Vegan World Celebrity Chef Will Open a Mexican Spot in the East Village

Self-anointed “world’s leading plant-based chef” Matthew Kenney is opening two restaurants back to back this fall: He’s following up hard-to-read XYST on November 1, with the more straightforward Bar Verde, a vegan Mexican restaurant in the East Village.

This will be the third restaurant for Kenney, who rose to prominence following Irving Place’s embroiled but now defunct Pure Food + Wine. Bar Verde will debut in the East Village, next door to 00 + Co. with the same address as the vegan pizza shop he opened on Second Avenue at 4th Street last year. His partners there, Raymond Azzi and Kyle Saliba, are also co-owners of Bar Verde.

Inspired by Kenney’s travels around Mexico, Bar Verde recasts nachos, tamales and tacos for vegans, swapping queso with butternut squash queso, and crema with cashew crema. Other dishes will include wild mushroom-stuffed tamales and tacos filled with farro chorizo or avocado tempura.

The all-day restaurant, which has 56 indoor seats and 24 on an outdoor patio, features a bar that will showcase agave spirits, as well as sustainable beer and wine.

Hours of operation will run daily from noon to midnight, with weekend brunch beginning at 11 a.m. Reservations are available October 16.