Casa Carmen

This Tribeca restaurant is the first stateside venture for the Ramirez Degollado family, whose senior figure, the renowned Mexican cook, Carmen “Titita” Ramirez Degollado—aka the “matriarch of Mexican flavor”—has run the Mexico City-based El Bajío empire for over 50 years. At Casa Carmen, the brother duo and co-owners, Santiago and Sebastian, work in collaboration with two head chefs and a team of “mayoras” (esteemed elder women) who oversee the menu and its signature dishes like the Panuchos Yucateros and Pollo con mole Xico. Here, the gorgeous 2,500-square-foot, 105-seat space is divided into a bar area and main dining room, and the interior’s aesthetic draws inspiration from earth-toned, stucco-walled haciendas.

Named as an homage to their beloved 83-year-old grandmother, Carmen “Titita” Ramirez Degollado, the “matriarch of Mexican flavor” and owner of legendary El Bajío in Mexico City, Casa Carmen in Tribeca is a new restaurant from the brother duo and co-owners, Santiago and Sebastian Ramirez Degollado. With two head chefs and a team of “mayoras” (esteemed elder women) overseeing the menu, its traditional Mexican food centers around recipes learned from and perfected by Titita. Go for signatures like the dishes like the Tostada de Pato en Escabeche (pickled duck tostada with refried beans and lettuce); Empanadas de Plátano con Frijol (plantain empanadas with charred chipotle salsa); and Pescado a la Veracruzana (rotating selection of fish, güero peppers, olives, capers, tomato salsa).