Casa Oaxaca opened in Battery Park City, bringing counter seating, tableside drink preparation, and a menu inspired by Mexico to the neighborhood.
Chef Antelmo Ambrosio crafted the menu by drawing on his home state of Oaxaca and other parts of Mexico. Mini tacos come three to an order, with fillings like warm buttered lobster and chipotle crema, octopus al pastor with mole negro and pickled vegetables, and spicy cactus with avocado and green salsa.
Diners can also order braised short rib with mole negro and heirloom corn purée, or a whole branzino zarandeado with green mole, grilled lime, and soft corn tortillas. For dessert, the kitchen serves a corn tres leches sponge cake finished with toasted corn crumble and vanilla crema.
Jonathan Ortega designed the drinks menu, which features a blanco tequila margarita called the Piña Diabla made with roasted pineapple, habanero agave, and a smoked chile-salt rim. Another option is Oaxaca After Dark, a mezcal-and-bourbon drink sweetened with piloncillo and finished with chocolate bitters. The bar also serves a watermelon tequila cocktail over crushed ice inside a ceramic skull with a chamoy-Tajín rim.
Did You Know? Chef Antelmo Ambrosio previously cooked at Ophelia and at Maison Madison next door before taking on the kitchen at Casa Oaxaca.
Abraham Merchant and James Belakh of Merchants, the team behind Maison Madison, own the new restaurant. The space includes a large island bar near the entrance, deep green banquettes in the dining rooms, and two patios for warmer weather. Casa Oaxaca opens at 4 pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends for brunch, with reservations available on OpenTable and Resy.
An eight-seat counter tucked under a burnt-orange arch at the back of the restaurant will host a forthcoming $75 tasting menu called Omacasa. That experience will include eight mini tacos, two additional savory courses, and an optional agave spirits tasting for $45. In the meantime, visitors can order lobster tacos and have margaritas or salsa made right at their tables.
Casa Oaxaca opened today in Battery Park City. The restaurant opens at 4 pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends for brunch.
The current menu features mini tacos with fillings like buttered lobster, octopus al pastor, and spicy cactus. It also includes braised short rib, whole branzino zarandeado, and corn tres leches cake.
Reservations for Casa Oaxaca are available on OpenTable and Resy.
Will you check out the tableside drink preparations or wait for the Omacasa tasting counter to open?
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