Yerba Buena

Two weeks after opening night, Yerba Buena was bustling with people munching on inspired Pan-Latin fare, a cross between Peruvian, Cuban, and Argentinian food. Yerba Buena reaches above the mark with sophisticated décor, beyond many of the shabby chic alphabet city establishments (which I love as well). An open kitchen lends well to the narrow space, allowing aromas of roasted suckling pig and chipotle BBQ ribs to spread throughout the room.

Service was a bit spotty, though one can’t be too critical of such a new restaurant. There were moments when some dishes were ready and brought promptly, while others had to wait with empty plates. The passion in the venture was evident though as the owner himself pulled out a chair for my friend, and brought my cocktail from the bar to the table, insisting that I not carry it myself. Our waitress was excited to tell us about her favorite dishes, while answering any questions about the various sections of the menu, listed as “Para Picar”, “Frios”, “Botanas”, “Chanco”, and “Para La Mesa.” My vegetarian friend appreciated the small “Vegetales” section, as most of the dishes featured either pork, chorizo, or short ribs.

Cocktails here are carefully designed by former Pegu Club bartenders, like the Desert Rose, made with rose infused Plymouth gin, prickly pear puree, and lemon juice. The wine list complements the food, with offerings from Argentina, Spain, and Chile for the most part. We ordered a Martin Codax Albarino 2006, which was crisp and delightful with the heat from dinner.

We started with a fiery guacamole then had appetizers of crispy calamari salad, crispy grouper tacos with jicama, and a citric grouper ceviche. Entrees were pillowy arepas served with homemade bacon and “three types of cheese, ”and empanadas with chihuahua cheese, corn and huitlacoche mushroom. We also shared wild mushrooms and sweet plantains with a spicy truffle crema. We closed the meal on a sweet note with black and white chocolate fondue served with churros, strawberries, bananas, and coconut cake.

Yerba Buena delivered a meal with distinct flavors in a beautiful setting, for a modest price tag. I think they can tie up some of the loose ends and become a great Alphabet City staple destination.

Yerba Buena: 23 Avenue A (betw 1st and 2nd streets)
Cuisine: Latin American
Average Entree Price: $17-$19

Filed under Latin American, Restaurant Reviews |