When you ponder high-end Mexican food, you might not be thinking New York City’s Bowery neighborhood. You’re probably thinking of LA, or Austin or better yet, Mexico City. But if you happen to be in the city’s artsy and trendy section in Lower Manhattan, check out Casa Bond NoHo for their delicious tacos.
Casa Bond NoHo—located at 334 Bowery—is a cozy and upscale restaurant serving expensive, high-quality Mexican dishes created by talented Executive Chef Rodrigo Abrajan. His vast menu is inspired by the vibrant flavors of Tulum and the Pacific Coast, and he’s successfully making traditional versions of classic dishes on an elevated level. From raw oysters and quesadillas to fresh ceviches and duck carnitas, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Though, the main attraction is their tacos—and it’s not to be missed.
The eatery’s Gobernador tacos were delectable and it is the restaurant’s top dish. Consisting of shrimp and steak on a flour tortilla with Chihuahua cheese, tomato, and poblano, this taco proves that, often, the simplest food is the very best food. Priced at $24 for only two small tacos, it’s a little steep, but each bite is extremely tasty, flavorful and very memorable. Also, the Baja Fish taco, made up of Mahi Mahi, jÌcama, cucumber, mango coleslaw, and habanero aioli was outstanding. It’s priced at $21 for two tacos.
Another winner at Casa Bond NoHo was the broiled butterflied branzino marinated in annatto-guajillo, a type of dried chili pepper. The fish was tender, had flaky texture, and not overly fishy, making it very yummy and palatable. The branzino entrée is more filling than the tacos and worth the reasonable $35 price. Lastly, the Tampique—a tender prime skirt steak with enmolada, poblano rajas and refried black beans was superb.
As for drinks at Casa Bond NoHo, Managing Partner and Beverage Director Luis Villanueva is leading an extensive and inventive list of cocktails that off unique flavor combinations adding a multi-layered tasting experience to your meal. The drinks are beautifully presented and we recommend sipping on the “Downtown” —a pineapple infused beverage with pisco, lemon juice, grapefruit syrup and angostura bitters. We also advise in ordering the Lychee Martini made with vodka, dry vermouth, lychee and lemon oil.
To complete your meal at Casa Bond NoHo, we recommend eating the decadent churros that are infused and sprinkled with generous amounts of cinnamon, sugar, cajeta and chocolate sauce. The texture (crispy outside and soft inside) was perfect and you will be satisfied.
Not only is the food and drinks excellent at Casa Bond NoHo, the vibe is electric. The restaurant caters to a young crowd with a preference for high-quality dining. During our visit, three separate large parties gathered for a birthday, an anniversary celebration and a group get-together. The atmosphere was loud and boisterous, which set the tone for a fun night at Casa Bond NoHo.
