Ask Alex What to Eat

B-Day on the East Side

Michelle Asks:

“I’m looking for a fun restaurant to celebrate a friend’s 25th birthday.  We’re looking for good food, great drinks and a lively atmosphere in the east 50’s-60s.”

In terms of some fun places around there with food that I like, there are only a handful of places that come to mind.  Both of the ones I’m going to recommend are Mexican… because it doesn’t get much more fun than melty cheese and margaritas.  Both are also a bit pricey for Mexican and are satellite locations of their downtown originals.  They’re actually pretty similar in a lot of ways… but it’s all I have for now.

The first is Rosa Mexicana on 58th st. and 1st Ave.  I like the atmosphere here a lot.  Food is great…the table-side guacamole is awesome and they make some fantastically different margaritas.  It’s a fun, energetic vibe, and you’ll be able to hear each other at the table.

The other is the newest of the Dos Caminos restaurants on 3rd Ave. between 50th and 51st.  Dos Caminos is probably marginally cheaper than Rosa Mexicana… and the food slightly less perfect.  If your focus is drinks and there will be many of them, you might want to consider it.  It’s also a lot louder and frantic but it can also be a good thing if you’re in the right mood or actually want to talk to people other than the ones at your table.

Well I hope you like Mexican food - that’s pretty much all I have for you for fun places in the area.  ¡Comer con gusto!