El Nico
288 N 8th St Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY
😀😀😀😀
“Who knew a view overlooking the BQE could be so romantic?”
That’s what I thought to myself as I sat at the roomy bar on the 11th Floor of a semi-youth hostel (think Freehand) at the not-yet-one-year-old El Nico restaurant. After a night in of packing up my apartment for a renovation, I googled “tacos” for some food fun. I vetoed Vera Cruz (no good since 2005), Dos Toros (a chain), and Birria (better for take-out or a quick bite), but was intrigued by newcomer El Nico and headed out into the wintry night in search of a crowd and good Mexican….
A narrow sliver atop the roof of the Penny Hotel in Williamsburg on an otherwise quiet residential block between Withers and N 8th, near by old stalwart Roebling Sports Club, this is not your usual diamond in the rough. Look to the left and you see the nighttime city lights as steady streams of traffic dance through the purple lights shining off the Kosciusko Bridge.
A glance to the right offers expansive breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, including the the Empire State building. The rooftop garden and seating areas are heated and enclosed for the winter with a separate open-air veranda available for private parties in the warmer months.
Large groups partied with massive pineapple-like cocktail concoctions in vats similar to the margaritas at the original BBQ, but these come with a spigot for easy dispensing at the table and an on-trend Ken doll as a “garnish”. Cheesy? Perhaps, but the Tamarind Paloma was mixed to perfection with the right amount of spice, mezcal and zero sweetness.
The friendly and knowledgeable bartender even let me sample the tamarind juice prior since I don’t like sweet drinks. They also have an impressive collection of tequilas with top-shelf El Sol all the way up to the ceiling. Stellar tacos by chefs from Pujol (CDMX) and Cosme alumn with drinks by bar-masters with similar pedigree (NoMad). Try the juicy Birria tacos (2 per order for $18) but the stand out was the tasty Pibil.
Although I was at first suspect of the rectangular block of pork standing tall on its own across the length of a moist corn tortilla, every bite started with a surprising crunch of the crispy pork crackling holding it all together, and then melted into a savory mouthful that left me wanting another. And no meal is complete without the freshly garnished guacamole and chips.
“Best tacos near me” for sure.
