NYC FOODIE RESTAURANT OPENING OF THE WEEK: ZENGO

The NYC FOODIE "Restaurant Opening Of The Week" is Zengo, Richard Sandoval's (Maya, Pampano, etc) new Latin/Asian/Fusion restaurant opening Tuesday in Midtown. I was lucky enough to have dinner Saturday night here for "Friends and Family", in this huge three floor space, which used to house the ill-fated restaurants Wild Salmon and English is Italian.

During the meal with my foodie dining companion, I stated that this place is going to be hot. The food is creative, artistic, pretty, and great. With a shochu/sake bar upstairs and a tequila library called "La Biblioteca" downstairs, people will flock to this place.

Check out this beautiful and flavorful meal!

Edamame XO Style

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Tasting of Two Ceviches

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Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with chorizo, peanut, cilantro, and spicy tamarind chutney. Flavor and texture at it's best. Delish!

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Thai Chicken Empanadas with chile poblano, oaxaca cheese, and mango-curry salsa. That salsa still lingers in my mind. Great dish!

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Tuna Tataki with avocado, kaiware sprout, papaya, mixed greens, and lemon-wasabi dressing. I could eat this salad on a daily basis.

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Chipotle-Miso Glazed Black Cod with chipotle-miso glaze, asparagus, braised daikon, and lemon-togarashi aioli. A sweet dish, that turns daikon into a vegetable to be reckoned with!

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Wagyu-Skirt Steak with an egg hollandaise sauce, carmelized onions, and yucca fries was fantastic! The flavorful steak was amazing! I could have done without the dull fries though.

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For dessert, the Mexican Chocolate Torte was a bore and didn't do it for me or my companion.

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But, the Lemongrass Panna Cotta with passionfruit sorbet and passionfruit caramel was absolutely mind-blowing! Culinary orgasms were had. This dish is amazing!

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So, make your reservations early for Zengo, it surely will be a hot spot!

Zengo
622 3rd Avenue (at 40th St.)
New York, NY 10017
212-808-8110

www.modernmexican.com