Dolores, a new Mexico-City inspired cocktail bar and cantina, from the husband-and-wife team behind neighborhood favorite Winona’s, opens in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn [397 Tompkins Ave]. Inspired by co-founder Emir Dupeyron’s childhood and youth growing up in Mexico City, the newest concept brings agave-forward beverages, alongside bold and flavorful shareable snacks and larger entrees, to Brooklyn. Partner and Beverage Director, Leanne Favre, of Clover Club and Leyenda, leads the bar program that focuses on elevated cantina staples – inspired by the flavors and comforting drinking culture of Mexico. The agave-forward menu offers approachable neighborhood favorites, as well as re-imagined classics. The food menu created by Emir Dupeyron features expertly executed bar snacks, known locally as “botana”, as well as tacos inspired by iconic Mexico-City eateries and daily, rotating large-plate specials.
MENU
Dolores’ bar program, led by Favre, offers fun, expertly-made, comfortable and approachable cocktails, as well as some creative twists on classics. The menu features cantina staples, such as the Margarita, made with house-made sour mix and available on draft; the Paloma featuring a blend of grapefruit and sumac, carbonated “a minute” and the Mexican Espresso Martini inspired by a classic Carajillo and featuring a Mexican-made coffee rum and amaro. Additional beverages include the Midnight Cowboy, a martini variation served with cotija-stuffed olives; Jerk Batanga made with a house-blend of jerk spices, banana, lime, and topped with Mexican Coke; Arroz con Leche made with Mexican-made rum, guava, and a rice wash; One Trick Pony with tomato, strawberry, guajillo chili, and black pepper, served with a tiny Modelito and their frozen Mata Dolores, a take on a classic Painkiller made with pineapple, orange cordial,coconut and a hint of ancho chili and cocoa.
Menu highlights include a collection of “botana”, or shared snacks, which are classically served in Mexican cantinas and take inspiration from Mexico City’s drinking culture. Inspired by bold flavors and simple presentations, the menu features a classic Guacamole with fresh, hot totopos fried to order Tlacoyo de Haba, a traditional Mexican stuffed-corn tortilla topped with a nopal salad and fava bean puree, Sopes con Picadillo served with housemade salsa, and Pressed Seafood Aguachile made in-house by pressing octopus, shrimp, squid – sliced thin and served with fresh lime juice and red onion. The menu also features some notable bar bites, a nod to Mexico City’s street food culture, including the Papadilla, a potato-filled quesadilla topped with Mexican crema and Chicharrones Fritos, fried pork belly served with guacamole.
Dolores’ menu also features a collection of tacos, many inspired by classic and famous Mexico City eateries, including the Cochinita Pibil Turix, inspired by the taqueria ‘El Turix’ Taqueria in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City. The taco features Yucatán-style, braised pork that is marinated and rubbed with home-made achiote and citrus, it is then topped with pickled red onions and a habanero salsa. The Lengua “El Bosque”, is an homage to Bar El Bosque, a cantina, which famously serves tacos wrapped in cloth napkins, to soften the tortilla and preserve the moisture. Larger, daily specials will include Albondigas al Chipotle, Mexican-style meatballs served in a chipotle sauce, Mojarra Frita a whole-fried red snapper served with rice, tortillas, and housemade salsa, and Classic Enchiladas made with chicken as well as the Chamorro – an ode to the iconic dish served at cantina El Sella – another Mexico City staple. For late-night dining, Dolores offers Tacos de Canasta from 11 PM till sold out, Friday and Saturdays only. This popular Mexican street food, which literally translates to “basket tacos” consists of tortillas that are filled with various fillings before being bathed in oil and stacked in a basket to keep warm. These will be available at the bar for $2 per taco and will come with a classic salsa verde.
DESIGN
Dolores draws inspiration from classic Mexico City cantinas as well as from the art of 1930s and 1940s, with many design elements sourced from the team’s travels to Mexico City. Influenced by the city’s vibrant drinking culture, the space includes custom hand-carved cantina-style tables meant for drinking, conviving, and playing dominoes and cubilette (a traditional Mexican dice game). The restaurant seats 30, with 10 additional seats at the bar, and 8 outdoor seats. Inside, walnut-toned wood and green velvet banquettes— designed with David Jones, who also worked on Winona’s—anchor the palette, complemented by chrome accents, brown leather chairs, and cantera tiled floors. In the bathroom, jade terrazzo tiling, green fixtures, including a bold sink and matching toilet, tie the color story together. Art plays a central role, with layered, eclectic pieces reflecting the cantina’s high-low spirit.
TEAM
Dolores opens in partnership between husband and wife team, Cressida Greening and Emir Dupeyron, who are behind the family-run, Winona’s, also located in Bed-Stuy. This is the couple’s second restaurant, building off the success of their first concept, which celebrates seasonal, comforting cuisine. Emir Dupeyron, who leads the culinary program at Dolores, was born and raised in Mexico City, where he grew up in a community and family steeped in the restaurant industry. Emir’s first concept in New York City, Cafe Condesa, was inspired by his roots and was located in the West Village for over ten years. The third partner and beverage director, Leanne Favre, is a seasoned mixologist who began her bartending career at New York’s top cocktail bars, including the now shuttered East Village’s agave bar, Mayahuel, Brooklyn’s iconic Clover Club, where she served as Creative Director and Leyenda, as Creative DIrector and Head Bartender. Leanne has placed in several national and global cocktail competitions including being the Flor de Cana’s East Coast Winner, becoming a two-time top-five finalist at Diageo World Class, and placing as a national finalist at Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience, among other accolades.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dolores is open from 4 PM – 12 AM Sunday-Thursday, and from 4 PM – 1 AM on Friday and Saturday. Dolores is available for walk-ins only.
