Now's the best time ever to be a Tex-pat in New York City, where you don't have to travel home to the Lone Star State to drink beers, go to the movies or eat quality barbecue—you'll have to go home for the guns, though. In the past month alone, the city has become home to two new eateries focusing on the unique regional cuisine of Tex-Mex; the second of which, El Original, soft opens tonight in Hell's Kitchen.
Three native Texans who'd relocated to NYC are behind the newest joint, including Lisa Fain, cookbook author and James Beard Award-winning blogger of Homesick Texan, a culinary bible of sorts for natives who left their home state for the Big Apple. Fain drew upon her own family's recipes, her own cooking experience and special Texan staples to create the menu, which features a Best Of selection of classic Tex-Mex dishes. There's chili con queso, of course, plus Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas, Puffy Tacos and a Texas Red Chili.
The 7,500-square foot space boasts seating for 150, which'll be necessary if the same insane clamoring for tables happens here the way it did at Javelina downtown. In the almost inevitable wait for a seat, snag one of the tequila-based cocktails that are a hallmark of most Tex-Mex spots. There's the requisite Mexican Martini ($13), beloved for its ability to make you blackout after a few too many, plus Bloody Marias ($11) made with blanco tequila and bottles of Shiner for $6.
735 10th Avenue; website. El Original soft opens tonight, with a limited menu and reservation-only seating via Open Table. The restaurant has their grand opening on Friday, April 10th.
