Esperanto offshoot closes on 1st Street; may return elsewhere

Esperanto Fonda, the satellite location of Avenue C mainstay Esperanto, has closed on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. A for rent sign now hangs on the right side of the entrance.

The quick-serve restaurant, which opened last August, served a variety of tacos, empanadas and burritos.

An Esperanto rep said via email that "Fonda closed due to high rent costs but will be reopening at another location in the near future, with the same exact program." In the meantime, the rep said that Esperanto is set up for to-go window service and delivery with the same menu as Esperanto Fonda.

The First Street address was most recently home to BARA for two years and Prima for three years. The Elephant, a Thai restaurant, was previously here for 17 years.

Esperanto Fonda is open on 1st Street

Avenue C mainstay Esperanto has opened its satellite location at 58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Esperanto Fonda, which has room for some 30 diners, also offers food to go. Per a recent preview at DNAinfo:

Esperanto Fonda will allow patrons to grab to-go-friendly items such as tacos, empanadas, burritos, and a Cubano sandwich with roasted pork loin, ham, melted Swiss cheese and mojo sauce.

The cocktail menu includes the Caipirinha, Mojitos and Brazilian Sangria. (Espernato Fonda's food or drink menus aren't online just yet.)

The previous tenant, BARA, a French/Japanese bar-restaurant, closed after service on June 11.