One of the first restaurants to introduce New Yorkers to authentic Mexican cuisine, Rosa Mexicano was founded by chef Josefina Howard in the early 1980s. It remains an essential stop for anyone who craves strong, chilly margaritas and knockout bowls of guacamole mixed tableside to your desired level of heat (mild to scorching). The menu is a tribute to the regional home cooking of Mexico—steamy pork tamales, chicken in a rich, savory blanket of mole, terra-cotta cazuelas brimming with shrimp, tomatoes, garlic and chiles and a longtime entrée signature, budin Azteca, a wonderful tortilla casserole with layers of shredded chicken and cheese.

Rosa Mexicano Information:

• Mexican menu. Lunch, dinner, brunch, late-night. Bar. Casual attire. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating.