El Vez

Stephen Starr knows a thing or two about importing a Philly restaurant into Gotham—he's done it twice before with Buddakan and Morimoto. Now the industry titan adds a splashy Mexican crowd-pleaser to his list of transplants. Inspired by roadside cantinas, the 160-seat dining room is kitted out with circular banquettes, a photo booth and a grab-and-go burrito stand. Carrying over chef David LaForce to the FiDi kitchen, the menu includes regional South of the Border specialties like shrimp-and-passion-fruit ceviche, chile en nogada (beef-and-almond-stuffed poblano peppers) and mole three ways: negro with lamb, poblano with chicken and pipian-rojo with pork. The drinks list spotlights agave spirits, from the familiar (mescal, tequila) to the exotic (sotol, moonshinelike raicilla).