The Garden Group, a team of Latinx entrepreneurs own and operates three Pan-Latin venues. The hospitality company is on a mission to reinvent the dining and nightclub scene in New Jersey. The Garden Group designs and builds restaurants that are energetic, exciting collaborations between chefs, mixologists, local artists and entertainers, and an in-house design team.
The Garden, located in Elizabeth has just reopened, Hornitos that has just debuted in Paterson, and Mexology, coming soon to Elizabeth. Read on to learn what to expect at these three new vibrant restaurants located in Elizabeth and Paterson.
The Garden
(Photo credit: @thegardennj)
The Garden, located at 331 Morris Avenue, in Elizabeth is The Garden Group’s flagship property that opened in March 2020, just as COVID-19 took hold. It has officially reopened offering guests cocktails and a menu inspired by the flavors of Latin America.
Read More: Best Spots for a Night of Dancing in Montclair + Beyond
Executive Chef Adrian Leon (Patria, Chicama, China Grill) was previously chef/owner of Agua Fresca in East Harlem, named one of the 10 best inexpensive restaurants by The New York Times. His menus reflect the diversity of Latin American cuisine, including masterful, flavor-packed takes on ceviches, empanadas, and tacos. His vibrant dishes are matched by creative cocktails, a well-curated list of wines-by-the-glass, and a dynamic, high-energy, viva la vida sensory environment of street-art style murals and paintings from local artists, neon lights, multiple digital screens, and live entertainment.
(Photo credit: @thegardennj)
“We think of our first place, The Garden, as Disneyland for adults. It’s a different type of restaurant—but it’s still a restaurant—where the food matters most of all,” says longtime industry pro, Regional Director Fabian “Paco” Huerfano (Orale, Patria, The Ryland Inn). “Here, everything contributes to the experience—from the cocktails and street art to music and entertainment.”
Hornitos
(Photo credit: @hornitos.paterson)
At Hornitos, traditional ingredients are incorporated in unexpected ways to redefine Colombian cuisine and offer a unique dining and mixology experience.
See More: A Guide to Mocktails in North Jersey
Mexology
From the beaches of Tulum to the sophistication of Mexico City, Mexology, located at 270 Morris Avenue, marries the art + craft of cocktail-making with modern Mexican cuisine. The 10,000 sq. ft. space will feature design and materials typical of southern Mexico, a contemporary interior with Mexican art, a casual Taqueria with a modern twist, and a boho patio surrounded by sand and palm trees to transport diners to the beach. It will be opening this summer.
