Founded in 1968, El Califa de León, Mexico City’s only Michelin-starred taqueria, is coming to Manhattan this month, according to a spokesperson. Tacombi’s Flatiron location will transform into a pop-up version on Wednesday, October 16th. Subsequently, from October 17 to 31, the limited selection of El Califa de León tacos will be available at other Tacombi locations. A spokesperson says this kicks off a larger streak Tacombi has up its sleeve to bring in collaborators from Mexico City (until now, the closest tacos New York had to El Califa’s, served as a plate instead of shaved, was the version at Esse Taco, which has received mixed reviews). This partnership is in line with Tacombi’s take on Mexico’s capital: In 2023, Eater reported that Tacombi had opened an offshoot taqueria — different from the chain’s other restaurants — in the style of those found in Mexico City.
The Atomix group’s new restaurant opens this week
Acru is former Atomix Sous Chef Daniel Garwood’s first restaurant, a partnership with the hospitality group of his former employer. Reservations are live and doors open tomorrow, October 16th at 79 MacDougal Street, near Bleecker Street, in Greenwich Village. The 47-seat restaurant offers a tasting menu (carrot with monkfish liver, lamb with turnips) and an a la carte selection available only at the bar (potato cakes with sea urchin, red prawns with lardo) that reference Australian, Korean and Scandinavian flavors, according to a spokesperson.
Tsukemen favorite returns to the East Village
In May, a fire shut down TabeTomo, which specialized in tsukemen-style ramen, leaving it closed for five months. Tomorrow, the restaurant at 131 Avenue A, near St. Marks Place, returned. Chef Tomo Kubo first opened the restaurant in 2018 before opening TomoTomo, a Midtown sibling, in 2020, according to a spokesperson.
Pizza party at the library
Anthony “The Big Cheese” Mongiello is a Brooklyn pizza legend who claims to be the first to patent stuffed pizza crust before Pizza Hut. Hear his story, enhanced with legal drama and stories about his days growing up in Bensonhurst, Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 PM held at the Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library at 128 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights. RSVP online.