​U.S. fast food chains have long colonized European countries, but that certainly doesn't mean we're impervious to Europe's brand of culinary imperialism. Case in point: Crain's is reporting that Lizarran Tapas, a Spanish chain with two locations in California, will be opening its first Manhattan outpost in the former Cendrillon space at 45 Mercer Street in January.

Five more locations are slated to open throughout the borough over the next five years. Lizarran has already planted its flag (or toothpick?) in China (where it even has a Facebook page) and Russia, which are presumably starved for tapas; only time will tell if it will contribute to New York's embarrassment of tapas riches, or just be an embarrassment.

[Via Grub Street]