Mercadito Cantina Will Tempt Your Taste Buds!

MERCADITO CANTINA WILL TEMPT YOUR TASTE BUDS

NEW TAQUERIA FEATURES

CREATIVE OFFERINGS AND AN INVENTIVE COCKTAIL MENU





NEW YORK (NY) Four years after igniting New York's love affair with the taco, the team behind the popular Mercadito's restaurants have fired the latest shot in the so-called "taco wars" with Mercadito Cantina. Located at 172 Avenue B (between 10th and 11th Streets and adjacent to the original Mercadito that started it all), Mercadito Cantina elevates the humble taqueria into a sleek showplace for new taste experiences.



The taco is front and center at this decidedly modern Mexican taqueria where guests can eat-in or take-out (delivery coming soon). Boasting new taco varieties, the restaurant is sure to adhere to the same dedication to authenticity that has made the Mercadito restaurants famous. However, tasty tacos and sides aren't the only weapons in this restaurant's arsenal. Sensing a need for a new twist on traditional Mexican cocktails, Mercadito Cantina called upon the renowned beverage consultants Tippling Bros., whose concoctions creatively merge complex flavors, drinkability and the unexpected.



The brothers Sandoval, restaurateur/owner Alfredo and chef/owner Patricio, have partnered with two talented newcomers to help bring their vision to life. Joining them on this venture, which they hope to be the first in a chain of taquerias, are chef-de-cuisine Ivan Garcia and general manager Chris Pugliese, both first-time restaurant owners.



Created by Patricio Sandoval, Mercadito Cantina's "taco-centric" menu features selections not found at any other Mercadito location. Served in pairs, homemade corn tortillas envelope fillings such as milanesa (lightly breaded natural leg of beef with roasted poblano avocado salsa), chorizo verde (homemade Mexican green sausage, manchengo cheese and tomatillo salsa), calamar (guajillo battered calamari, plantain salsa and guajillo vinaigrette) and the standout estilo baja (Negra Modelo beer-battered shrimp with roasted habanero and avocado cole slaw). However, if you would rather make your own tacos, a Taquiza is right for you. Barbacoa de pollo (braised organic chicken Barbacoa-style), carne asada (hoja santa marinated grass fed skirt steak), carnitas de Puerco, (Michoacan-style braised Berkshire pork carnitas with pork belly and camarones al ajillo (roasted garlic marinated head-on shrimp with chile de arbol and toasted chile auajillo), are served by the � kilo accompanied with the choice of two salsas, onions, cilantro, lime and homemade corn tortillas. Vegetarian taco options are also available, for those with special diets and preferences.



Mercadito Cantina's flavorful salsas, guacamole and sides can hold their own as dishes or round out taco selections. Salsas such as chipotle (roasted tomatillo, piloncillo pickled chipotle and roasted garlic), cacahuate (grilled tomato, toasted peanuts, chile de arbol, chile guajillo and chile morita) and coste�a (toasted chilies coste�os, tomatoes and toasted sesame seeds) and warm varieties such as habanero (grilled tomato, tomato, habanero, garlic, lemon and crema fresca) and verde (tomatillo, chile serrano, caramelized red onion and cilantro) are presented alone, or paired with yellow and blue corn tortilla chips (cool salsas) or addictive crispy cornbread bites (warm salsas). Guacamoles, spanning from the traditional (tradicional - tomatillo pico de gallo, jalape�o, garlic, lime and cilantro) to the whimsical (sandia - tomatillo pico de gallo, watermelon, chile habanero and epazote) are a great way to begin your culinary journey. Tempting sides such as arroz verde al horno (green rice casserole, manchengo and Oaxaca cheese), papas y chorizo (potatoes, homemade