Photos: Noah Fecks

Earlier this week The Local told you about Tepito, the new restaurant at 228 First Avenue, between 13th and 14th Streets, that was to be called Agave Azul (and then Agave Azuré) until it was hit with a cease-and-desist order by another restaurant, Agave, in the West Village. Toward the end of his first night of dinner service yesterday, executive chef Adrian Ramirez took a break to speak with The Local at the dining room’s long communal table.

Previously an executive sous chef at Le Cirque and later at the Park Avenue and Meatpacking District locations of Dos Caminos, Mr. Ramirez described his menu, which you can see below, as “Mexican modern cuisine.”

Compared to Dos Caminos, he said his style of cooking was “more traditional Mexican but at the same time I infuse some of my Italian and French knowledge.” The result is dishes like the oyster tostada (a crispy oyster served on yuca root chips and topped with honey-habanero aioli) that you can see in The Local’s slideshow.

Though Mr. Ramirez is just 28, he already plans to open a second Tepito at 62nd Street and Second Avenue. He said that construction should be finished in about six months. In the meantime, brunch and lunch service will begin at the East Village location of Agave, er, Tepito next week.

Tepito, 228 First Avenue, nr. 14th Street