THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Suba

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Suba Restaurant Review:

THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS CLOSED In the race for New York restaurants to decoratively out-sex each other, Suba may still be champ: diners descend down grated metal steps to a candle-lit brick cellar and onto a suspended platform that sits over a pool of water. And with the Spanish-language movie nights, the nicely blended cocktails (try the chili margarita) and the attentive yet non-intrusive service, it seems there'd always be a reason to come back to this Lower East Side eatery. The only drawback is that Alex Ureña's Spain-inspired menu doesn't live up to the promise of Suba's entire package. The goat cheese-and-spinach empanadas seemed more reminiscent of pizza rolls. The natural buttery flavor of the roasted scallops was eclipsed by a rich sauce of sunchoke purée, tomato-olive salpicon and grapefruit juice. Still, there are moments when the cuisine here shines: the gazpacho verde---served during the summer only---is a chilled soup filled with cucumbers, tomatillos, zucchini, cilantro and green peppers; it's as refreshing as the ingredients are fresh. Also, the grilled hanger steak, accompanied by golden beets, corn, fava beans and white sweet potato purée may be as pleasant on the taste buds as the décor is on the eyes.