Agua Dulce
802 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 262-1299

My sis was going through some drama and needed to vent so I took her to this new pan–Latino spot in Hell’s Kitchen. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much and was more excited about my sister's gossip than another "pan-Latino" restaurant in this area. So imagine my surprise when I realized that Agua Dulce was far from your typical Latin bistro. The space has three different dining environments: An aqua–colored room with a communal table and open grill, an intimate upstairs area full of nooks to hide away with your lover, and a lounge decked out in brown leather, copper, and old Cuban photos. Each area has its own flavor but they all combine to give an overall feel of "Latin Regency.”

We started with a salmon ceviche ($14) and a tuna tiradito ($16). Both were good, but my sis and I favored the ceviche. The red onion and jalapeno complimented the dish instead of overpowering it. My sis was mortified when they brought her a dish of crispy mollejas (sweetbread) with tomato and platano maduro ($14), but once I convinced her to give it a try she finished the entire plate. I think we can say she’s a fan now! My hermana was feeling better and the food kept her distracted. Shortly thereafter, we were served a smoked tea braised short rib ($22) that was so tender and juicy it was literally falling off the bone—phenomenal! We also tried the fish of the day, simply grilled with some bok choy and mustard oil that brought out a delish spicy flavor. We topped it off by "cleansing our palates" with a great frozen mojito, then we shared a flan dessert accompanied by crispy coconut flakes and salted caramel ice cream. This was simply to die for. The flan was creamy and the portion was perfect. I’ve never tried ice cream with flan before—especially salted ice cream—but it was the perfect ending to a great meal. Needless to say, my sis forgot about her issues and I’d like to think the food at Agua Dulce had something to do with it.

www.aguadulceny.com