Mexican food has never been NYC’s forte, but the tide seems to be changing. The last five years have seen an explosion in the number of NYC eateries highlighting regional Mexican cuisine (a nice change of pace from bland Tex-Mex chains) — and places like Fonda, Salvation Taco, La Superior, Los Tacos No. 1, and Empellón are just a few of the trendy venues drawing crowds of New Yorkers.
Given this new wave of interest in the authentic and varied flavors of Mexico, it’s not surprising to hear that Flatiron will be getting a two-story Mexican marketplace and restaurant in mid April. Cafe el Presidente, described by co-owner Dario Wolos as “a smaller version of Eataly,” will be a 6,500-square-foot space packed with a variety of eating and shopping options: a taqueria called Tacos Madison (serving tacos ranging from $3-12), a breakfast cafe, a juice bar, an artisanal tortilla station, and a market carrying gourmet ingredients from Mexico, as well as locally sourced meats and produce.
Wolos is also behind Tacombi at Fonda Nolita, and tells DNA Info that Cafe el Presidente will be “an evolution of what we’ve been doing.”
We’ll definitely be checking this place out when it launches, and seeing how its ingredient offerings stack up (both in prices and quality) to what you can get out in Ditmas Park.
Cafe el Presidente opens in mid-April at 30 W. 24th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues.