A Kingsbridge neighborhood staple should be celebrating its 10th year in business.

Instead, it's honoring a new milestone, reopening after a fire left it in ruins.

Tilila La Casita Azul, on Bailey Avenue near West 238th Street, was the victim of an overnight fire in November 2021.

The restaurant that takes customers on a trip to the Dominican Republic - with dishes inspired by the island - is open again after a more than three year hiatus.

"We opened in 2015, and we were doing great all those years, until we caught on fire about three and a half years ago," said general manager Joselito Severino.

The cherished cornerstone was one of four businesses that were destroyed.

"It was my day off, as a matter of fact, I was at home, they called me and they said, there is a fire close to your restaurant, I looked at my camera and I saw smoke coming out from my wall," Severino recalled.

Severino says rebuilding felt impossible, but the landlord renewed their lease when construction was completed. They expanded the dining room and added extra touches to their interior design.

"I love it because it's coming with history from my country, I am Dominican, and they have a lot of history here from the lamps to the plates," said Sires, who is a new customer.

While the menu now features new signature dishes, the recipes are all coming from the same chef who started with the restaurant back in 2015.

"They were expecting that we wouldn't open again, they are surprised and the neighborhood loves us," said Joselito.