Taco Bell to Bring First-Ever, Three-Story Cantina to Midtown South

Taco Bell’s NYC cantina expansion moves ahead full steam

There’s more from Taco Bell in its quest to bring 50 boozy cantinas to New York by 2022: The American fast food restaurant — credited with such unasked-for creations as fourth meal, fried chicken shell tacos, and Kit Kat quesadillas — announced this week that it will unleash a big flagship of its boozy cantina restaurant in Midtown, at 976 Sixth Avenue, at West 36th Street, in the next few months. In addition to a custom menu of shared plates, an open kitchen, and frozen alcoholic drinks, the flagship store will span multiple floors, the first of its kind to do so.

The Midtown cantina is expected to open early this year but not many more details are available at this time, the Commercial Observer reports. News of the midtown flagship comes on the heels of the chain inking a separate deal for another 4,000-square-foot cantina in Times Square’s Paramount Building. It’s all part of Taco Bell’s bigger plan to open at least 50 more locations in the five boroughs by 2022. The chain launched its first New York City cantina in 2018 and now has close to a dozen locations in New York City.

In other news

— Venerable Jewish deli Sable’s Smoked Fish has been forced to vacate its building after more than 30 years. Sable’s owners Kenny and Danny Sze, who learned to slice lox at Zabar’s decades ago, have found a new home at 1330 Third Ave, at East 76th Street, which is set to open later this year. The restaurant’s former home will likely be turned into a luxury condo.

— Plans to replace the Park Slope Key Foods with apartments are now moving forward with a new developer. Billy Macklowe and partner David Welsh have purchased the property, and plan to follow through with the contested plans to bring 165 apartments, 220 parking spots, 107 bike spaces, and a small grocery store to the site.

— Eater 38 newcomer and breezy Williamsburg cafe Gertie is hosting a Valentine’s Day Party starting at 6 p.m. on February 14. The event is decidedly not a couples-targeted dinner service and will offer a menu of shareable snacks, natural wines, and cocktails made in collaboration with Greenpoint amaro-maker St. Agrestis. Oh, and lots of dancing.

— Crown Heights dessert bar (and actual bar) Butter & Scotch baked 53 cakes to be sent to Republican senators encouraging them to let John Bolton testify in the impeachment hearings. The cakes — the result of a $7,000 GoFundMe campaign — were decorated with different messages, including one that read “Don’t Dessert Democracy.”

— Decades-old Brooklyn diner George’s was wrecked on Tuesday morning when a car crashed through the front windows. No one was injured in the incident, but George’s will be temporarily closed for repairs.

— Chef Missy Robbins, owner of acclaimed Williamsburg Italian restaurant Lilia, is apparently designing jumpers now. The long sleeve jumpsuits, which come in indigo blue and honestly look great, are retailing for $185.

— Months after Atlantic writer Amanda Mull declared kale dead, there’s a national arugula shortage.

— Who. Scoops. Ice cream. Like. That.

— Anything but deep dish: