Galician Chef Rubén Rodríguez Launches New Restaurant Group in NYC

The group includes his successful restaurant Nai Tapas, a joint project called Amigo by Nai, and a new locale called Avoa, set to open in the spring.

There’s a new Spanish restaurant group that’s making waves in New York City, run by Galician chef Rubén Rodríguez. The group, Nai Management LLC, includes several projects: Nai Tapas, in the East Village, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary; a cocktail bar and taqueria called Amigo by Nai; and Rodriguez’s newest project, Avoa, slated to open this spring. Avoa, which means grandmother in Galician, will serve farm-to-table tapas along with unique coffee creations.

Nai Tapas is a standout on NYC’s dining scene, as the chef strives to serve a constantly evolving menu featuring both modern and traditional tapas. His dishes are inspired by his childhood memories back in the northern Spanish region of Galicia and Rodríguez is always looking to innovate and experiment with his techniques and flavors.

Menu highlights at Nai Tapas include Grilled baby squid with Valencia faba beans and a Pedro Ximénez balsamic reduction; Tempranillo-braised oxtail with a veal demi-glace; Semi-cured spicy Basque chorizo with piquillo peppers, 4-month Manchego cheese and a fried quail egg; and Imported Galician octopus with extra virgin olive oil, La Vera paprika and Mediterranean sea salt.

If the chef’s success with Nai Tapas is any indication of his trajectory with his new restaurant group, this new venture and future projects can be expected to be extremely popular.