Restaurants in Bradley Gardens

Fetching artwork pairs with gritty brick walls and decorative graffiti in El Ay Si’s interior, where diners study an eclectic menu of Southwestern comfort cuisine. Fusing traditional recipes with international ingredients, they craft pulled-pork tacos al pastor with grilled pineapple, as well as slow-cooked pressed pork belly with caramelized apples. Brews such as Saranac India Pale Ale or the Mexican Modelo Especial pilsner complement hearty dishes as diners submerge spoons into chocolate-bourbon pecan pie or cherry crumble crowned with vanilla ice cream.

Meat-heavy appetizers get the meal started off right. Pipe-fitters who like chicken will want to try the chicharrones de pollo, marinated chicken nuggets, or the croquetas de pollo with smoked chicken and salsa camaguey ($7.95 each). Dinner entrees include creole-sauced shrimp ($20.95), grilled chicken breast ($15.95), and Cuban-style thin steak ($17.95). Vegetarians can try the sliced-avocado salad nested atop watercress ($9.95) or the plato vegetariano Cortadito-style with black beans, white rice, sweet plantains, and guaguanco salad ($16.95). Pair dishes with standout sides such as the black beans or sweet fried plantains ($4 each).

The Local Store's neighborhood feel, coupled with a focus on whole grains and locally acquired ingredients, creates a welcoming and savory atmosphere. The morning and midday menu consists of pastries, sweets, and snacks, all freshly baked on the premises without the use of corn syrup, trans fats or other shortcuts cribbed from The Secret World of Alex Mack Companion Cooking Guide. Baked options include the breakfast-y fresh-fruit turnover ($3.50), the snack-y spice cheese straw ($1.50), and the savory-y red-velvet brownie ($3.75), among others. Satisfy a lunchtime urge with a salad ($3–$8) like the spinach and arugula salad, or a sandwich ($3 half, $6 full) such as chicken salad or ham and brie with apple. A full coffee bar provides the liquid partner to the sunny meal. Get a large coffee for $1.50, large latte for $2.75, or large cappuccino for $2.25 to help jumpstart an idle mental motor.

Chef and owner Jean Luc Kieffer constructs a dinner menu brimming with traditional French cuisine infused with contemporary twists using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Limber up chewing muscles with escargot ($14) draped in garlic butter, mushrooms, and toasted almonds. The pan-seared trout ($22) joins forces with sautéed green market vegetables and couscous for a heartier main-course meal, and duck confit ($23) dissuades growling stomachs from blurting out their owners' bank account passwords with poached duck leg, spatzle, spinach, and lar dons. Mealtime codas then commence with offerings from the dessert menu, such as ginger crème brûlée ($8) or chocolate fondant à la mode ($12).

The atmosphere inside the dual-leveled dining Thunderdome is as cozy and intimate as a hug from a pet lamb. Brightly lit windows bring in buckets of natural light to complement the extensive menu with edible sunrays. Between Monday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., drinks are half-price with an accompanying daily special, such as $1 oysters on Mondays and Thursdays, and $18 Maine lobster on Wednesdays.

Mantao Chinese Sandwiches gets its moniker and its modus sandwichi from mantao, a traditional Chinese steamed bread common in the country's northern regions. This chic-casual eatery updates the favorite by stippling mantao buns with sesame seeds and then toasting them over flames specially imported from the face of the sun. The menu includes a fried-egg sandwich with Chinese sausage ($3.50), a spicy pork sandwich ($3.95), and a black-pepper chicken sandwich ($4.50); tofu and mushroom sandwiches are also available. The sandwiches run a bit on the smaller side, so diners may want to order Mantao's combo box ($9.95), which comes with any two sandwiches, a side of Chinese slaw, and shrimp chips, the beloved ballpark snack.