Rayuela Restaurant New York

Rayuela (Pan-Latin / Lower East Side / $$$)
165 Allen St (Between Stanton St & Rivington St)
(212) 253-8840
www.rayuelanyc.com

Start the night off right with powerful cocktails and follow up with complex, savory dishes at this LES Pan-Latin trendsetter; the dramatic décor centered around a live olive tree is something to talk about. In Spanish, Rayuela means “hopscotch,” which gives you an idea of what the restaurant is all about: Latin cuisine that isn’t defined by a single country, but rather redefines (and respects) traditional Latin and Spanish dishes. Executive Chef Maximo Tejada coins this cuisine “Estilo Libre Latino,” or freestyle Latino. The space is marked by a live olive tree, which grows from the first floor through the second. The dark, oak tables lit with candles and patched stone floors add to an urban Latin ambiance- gritty, romantic and chic all at the same time. Underneath the bar, back-lit stones are caged and further support the metropolitan vibe. Note that one of the most impressive rooms is the bathroom. Bathrooms are unisex and have a common hand-washing trough filled with round grey stones. Again, caged stones line the walls with patterned candles behind white linens providing a bright radiance. The second floor, on the other hand, has an upscale Miami feel; green couches line tables separated with white linens.

Rayuela’s menu features a mixture of traditional Latin cuisine, as well as some innovative new dishes. Ceviches ($12 to $17) are a focal point of the menu and some of the most popular items. Ceviche is a citrus-marinated seafood dish originating from the coast of Mexico. Recommended ceviches at Rayuela include the Langosta Revolucion ($17, lobster and shrimp, grilled pineapple, jalapeno, young coconut water infused with lemongrass and ginger, garnished with Uruguayan caviar), Huachinango con Soya ($14,
red snapper marinated in a ginger soy citrus sauce with a rainbow of julienne peppers, cucumbers and jalapeno, sprinkled with sesame seeds), and the Siete Potencies ($16, aka “seven powers of the sea,” lobster, shrimp, scallop, crab, clams, mussels and octopus in a green tomatillo sauce). Appetizers range in price from $12 to $15 and entrees from $24 to $29. Signature dishes include Higadillos de Pollo ($12, chicken livers served with artichokes, spinach, golden raisins, cuban fufu, caramelized shallots and balsamic vinaigrette), Jalea ($12, Peruvian seafood tempura-shrimp, scallop, calamari and octopus with mango-aji amarillo aioli, served with red onions and yucca fries), Paella de Coco ($29 Valencia rice infused with lemongrass, coconut milk and ginger, served with shrimp, calamari, scallops, octopus, manila clams and peas. Served with head-on shrimp and ginger oil), and Pato con Arepa ($29, breast of duck marinated in sugar cane with confit of duck, spinach, asparagus and guava sauce served over a yellow corn arepa).

It is important to note that the restaurant is only open for dinner. Walk-ins are accepted during the week, but on Friday and Saturday nights, reservations are recommended.