A group of friends first went on a guided tour of the Tenement Museum (103 Orchard Street) that allowed us the opportunity to explore the lower east side neighborhood and enter the historic tenement building to learn about the Baldizzi family and see their recreated apartment. Aldolfo and Rosaria Baldizzi were immigrants from Sicily who lived with their two young children on Orchard Street and survived economic hardships like the Great Depression. We explored how the Baldizzi family lived in their tenement home and visited where they went to school and shopped.

Afterward, we walked over to Empanada Mama, a Latin restaurant in the neighborhood for a bite to eat. Most of us ordered their namesake offered in a variety of flavors and with different preparation methods and crusts. I tried the spicy chicken breast cooked in “Mama’s special picante sauce” with its the menu-stated 4 hot red peppers  ($4.30) and the Bombay curried chicken with chickpeas, cilantro and scallions.  These two wheat flour fried empanadas each served in paper envelopes in a wicker basket were so filling, I needed no dinner!  Also placed on the table was a basket filled with individual portions of a cilantro dressing and hot sauce. The former was delicious on the spicy chicken, as was the spicy latter on the Bombay one.

One person tried their Greek salad of romaine with lots of kalamata olives, tomato wedges, seeded cucumber slices, red onion slices topped by a slab of imported feta sprinkled with oregano all served with the house vinaigrette, another the hearty portion of sancocho de cola ($13.95), homemade Columbian-style oxtail soup with yucca, green plantains and corn on the cob seasoned with sofrito and cilantro with a side of rice.

And some couldn’t resist their irresistible dessert empanada ($4.15 each). One was filled with melted Belgian chocolate and bananas, the other with warm caramel and mozzarella.

I highly suggest a visit.

Empanada Mama
Lower East Side
95 Allen St,
New York, NY 10002
(212) 673-0300
empmamanyc.com/