Breaking Bronx Eats is a periodic feature where we highlight neighborhood restaurants. If you would like us to check out a restaurant in your area, write to us at norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org.

The shops and restaurants clustered around the last stop on the D train are multiplying.

A mile from the Botanical Garden and right below the newly-refurbished Reservoir Oval Park, the few blocks of commerce have a unique charm that still reflects an older time.

Within less than a mile, there’s Mc­Dwyer’s Pub, the oldest Irish bar left standing in Norwood, Sal’s Pizza, the neighborhood’s oldest (and possibly best) pizza spot that just lost its namesake to retirement (but not its pizza, don’t worry), and a piano bar on the corner of Webster and 204th that looks untouched since the ’70s.

Joining these legends are a couple of newcomers that are bringing something fresh to the streets: a sign of nightlife. Catering to the expanding Dominican population of Norwood, the Beso Lounge and Mar & Tierra have just recently opened their doors. Mar & Tierra moved in recently, filling the bottom floor of the ever-in-flux yellow brick building on the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and Reservoir Oval East.

The Dominican-flavored restaurant and lounge is equal parts dining room and bar. Whether you choose to get cozy on a bar stool in front of a soccer game and a cold Corona or dine on white tablecloths to a classic variety of Dominican fare is up to you.

But be prepared for a dizzyingly large menu, with everything from salmon and tilapia to cow’s tongue and whole roasted chickens. Mar & Tierra’s menu is made for big groups of people that don’t mind rubbing elbows over huge share plates of hearty food. Nearly everything is served with rice and beans and a small salad on the side.

If you want the Dominican flavor but don’t need to feel full for days, try their Mofongo, a famous dish in Caribbean cuisine with African origins. Fried and mashed green plantains are mixed with cheese, pork, chicken, beef or shrimp and the result is a savory and slightly sweet blend of flavors, with crispy and chewy textures intertwining in harmony.

Ed. Note: Mar & Tierra is located at 3236 Bainbridge Ave.