New opening · Lower East Side
New on NYC's Lower East Side: iara Brings Amazonian Flavors to Allen Street
iara, an open-kitchen Brazilian restaurant on Allen Street, is led by chef Vitor Mendes. The menu draws on Amazonian ingredients, with picanha, red snapper moqueca and a tucupi martini. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday.
By NBT Editors · 2026-10-15
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At 205 Allen Street on the Lower East Side, iara is an open-kitchen Brazilian restaurant from chef Vitor Mendes. Its stated approach is Amazonian ingredients paired with comforting Brazilian cooking, and the dining room looks onto the kitchen where the food is prepared.
The menu is built around the distinctive flavors of the Amazon. Dishes listed on the restaurant's site include Picanha com Fritas, a moqueca, Dadinho de Tapioca, Frango Amazonas and Vegetais Grelhados, plus Pão de Queijo for something lighter to start. The red snapper moqueca is among the dishes that define the kitchen's style.
The drinks follow the same thread. A tucupi martini uses the tangy Amazonian cooking liquid as its signature note, and the Batida de Coco, a coconut-based drink, adds another Brazilian touch. Together they make the bar list as much a draw as the plates.
iara serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5 PM to 11 PM. Reservations can be made through the restaurant's website, and guests can also call (929) 930-5033 or send a text. Private dining is available for groups. For anyone on the Lower East Side looking for Brazilian cooking beyond the usual, it is a neighborhood address worth noting.
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