Restaurants We Know You Want to Put on Your Radar: The Banty Rooster

They say New York City has every cuisine you could imagine. However, when it comes to the regional specialties of the southwestern United States, like hugging a Saguaro cactus, we’re kind of stuck in the same place. You know a cuisine struggles to catch on in a city when the only restaurant that comes to mind is a celebrity chef’s restaurant that closed six years ago (Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, which closed in 2013). But that’s why we pay attention to trends in dining and new openings. It only takes one creative chef to resurrect a food phoenix out of the ashes, which is why we’re focusing on a bird of a different nature by telling you to check out The Banty Rooster.

Dolores Tronco-DePierro and John DePierro of The Banty Rooster Photo: The Banty Rooster

Located in the West Village of Manhattan, which is cozy but will not remind you of New Mexico or Arizona, The Banty Rooster is run by owner Dolores Tronco-DePierro and her husband Chef John DePierro. Though the restaurant’s menu and vibe is inspired by the duo’s global experiences, we’re ordering items that have southwestern style like the chile focaccia, squash mole, sopapillas, and New Mexico’s state cookie, the bisochito.

Tronco-DePierro is also the owner of Denver’s Work and Class which got a few James Beard nominations and her husband has cooked at NYC spots like Miss Ada and Metta, so we’re confident no matter what you order here will be tasty (but like, go for the southwestern items because you aren’t going to find them too many other places in NYC. There’s also a full bar with original cocktails as well as beer and wine, including a boozy rum based cocktail dedicated to the TV show Los Espookys, which you will find because of its name, Ode to Los Espookys.

The restaurant is currently opened for dinner with reservations available via Resy, and plans to offer brunch service soon, where more southwestern inspired fare will likely be found.