A Look Around Mattos & Carter's New Restaurant Estela

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Here's a look around Estela, the new restaurant from sommelier Thomas Carter, chef Ignacio Mattos, and operator Mark Connell. The 55-seat space, which sits above Connell's dive Botanica on Houston and Mulberry, is intimate without feeling cluttered, evoking the bustling wine bars of Europe. The menu is made up mostly of snacks (priced between $6 and $18) like blood sausage croquettes and Virginia hams, as well as small plates (priced between $10 and $18) like burrata with radishes and lovage, trout crudo with yuzu and fresh peas, and a take on beef tartare in which Mattos mixes crispy sunchoke chips into the meat. There are a few main dishes ($22 - $29), including pork with carrots, marcona almonds, and dandelion greens.

Carter is pouring nearly 20 wines by the glass in order to promote the idea that this is a place where you can drop in for a bit of wine and a bite or go for a full-on meal. Though the reserve list is deep, the basic menu features no bottle over $64. Cocktails, like a take on the Americano featuring Avèze, white vermouth, gin, and soda, come courtesy of former PDT bartender Michael Klein.

Estela is a walk-in restaurant, with reservations only accepted for parties of eight or more. It is currently open from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 p.m to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The bar stays open every night until 1 a.m..

Here's the menu:

Estela

· Estela [Official Site]
· All Coverage of Estela on Eater [~ENY~]