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[title]RECOMMENDED: Food & Drink Awards 2013
Other nominees: El Toro Blanco, Empellón Cocina, Salvation Taco
Gotham got tequila-sopping fiesta fare to rival the West Coast’s this year: the haute-Mex marvels at Alex Stupak’s Empellón Cocina; April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman’s midtown-baiting taqueria, Salvation Taco; and rowdy pan-Mexican cantina El Toro Blanco. But no South-of-the-Border spot struck your fancy quite like Gran Electrica, the Colonie crew’s pulsing taco den, set under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Diversifying an area chock-full of bakeries and pizza (legendary pie-slinger Grimaldi’s is around the corner), the lively eatery pulls in Brooklynites looking for both homey abuela standbys (rich, cilantro-nipped guac; fragrant pozole verde) and palate-expanding fare (tongue tacos, duck-leg tamales). Add inventive red-beet margaritas, eye-popping Day of the Dead toile wallpaper and a locavore edge (farm-raised meat, heirloom corn for the tortillas), and you’ve got Dumbo’s most lovable new amigo. Gran Electrica, 5 Front St between Dock and Old Fulton Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-852-2700, granelectrica.com)