Olmo
Restaurant · Bedford-Stuyvesant ·
CDMX-inspired cantina with nostalgic Mexican fare & cocktails
CDMX-inspired cantina with nostalgic Mexican fare & cocktails
"Inspired by Mexico City cantinas, this Bed-Stuy spot leans into its role as a place primarily for drinking, pouring crowd-pleasing cocktails like Carajillos, Palomas, and a classic michelada, while the frozen Clamato paleta in the michelada de reversa melts somewhat unevenly into the drink. The menu focuses more on botanas, or snacks, than on mains, with small portions that work best as tasty, shareable bites to soak up the booze rather than a full dinner, though you can certainly eat a meal here. Much of the menu is vegetarian or can be made vegetarian, and about half of it is gluten-free. The chile-topped queso fundido is a fun, interactive snack — almost like an activity in seeing who can get the biggest cheese pull — and benefits from an extra side of tortillas, black beans, or avocado to bulk it up. Among the more substantial options, the fideo seco, short noodles topped with chorizo and black-garlic adobo sauce, shouldn’t be skipped; crema and cotija cheese help break up the savory intensity and add a cooling effect that comes in handy after eating a hot chile in the queso, and you can order the dish with avocado instead of chorizo. This is a great spot for pregaming before another function or filling up after, or for catching up over light snacks and drinks, especially on short notice, with the best cocktail deals during happy hour, which runs the first hour every day Olmo is open and the last. The rough-hewn stools, some with carved, wavy legs, look like art pieces and contribute to a chill, relaxed vibe in the dining room, though they’re skinny and low and better for perching than settling in — which fits the fact that you’re here for happy hour, not to stay all night." - Bettina Makalintal
"A Mexican restaurant newly added to the Bib Gourmand list." - Melissa McCart
"In Bed-Stuy, this Mexico City–influenced restaurant similarly stands in for the broader trend among the latest Michelin picks." - Nadia Chaudhury
"With a true neighborhood feel, communal tables and light wood set against plenty of white, this Brooklyn spot channels Mexico City nostalgia with approachable flavors. The menu ranges from chicharrón preparado and eggplant milanesa to lacto‑fermented crudités; standouts include a grilled branzino over stewed beans with a colorful circle of morita salsa and a carne asada—12 ounces topped with a bright salad of verdolaga greens and shaved fennel—although the smoky chipotle bearnaise ultimately steals the show, and a flan paleta drizzled with caramel makes a satisfying finish." - The MICHELIN Guide
"I found Olmo—on a quiet Bed‑Stuy corner in Ocean Hill—to be the most successful part of the neighborhood’s small renaissance: a warm, serene cantina Neoyorquina with honeyed lighting and tree‑stump seating that nods to its name (elm). Chef Jael Lopez, formerly of Cosme, keeps the food grounded: two‑per‑order sopes with corn masa, black beans and queso fundido; crackling chicharrón with verdant guasacaca; tender carne asada with chipotle bearnaise and warm tortillas; and a crudité with charred squash and lacto‑fermented plums that flirts with fine dining. The cocktail list is thoughtful (I kept returning to a palo santo–infused martini), and the overall vibe is quietly welcoming." - Charlie Hobbs
