‘Joey Bats Cafe’ Brings Portuguese Sweets to Allen Street
Photo: Joey Bats
Where Peruvian food failed, Portuguese treats now reign. Over at the former Baby Brasa on Allen Street, a tiny new cafe called Joey Bats Cafe.
The brainchild of Joey Batista – raised in a Portuguese family in Ludlow, Massachusetts – the dessert endeavor is a veteran of area street fairs and food events (Queens Night Out, Bryant Park). It opened at 129 Allen Street just before Labor Day.
The menu revolves around the Pasteis de Nata delicacy, a tart recipe that dates back to Lisbon in the 1800s. From the Joey Bats bio:
Despite having all that food in my family, I’ve never gone down the food industry road. Aside from maybe bartending or waitering, it just never crossed my mind.
Well last year I decided that my friends needed to try one my my mom’s desserts, Bolo De Bolacha. They loved it and so I began making it available in a few restaurants in the East Village. Shortly thereafter I thought it would be a good idea to make it available to Bodegas in a TO-GO cups, and that has done well too!
The newcomer will eventually serve beer and wine, as per their application to Community Board 3 this month.
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