THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Deseo

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Deseo Restaurant Review:

Consulting chef Douglas Rodriguez may be from New York, but he creates first-rate Nuevo Latino cuisine that places ingredients and preparations from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean in a contemporary context. And the results are invariably striking. Tapas are probably the strongest part of the menu, making Deseo a great place to graze. Grab a chair at the L-shaped bar overlooking the kitchen (it’s called “the rail”), and try sexy starters from an enormous list, such as caviar arepas topped with quail egg or smoked and shredded marlin, tossed in vinaigrette and tucked into tiny taro root tacos. We also suggest the entrées, with their constantly changing base of ingredients. Possibilities include yucca-wrapped mahi mahi, Cuban-style langosta, or churrasco of beef served with basil chimichurri and spicy crab salad. Desserts, on the other hand, are a little weak, except for the clever and adorable “cafe y tabaco,” a signature finale for good reason. Another attraction is the “muddle bar,” with custom-crafted cocktails based on fresh muddled fruit and herbs.