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This past weekend, TAO Group founders Marc Packer and Rich Wolf, along with renowned chef Chris Santos opened new urban eatery Vandal on 199 Bowery. This new LES restaurant highlights the beauty and diversity of street culture as it appears in art as well as food. The space showcases the works of world-renowned street artists and cuisine inspired by street food from all over the world.
“There are few things more telling about a culture’s cuisine than street food,” said Chef Santos in a press release. He and executive chef Jonathan Kavourakis traveled to 14 different countries to conduct first-hand research on the fare that would inspire the menu. Vandal’s various offerings boast ingredients from regions like Barcelona, Vietnam and Peru, presented to reflect the vibrancy, creativity and individuality of food one would get from street vendors in the respective regions. It also offers beverages ranging from sweet to savory to aged cocktails.
The name ‘Vandal’ alludes to the derogatory term for street artists, whom the space celebrates via murals placed all around the restaurant. The murals were created by UK-based artist HUSH to reflect the range of street art as it intermingles with Bowery’s artistic history. Other iconic artists like Shepard Fairey, Apexer and Tristan Eaton also contributed to the space’s accoutrements.
The new restaurant plays perfectly into the ambiance of the Lower East Side, which is currently in a state of flux with grungy urban elements from the past melding with new modern additives. Santo’s other ventures like the chic bi-level Beauty & Essex is also located in the LES, proving his affinity for the neighborhood throughout the years.
Vandal is currently open nightly for dinner, along with a lounge that is open until 3 am.
-by Johanna Silver