Bed-Stuy, a neighborhood experiencing rapid change, is adding to its variety of global cuisine with the opening of Olmo, a cantina-style restaurant scheduled to open tomorrow at 103 Saratoga Avenue. Following other recent restaurant openings in the area, Olmo will focus on Mexican flavors inspired by the cantinas of Mexico City, as Eater reports.
The team behind Olmo includes alumni from notable restaurants like Cosme and Pujol. Their goal is to reflect the spirit of New York in their take on a Mexican cantina. The restaurant is designed as a casual space where guests can enjoy their meals as well as social activities such as dice and dominoes. Opening chef Jael Lopez, who has experience at Cosme, Eleven Madison Park, and Atomix, will lead the kitchen. According to a statement obtained by Eater, Lopez envisions Olmo as a venue that highlights "the idea of nostalgic Mexico City cantinas" aiming “to make sure to highlight and bring that homey feeling into the dining room."
Olmo’s menu is set to feature a diverse range of flavors, including dishes such as lacto-fermented crudités, chicharrón preparado, and eggplant milanesa. The drink selection highlights agave-based cocktails, with creative versions of classics like mezcal negronis and various micheladas. A unique touch is the use of dehydrated lacto-fermented plums in place of traditional orange slices with mezcal pours. Enhancing the restaurant’s visual appeal, artist Alannah Farrell has designed an outdoor mural that incorporates natural elements connected to the restaurant’s name and cultural influences, as detailed by Brownstoner.
While Olmo aims to provide an enjoyable dining experience, the management team is focused on keeping it accessible as a neighborhood spot. Menu prices are anticipated to range from $10 to $25, with drinks priced around $15. The team hopes to attract a diverse local crowd seeking quality, family-style dining at reasonable prices. "We definitely want to be affordable for all in the neighborhood, we wouldn’t want to be a place just for a special occasion," a representative for the restaurant told Brownstoner.
