For the last three years, former Rosa Mexicano Culinary Director Roberto Santibañez has been keeping Park Slopers happy with his Mexican restaurant Fonda. Now he's hoping to do the same for Alphabet City with a second outpost. And this one is about 50 percent bigger—and should be a touch boozier!
The new 60-seater restaurant on Avenue B has a similar menu to its sibling, so expect taquitos, flautas, braised pork in adobo sauce, sopas and lots of more specifically regional fare (i.e. chicken with cheese from Chihuahua and Yucatan shrimp). In addition the newcomer has an expanded bar menu because, well, the East Village/Alphabet City folk who will be the clientele are much bigger (public) drinkers than the Park Slope mom brigade. Bar food also also goes well with the joint's wide mezcal menu.
As for the decor, Santibañez has taken the old Octavia's Porch space and kept the bones the same—for example, the big bar remains—while giving the space a darker red color tone and making the seating less fussy.
40 Avenue B // 212-677-4096
