Asia de Cuba, Madison Avenue, New York

BEEF DUMPLINGS TWO WAYS CRISPY WITH PLUM SAUCE AND STEAMED WITH COCONUT RICE AND MANGO PONZU

ROCK SHRIMP ‘MU SHU’ CUMIN SCENTED PANCAKES, ENOKI MUSHROOMS, SWEET CORN, BANANA AND ORANGE CHILI MISO SAUCE, AVOCADO SALA

PAN SEARED AHI TUNA SERVED RARE WITH CRUNCHY WASABI MASHED POTATOES AND CILANTRO CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Asia de Cuba is a rather swanky two storied place. The name raises expectations a mix of latin and asian flavors sounds about as exotic as fusion gets. The place is two stories with a communal big dining table in the middle and some smaller tables around it. I like the vibe it clearly is a place for the rich and beatiful and I’m convinced that if it weren’t lunch time on a rainy Friday, that there would be a lot of beautiful women around. The waiter informs me before ordering, that the menu is setup so that the dishes are made for sharing. Hence I shouldn’t go overboard since they have rather large servings. Not that I pay any attention to his warning, I’m here to enjoy. I could go on about every single dish, but I had the same feeling with every course I had (beef dumplings, rock shrimp, ahi tuna). It’s a cuisine which is more about optical and lyrical (sound of the course) WOW than about flavors. The dishes all sound exciting but lack to capture your attention for more than a couple of bites. This is a classic example of a place you go for people watching (or drinks) the food doesn’t warrant a visit. Nevertheless the dining room is pretty fabulous and if you’re looking for a vibrant night, this is the place. Prices:

Bill