WHAT: ABC Cocina

WHERE: New York (Union Square)

WHEN: daily lunch and dinner, weekend brunch. I hit up brunch on a 24 hour trip to the city — I may have been slightly recovering from the night before but what can I say…I had to get you the scoop. And it was…WORTH IT.

WHAT TO ORDER: Huevos Rancheros ($19) on Fresh Corn Tortillas and Eggs Benedict on Crispy Corn Tortillas ($18). Both were solidly delicious and surprisingly light for Mexican food. Nothing heavy or greasy which was SUCH a nice surprise. Also, the coconut pancakes with lavender maple syrup ($16) sounded and looked AMAZE; will definitely be giving that a try next time. Shoot me a note if you already have.

WHAT TO SKIP:  I wouldn’t not recommend anything.

WHAT TO KNOW: The décor is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen. Ornate chandeliers, modern lights, and pops of color with the tables and chairs. The walls have flowers growing on them, but the exposed brick walls and open beamed ceiling keeps it feeling rustic and not tacky. As far as Mexican food goes, this is traditional with a twist and I’ve never felt this light after (is it possible to lose weight after a meal?  sorry- I’ll come back to reality now). The company (ABC is a home goods store) also owns ABC Kitchen (adjacent) which is just as pretty and delish serving more mainstream American food (which you should definitely check out too).

WHERE TO SIT: There are a few tables outside which would be nice for a sunny day, but to get the vibe and feel of the restaurant, I would definitely keep it indoors. At night, the adjacent ABC Kitchen’s bar area turns into a lounge and both definitely become a long, loungier dinner where you can hang and spend the whole night.

WHO YOU’LL SEE: Tourists (I guess I would have to consider myself one – ew), and local cool New Yorkers (wearing all black of course).

WHO TO BRING:  Date, girls catch up, group dinner (they have perfect long tables for this). I would steer clear of bringing your family here because it can get a little loud making it hard to hear (which could be a good or bad thing considering who you’re with).

EDDR LIFE LESSON:  In rare occasions, even on a beautiful day, inside is better than out!

A² FINAL THOUGHT:  You need to get over here. Now. And they get booked up fast. So as soon as you book your next ticket to the Big Apple, give this place a call and book a reservation. For brunch or dinner…or both!

Still taking pictures of the awesome space,

Alie

ABC Cocina ↔ 38 E. 19th Street, NY, NY 10003 ↔ 212-677-2233