Esquina Restaurant- TriBeCa/SoHo

We're suckers for not just great scenes, food, and drinks but also great marketing. And we fall hard for places that make it hard to get in, as long as the payoff is worth it. We learned about Esquina from our concierge at our hotel, Chambers. It was on their 'hot sheet' under 'secret' and 'ultra cool'. Secret? Sign us up!

We had to have them make our resie since Esquina doesn't even have a listed number*. The whole hook is that Esquina is cleverly hidden beneath a small, somewhat shabby taqueria called 'The Corner Deli'. And unless you are in the know, you'd just walk in, grab a taco and split. Or probably just walk right by it. Only later did we realize that 'La Esquina' means 'The Corner'. You punked us, Esquina.

So here's the cool part: next to a big, forboding steel door with an 'Employees Only' sign, is an unassuming person. You walk up, say your name, and if your name is actually on their reservation list, voila! you are escorted down a steep, dark stairway, through a bustling mexican kitchen and into a big dark, cavernous underground restaurant and bar.

Candelabras that have dripped rivers of wax onto the bar. You have arrived at Esquina! It's like a  Mexican speak-easy. And since most of us weren't bar-hopping way back during the Prohibition, it's super-novel. Great music and the vibration from the subway every 15 minutes or so adds to the ambiance.

And Esquina isn't resting on their 'secret/cool' rep, either. The menu is basic but solid - try the taquitos, quesadillas, and baby-back ribs. The tequila selection is awesome. And the chips & salsa (the great equalizer of mexican restaurants, am I right?) are spot-on, mis amigos.

*Because we like you, here it is! 646.613.7100

Located at 106 Kenmare St.