BWW Preview: ESPERANTO NYC Celebrates 17 Years in the East Village with Menu Specials and Giveaways

The Brazilian-inspired East Village restaurant, Esperanto, located on Avenue C, is having their 17-year anniversary celebration. From October 1st to November 1st , they will offer $17 entrees and 30 days of giveaways. A final celebration party will also be hosted at the restaurant on November 4th with a 2-hour open bar, live music and a raffle with the grand prize of a $500 party at Esperanto on the night of the winner's choosing.

The team at Esperanto is also celebrating the recent launch of quick-service offshoot, Esperanto Fonda, located at 58 East 1st Street. The giveaways will include, for guests who arrive after 6:30 and fill out a contact sheet:

Week 1 and Week 2: Free cocktail or dessert for every entreé ordered.

Week 3: Free hat for every table with a check above $50.

Week 4: Free T-shirt for every table with a check above $50.

Discover Esperanto and the Latin American restaurant concepts they have brought to New York City.

Esperanto Avenue C- The newly-implemented Jugo, a cold-pressed juice bar concept, is accessible through a separate entrance or a connected walkway through Esperanto, with creative concoctions such as the popular Dr. Feel Good, a blend of pineapple, orange, grapefruit, lime and ginger. The cold-pressed juicing method maintains the nutrients and freshness of the produce better than other extraction processes to offer a premium juice experience. Daily juice specials are created via the inspiration of Jugo manager Christopher Cruz, such as refreshing watermelon-mint or grapefruit and thyme, and an extensive smoothie program is also in the works. Freshly-made pastries and snack, including gluten-free options, are also available.

Esperanto owner Dimitri Vlahakis, who co-owns both the East Village and Williamsburg Motorino locations, Alice's Arbor and Alice's Market, La Gamelle and Summit Bar, sought to provide an authentic Latin American concept through Esperanto. The restaurant is evocative of a Brazilian botiquin, a beachside watering hole that serves as a community social spot. The Esperanto décor has changed since its inception with the addition of brightly colored walls washed in lively shades of turquoise and canary yellow, and windows accented with paintings of birds and tree branches. The tropical and creative vibe even extends outside of the restaurant, as you can dine al fresco with La Plaza Cultural Park right across the street, which offers a breezy willow tree and fence bedecked with handmade trinkets and pinwheels by local artists.

The inspiration is translated in signature creations, starting with Chayote Salad, a refreshing blend of chayote, creamy avocado and hearts of palm, a bright kick of citrus with segmented oranges, and a slight herbaceous freshness with cilantro. Ceviches De La Casa are served with your choice of crab with avocado, corn, scallions, and lime citrus, shrimp with tomatoes, chipotle pepper and orange citrus, or red snapper with corn, peppers, onions and citrus.

Entrees include Frango de Casa, pan-seared chicken with cumin-coriander adobo sauce and topped with jalapeño butter, and Lombo de Porco, a juicy pan-seared pork tenderloin marinated in passion fruit and served with mashed sweet potatoes and sautéed spinach. Various traditional stews include the Feijoada, with Bahian pork and black beans, served with white rice and sautéed collard greens, and the Camarão da Feira, with shrimp, coconut milk, tomato and hearts of palm. Other unique entrees infused with cachaça are the Pescado Esperanto, pan-seared market fish with a cachaça cream sauce, served with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach, or the vegetarian Caipirinha Rice Plate, rice cakes infused with cachaça and topped with roasted corn, black bean salsa and a side of sweet potato puree.

The generous sides can't be missed, such as crispy Yucca Fritta with a flavorful punch of garlic and spice in the house-made mojo sauce, or the Tostones, crispy plantain patties, served alongside black bean dip.

Dessert selections include Molten Chocolate Cake, creatively infused with Mexican-based Kahlúa and orange, and Coconut Flan, a creamy custard studded with toasted coconut flakes and a smooth caramel topping.

For brunch, consider Esperanto for Ovos Loisada, poached eggs atop a potato shrimp pie with Hollandaise, or a lighter Salada de Espinafre, with spinach, chickpeas and avocado, topped with coconut flakes and cashews and tossed in a citrus vinaigrette. A Prix Fixe Brunch Special is also available and includes an entrée, coffee and two brunch cocktails.

The cocktail program includes traditional Caipirinhas, Mojitos and Cachaça-Wine Sangria, beers and wine, as well as interesting mixed drinks, such as the Snowfield, with Santa Teresa añejo rum, coconut milk and ginger syrup, or The Spell, with Vida mezcal, home-made lime and orange juice and a cayenne pepper rim. You can also spice up any of the juice bar selections with the addition of cachaça.

Esperanto continues to succeed because of its commitment to all aspects of Latin culture,

where entertainment is included with carefully curated nightly live music program, from samba singers to Afro-Latin bands, to add yet another cultural element to the overall Esperanto experience.

Esperanto Fonda - Esperanto's new quick-service concept Esperanto Fonda launched August 1, at 58 East 1st Street, with items such as Empanadas with your choice of beef, shrimp, veggie or mixed, Bolinhos, or fried potato cod cakes with house-made chipotle mayo, the acclaimed Cubano sandwich with roasted pork loin, ham, melted Swiss and mojo sauce, Tacos, Burritos and an Esperanto Bowl, with rice, beans, pico de gallo and guacamole, and your choice of meat. Esperanto Fonda will also feature Esperanto's classic cocktails, the Caipirinha, a blend of sugar, lime and cachaça, a refreshing liquor made from fermented sugar cane that is reminiscent of rum, but smoother, Mojitos and Brazilian Sangria made with cachaça and wine, all of which can be ordered with freshly-pureed mango, passionfruit or pineapple. Beers include Brazilian Xingu Black and Gold, Corona and Negra Modelo.

Esperanto is located at 145 Avenue C and Ninth Street in New York's East Village. Visit: www.esperantony.com or call 212-505-6559. Hours of Operation: Lunch Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dinner Sunday-Thursday 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m.-Midnight and Saturday and Sunday Brunch 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Esperanto Fonda is located at 58 East 1st Street in the East Village. Available for dine-in, take-out and delivery. Open Daily 10 a.m.-Midnight. 917-639-3197.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Esperanto

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