TIO PEPE in NYC

TIO PEPE in NYC
168 West 4th Street (just west of 6th Avenue)
212-242-6480
www.tiopepenyc.com



This Thursday Annie and I found Tio Pepe while wondering east on West 4th Street.  As we were looking at the menu posted at the entrance, we were warmly greeted and invited in.  We couldn't resist the charm of both the host and the atmosphere.

We sat at a tiled top table near the front of the restaurant.  The storefront windows were completely opened adding to the cafe charm.  But this is not a small place.  They also have a garden greenhouse in the back.  The decor is Castilian Spanish by way of Mexico.  And to some degree so is the menu.

Annie started with a straight up Mojito.  I opted for the Tequila version with sprit and orange juice added to the Mojitos sugar, lime and mint.  Chips and a nicely spicy salsa came also.  Both were yummy.

We shared nachos for an appetizer.

You never know what you're gonna get when you order nachos.  Everyone uses the same ingredients - its the architecture that varies.

These were the kind that are individually made, each with its own healthy piling of creamy black bean, melted cheese and topped with a ring of jalapeño.  In the center of the plate was some shredded lettuce and sour cream.  Good for this type nacho.  Just the right amount of each ingredient on a just the right amount of crisp chip.  I wondered why there was no guacamole on the plate and then saw the mobile table side guacamole station roll by.  Guacamole is made fresh to order at ones table.  (Next time!)



Annie ordered the Mariscada en Salsa Verde but asked for the Ajillo sauce instead - no problem.  The dish was lobster, gulf shrimp, clams and mussels in garlic and olive oil.  Annie loves shell fish and lobster.
It must have been good cause she picked that crustacean clean, not an occupied shell left on the plate.

I ordered Lubina a la Vasca - sea bass, clams, mussels and gulf shrimp in parsley, garlic and white wine.  As usual I talked to the waiter about my gluten intolerance and was told that there was no flour or various other gluten products in our selections.  And if I wanted my dish prepared another way that would be no problem.  The sea bass was perfectly cooked as were the shell fish.  The sauce was light and not distracting and the fresh peas added just the right amount of fun and color.  I enjoyed it very much.

Both entrees came with yellow rice - which was soft and creamy in texture yet not at all mushy.
Very good food along with very nice customer service.  Water glasses were filled promptly when they got low, plates were cleared as they were emptied and the staff were very attentive even though they were 2/3 full.

Bottom line
Dinner with 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees including tax and tip $100.00
Would I eat there again - Yes
Special feature - Atmosphere - people watching if you opt for the front dining room, romantic if you opt for the garden.

HAVANA - ALMA DE CUBA

HAVANA –ALMA DE CUBA

94 Christopher Street

between Bleeker and Bedford Streets (closer to Bleeker)

www.havananyc.com

212-242-3800

A nice little spot tucked away in a tiny west village storefront. But the real attraction for us came with the word “Garden” on the sign we spotted in the window as we were wondering west on Christopher Street.

The Garden is in back of the restaurant.  It’s covered with a canopy and green house type thing, well hidden from city life. The area is planted with a few nice plants. A drawback is that boxwood is not my favorite scent to have around food, a factor not made better by the incense sticks that were lit by the wait staff and placed around the yard.  Not overwhelming enough to deter us as the incense faded and we quickly became accustomed to the plant life.

As it was early in the evening we lucked out on happy hour and enjoyed a couple of $5.00 Mojito’s.  Very nicely made with fresh lime, mint and a juicy piece of sugar cane about 7” long that quickly became a tasty chew toy.  Warning – they are healthy, you can just taste the rum.

Moving on to the food.  We each ordered an appetizer and shared them.

Annie ordered the Ceviche.  It was made with shrimp, scallop & calamari, slithers of red and orange peppers, onions, cilantro & lime juice. It was a tad too spicy - and I like spicy. Annie’s standard for great Ceviche is that it should make her feel like she’s on tropical vacation.  This one missed.  It was still good – just no vacation.

For appetizer I ordered Chorizo.  I explained to the waiter that I was Gluten intolerant and he said no problem, it was not made with any wheat or wheat products or stuff like that.  Out came nicely prepared chorizo sautéed in caramelized onions sitting on 2 slices of bread.  (Sorry no photo) I scooped mine off the top without half of the item touching the bread and queried the waiter about my entrée, again he assured me that the entrée I ordered would be OK.

Annie ordered Roast Suckling Pig from the standard menu.  It came with yucca and a side order of rice made with black beans so the rice looked blackened.  The portion was healthy. Pork was moist but a little bland, the rice was made very well but the standout on the plate was the yucca.  Yucca can be dry, this yucca was moist and very flavorful.

I ordered the seafood special – shark with mussels accompanied by yellow rice with asparagus.  The shark was very good. The mussels were cooked just right and
arranged around a timbale of rice that sat in the middle.  Annie loved the way the rice looked with its rich orange color against the bright green cylinders of asparagus scattered throughout. Did I say the shark was very good? The mussels were moist and the rice was as tasty as it was colorful.

We were too full for dessert so we opted for a stroll north along the West Side Promenade picking up 2  coffees along the way.

Bottom Line

Cost for 2 drinks, 2 appetizers and 2 entrees with tax and tip $94.00

Would I eat here again – Yes

Special feature - Garden