Openings

First Look at MXco, Serving Guac and Tacos on the UES Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, husband and wife John Dempsey and Maren Powell (El Centro, Hell’s Kitchen) replace their Upper East Side outlet Vynl with MXco. Graffiti artist DAZE painted eye-catching murals, and onetime Mexicana Mama executive chef and Crema chef-owner Julieta Ballesteros consulted on the food.

Her menu emphasizes sharing with a trio of guacamole, ten types of tacos, and three flavors of queso (melted cheese dip). To drink: Carafes of margaritas come with mix-and-match fruit purée, and we’re eyeing a frozen tres leches cocktail. The wine list will eventually include Mexican producers, but it’s taking longer to source those bottles than it did to open the restaurant. Dinner will be served Sunday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday until 1 a.m. Preview the menu below, then browse the space and Ballesteros’s dishes in the slideshow.

MXco Menu [PDF]

MXco, 1491 Second Ave., at 78th St.; 212-249-6080

First Look at MXco, Serving Guac and Tacos on the UES Tomorrow