La Cocina de Consuelo

"Happy coincidences abound in NYC. Maybe you found a loaded subway card or ran into that now-single ex-coworker. But if life has been feeling a little less serendipitous lately, head to Cocina Consuelo. The Hamilton Heights restaurant grew out of a Dominican and Mexican couple’s pandemic supper club, and it feels DIY in the best of ways. (You might even leave with a recommendation for a great local daycare or hear a performance from a jazz saxophonist who used to jam with Duke Ellington.) But the difference between Cocina Consuelo and a regular old apartment party is that the food and drinks—pineapple espresso and fluffy masa pancakes for brunch, birria-topped bone marrow and Mexican wine at dinner—are far more serious." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, will hartman, willa moore, bryan kim, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, sonal shah, will hartman, neha talreja, ne

"This Mexican spot in Hamilton Heights grew out of a couple’s dinner party series, and there’s a magical quality to the bright yellow little with a big window, a piano, and a tiny kitchen behind the counter. The food is magical too: get at least one order of tortilla con huevo—the fresh tortillas are fried to a light crisp and topped with hoja santa and salsa roja—and one fat, fluffy, honey butter-drenched masa pancake with homemade compote for the table." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, will hartman

"Consuela’s dream was to open a kitchen, and at the tender age of 63, she did in a converted house. Come to the Rosedale restaurant now run by her niece Letty Garcia for the amazing breakfast burrito bursting with whatever you want. The potato enchiladas with chile chipotle sauce are also great — orders for anything on the menu can be placed online. The vibe is very DIY, reflecting crafty projects like painted tables and the sculptural use of kitchen utensils as wall decor." - Erin Russell, Nadia Chaudhury

"Breakfast and lunch are the specialty at La Cocina De Consuelo, featuring a range of classic, morning-friendly Mexican comfort dishes, like machacado and eggs, barbacoa, and huevos rancheros—all served with a side of fluffy, housemade flour tortillas (you can also get corn or whole wheat). Grab a mug from the bookshelf and serve yourself a cup of coffee at this converted Rosedale house. Before 11am, order a burrito to take all the assembly work out of the picture. Otherwise, grab a breakfast plate (served all day), and find out why this place gets packed in the mornings.  " - raphael brion, nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"It’s impossible to miss Cocina Consuelo in Hamilton Heights because of the electric blue storefront. It’s the same color that the couple who owns it painted a wall in their apartment—where they served things like bone marrow birria at a successful supper club pop-up during the pandemic. At their full restaurant, they’re serving coffee, pastries and cafe bites, like quesadillas, at breakfast and lunch, before opening again for dinner." - will hartman