Greenpoint has a new place to yell at the TV, and you can do it with a taco in hand. Socceria, a soccer-focused bar from the team behind Taqueria Ramirez, quietly opened over the weekend, flipping a once-sleepy restaurant corner into a World Cup hangout where breakfast plates and big matches share top billing.
The concept comes from chef Giovanni Cervantes and partner Tania Apolinar, who joined forces with Josh Borock and John Hilmes to take over the former Nura space, according to Greenpointers. The group started working on the Norman Avenue corner earlier this spring, spending weeks reworking the interior so it can handle both packed match crowds and low-key neighborhood dinners.
What to expect on match days
As reported by Eater New York, Socceria opened on Saturday, May 30 at 46 Norman Avenue with a deliberately limited first day that included a screening of the Champions League final. Apolinar told the outlet that RSVPs were already full. The bar plans more limited reopenings on June 6 and 7, then will run from noon to midnight during the World Cup, June 11 through July 19, setting it up as a go-to for early Mexico matches and late-night viewing.
The food sticks close to the team’s strengths, leaning Mexican and breakfast-forward. Expect chilaquiles, huevos estrellados and a lineup of garnachas, along with a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring the Ramirez burger, al pastor chicken wings and a street-style hot dog. An international beer list is aimed squarely at fans settling in for the long haul.
Who is behind Socceria
Cervantes and Apolinar are not exactly rookies on the local food scene. The duo built their reputation with Taqueria Ramirez and, more recently, Carnitas Ramirez, and Cervantes was named a finalist in the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef: New York State category, according to the James Beard Foundation. That kind of recognition gives Socceria a running start as it looks to attract both neighborhood regulars and serious soccer fans.
Neighbors can expect something a little different from the standard sports bar setup. The team says the menu will lean into Mexican fonda and cantina traditions instead of the usual wall of wings and nachos, and the buildout, designed with Matthew Maddy, keeps a low-key, local feel, according to Greenpointers. Since Nura closed in February, the corner has been noticeably quieter, and Socceria’s owners are betting the new bar will bring some life back to the block on both match days and slow afternoons.
On the practical side, Socceria’s website currently features a waitlist and a “get on the list” sign-up as the team slowly ramps up service, with future dates to be posted on their channels, per Socceria. If early buzz is any indication, expect crowds on big match days and quick sell-outs during the soft-opening phase, as Greenpoint tests just how strong its appetite is for tacos and fútbol.
