Going to New York City is often a challenge when I am landing at Laguardia at 5pm or later, have to meet someone for dinner, then catch an 8pm curtain at Lincoln Center. The closest restaurant (not on property) to Lincoln Center is ROSA MEXICANA (which recently opened a DC branch) right across the street on Columbus Avenue at 62nd Street.
On Friday, I actually landed about 30 minutes late, and still met my family at 6pm by taking a fast taxi (albeit a $40 bill!), when I often take the bus and subway which takes about 50 minutes for $2.00.
I still think the $10 margaritas are way overpriced and too small for the price. So I opted for the FUNDACION de MENDOZA Cabernet from Argentina which is a nice medium body wine that will go great with salsas, chicken or meat! ROSA offers some of the best chips and salsa around, with two options on the latter brought to every table. A smokey barbecue style red sauce and a spicy tomatillo green that tingles afterwards for a while.
We shared the EMPANADAS de JAIBA which are corn empanadas stuffed with jumbo lump crab and served with again two salsa options: Pico de Gallo with fresh fruit that really packs a punch from the peppers, and an avocado-tomatillo salsa that's milder and creamy. They work well to complement each other, offering fire and ice, so to speak.
The entrees are hefty portions and many are under $20, making them good bargains. I tried the BUDIN AZTECA which looks like pancakes with green sauce, but is a tortilla pie layered with chicken and Chihuahua Cheese in a Chile Poblano Sauce (that's the light green). It's a large platter and everything also comes with rice and those yummy black beans which are great on the chips as well! The other entrees were the ENCHILADAS de JAIBA, Crab Enchiladas in a rich creamy Tomatillo Sauce with Pumpkin
Seeds and the excellent ENSALADA de ATUN, an avocado and leaf salad with crusted rare tuna on top of a tostada with black bean paste. Added in is jicama, mango and cabbage slaw in a papaya-habanero sauce which has the slightest spiciness and is perfect on a hot day if you don't want one of the heftier dishes.
After all that dessert was an afterthought, although we looked on in amazement as someone at the next table had a huge bowl of ice reams, sauces and more that was piled high with whipped cream!
We were not even too overstuffed to enjoy the wonderful DON PASQUALE at the Met afterwards!
