Cocktail expert Joe with salsa dancers Nina and Laucinda from Encuentro Latino at the opening of Las Iguanas in York. Photograph: Tom Joy Photography
Aided by two dancing girls in outfits more suited to a sultry Argentinian night than a fresh spring evening in Yorkshire, the atmosphere inside York’s newest restaurant was nearly as hot as the chilli.
The ultimate caipirinha?Las Iguanas opened on Back Swinegate in the premises vacated by La Tasca, with an opening night devoted to delivering colourful cocktails and flame-grilled Latin American food.
Along with other opening-night guests, including the Lord Mayor, we crushed ice, limes and sugar to create our own caipirinha cocktails.
CONTINUES BELOW
The drink list contains the usual suspects – mojito, pina colada, Long Island iced tea – all reasonably priced at £7.95. More so with the opening offers and happy hour that lasts much more than 60 minutes.
With red and white wines from Brazil, Chile and Argentina and bottled beers ranging in strength from alcohol-free to 6.4% ABV, the menu offers plenty of choice.
Fiery food
In a similar vein, the food menu offers starters ranging from jerk bbq glazed pork ribs to calamari (both £5.75 each and really delicious).
Mains include burgers (around £11), fajitas (around £15) and chilli (£11). The latter, chosen with smoky chipotle butter was fiery and full-flavoured.
York’s Las Iguanas is the 48th to open in 25 years of the chain. It brings a relaxed vibe that compliments the café culture of Back Swinegate.
The restaurant is friendly, spacious and contemporary. The look is created from a mix of reclaimed and recycled materials – ranging from original brick walls to pieces of distressed timber.
It has two spacious floors, catering for 120 covers. And the bonus is its spacious roof terrace, seating 70, which will be the place to be seen for a cocktail or two in the warmer months.
Opening on a chilly spring evening, it provided a warm welcome.
Downstairs in the contemporary new restaurant, Las Iguanas. Photograph: Richard McDougallIn the upstairs bar. Photograph: Richard McDougallA busy launch night. Photograph: Richard McDougallLighting the way… the neon sign. Photograph: Richard McDougallThe exterior of the restaurant. Photograph: Richard McDougallThe atrium at Las Iguanas. Photograph: Richard McDougallSecrets in the shadows… Photograph: Richard McDougallThe Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Sonja Crisp, and Lord Mayor’s Consort Ian Crisp on the roof terrace with two new friends. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyCheers! Here’s to a new nightspot in York… Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyOur man Richard McDougall and wife Vanessa get to grips with caipirinhas. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyVanessa, Richard and Gillian Rackham at the cocktail masterclass. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyGeorgina Hallgate, Kate Maughan-Brown and Richard Hall. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyYorkMix wine writer Mike Tipping and his wife Sue. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyCaroline Williams and Kay Hyde. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyMaster mixer Joe gives the lowdown on creating cracking cocktails. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyYork Press journalists Haydn Lewis, Gavin Aitchison, Mike Laycock, Laura Knowles and friends receive a bespoke cocktail masterclass at their table. Photograph: Tom Joy Photography The York Press team get their hands on at the Cocktail Masterclass. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyNatalie and Shane Bogg. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyKate Maughan-Brown can’t resist a chance to try a salsa dancer headdress. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyPrep for the cocktail masterclass. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyGrub’s up! Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyService with a smile. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographySimon Hudson of Minster FM with Las Iguanas salsa dancers Laucinda and Nina. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographySalsa Dancers Nina and Laucinda with Richard Hall and Kate Maughan-Brown. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyPJ and Orsi Edgar. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyBelinda and Nick Maunsell. Photograph: Tom Joy Photography
The sign on Finkle Street. Photograph: Tom Joy Photography
Laucinda and Nina. Photograph: Richard McDougall
Follow the arrow to York’s Latin American corner. Photograph: Tom Joy PhotographyWrap up it’s chilly out… Photograph: Tom Joy Photography
