In New York City each area has its own particular atmosphere and taking one street rather than another means completely changing environment and perspective on the city. In Alphabet City, in the heart of the East Village, the feeling is of being in a place “on a human scale”, with low buildings, parks and family-run stores. While gentrification is (unfortunately) also endorsing this corner of Manhattan, there are many independent realities that survive.
And there are many restaurants that are opening, such as the new Empellon Al Pastor, a few steps from Tompkins Square Park. It is a locale both irreverent and colourful, serving simple traditional dishes like Mexican tacos and tortillas. The meat is cooked on the shawarma, the rotating spit oriental in origin but also found widely in Latin America.
The good food is accompanied by a colourful environment and rich in its references to street culture, designed by the team of Glen Architecture & Co. after a journey of inspiration to Mexico.
The ceiling is decorated with a huge mural of Gaia Street in collaboration with
Lunar New Year and Nanook. Decorating the walls, Christian symbols and references to the “cult of money” typical of street gangs, Mexican candies and intimate portraits give way to tag designs and those of a more spontaneous nature. Empellon Al Pastor is a local flavour “Spanglish”, where references to different cultures chase each other, to mingle and re-emerge in a pot-pourri which is both cheerful and sunny.
WHERE: 132 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009, Stati Uniti