Drag
at Gringo’s Going strong since 2017
Story and Photos by Daniel Israel
G
ringo’s Taco is THE spot for brunch in Jersey City. Especially if you go to brunch on the one Sunday each month when the restaurant hosts Drag Bingo with Linda Simpson, a high-profile New York City drag queen. Once a month, the wonderfully aesthetically pleasing, Mexican-inspired eatery gives brunch-goers a shot of nightlife in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Pinatas, sombreros and other décor adorn the walls of the establishment, all hand picked by the owners.
According to one of the owners, James Ventola, Gringo’s first opened in 2017, with the help of partners Darren Conway and Rebecca Tarantino. They had previous experience running nightclubs, but wanted to enter the restaurant industry. Eventually, Darren’s brother, Travis, came on board, too. “We call it Gringo’s because it’s Mexican inspired, but with our own twist,” Ventola said. “We use authentic Mexican ingredients, but we like to mix things up a little with the food.”
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Appearance-wise, the goal of Gringo’s is to make restaurant-goers feel like they are in an off-the-beaten-path location in Mexico. The counter between the kitchen and the dining room is even shaped to look like it is a food truck in an industrialesque location, a major transformation from the former mechanic shop that used to occupy the space. And Gringo’s not only sought to bring authentic Mexican-inspired dishes and aesthetics to Jersey City, but offer customers a slice of nightlife regardless of when they come to eat. Ventola said the goal is to give that feel any time a customer comes in. “With the energy in the room, we always want it to have a nightclub vibe,” Ventola said. “We want people to come in, eat, drink, stay here, build an atmosphere, and make it a destination.” As part of the efforts to give Gringo’s that nightclub vibe, renowned New York
