Monday, 28 July 2008

• Asia de Cuba

  237 Madison Avenue
  New York, NY 10016
  212-726-7755
  http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/adecNY/main.cfm?pp=0

  New York is known for its night life, crowds or people, important US buildings, and lots of yellow cabs.  I'm probably missing other things its known for like crappy airports but I can't remember them all and you can always message me and I'll add them to this blog entry.  Well another thing its known for, because of its sea of people and cultural diversity, is food.

  Unfortunately I didn't plan ahead and didn't know where was going so I'm searching up Zagat at the Apple Store for popular locations with a good review and within walking distance.  The originally place I wanted to go was booked until 11pm so I found Asia de Cuba available at a more convenient time:

  

  Asia de Cuba has a very plain entrance which I missed the first time I walked by.  Yes, it's just that door.

  Asia de Cuba has a second floor that overlooks the first floor.  Dim lighting and creative use of curtains make an otherwise very dull and plain interior and chic place.

  

  We had to wait over 45 minutes after our original reservation time for a table.  It was a Saturday and the restaurant and bar were very busy.  Not a great way to start but I hope it's really good food.

  Some conditions on ordering:

  

  Once you check out the price in the menu, the minimum per guest price isn't hard to satisfy.

  A mixed drink:

  

  Most mixed drinks are $15.  The drink was very watered down with juice and very little alcohol.

  Lobster Shiitake Potstickers - watercress cherry tomato salad, vanilla rhum and lobster coral sauces:

  

  The potstickers came out warm and the outside was fresh and crunchy.  There was lobster inside (very difficult to see in the photo since there was so few pieces) but it was overcooked and dry.  The salad was good $30 is very pricy for what was essentially a spring roll.

  Cuban Barbeque Chicken - thai coconut sticky rice, avocado cilantro fruit salsa, tamarind sauce:

  

  A tad better than Whole Foods prepared chickens but it also came out a bit dry on the white meat.  The avocado cilantro fruit salsa is just your standard hand made guacamole.  The best thing from our whole dinner was the thai coconut sticky rice.  It's wrapped in a lotus leaf, came out soft and full of thai curry taste.  I really liked it.  Half a chicken with rice and guacamole is very pricy at $22.

  It's a really chic restaurant with lots of young people.  I walked away from Asia de Cuba feeling the restaurant was way overrated by Zagat and definitely not worth what I paid.  The food was mediocre and the prices are very high.  Moreover, there is only 2 washroom stalls for both men and women which stink really bad.  I recommend washing your hands BEFORE coming to this restaurant.  I highly recommend staying away from this restaurant regardless of what Zagat or anybody else says.  I wonder how many times Zagat has mislead people.

  Eric Tummy Points: 2 out of 5

  • 12:04 PM
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