Itzocan Cafe

In my many wanderings through the East Village, I always pass lots of interesting looking cafes and restaurants. Usually, I am walking by when eating a meal is not on my immediate agenda. Trouble is, when I actually want to try a new place, my mind goes completely blank. It's like having a huge list of books to read, but having a brain freeze the minute you walk into a library or bookstore.

Last night one of those nights when my friend and I were up for trying some place new, but weren't quite sure where it would be. There seem to be lots of little places east of 1st Avenue, so we took a stroll down 9th Street and came across a sweet tiny place called Itzocan Cafe. There are only about eight tables, but it wasn't too crowded. The food is basically Mexican or California Mexican. The lunch menu looks delicious with a selection of quesadillas and burritos. The dinner menu is smaller but varied. We shared crispy goat cheese ravioli which definitely lit up your mouth a bit with the addition of jalapenos. My friend ordered the braised flank steak, which was so tender she didn't even need her knife. I decided on the semolina dumplings. It was a hearty bowl with corn and mushrooms and broth, a fitting choice considering the storm outside. It could have used a little heat, as in more peppers, but I enjoyed it.

Itzocan Cafe
438 East 9th Street, b/w 1st and A
New York, NY
(212) 677-5856


P.S. For some reason, the comment settings changed on our blog and I had to approve comments before they were published. Thanks to RFC who caught this. I changed it back and comments now go automatically up. Sorry to everyone who left a comment that was not posted until today!