A new restaurant on the Lower East Side is focusing on ingredients from the Amazon region. Iara, which opened this week on Orchard Street, is led by chef Vitor Mendes. The menu centers on cassava, a root vegetable central to indigenous Brazilian cooking.

Mendes returned to Brazil after his father’s death earlier this year. He spent several months traveling through regions where cassava is a daily staple. He credits this time with shaping the concept for Iara, which he says aims to offer a window into the food traditions of the Amazon.

On a recent Wednesday evening, diners at Iara were served pão de queijo made with cassava flour and grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves. The restaurant’s walls are lined with greenery, and the sound of running water plays softly in the background. Dishes are priced between $14 and $38.

The kitchen sources some produce from small Brazilian suppliers, though most ingredients come from local New York vendors. Mendes says the goal is to balance authenticity with sustainability. Staff are trained to explain the origins of each dish, including the role cassava plays in different regions of Brazil.

Iara adds to a growing list of Lower East Side restaurants bringing attention to specific regional cuisines. With the autumn dining season underway, the restaurant expects to draw both neighborhood regulars and visitors seeking a quieter weeknight meal.

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