Eats.com - Ofrenda: Neighborhood Mexican in the West Village

Ofrenda: Neighborhood Mexican in the West Village

One of our eaters recently stopped by Ofrenda, the a relatively new addition the West Village restaurant scene. What she found was delicious, comforting, authentic Mexican fare and a new go-to neighborhood spot. Check out the full review by Erin Frankel!

Ofrenda, a new and upscale south-of-the-border restaurant in the West Village, already seems to belong to the neighborhood. The food here is neighborhood food, comfort food, every-night-food, but with a twist. Chef Luis Arce Mota, from Café Condesa, prepares a classic Mexican menu here infused with French and Italian techniques he learned at his training at Le Cordon Bleu, Bouley and Carmine's.

It is very interesting to see how naturally these ingredients can be wedded. Chef Luis adds the Italian-inspired garlic to his Camarones al Ajillo y Chile de Arbol (shrimp with white wine, and garlic butter); Mexican-izes the traditionally French goat cheese dish here as a starter with corn truffle, pepper jack cheese and red pepper; and uses French sauces to complement many of his dishes like the Chicken Enchilada or the Pan-Seared Scallops.

Chef Luis manages to maintain a level of sophistication without breaking the bank. All of the entrees are priced under $20 and the extensive 20-bottle wine list includes many unique Mexican varieties under $40. The cocktail list is also very interesting: most of the signature drinks are spiced mezcal and tequila-inspired concoctions like the favorite, “Mexican Lady” - a mixture of Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila, mezcal, prickly pear, lime juice and agave.

Overall, Chef Luis makes Ofrenda a most inviting space with Mexican “home-style” cooking at its best.