Tortazo, the newest restaurant concept from Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless, will open its second location on September 20, 2021 in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood at 1123 Broadway (btw 25th and 26th Streets). Inspired by the vibrant cuisine, warm hospitality and rich culture of Mexico, Tortazo is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant. Chef Rick Bayless also runs the award-winning Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO and Bar Sótano, in Chicago. In addition to being a critically acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Chef Bayless is also a Bravo Top Chef Masters winner, Emmy-nominated television personality for his PBS series Mexico, One Plate at a Time, and cookbook author. Tortazo brings his profound appreciation for Mexican cuisine to New York with a menu that encourages discovery and showcases the bold flavors of Mexico.
“New York City has a thriving Mexican food scene,” says Chef Bayless. “We seem to be at a tipping point where people are seeing Mexican food in a different way and understanding that it is far more than just Tex-Mex. Our goal in coming to New York is to allow more people to experience and appreciate the incredible breadth of cuisine that you find in Mexico’s kitchens.”
Tortazo NoMad’s menu will offer a made-to-order, modern expression of the flavors, ingredients and techniques of Mexican cuisine. Central to the restaurant’s menu will be classic, warm Tortas a la Plancha, a homage to Mexico City’s famed torterias. Unique to the NoMad location, Chef Bayless will feature a traditional Oaxacan Tlayuda - a large, thin, crispy tortilla topped with a variety of ingredients from cotija cheese, black beans and tomatillo salsa to shredded cabbage, creamy avocado and spicy chorizo. The menu also features seasonal soups and salads, bowls, quesadillas and desserts including churros and paletas. Tortazo NoMad incorporates ingredients from local purveyors and farms such as La Newyorkina (churros and paletas) in Manhattan, D & R Central Bakery (telera rolls) in the Bronx and eggs from The Farmers Hen in Elizabeth, NJ. Tortazo NoMad is a true neighborhood hang, open daily for lunch and serving the community through happy hour and dinner each night.
Menu highlights will include:
Crispy Chicken Milanesa Torta: napa cabbage, pickled jalapenos, cotija cheese,
avocado-tomatillo salsa, cilantro crema, served on a telera roll brushed with black beans
Chicken Chilaquiles: poblano rajas, jack and cotija cheese, black beans, tortilla strips, salsa roja
Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese Tlayuda: candied almonds and avocado-tomatillo salsa, served on a huge corn masa tostada brushed with black beans
Shrimp Coctel: florida shrimp, avocado, jicama, cucumber, tamazula hot sauce, lime
Tortazo NoMad features a full-service bar with a beverage program led by Lanie Bayless. Expect rotating Mezcal flights highlighting top mezcaleros throughout the major production regions in Mexico, as well as a robust selection of seasonal house cocktails (shaken, stirred and frozen!), cans of wine, hard seltzers and local beers. Non-alcoholic options include house-made seasonal agua frescas.
The 70-seat restaurant features bar, booth and table seating, both indoors and out on the patio. The warm, vibrant palette gives guests the opportunity to dine-in or grab and go via counter, kiosk and order-ahead services. Tortazo offers delivery and catering for the neighborhood as well. A focal point of the restaurant design is a brightly colored mural depicting the annual monarch butterfly migration from Northern America to Mexico. Tortazo NoMad is located on the NoMad Piazza at 1123 Broadway, a landmarked building owned by Kew Management. Kew is led by Leslie Spira Lopez, a longtime champion of the neighborhood through leadership roles on the NoMad Alliance, the Flatiron BID and the Madison Square Park Conservancy.
Tortazo is a partnership between chef Rick Bayless, DOM Capital Group and Jollibee Foods Corporation, a leading multinational food service company based in the Philippines.
About Tortazo
Inspired by the vibrant cuisine, warm hospitality and rich culture of Mexico, Tortazo is a flexible fast-casual Mexican restaurant from critically-acclaimed chef and cookbook author Rick Bayless. Tortazo is inviting, accessible and delicious. Central to the restaurant’s menu are classic, warm Tortas a la Plancha, a homage to Mexico City’s famed torterias, and traditional Oaxacan Tlayudas. Welcoming guests daily for lunch, a vibrant happy hour and dinner, Tortazo is open from 11:30am - 9:00pm. For more information please visit tortazo.com.
