About 10 years ago, I introduced the Bite of the Best community to The North River Lobster boat. This year, the Circle Line added a new floating restaurant serving Mexican fare. Like the lobster boat, La Baraca sails multiple times per day from Pier 81 on the Hudson River at 41st Street. You’ll need to purchase a pass ahead of time.

The vibe is relaxed, many of the drinks are tequila or mezcal based and the food is classic south of the border.

After boarding and being seated by one of the staff, we settled in and perused the menu. My sailing partner sipped the classic margarita served on the rocks ($15), I asked for Rita’s Spicy ‘Rita infused with Ancho Reyes Verde from Mexico with a chile-salt rim ($16).

I noticed that the guacamole and chips ($15) menu offering had no salsa accompaniment, so we ordered the freshly made chips with their red, green and pumpkin salsa ($11) with a side of guacamole ($8). That’s what I’d suggest if you wanted guac!

We then split two different taco orders, as they come two to a serving. We started with the chef’s special with brisket, pork chorizo and charred scallions (2 for $14).  And with a nod to the original floating restaurant, we selected the North River lobster tacos with herb butter, romaine and roasted corn (2 for $19).

I recommend dining aboard!

La Baraca Cantina
Pier 81, W 41st St,
New York, NY 10036
labarcacantina.com/