Popular local Mexican restaurant to open new location in Brooklyn

Fidelio Rita cooks at Neno's, 649 Monroe Ave.
Fidelio Rita cooks at Neno's, 649 Monroe Ave.

A popular local Mexican restaurant and food truck is heading to the Big Apple.

Neno's Gourmet Mexican Street food will open a sit-down restaurant in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, a charming, affluent neighborhood known for its historic brownstones. The restaurant at 499 Myrtle Ave. will accommodate approximately 50 people inside and 35 outside.

"We're bringing the name of Rochester to New York City," said Fidelio Rita, chef and co-owner. But Neno's won't be the first Rochester brand in the area; the Wegmans store at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is just a mile away.

Rita recently spent a year attending culinary school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. He made contacts with chefs and other people in the industry, and became inspired to make his name there.

Chef and owner Fidelio Rita kicks up the heat as he prepares Pescado A La Veracruzana at the newly opened Neno's restaurant at 642 Monroe Ave. in Rochester Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.  The dish features pan seared red snapper, served with white rice, capers, olives, tomatoes sauce, fresh jalape–os, red onions and fresh cilantro.
Chef and owner Fidelio Rita kicks up the heat as he prepares Pescado A La Veracruzana at the newly opened Neno's restaurant at 642 Monroe Ave. in Rochester Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. The dish features pan seared red snapper, served with white rice, capers, olives, tomatoes sauce, fresh jalape–os, red onions and fresh cilantro.

The name and menu of the Brooklyn outpost will be the same as the sit-down restaurant at 642 Monroe Ave., complete with street tacos, birria tacos, overstuffed burritos, tortas and more. It is eyeing a July opening.

Neno's has been around since 2015, when Rita and his siblings launched a colorful 10-foot trailer that served tacos and tostadas. That was followed by a full-sized food truck and a series of brick-and-mortar restaurants. In addition to the Monroe Avenue restaurant, it has locations at 695 Park Ave. and within Star Cider at 3365 East Lake Road in Canandaigua.

Tracy Schuhmacher covers Rochester's food and drink scene. Notice something new in your neighborhood? Send tips to tracys@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Neno's Mexican restaurant in Rochester NY to open location in Brooklyn