Wayne and Sons — Restaurant in New York

I got lucky finding this amazing Tex-Mex jewel in the East Village Wayne & Sons.  Even though they’ve been open less than a month as of this writing, I’ve already been here twice and am looking for more friends, coworkers and neighbors to take there.

The menu, though limited due to space, is filled with tasty choices that will blow your mind.  Chips & queso warms you from the inside out, with a tasty gooey queso and the very best tortilla chips I’ve had in forever.  I was hesitant on cowboy caviar, but I’m now a believer- the black eyed peas are flavorful and tender, the mix of corn, avocado and jalapeno makes you wish for one more bite when finished.  The Wayne’s taco should be the standard that crunchy taco are held to- just the right amount of ground beef goodness with toppings and cheese. The asado taco won me over from the first bite- as a pork lover I immediately enjoyed the pulled pork and salsa; but the big surprise for me was the mushroom taco.  Slightly smoky with a generous amount of nicely seasoned mushrooms, my friends and I couldn’t get enough.  The interestingly named Armadillo Fries are a delicious take on nachos- french fries with chili, sauces, and all the toppings make for an amazing combo, like every other dish, we cleaned the plate (container)

I've only had a few of their drinks (I was sticking mostly to the theme and having margaritas) but everything I had was fantastic. Thankfully, the margaritas- both rocks and frozen- aren't too sweet like so many places in the East Village, so you can actually taste the lime juice, tequila, and everything else. The Ranch Water was a nicely refreshing thirst quencher based on Topo Chico. My personal fav was the mezcal mula, a mezcal version of the classic Moscow Mule... the mezcal works nicely.

Service is something else here as well, everyone we interacted with- the chef, Justin the bartender, or the friendliest host of them all Tiffany were a joy to talk to, answered questions with passion, and just gave a fun and happily fresh vibe to the joint.  It's easy to see their passion in Wayne & Sons and it's contagious.

The only catch is that the place is tiny- it will fill up quickly with just a few visitors. I say go early if you want to sit, or have more margaritas if you don't mind standing.

You can be sure I’ll be a regular, might even...

Wayne and Sons opened five days before I visited, and they are off to a great start.

Excellent and thoughtful beverage options that are intentionally limited to maintain quality and consistency. For example, there is one tequila option (Lola) because the owners pair the flavor profiles with the food menu.

The bar area seats nine. The outdoor space about another dozen.

Food is prepared in a super-efficient, open kitchen where chef works his magic. Don't expect the menu to expand, but rather to evolve over time where a new dish will appear and take the place of another.

Tacos are served individually and available chunchy (fried) or as a soft shell on corn tortillas. Larger dishes like the Armadillo chili cheese fries or Textopos (chips) can be shared or devoured solo without guilt.

I was told the menu will be evolving soon and I look forward to returning for another chance to...

My boyfriend and I stumbled across this spot on a random night, and as a San Antonio native, the words “Tex-Mex” on the sign had me immediately curious. We sat down and were greeted right away by Tiffany, who’s just the sweetest. Then we met Justin, the owner turns out, he’s also from Texas! That Texas connection runs deep! they even use H-E-B tortillas, which any Texan knows is the real deal.

Now let’s talk about the food: Oscar, the chef, makes the most incredible crunchy tacos I’ve had in my entire life. No exaggeration. One bite and I was transported right back home. I’ve brought all my fellow Texans here and they’re rightfully obsessed. Any time there’s a chance for a double date, I’m always suggesting...