IXTA Cocina Mexicana + Mezcal Bar

Someone’s Finally Taking Over Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Space in Downtown Manhattan | Eater NY

"After five years of vacancy and a brief interest from The Ainsworth, Ixta is taking over 299 Bowery as a “trendy, upscale,” late-night Mexican restaurant and bar. Owner Mike Himani — who currently operates Nanking, Indo Chinese, Nisi and Chickpea — says he had his eye on this location for a long time and is reviving Ixta (his second iteration; the original was at 48 East 29th Street in Nomad from 2005 to 2007 and was lost due to the terms of a sub-lease). He’s brought on executive chef Francisco Blanco from Mexico City (who cooked at Le Cirque and Eataly’s Manzo) to fine-tune a menu of southern Mexican and Oaxacan dishes, while mixologist Jenny Castillo will be creating tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails. The spacious Avalon Bowery unit will be outfitted with 165 seats plus 10 stools along a 22-foot rectangular bar, two televisions, and Himani has requested approval to bring in 3–4 piece mariachi bands on special occasions. Inside the decor will be lush with murals, handmade art and a mix of natural and organic materials with Aztec touches; a photo shows tropical wallpaper depicting two gigantic red and green monstera leaves and what appears to be the striped back of a tiger across the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Ixta is scheduled to operate 11 a.m.–12 a.m. Monday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Thursday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m. Saturday, and 11:30 a.m.–12 a.m. Sunday." - Caroline Shin