EATERY

from Jersey City Magazine Spring | Summer 2022

by Hudson Reporter Assoc., LP

INFLUENTIAL STYLE

Drag Bingo

at Gringo’s

Story and Photos by Daniel Israel

Gringo’s Taco is THE spot for brunch in Jersey City. Especially if you go to brunch on the one Sunday each month when the restaurant hosts Drag Bingo with Linda Simpson, a high-profile New York City drag queen.

Once a month, the wonderfully aesthetically pleasing, Mexican-inspired eatery gives brunch-goers a shot of nightlife in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Pinatas, sombreros and other décor adorn the walls of the establishment, all hand picked by the owners.

Going strong since 2017

According to one of the owners, James Ventola, Gringo’s first opened in 2017, with the help of partners Darren Conway and Rebecca Tarantino. They had previous experience running nightclubs, but wanted to enter the restaurant industry. Eventually, Darren’s brother, Travis, came on board, too.

“We call it Gringo’s because it’s Mexican inspired, but with our own twist,” Ventola said. “We use authentic Mexican ingredients, but we like to mix things up a little with the food.”

Appearance-wise, the goal of Gringo’s is to make restaurant-goers feel like they are in an off-the-beaten-path location in Mexico. The counter between the kitchen and the dining room is even shaped to look like it is a food truck in an industrialesque location, a major transformation from the former mechanic shop that used to occupy the space.

And Gringo’s not only sought to bring authentic Mexican-inspired dishes and aesthetics to Jersey City, but offer customers a slice of nightlife regardless of when they come to eat. Ventola said the goal is to give that feel any time a customer comes in.

“With the energy in the room, we always want it to have a nightclub vibe,” Ventola said. “We want people to come in, eat, drink, stay here, build an atmosphere, and make it a destination.”

As part of the efforts to give Gringo’s that nightclub vibe, renowned New York

City drag queen Linda Simpson was brought in to do Drag Bingo. Ventola said they wanted to “spice it up a bit” and she was just the person to bring the flavor.

Meet the talent

“Linda’s pretty well known, so I reached out to her and it was a no brainer,” Ventola said.

Now, one Sunday each month, Simpson is joined by DJ Tim Dwag for an epic session of Drag Bingo. Lovely prizes are given out to the winner of each round, sometimes participating in ensuing hijinks to break ties and claim their prize. Guest performers, such as an acrobat, dazzle crowds in between bouts of Bingo.

Simpson has been doing drag since the ‘80s. Most of her gigs are in New York City, but she has branched out into New Jersey.

“Gringo’s is really my first regular gig in Jersey,” Simpson said.

According to Simpson, she started hosting Drag Bingo at Gringo’s in 2019 and it was a smashing success. That is, until the business, much like many restaurants, had to shut down in March of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world.

“We had a good run before COVID-19,” Simpson said. “The pandemic knocked us out.”

“It was a good year,” Ventola said. “Then COVID-19 hit and everything else that’s going on. Drag Bingo was one of the last things we did before everything closed in March.”

**Janelle, Dragonfly Productions**
Daniel Israel

Post-COVID resurgence

But despite being closed due to the virus for a few months, Gringo’s eventually reopened with a glorious return. And after being open for a little while, Gringo’s made itself whole again by bringing back Drag Bingo.

“We reopened, and a lot of people were asking for it, so we figured then was the time,” Ventola said. “And it was a big success.”

While Simpson continued to host various iterations of virtual Drag Bingo in the meanwhile, she said it was nice to return to in-person events.

“I was doing virtual bingos during COVID, and that was all fine and dandy,” Simpson said. “But it’s nice having the option of being live … It’s a little perk up. I think everybody has been cooped up and now really enjoys the chance to let loose.”

Since then, the crowds and the energy have climbed back to pre-COVID levels.

“There are certainly a lot of brunches to pick from, even drag brunches, but I think ours is kind of special. We get such an amazing crowd … It’s been really fun to get to know the people and I love the New Jersey enthusiasm.”

And the food is to die for. Having sampled the avocado tostada, a homemade tostada with mashed avocado, queso fresco, pomegranate seeds, scallions and cilantro, the dish was light and refreshing. The chilaquiles divorciadas, chips topped with salsa verde and salsa roja, grilled chicken, crema, queso fresco, quajilla oil and cilantro was mouth-watering and left wanting for more. In terms of drinks, they have a wide range of cocktails, some on draft to choose from, with Da Sneaky Tiki and the What-A -Paloma being personal favorites.

Now, one Sunday each month at Gringo’s Taco, drag enthusiasts, brunch fans and taco lovers alike have been enjoying the best that the place has to offer. Not only are Ventola and the rest of the staff at Gringo’s dedicated to putting out a good product, they always want to put a smile on people’s faces and make them want to come back, even the very next day. And with Simpson on hand for Drag Bingo, it will be tempting for many customers to do just that.—JCM