 How hip are you? Hip enough to be perfectly cool when surrounded by Gen-Xers out of a Calvin Klein ad---literally? If your answer is an unhesitant Yes, then head to this Mondrian in-house restaurant. In the white-on-white Philippe Starck interior, lean back languidly in one of the sumptuous white leather chairs and enjoy the view---of the city lights twinkling below and the parade of colorful, arguably overpaid music industry types sharing your dining room. The whimsical outdoor patio---shaded by trees in gargantuan terra cotta pots and illuminated by clusters of tiny votives---offers stunning vistas and a setting as sensual and surrealistic as the cutting-edge cuisine. The menu offers big---and big-budget---portions of playful Cuban-Asian fare served by an exuberant staff, adding to the party atmosphere. Start with the calamari salad, crab croquetas with red pepper rémoulade and chile-ponzu dipping sauce, or spicy Szechuan scallops with salsa verde and chorizo-lemon grass espuma. Move on to Cuban-spiced chicken with a tamarind glaze, plantain-crusted Spanish mackerel with curried noodles, pan-seared ahi with wasabi-mashed potatoes and chimichurri sauce, or grilled mojito-glazed strip steak with a mango sauce infused with saké and foie gras. Sounds intriguing, huh? Asia de Cuba's inventive menu yields generally fine results, although we would advise skipping the palomillo of lamb and the crab escabèche-stuffed whole fish.
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Go behind the scenes of Asia de Cuba restaurant! Watch our exclusive interview with executive chef Philip DuBose at GAYOT.com's YouTube channel.
Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.
