Sick of the snow and slush and in need of a zing? Zap yourself back to life with zesty Mexican cuisine at Ofrenda! Experience authentic Mexican food that will have your taste-buds salsa dancing! This resto’s name “ofrenda,” means “offering” in Spanish and originates from the Day of the Dead celebration, a ritual whereby families build ornate tables with lavish feasts and candles to honor the deceased. As the “ofrenda” comprises the favorite foods of passed souls, it therefore has important bearing as the title of this restaurant— indicative that it serves only the very best! A new locale, the proprietor and chef here bring to the table years of experience as the original owners of the charming Cafe Condesa, just across the street.

Today’s scoop gets you $20 credit towards food or beverages sold for $10— that’s 50% off! Situated in the West Village, Ofrenda brings you authentic and fantastic Mexico City cuisine around the clock, with delicious options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! For those early birds, try the “Huevos Divorciados” (sunny side-up eggs over corn tortilla with green tomatillo and roasted tomato salsa) or the “Chorizo con Huevos” (spicy Spanish sausage, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and guajillo pepper); and for those New Yorkers that prefer to dine after a siesta, try the “Albóndigas de Camarón con Chile Chilpotle” (shrimp balls, battered cauliflower and garlic mashed potatoes with chilpotle sauce) and the “Costillas de Borrego Rostizadas con Chile Poblano” (roasted rack of lamb, garlic mashed potatoes and shiitake mushrooms). And don’t miss the generous sides of Mexican faves like fried plantain, juicy zucchini, or chayote stuffed with pepper jack or the explosive cocktails! And while we love the subdued elegance of Ofrenda’s interior- everyone at Scoop St. is looking forward to warmer weather when we can sip away on margaritas at Ofrenda’s outside terrace. This place is great inside and out – impress your friends at brunch or dinner with this West Village hot spot.

Ofrenda prides itself in its adherence to old fashioned Mexican basics, but it also delights the palette and surpasses expectations with innovative delicacies like the “Almejas en Salsa Verde con chile Serrano” (manila clams, chorizon, canellini beans and tomatillo salsa) and “Chimichangas de Pie de Cerdo con Chile Ancho” (pig feet, shiitake mushrooms, guacamole, and chile ancho sauce). This author loves the array of healthy “offerings” here – try the “atun adobado a la parilla con chile pulia” (marinated, grilled tuna, cilantro rice, and sauteed spinach with a tomatillo-avocado sauce). With its infinite options of savory samplers, Ofrenda is perfect for a family outing, table for two, or a gaggle of friends and co-workers! So come taste the Mexican sunshine with the wide array of entrees and appi’s and don’t forget to warm up from the inside-out with some specialty mescal-and-tequila spiked drinks!

Buzz Around Town

“First off…I am one of the pickiest eaters ever, so when my friend called and said he was opening a restaurant I was like, you know I am crunchy granola…he said try the chicken with some sort of chocolate sauce…I was like oh no…I TRIED IT…OMG I just inhaled it (and I later found out it was mole sauce)…Of course the appetizer I had that lead to that chicken dish was pure heaven…Baked goat cheese with swirling olive sauce that you scoop up with these vegetable chips that tastes like pork rinds…what a treat for someone who hasn’t had red meat for years…mmmmm”- Lanier Long, Urbanspoon

“My boyfriend and I live nearby and decided to try Ofrenda late on a Saturday morning. We had a great meal and friendly service. Also the presentation of the food was very nice. It was not busy while we were there and as we walked out I noticed that some other places in the area had talking heads in their windows. Go to Ofrenda! You will enjoy it! We plan to go back to enjoy a drink at the bar sometime soon.”- Katie K., Yelp

“I went in for lunch and was very pleased that they had vegetarian options on the menu. I tried the Mesclun Salad with Queso Fresco which was very tasty, and the Grilled Portobello Cemita which was equally flavorful. (I googled the place later on and found out that the chef, Luis Arce Mota, is an alumnus of the kitchens of Bouley and Union Square Café, as well as the former chef-owner of Cafe Condesa.) I struck up a conversation with two people there who turned out to be the owners and they couldn’t have been friendlier. Also, there was some great photography on the walls. All in all, this spot has the potential to become a favorite in the West Village. I definitely need to come back to try dinner very soon!”- Robin L., menupages.com