Pampano
Midtown East
209 E 49th St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 751-4545
An upscale Mexican restaurant, in the company of
- Smith & Wollensky (797 3rd Ave)
- Da Noi (214E 49th)
- Chin Chin (216 E 49th St )
Better suited as a neighborhood restaurant. Their Zengo in DC is better
When I first arrived in New York, Mexicans were busboys. Then I saw more were waiting, and gradually more managed the restaurants. Now, there are more and more up scale Mexican restaurants. Rosa Mexicano at Lincoln Center
(another one at Flatiron?) and Besito Mexican Restaurant in Roslyn NY, just to name a few.
Pampano is pleasant, housed in a brown stone. The entrance is rather discrete (especially compares to its greenish neighbor to the west). The alcove by the door is inviting. The main dining hall is on the second floor, with a terrace overlooking the 49th Street. The out door space is also in the shadow of Wollensky and its light smoke coming out of a fan (exhaust). The owner/restaurateur Richard Sandoval was a tennis pro but found more calling in the court of culinary than tennis. This one is partner with opera great Pl
