El Toro Blanco, John McDonald's New Mexican Restaurant, Opening Tonight

El Toro Blanco
257 Sixth Ave., Greenwich Village
Phone: 212-645-0193
Web: eltoroblanco.tumblr.com/
Status: Opening Tonight

In just a few hours, John McDonald will kick open the doors to his chic new Mexican restaurant El Toro Blanco. McDonald and chef Josh Capon collaborated with Californian chef Scott Linquist on the menu, which features dishes from all over Mexico. The starters section has a lot of finger foods like tacos and empanadas, and the entree list includes several lightly prepared seafood and meat dishes, many of which come with traditional salsas. At a sneak preview last month, McDonald explained that he wanted to offer plenty of lighter options, noting, "You've got to do that so that people can eat here on a regular basis."

El Toro Blanco features a 10-seat tequila bar, a handful of U-shaped booths, several four-tops, and a small guacamole bar where you can watch the green dip being made right before your very eyes. The space has a Mid-Century Modern design, somewhat similar to the aesthetic of McDonald's other hit, Lure Fishbar. El Toro Blanco opens for dinner tonight, with lunch rolling out in the next few weeks. Take a look at the menu below, and check back tomorrow for a tour of the space.
Previous Coverage: Fall Tracking, 09/26; Fall Preview, 10/20; Coming Attractions, 08/23.
Further Reading: UD, WWD, Diner's Journal, Grub Street.

[Photo: Thrillist]