Mercadito Cantina (CLOSED)

This spin-off of the nearby East Village favorite Mercadito may be a bit redundant, but the neighbors don’t seem to mind. Grab a seat at the communal tables to sample from the mostly tacos-and-guacs menu. Tender chorizo verde tacos contained herb-laced sausage and tangy tomatillo salsa, while the superb carnitas de puerco taquiza offered sweet braised Berkshire pork. Drinks, meanwhile, effortlessly incorporate native herbs and spices, like peppery papalo (with passion fruit and jalapeño). Skip the heavyish desserts (like a dense goat’s-milk flan) in favor of a quaff.