Flatiron
Get directions | 35 E. 21st St., New York, NY 10010
Hours | Sunday 11:30am-2:30pm | 5:30pm-11pm, Monday 5:30pm-11pm, Tuesday 5:30pm-11pm, Wednesday 5:30pm-11pm, Thursday 5:30pm-11pm, Friday 5:30pm-12am, Saturday 5:30pm-12am
Anticipation and expectation. Two things that when left unchecked can ruin everything. This is true for many aspects of life, whether you’re prayin’ on a Powerball ticket, skipping medical school to ‘pursue your music,’ or somehow still rooting for New York sports teams. It’s also very true for restaurants.
Cosme is about as highly anticipated as a restaurant gets in this town, with the speculation over when famed Mexico chef Enrique Olvera would open beginning more than a full year before they served a single plate. We were certainly excited to try it for many months before it became a real thing, but not necessarily because of the chef’s previous successes. We just happen to love Mexican food of all shapes, sizes, and culinary interpretations. Except, of course, Dos Caminos.
So what is Cosme, other than a seriously hyped restaurant? Well, let’s start with what it’s not. This isn’t some high end, ‘Parque De Eleven Madison’ take on Mexican food. We were actually surprised at how simple the dishes are, even more so than a place like Empellon Cocina, but with a similarly inventive approach. The flavors are all familiar – cilantro, jalapeno, lime, corn – but some of the menu items are unmistakably New York City, and by that we mean burrata instead of burritos. The room is huge, but it’s also dark and sexy, making it as Perfect For a date as it is for a night of drinking tequila. But it’s definitely not a place for Sarah’s 24th birthday. And don’t expect anyone to bring you chips and salsa.
Which brings us back to expectations. Those can get you in trouble at Cosme. We really, really like this restaurant. But part of that is because we didn’t expect to. We never really put this place up on a pedestal before our visits like some other people did, and we were surprised at how approachable it is – even though it sort of looks like the Death Star inside. It’s also important that you’re not someone who just expects Mexican food to be cheap, because Cosme most definitely isn’t. But we definitely think it’s worth your money, especially if you’re someone who can get down on a bunch of uni on top of a tostada.
We expect you are.
212-913-9659
https://www.instagram.com/cosmenyc/
HERB GUACAMOLE, CORN TOSTADAS
STRIPED BASS, SALSA MACHA CEVICHE
VUELVE A LA VIDA, AVOCADO, HORSERADISH
BLUE SHRIMP AGUACHILE, CUCUMBER
HEIRLOOM AYOCOTE, MARKET GREENS
QUESADILLA
Epazote or Mushroom
CHILAQUILES, QUESO FRESCO
Green with chicken or Red with egg
CORN OMELETTE, QUELITES
MUSHROOM BIRRIA
DUCK ENMOLADAS, MOLE NEGRO, CRÈME FRAICHE
ENFRIJOLADA, GRILLED MARKET VEGETABLES, QUESO FRESCO
LAMB BARBACOA
Shishito peppers, Quelites, Avocado, Salsas
PAN DULCE
Spiced Chocolate Concha, Croissant, Passionfruit Doughnut, Banana Bread
CORNHUSK MERINGUE
CHURROS, DULCE DE LECHE
SORBET TRIO
HERB GUACAMOLE, CORN TOSTADAS
SCALLOP, YELLOW PEPPER, BERGAMOT AGUACHILE
STRIPED BASS TOSTADA, JÍCAMA, NOPAL
OCTOPUS TOSTADA, CHINTEXTLE, SORREL
KAMPACHI PASTRAMI SOPE, SIKIL P’AAK, MUSTARD
CAULIFLOWER TOSTADA, PIPIÁN, GINGER
TATAKI AL PASTOR
BURRATA, EPAZOTE, PINE NUTS
BLACK GARBANZO TETELA, SALSA MEXICANA, UNI
WAGYU BEEF HUARACHE, BROCCOLINI
AYOCOTE BEANS, MARKET GREENS
BEAN TLAYUDA, MAITAKE, CIPOLLINI, ONIONS
MOLE DE LA CASA, SWEET POTATO, HOJA SANTA
CABBAGE, LEEK, MOLE BLANCO, TRUFFLE
HALIBUT MEZTLAPIQUE
DUCK CARNITAS, ONIONS, RADISHES, CILANTRO
CHOCOLATE FLAN, TONKA BEAN
APPLE TAMAL, ROMPOPE, OATS
KEYLIME CHEESECAKE
CORNHUSK MERINGUE
SORBETS
Mandarin / Avocado & Epazote / Tamarind & Tequila
