Esperanto is a Brazilian/Latin inspired restaurant that has been bringing its zesty menu and lively vibe to the East Village for almost two decades now.
The menu at Esperanto offers creative combinations of Latin inspired dishes curated by Chef Cesar Guevara.
His vibrant plates include dishes such as the Lombo de Porco, a juicy pan-seared pork tenderloin, marinated in passion fruit and served with mashed sweet potatoes.
One of my favorites was the Moqueca – a Brazilian stew of made with shrimp, coconut milk, ginger and cashews.
Another specialty dish that Chef Guevara had us sample was the Feijoada. This comforting dish is made with Bahian pork and black beans and is served with white rice and sautéed collard greens.
Don’t leave Esperanto without trying their Coconut Flan, one of the better ones I have eaten in a while.
Esperanto also has a great cocktail menu with several knockout drinks and there are fabulous live music and free events nightly. Often they feature samba singers, Afro-Latin bands and so on. We were lucky enough to be there for a wonderful Flamenco performance.
Esperanto brings a slice of Latin America and more to the East Village and is definitely worth a visit.
Here is some of what we ate:
Roasted Mussels
Plantain Crusted Goat Cheese
Feijoada
Lombo de Porco
Moqueca
Coconut Flan
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own