El Centro 824 9th Ave. (@ 54th St.)
Hell's Kitchen
646.763.6585
El Centro:
If there’s one thing John Dempsey values as much as food, it’s prime real estate. Now that the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant kingpin has relocated his kitschy VYNL three blocks south, rather than give up the diner’s original home, he’s decided to open El Centro—a Mexican street food joint with a home-cooked flair. El Centro will give Chef Jorge Pareja room to play with a menu of tamales, enchiladas, and his favorite, pozole, a traditional Mexican stew. Roast pork with mole negro and lamb with chipotle chili broth are just a couple of dishes on offer. Banquettes are upholstered with traditional Mexican oil tablecloths and walls are covered in lime- and purple-colored glass button tiles. Corona bottle chandeliers hang from the ceilings just begging to be pelted with fruit chunks from your flavored sangria.
