It’s funny, the way some of the best things to eat never make it out of a restaurant’s kitchen and onto a customer’s plate. But these “family meals,” as kitchen grunts call them, are the inspiration for Pachanga Patterson, a Mexican canteen from the folks who own the nearby Italian restaurant Vesta. Chef Michelle Vido’s menu runs the gamut from Manchego quesadillas to pork-belly enchiladas, and if you’ve ever wondered what a moo shu duck taco would taste like, this is the place to find out — it’s a nod to Vido’s stint working for Patricia Yeo. As at Vesta, Vido will source many of her ingredients locally, including produce from Brooklyn Grange and tortillas from Corona’s burgeoning Tortilleria Nixtamal. Take a first look at some of her handiwork in our slideshow.

Pachanga, Patterson 33–17 31st Ave., Astoria; 718-554-0525

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