Located near Battery Park in lower Manhattan, the newly opened El Vez is a New York version of the Philadelphia Mexican restaurant. A few of my colleagues and I recently visited the Stephen Starr eatery after attending a nearby event. I’ve dined at the Philadelphia location on multiple occasions, so I was interested to see what New York’s El Vez had to offer.
El Vez seems to be popular among those who work in the surrounding high-rises, as I noticed many of the patrons wearing business attire. There is an outdoor seating area overlooking the river, though the wait was long, so we opted to sit inside where we were seated immediately.
We started our meal with a pitcher of frozen blood orange margaritas. One of my favorite margarita flavors, El Vez’s version did not disappoint. We then ordered classic guacamole for the table. Our attentive waiter refilled our chips when we devoured the bowl. For my main, I enjoyed the seasonal soft shell crab taco. The rich, crunchy dish was filling. I ordered watermelon and cucumber salad as a side. Queso fresco, mint, cilantro and agave-lime vinaigrette were perfect complements to the refreshing watermelon and cucumbers. There’s always room for dessert, so my colleague and I chose to split the chocolate taco. Much like the popular ice cream truck favoriet, El Vez’s version features a sweet waffle taco with dulce de leche ice cream, chocolate fudge and peanuts.
Toward the end of our meal we noticed restaurateur Stephen Starr sitting at an adjacent table. We hoped to say hello, but, as expected, he seemed busy making trips to the kitchen and speaking with employees. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at El Vez.
259 Vesey St.
New York, NY 10282
212-233-2500
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