This Güey at Tacos Güey

Union Square has several really excellent restaurants, but the $20 desk-lunch salad places are far more numerous there. The exciting new Tacos Güey is close enough for us to include it in our U-Sq suggestions, being only two blocks and two avenues from the northwest corner of the park.

Among the upscale establishments on chef Henry Zamora's CV are Legacy Records, the exclusive restaurant 423 Park Avenue in New York City, Quince, and The French Laundry in California. His new business is located in the former Flatiron Lounge space on West 19th Street. In its current form, a long banquette is situated opposite a backlit bar that illuminates liquor bottles making them sparkle like gems. The room is lined with exposed brick.

Six different types of tacos with homemade tortillas are included on Zamora's fantastic debut menu. Orders come with radish and lime on a plate that holds two. Carnitas, carne asada, pollo asado, pescado frito, hongo asado, and lamb birria are just a few of the popular dishes offered. The guacamole is perfectly textured and seasoned with lime, the sea bass ceviche is vibrant with gooseberries and chile oil, and the potato and queso flautas have a good crisp bite with a trio of vibrant toppings. Larger plates have a tantalizing chef's selection of meats, hog ribs, and a grilled whole fish of the day, even if it's difficult to resist endless rounds of tacos.

This is a wonderful place to go without regard to dinner plans because the cocktails are also "just drinks" deserving. The This Güey, created with mezcal, Oaxacan rum, pineapple, honey, and mint, and the That Güey, with tequila, curaçao, limón, and tajn, are even two new additions to the frozen cocktail scene in NYC thanks to Güey. Along with beer and wine, other creative and traditional drinks are also offered.

Tacos Güey is open on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. It is situated at 37 West 19th Street.

Address: 37 West 19th StreetNew York10011

Phone: 212 991 8222
Opening hours: Sunday from 3pm to 10pm, Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30am to 10pm, Thursday and Friday from 11:30pm to 11pm and Saturday from 3pm to 11pm