Rocking Horse Mexican Cafe   

182 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
212-463-9511
www.rockinghorsecafe.com

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When Roe Di Bona and Marvin Beck opened the Rocking Horse Cafe in the late '80s, they were hailed for their creative fusion of New American techniques and ingredients with traditional Mexican recipes. Now, the rickety cantina interior has been replaced with zinc-tinged ultramodern decor, and in a world in which mango-tomatillo salsa is a staple of the fixins bar at Roy Rogers, Rocking Horse has to work a little harder to distinguish itself as an innovator. While it's no longer a destination, it's still a very good neighborhood restaurant -- perfect for a margarita and a snack during an afternoon of gallery-hopping in Chelsea or a sit-down dinner before a show at the Joyce. The wild mushroom quesadilla with white truffle oil makes an excellent appetizer and the ancho-chiles rellenos and the calamares also stand out. For dinner, ignore the burritos and instead try the mustard-crusted lamb chops, the grilled sea bass or the slow-roasted pork chop rubbed with red chile. -- Adam Mazmanian