Tijuana Picnic

"Tijuana Picnic is where you want to have your 25th birthday. Give or take a decade in either direction. (New York City kids grow up fast and love having birthday parties on the Lower East Side.) But your dad’s 60th? Probably not. This is party time. Also: it’s reasonably priced, nicely decorated, takes reservations for groups of four or more, and has a menu that’s ideal for sharing. The space feels a bit like if Miss Lily’s were more spacious and also served tacos. It’s split in two levels - upstairs is a mix of long picnic tables and booths, while downstairs is darker, with a long bar and space for your group of 12 to make all the noise you want. There are, of course, a whole bunch of Mexican places on the Lower East Side accommodating to groups, but we found this one to be particularly fun and fresh right now - a scene of sorts but without too much pretension, and a party time vibe without being total mayhem. The food? Pretty good, especially once your friend Mezcal arrives. (Her parents were a very specific kind of hippie.) There’s a mix of small starters like empanadas and ceviches, followed by tacos and skewers, and finished off by large format plates to share. Nothing’s too big, so you probably want all of these things on your table. Some dishes have subtly Asian or otherwise non- Mexican influences, but calling it fusion would be a stretch. Calling it enjoyable and fun, however, would not. Happy Birthday. Food Rundown Guacamole Fancy guacamole. It comes with bits of corn, some radishes, and fresh-tasting blue chips. Empanadas De Pato The empanadas are filled with duck, foie gras, and cognac. We mostly only tasted the duck. These were not our favorite. Soft Tacos Tacos come two to an order. You know the deal - steak, chicken, shrimp, and a vegetarian poblano pepper option, each with a little bit of modern updating. Seen here, and consumed previously, by us: the chicken with scallion and pieces of crispy chicken chicharron. It works, for sure. Skewers You know what everyone likes to eat while drinking? Meat on a stick. People who want to say they ate mako shark kebabs can do just that. Everyone else can be pleased by short rib with a side of kimchi. Ezquites This little cup of corn may actually be our favorite thing here. Get one. One per person, maybe." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Tijuana Picnic is an ideal spot for a 25th birthday dinner. The Mexican food here is pretty good, especially the sauteed corn and chicken tacos with crispy chicken chicharrones, and it all tastes better after a mezcal flight or pitcher of margaritas. Start at a booth with a round table in the upstairs dining room, then move to the bar in the basement, or any of the countless nearby spots on the LES." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"It’s not a stretch to say that someone celebrates a birthday every night at Tijuana Picnic. So come here as long as you’re down for what looks like a competition between strangers to see who’s having the best time over tacos and pitchers of margaritas. The downstairs level kind of feels like a club, and the upstairs kind of feels like a club with better lighting. Choose your own adventure." - hannah albertine

"Your company just gave all the interns an unexpected bonus. Well, that’s not ever going to happen, but let’s just assume you have some friends who want to celebrate your birthday or the summer solstice with you. Tijuana Picnic, a big Mexican spot in the LES, is an excellent place for a fun night out. The music is loud, the tacos are good, and the people watching is prime." - Hannah Albertine, Matt Tervooren

"Having a party here is an easy way to tell the world that you’re young, fun, and determined to drink four margaritas. You’ve been saying “25 is going to be the best year ever” a lot recently and having your party at Tijuana Picnic is a good place to start, for a few reasons: it’s on the Lower East Side (aka near bars you already know you like), they serve good tacos and strong drinks, and the downstairs lounge gets pretty rowdy around 11pm. Beware that margarita pitchers are sneaky expensive, but it’s your birthday and 25 is going to be the best year ever." - Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim