Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless has brought his esteemed Mexican cuisine to Manhattan. On September 20th, he opened his newest restaurant, his first in New York, Tortazo.
Located at 1123 Broadway (between 25th and 26th Streets), the fast-casual Mexican restaurant will riff off Chef Bayless’ award-winning Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO and Bar Sótano, all in Chicago.
“New York City has a thriving Mexican food scene,” says Chef Bayless. “We seem to be at a tipping point where people are seeing Mexican food in a different way and understanding that it is far more than just Tex-Mex. Our goal in coming to New York is to allow more people to experience and appreciate the incredible breadth of cuisine that you find in Mexico’s kitchens.”
Tortazo NoMad’s menu offers made-to-order, modern expressions of the flavors, ingredients and techniques of Mexican cuisine. Central to the restaurant’s menu will be classic, warm tortas a la plancha, a homage to Mexico City’s famed torterias.
Unique to Tortazo’s NoMad location, will be a Oaxacan Tlayuda, a large, thin, crispy tortilla topped with a variety of ingredients like cotija cheese, black beans and tomatillo salsa or shredded cabbage, avocado and spicy chorizo.
Tortilla soup at Tortazo
Tortazo
The menu also features seasonal soups and salads, bowls, quesadillas and desserts including churros and paletas. Ingredients from local purveyors and farms such as Manhattan’s La Newyorkina (churros and paletas), The Bronx’s D & R Central Bakery (telera rolls) and eggs from The Farmers Hen in Elizabeth, NJ.
Tortazo NoMad also features a full-service bar with a beverage program led by Lanie Bayless, the chef’s daughter. Rotating Mezcal flights will highlight top mezcaleros, along with a robust selection of seasonal house cocktails (shaken, stirred and frozen), plus cans of wine, hard seltzers and local beers. Non-alcoholic options include house-made seasonal agua frescas.
The 70-seat restaurant features bar, booth and table seating, both indoors and out on the patio. It’s open daily from 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.