Caliente Cab Co. • 1984

Howard Berke launched this West Village fixture in 1984 with a cheeky gas-station theme that still fuels its playful energy. Chef Alejandro Vicuna, who joined the kitchen three decades ago, turns out sizzling fajitas and regional Mexican specialties best enjoyed with a frozen margarita on the 100-seat patio. The bright, festive space has been packing in crowds for over forty years with food that hits harder than the tequila.