Step off the Bowery and into the heat-drenched magic of Casa Bond, where mezcal smoke hangs in the air like a spell and every dish arrives like a love letter from the Riviera Maya.
This is not your average downtown Mexican restaurant—it’s a full-blown sensory passport to Tulum’s most tantalizing table, helmed by a trio of culinary dream-weavers who understand that food, like art, is best served bold.
At the helm is Executive Chef-Owner Rodrigo Abrajan, a legend in the making whose origin story begins with a taco pushcart and culminates in full-blown hospitality stardom. After earning his stripes (and cult devotion) uptown with El Paso Taqueria in Harlem, Chef Rodrigo has brought his soulful, flavor-packed creations to the heart of NoHo with Casa Bond, where regional Mexican fare gets dressed up in silk and sequins for the downtown crowd.
Since its debut just a year ago, Casa Bond has become the go-to for the art girls, the fashion boys, and the collectors of both canvases and experiences. The atmosphere? Sexy. The crowd? Spirited. The menu? A masterpiece.
Start with the Pistachio Guacamole, a luscious twist on the classic, topped with grilled pineapple, habanero, and—you guessed it—actual pistachios because Chef Rodrigo believes in decadence.
The Fluke Tiradito arrives like a whisper of the ocean, kissed with árbol chile and cucumber ribbons. But it’s the Quesadilla de Costilla, oozing Vermont aged cheddar and tender Negra Modelo-braised short rib, that truly seduces. This is not food. This is poetry written in Morita adobo and pressed tortillas.
And let us take a moment to praise the Burguesa—a glamorous beast of sirloin and chorizo topped with guacamole and Oaxaca cheese, unapologetically served with golden fries. She’s not here to be dainty. She’s here to steal the show.
Of course, no proper escapade begins without a cocktail, and Managing Partner and Beverage Director Luis Villanueva has conjured a list that is less a drink menu and more an alchemical spellbook. The Smokey Room, crafted with mezcal joven, passionfruit purée, and flamed orange peel, feels like a sun-drenched hallucination. The Señor Bond, made with Clase Azul reposado and barrel-smoked maple syrup, is smooth, mysterious, and devastatingly chic. One sip and you’ll swear you’re sipping secrets in a James Bond dream sequence, but make it Mexican Riviera.
The service is impeccable, the ambiance is electric, and the crowd is deliciously beautiful—young, artistic, and just a little bit wicked. This is where art dealers whisper deals over mole and downtown darlings sip tequila between gallery shows. Whether you’re here for the food, the vibe, or just the photogenic cocktails, Casa Bond knows how to serve the whole fantasy.
In a world of trends and transient tastes, Casa Bond is a reminder that true luxury lies in experience, culture, and the joy of a damn good taco.
Come hungry. Come fabulous. Leave forever changed.
Casa Bond, 334 Bowery, NoHo. (917) 639-3009. casabondnoho.com.
