Esperanto

It’s a testament to Esperanto’s staying power that it remains in its Alphabet City location, outlasting the trendier restaurants that have appeared and folded over the course of its nearly two-decade existence. That’s partly attributable to the combination of tasty Brazilian-influenced eats, live Latin music and an impressive array of cocktails, which make this a good place to get both festive and fed on any given evening. The menu offers finger foods such as empanadas and bolinhos de bacalhau as well as more elaborate fare, the most enticing of which includes savory braised oxtail and moqueca, a fish stew in a coconut broth that always hits the spot.