Walking home from our Ethiopian dinner tonight, we stopped abruptly when we saw the windows of one of our favorite neighborhood spots covered in newspaper. We were hoping that it was just a renovation, but when we saw the sign in the window, our hearts sank.
Farmers Rotisserie, also known as Farmers Rotisseria a la Brasa, was one of the best affordable casual spots in Hell's Kitchen. (We wrote previously about the arepas (here) and their rotisserie chicken (here).) It wasn't trendy, it didn't have lines down the block, it didn't have a well-known chef. It was just down-to-earth Colombian cooking with delicious food.
We're not sure when it closed. It looks like people were still going on Wednesday based on Foursquare, but today the windows were covered and the menu board outside was blank. We haven't eaten there in a few weeks, and I think we took for granted that it would be there the next time we had the opportunity and the desire for rotisserie chicken. It's never a happy occasion when a restaurant closes, because someone is always adversely affected, but it just feels so much worse when it's actually a good spot that you love.
We will miss their rotisserie chicken - the juiciest we've ever had at a restaurant and so well-flavored. We will miss their spicy green hot sauce and their rich scallion-filled chimichurri sauce. We will miss the rice, the beans, the plantains. We will miss their crispy corn arepas topped with the tastiest white cheese. Mostly we will miss our go-to neighborhood spot for a reliable casual dinner. Farewell Farmers. We will miss you.
Now where will we go for rotisserie chicken? Any recommendations?
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