When people think about PopoJito, we want them to think about a place that has great food, that’s great for you,” says chef and owner, Constantine Kalandranis.
Conveniently located at Christie Place in Scarsdale, PopoJito MedMex Kitchen welcomes diners with its sleek, modern design and intriguing cephalopodic logo. Well-lit and warm, this isn’t the place to reserve a candle-lit communion dinner; this is the place to meet a dozen of your closest friends for taco Tuesday after work.
For Kalandranis, who also owns 8 North Broadway in Nyack and 273 Kitchen in Harrison, PopoJito represents a shift from formal dining towards a high-volume, low-priced operation. He says dining trends are changing — people now favor frequent, affordable meals with quality ingredients — and PopoJito’s menu has been crafted to reflect that.
The Mediterranean and Mexican flavors blend together so naturally, it’s a wonder the combination hasn’t been tackled before. Bite into a delicate grilled shrimp taco, and smoky char from the grill dominates the palate before giving way to hints of lime and spice, followed by the subtle sweetness of a warm corn tortilla.
Dive into the dayboat ceviche, a rotating assortment of fresh shellfish, serrano chilies, lime, and onion cradled in a crispy corn tostada that adds a satisfying crunch.
PopoJito has the “good food” part down. So where does the “good for you” part factor in?
A better question might be: Where to start? They use organic, locally sourced ingredients with no GMOs, antibiotics, refined sugars, or trans fats.
In the kitchen, Kalandranis’ staff is brewing bone broth, a deliciously rich broth packed with nutrients. PopoJito sells the broth for eat-in, take-out, or by the quart, with hopes to expand to local farmers’ markets as well.
Also, for sale are a variety of pickled vegetables made in-house.
However, the most important dietary feature from PopoJito is that the restaurant is 100% gluten-free. That means there is not a single gluten-based ingredient in the entire restaurant, which is a rare find for those with severe cases of celiac disease and other digestive disorders.
Of course, you don’t have to be too healthy: A comprehensive tequila menu will be added soon.
PopoJito
Open Monday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
46 Christie Place, Scarsdale
914.713.8946, www.popojito.com