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« Sleepy Saturday | Main | Thursday, October 21st, 2010—Bar 284 »
Friday
Oct222010

Friday, October 22nd, 2010—Bar 285

Day 285—Thursday, October 21st, 2010
La Flaca

One of the many blogs I follow and comment on is New York Magazine’s Grub Street. Today they had a “first look” at a new Mexican restaurant and bar on the Lower East Side (bordering on Chinatown) called, La Flaca and they said it had and El Sombrero-like vibe. While I like to call El Sombrero, The Hat, I’m anxious to see what this place is all about. Plus I’m thirsty for a margarita so that’s tonight’s destination.

There's no sign outside, but it's the only restaurant on the block, so to quote the Talking Heads, I guess this must be the place.

The bar looks nice and there's plenty of seats, let's go snag one.

And Andy the friendly bartender is quick with a frozen margarita. Andy's an accomplished artist, check out his website here: Andy Mecca.

It's a small margarita, but they pack a punch here. This glass is equal to one twice it's size at most places.

It turns out that this woman is not only a customer at the bar...

She's also one of the owners! This is Daniela, who owns the place along with her boyfriend, Bobby. And now for another weird coincidence, I met Bobby last summer because he bartends at bar 119 which was the 198th bar on the crawl. At the time he told me that he and his girlfriend were going to open a Mexican restaurant and bar in the fall and now by sheer coincidence here I am! This must be the place! And to top it all off, Daniela keeps up the Aussie bar crawl connection, she's originally from Sydney, Australia.

And Daniela generously brought out some chips, dips and guacamole to sample.

Along with one of the house signature appetizers, the Bola di Chino Chicken Dumplings. The name has a special meaning, which you can read about in the review. Everything was delicious!

This vintage chandelier hangs over the dining room and provides some of the low-lit atmosphere.

All the tables are custom made by a friend of Daniele and Bobby's.

There's two benches in the front of the restaurant also custom made.

They're made from 100 pound tree trunks. Very cool and woodsy.

Some of the Mexican motif hanging on the front wall.

There's rocking chairs up front, if you want to have a little siesta after dinner.

Which is what Andy and I decided to do.

Here's the lovely Megan who does waitress duty as well as bartending.

And here she is in active duty.

Meanwhile, it's starting to get hopping back at the bar.

Graham was seated next to me and was wearing shades. He confessed that someone may have put something in his drink earlier, but I'll never tell!

Here's Daniela with Brock. Cheers!

Maybe I'm a little paranoid, but this fucking guy stared at me for the whole night behind the bar.

Grub Street's Daniel Maurer wrote that this place had a vibe similiar to El Sombrero and this picture proves it! (Check out this link, the 11th picture down.)

Okay, one look out the window and I'm gone like a cool breeze. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
La Flaca has just celebrated their first week anniversary, but to walk into this warm and friendly restaurant and bar, you’d think they’ve been on the block for years. The magenta, low-lit hues of the room make it feel like it’s an eternal sunset inside and there’s a comfortable dining area with custom-built wooden tables and benches and a nice bar area to sample cocktails. The decor and atmosphere is inviting and drips of Mexican flavors from the menu to the maracas hanging behind the bar. And you can literally rock out here, there’s two wooden rocking chairs in front of the dining room to relax and enjoy a drink in.

They just got their liquor license last night and celebrated by breaking out the wine, beer and frozen margaritas. Within the week you can sample such signature cocktails as: the El Patio which is the home-made signature Bloody Mary with a salt and pepper rim; the La Flaca which mixes Tequila, Triple Sec, Mango, Mint and Lime Juice; the Caliente which is Jalapeno infused tequila, lime, lemon and blood orange juice and the Lucero wlhich is the house margarita frozen, or on the rocks.

The food menu includes tacos, burritos and enchiladas, plus combination plates. And if you’re not in the mood for Mexican, burgers can also be had here. One of the unique signature appetizer dishes here is a nod to their neighbors in Chinatown. The appetizer is dumplings made of chicken, cheese and green chile and the name of the dish is Bola di Chino Chicken, which translates into Chinese balls. Brunch is available on weekend from 11am to 4pm with various Mexican egg dishes including: Huevos Con Chorizo—Two scrambled eggs with Chorizo; Gordito Burrito—Two eggs with bacon or soy bacon, onion, tomato and cheese and Tacos del La Flaca with steak, fried egg and avocado.

La Flaca
384 Grand St. (Near Suffolk St.)
646-692-9259

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And now a request from Tim Clack. ZZ Top for Clacky, by Cracky!



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Reader Comments (25)

Yummily in my tummily! Even though their name reminds me of the Ravens' very own Joe Flacco (GO BROWNS!), this place looks great! Love the lighting and those benches are way cool. And those rocking chairs are a total bonus. I've never had a margarita while rocking in a chair, but my guess is it would make me feel just like a pirate! Can't wait to find out for sure sometime soon. Like real soon. They're open next Saturday, right? Ahoy, Mateys! Chinese ball me! Heh heh.

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBiff

@Biff: GO BROWNS! See you in a week!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

I love that chandelier with those small red bulbs and the place really looks good. Big wood bench, very unique. That guy Graham with cigarette in mouth looks like a detective from the seventies like Elliott Gould. And finally that word you used "magenta" is perfect for this,, we hear it down here all the time to describe the heavy circular patterns for hurricanes,,,,ahh those deep red magentas,,,very strong hurricane,,,,heading right towards us,,,were all going to die,,,,,lol.

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterAl

Looks warm and friendly in there, the dumplings look great...and Andy seems to think you're his number one customer!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJaws the Cabbie

What a great find!
Sombrero's off to them!
Here's to a long and prosperous business for LaFlaca!
They certainly seem to know what they are doing and doing it the right way!
Also Kudos to Andy's Artwork.
Great Stuff!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenter"Boris"

Cool place, nice that you got there just as they opened and I love the coincidental fact that Bobby was on the 365 blog back in summer! And you can add Danniella and Megan to the list of attractive women gracing the posts of 365 bars! And I agree with Boris, Andy's a great artist, cool that you put up a link to his site. Cheers!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBarfly

P.S. Love the bartender finger shots! Keep it going, I think it should be a new tradition!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBarfly

G'DAY DANIELA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...how fukin' cool!!! good onya matey!!!!!! a littl' Aussie battler from Sydney opens up a mexican bar/restaurant in NYC!!!!...just goes to show how versatile Aussies are....& good job Shitlips keeping up to speed & all with this one....this joint is a must c when i get over there, gotta try that margarita turnout & say g'day to 'D-girl'!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterfitzy

@fitzy: This was one of the better nights on the crawl, lots of fun and I told her I'd tell Clacky about it for sure when he gets here. And this is one of our stops for sure when you get here...shitlips! Ha ha ha!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

love love love this place! looks like you had a party in there! the chips and dumplings look yummy and i love the bartender finger shot! has to be a new tradition, like the wearing of guiness!!!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterrita r.

@rita r. and Barfly: A new tradition is born!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

@365: I'm probably more keen to make a pig of myself in a mexican bar than I am to head up the Empire state or the Guggenheim...(don't tell Shan that)
I'm rather beer fit right now, Marty. I checked out Grub street. That would have been handy to know about in the past months/weeks.
Howdy Daniela! I'll come and say G'day when we're there and I'll be having Maragritas aplenty!

So far Marty the Mexican stops have been up there with my favourites.

In other news...in keeping on the tequila theme...I found a glass bottle of brown Tequila shaped like a 9mm hand gun in a local bottle shop the other day. Way. Cool.

@365:....an appropriate jukebox request if you care to indulge?...Are you working all weekend again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRiHmzUXcVM&p=70C39B672B0894DB&playnext=1&index=13

Crank it!!

@Tim Clack: I just had the dumplings and chips, but they were delicious and the rest of the menu sounds great. A top-notch spot for sure. And I'm off over the weekend. A few more hours and then it's off to the bar and Cheeseburger Saturday Night and the Sunday night dinner. I'm looking forward to getting the fuck out of here. And I don't know what the video is, but it's going up when I get home!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

Wow I love it!
I want to go here!
I want the dumplings!
Andy and Daniella are cuties..
ok Andy is a real cutie
and his art is awesome.
did I mention Andy is a cutie?

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterGidget

I just checked out the write up over at Grub St. and who's the lone commenter? Marty Wombacher! Goddamn, you're everywhere! LOL!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterKen K.

@Gidget: The dumplings were great! I have to come back for a full meal.

@Ken K: Don't look now, but I'm under your sofa...MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

This is hands down the best New Mexican food on the East coast. I should know, I'm from Cruces!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBryant

Mmmmmm...guacamole. Very woodsy benches, and of course I love them. The rocking chairs are a cool touch.

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterkari

holy guacamole 365tripster...hope that la flaca lives on...and ten years after we can say been there done that...shit piss and corruption...way off toic....sorrry i'm gonna miss bifff...but hope i will have 1 or 3 with tim...but will misss the bbc....life sucks....bitch way off topic...la flaca...too new too say...by the way how does 365 show up at all these blogs? is he a bot,,,an alcoholic bot?...an atomic bot?...or does he just trip cripples on the side...KOC

rri

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterraginrr

@raginrr: I'm just a simple cripple tripper, you know that!

October 22, 2010 | Registered Commenter365 Beers

I'm reminded of the funniest nickname for Mr. Pervy Favre: Pecker Texter! HA HA HA!!

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBiff

what a croc.

October 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterkat

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