With the weird fluctuation of the weather outside, it is good to find a foodie place that will keep you warm and your palate satisfied with a side of spice. This can be said for Villa Cemita, which is located in the heart of the East Village on Avenue A, a short couple of blocks away from the F train. Villa Cemita boasts some pretty delicious Poblano Cuisine, in an intimate and beautiful setting. We stopped by Villa Cemita, which has only been opened for about a year, last night to see what all the fuss was about and we were quite pleased with the end result.
Something that I really loved about Villa Cemita was how the lighting and its design really elevated the mood of the location overall. It really took the word “intimate” to a whole other level and is a great place to enjoy a simple party for two or head to the back and have a celebration with your friends and family. For someone that doesn’t travel much to the East Village, I really got a great sense of hospitality and comfort upon arrival, and it is something that will make me want to come back again.
Villa Cemita serves food from all regions of Mexico but specialize in Puebla Cuisine. According to their bio, Owner and Chef Alejandra Aco uses old pre-hispanic cooking techniques instilled by her indigenous native mother-in-law from Puebla, giving every iconic dish from Puebla the spotlight. That really rang true in everything that we tried last night, as the flavor and textures of each dish sang beautifully with what they had prepared.
If you wanted to have a tasty menu from start to finish, this is what we would recommend you trying. For starters, their Corn on the Cob is simply spectacular, served with Mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili piquin and lime adorned throughout the corn itself. It really elevates the flavor level of something that is quite bland without. I am a sucker for a good Empanada, and their Roasted Chicken one was quite tasty, served with Oaxaca Cheese, chipotle sauce and crema. Two really great examples to start a delicious meal off with.
if you are just looking for Tacos, they have great options in their “Tacos De La Casa” part of the menu, where you can get three tasty ones filled with Carnitas, Pescado, Al Pastor and even a Vegetarian option. If you are looking to stick to something a bit healthier, I really enjoyed their Mexican Salad, which comes with Romaine lettuce, poblano pepper, avocado, cherry tomato, black beans, bacon, onion, queso fresco, corn, chicken, mango & chipotle citrus. The citrus and mango really add to this delicious salad and give it a fresh kick. One of the specials they had that really sang to me was their Enmoladas, which is rolled in a Mole sauce and topped with sesame seeds. The Mole sauce and sesame seeds really made this dish spicy in such a unique way, and very filling. If you want to keep it super traditional, try their Chimichangas, which have Deep fried flour tortilla, mixed cheese, beans, guacamole & sour cream. Super yummy.
On top of dinner, Villa Cemita also has a kick ass lunch, breakfast, and prix fix brunch menu available at your disposal. They also do a ton of drink specials daily, so if you are looking to dine in the East Village, check out their official site.