New Restaurants on the Radar: The Southwest Porch at Bryant Park, Calexico, Pod Cafe

A bit of good news: the long-awaited Calexico location opened this afternoon on Union Street in Brooklyn, and it's already busy. The restaurant is the first from cart-operating Vendley brothers, who coincidentally took top honors last October at the Vendy awards. The new space has been filled with wooden benches and is decked out in honor of the Vendley's home town (and the restaurant's namesake), perched on the California-Mexican border. As such, the former Schnäck space has been made over into a West Coast taqueria featuring marinated and grilled skirt steak swaddled in corn tortillas. Small dining room shrines to the towns of Calexico, and Brooklyn-themed pulp novels are featured alongside Lotería cards and skulls. The restaurant is equally devoted to habanero and chipotle peppers.

The menu is written on a chalkboard up front: a shortlist of tacos, tortas, burritos, and a few specials. Today, Anson Mills grits are being served with pulled pork (or tofu). Dave Vendley told Grub Street last week that the restaurant will add ribs and tamales to the rotating specials soon enough. And while it works out the kinks, Calexico will be open for lunch only during its first week. Liquor license is still in the works, so no micheladas just yet. The opening day menu, including vegetarian options, is submitted below for your approval. — Hugh Merwin

Calexico Carne Asada // 122 Union Street // Brooklyn // (718) 488-8226

Menu Carne Asada (burrito) $8; (taco) $4; (torta) $8; (quesadilla) $5 Pollo Asada (burrito) $7; (taco) $3; (torta) $7; (quesadilla) $6 Tofu Asada (burrito) $7; (taco) $3; (torta) $7; (quesadilla) $6 Pulled Pork (burrito) $7; (taco) $3; (torta) $7; (quesadilla) $6 Bean (burrito) $6; (taco) $3; (torta) $6; (quesadilla) $5

Add-ons: Guacamole, $1; Sour Cream, 50 cents; Crack, 50 cents; Extra Cheese, 50 cents; Extra Meat, $2.

Special Anson Mills Grits $9 Pork or Tofu

Salad Mixed greens, grilled corn, cucumbers and avocados, radish, goat cheese, toasted sesame seeds, sherry vinaigrette. $7 With chicken, $2; with steak, $3; with tofu, $2

Sides Small Salad $3.5 Chips $2 Guac $6 Roasted Salsa $2.5