Leña Latin Grill Is A Week or Two From Opening (And Looks Like a Latin Chipotle)

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Last month, I pondered what Leña Grill would be bringing to 35th btw. 5+6th. I feared that ‘Grill’ seemed a little too fancy and thus out of the ML price range, but thankfully that doesn’t seem to be the case. I passed by this morning and asked the folks working on the space a bit about the place. Unlike previous attempts that were greeted with “I think it’s going to be a restaurant,” I got some more info.

Details and a shot of the menu after the jump.

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At this point, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Chipotle-style menu of proteins and packaging. Flags go off when a ‘Latin” place calls something a ‘wrap’ instead of, say, a burrito, but we’re willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Tofu is also a little unusual, especially for Latin food, so that may be another warning sign. I suppose it should make the  two vegetarians who read this site happy, so I’ll leave it alone. Besides, with Steak, Fish and Chicken available, there’s plenty for the meat lovers… although we have to object to the lack of pork here. These guys clearly need some pernil thrown in for good measure.

What will probably make or break Leña will be how those sauces on the right turn out. With options like chimmichurri, bbq and smoky chili pepper sauces, I know I’m going to want to try out more than a few of them. The guys in the shop said it should be another week or so before they open up. Stay tuned for details.

Lena Latin Grill, 34 W 35th St (btw. 5+6th)

10 Comments

  • Like a Latin Chipotle? Let’s think about that for a second.

    • LOL!

      I’m confused, Are you joking that Chipotle is a sorry excuse for latin food? or were you being serious(my sarcasm radar me be off, if so my apologies)

      My 2 cents: I’m not getting my hopes up, after so many examples lead to another Oaxaca Grill/Chipotle.

      • opps, that was directed at the writer, not SR

      • Same wavelength. Anyway, I’m not gonna get my hopes up until I try a fish, blue cheese, hearts of palm, and coconut rice wrap.

      • I always thought “Latin food” referred to anything south of Mexico. Lina’s is clearly not Mexican… it’s some nondescript form of Latin food. But I guess technically you guys are right… Mexican is Latin food as well.

        :-)

  • could be a keeper

  • The last Lena post had what appeared (imho) to be three shill comments in a row. we’ll see on this one.

  • I don’t know what to think, but I walk by it every day, so I’m hoping against hope it doesn’t suck. Smoky chili pepper sauce and chimmichurri have my attention though. Coconut rice, too…

  • Oh, great. Another burrito/wrap type place in Midtown. Definitely no holding your breath on this place.

    It would be interetsing to have a steak wrap with chimichurri but will wait to see if it’s worth it…

  • I like that its across the street. However: SO many dollars.

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