurants, special menus and pop-ups throughout New York City. Support local businesses and head out on a culinary adventure with our suggestions below.
When was the last time you took a boat ride across the Hudson? Why not give it a try with a Mexican menu?
This week's Gotham Guide promises a few flavor adventures. From Michelin starred courtyards to California burritos, Mediterranean delights and Parisian-style bistros, these are the new restaurants and grand re-openings you've got to try.
See also: Chandon Debuts Garden Spritz Ready-to-Drink Cocktails for Summer
54 Great Jones St.
In August of 2019, restaurateur Gabe Stulman was proud to open The Jones. COVID-19 saw the new spot shuttered before its time, but Stulman remained undeterred and now, he’s back with a new concept designed for post-quarantine dreams. Jolene is an American bistro cafe and bar, modeled after the Cafe de Flore in Paris. Guests can simply enjoy a bottle of wine, or they may pair their drinks with everything from a parmesan panise or arancini, to a three-course meal with lamb tartare appetizer, whole fish or chopped steak frites mains and more. The menu was designed by Partner and Executive Chef James McDuffee. Jolene celebrates its grand opening Thursday, May 20.
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182 8th Ave. / Website
After a prolonged closure, Chelsea’s Mediterranean-inspired Zizi is back in action. The grand reopening is set for Wednesday, May 19, and there’s a new menu to celebrate. Chef Liran Leibman offers some delectable small plates, from a fattoush salad to burrata and lamb kofta. There are also some new cocktails, including the Noah’s Ark (dry Arak, watermelon, za’atar, cucumber and Mastiha liqueur), the Silk Road #5 (bourbon, Pajarote Jengibre, Dolin Rouge, sugarcane liqueur and lime), and the Club Med (Caribbean rum, allspice dram, pomegranate, lime and angostura). Do be sure to indulge in Zizi’s signature favorites of shawarma, overnight lamb or the “crazy baba” of charred eggplant, feta and basil.
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81 St. Mark's Place between First and Second Avenues / Website
NYC has some great burrito joints, but those aren’t anything like the kind you get in southern California. Electric Burrito is here to change that. Owner Alex Thaboua brings the San Diego favorite to the East Village in a fast-casual atmosphere. What is a California burrito? It’s a Mexican-American take on the usual, but it’s stuffed with french fries. Trust us, it’s a very good update. Guests can choose a protein base of pollo asado, carnitas or carne asada, then roll it up with fries, pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole, beans, crema and other additions. Open today, Electric Burrito also serves breakfast burritos, tacos, carne asada friends and other Mexi-American favorites.
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Pier 81 at 41st St. and 12th Ave. / Website
There may be other Mexican restaurants in the city, but there aren’t any others that take you on a pleasure cruise across the Hudson. La Barca Cantina is NYC’s only floating Mexican eatery. Climb aboard the three-story boat and enjoy skyline views alongside authentic bites and beverages. The menu is designed to be shared, offering a variety of tacos, Mexican fried chicken, jalapeno poppers, vegetarian nachos and more. Pair your plates with anything from the Cantina’s 60-plus agave-based spirits menu, or try the signature Drunken Rabbit cocktail, made from Oaxacan rum, passionfruit and other secret ingredients. La Barca Cantina celebrates its grand opening on Thursday, May 20.
See also: Weekly Recipe: Pesto 5 Ways by Chef Jonathan Benno
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1479 York Ave. at 78 St. / Website
Since 2004, Salvatore Corea and Giusto Priola have served guests at Cacio e Pepe in Manhattan’s East Village with delicious Italian fare--most notably the eye-catching Tonnarello cacio e pepe, served tableside in a giant pecorino cheese wheel. Now, all the flavor and drama comes to a new location in the Upper East Side. While the original location serves guests trattoria-style with an intimate bar atmosphere, the new spot can welcome 50 guests at a time, as of Wednesday, May 19. If you’re not ready for the full Tonnarello, you can enjoy some parmesan crème brulee, calamari stew, or cauliflower veloute.
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611 Bergen St. / Website
You may have seen King David Tacos for sale in the company’s breakfast taco carts or perhaps at your local cafe. Now, Texas-bred founder Liz Dwyer branches out with King David Taco’s first brick-and-mortar. Prospect Heights can order breakfast tacos, signature queso, all-new nachos and more from the all-day menu. Portable and nutritious, these authentic and preservative-free delights will satisfy your cravings every meal of the day. Fan favorites include the pollo verde, the cowboy with marinated steak, the vegetarian bean and cheese, plus housemade horchata and more.
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284 Mulberry St. / Website
Flamenco night is back after an extended break due to COVID-19. ¡Olé! Flamenco transports guests to Spain with colorful performances and authentic eats. Socarrat Paella Bar invites you to dig into traditional favorites like croquetas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla Espanola, as well as signature paellas from the seafood pescado y marisco to the meat-lovers carne and squid ink arroz negro. Pair with red or white wine, red or white sangria, or Spanish cocktails such as the Tinto de Verano, Spanish gin and tonic, or a bottle of Spanish wine.
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65 E 55th St. / Website
With two Michelin stars, Aquavit knows good food, and it welcomes guests back to the open courtyard with some fine dining delights. Come enjoy the warm weather with a side of herring trio, shrimp skagen toast or Swedish meatballs. The seasonal menu boasts dover sole with brown butter, caper and rhubarb sauce; striped bass with dill and ramp relish; as well as market tomatoes, melon and fresh cheese. Don’t forget the chilled lobster, oyster gratinee and Chef Emma Bengtsson’s signature Princess Cake.
Photography by: Courtesy La Barca Cantina; Eric Medsker
