the buzz

“Nueva + Latina = Nuela”

If you think you’ve walked into the new Little Italy because of the bevy of Italian restaurants clustered around the Flatiron District (Maialino, SD26 and the upcoming Eataly are just a few), Nuela is a new restaurant making its stamp for South American fare in the neighborhood. Executive chef and partner Adam Schop (of DeLaCosta in Chicago) has brought together a menu that draws from the food Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

The 200-seat space includes a ceviche bar with bright red walls and an industrial accent here and there. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant is divided into the cevicheria, bar and a more formal dining room.

When you first arrive, you’ll be greeted with the traditional Colombian bread known as Pan de Bano and a variety of Venezuelan arepas. If you want to start with ceviche (from $10-$18), there’s everything from tuna and sea urchin to oysters and esoclar. The small plates include bacalhau bunuelos with a lemon aioli ($7), foie gras croquetas ($9) and chicharrones ($5). For entrees, you can try classic seafood dishes with a South American flair with selections like the Alaskan king crab ($32; with Peruvian causa, potato aji puree, black olive and tobiko) and skate moqueco ($25; in a coconut milk, kale, farofa, bacon, banana and peanuts). Or you can order larger dishes to dine family-style with “arroz con pato” ($32/person, which includes confit thighs and gizzards, roasted foie gras, verde rice and soft duck egg). The dessert side of the menu includes café con leche ($9), goat cheese cake ($9) and a variety of sorbets ($7) among the selections. Enjoy!

Nuela is located at 43 West 24th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), 212-929-1200, www.nuelarestaurant.com. 

— Bao Ong

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