Band Pasta

      

On my last trip to NYC, to play Rockwood Music Hall with Stripmall Ballads, the band and I wondered seeking the eatery that best suited our hunger and made it all the way over to Tompkins Square Park. We found a little stall of a restaurant called La Lucha or The Wrestler. It only has about a dozen small tables and the every available piece of wall space had toys, action figures, old lucha libre posters from Mexico. They also showed old Lucha movies in B&W projected onto the wall. 

The food was outstanding and I do plan a return visit to try more. They had appetizers like “Villano” a grilled ear of corn with chipotle mayo and cotija cheese, cactus salad taquitos, and Oaxacan style tamal in banana leaves. (Oaxacan is the spanish word for the 32 federative entities of Mexico, Oaxacan cuisine is often known for exceptional “moles” and herbs like Epazote or Mexican Tea and the Hoja Santa also known as Mexican Pepperleaf. It’s very good. 

That was just the first section of the menu. The main focus is on their famous tacos. They are small but only cost between $3.50-4.50 so try a bunch. I had the “Ciclon Ramirez” which was tinga de pollo or chicken cooked in a chipotle sauce. I also tried the “El Espanto” which was Cicina or salted steak. They have an expansive menu of plates to share with two or more. Save room for fried plantains, pastel de leches, mexican popsicles, and bunuelos. 

It was delicious and we played a great gig that night. I think largely in part. You can check out a video from the show on the Stripmall Ballads Youtube Channel Here. See y’all next time.