In the 17 years it's been open, has grown from a Bushwick pizza-and-tiki-bar pioneer to a citywide institution to a full international empire with outposts in L.A., Nashville, and Singapore (plus two other restaurants in New York).
"It's actually a pretty great story," says partner Juan Carlos Rodriguez. "I was working in a completely different industry when Jorge and I met: printing, packaging and fulfillment. We connected through mutual friends at a time when I was seriously debating whether to stay in my field or take a leap into something new. Jorge invited me to work with him, and since then, he's been an incredible mentor."