“I am very excited because we've been doing very well.” And one cannot help but completely understand the pride beaming from the face of West Village restaurateur and former Wilhemina male model Milan Kelez. As he surveys the scene of his throbbing 173 Seventh Avenue South spot Baby Brasa one recent Saturday night in the early Manhattan Spring of 2020. His equally gorgeous business partner Franco Noriega is nowhere to be seen on this particular night but he too must also be thrilled to become a part of certainly one of Greenwich Village’s much buzzed about new restaurants.
Every table is drawn in the bi-level restaurant along a triangular square just below Fourteen Street in Greenwich Village is taken using the local bon chic/bon genre Downtown foodie. The live brass band trio is really a full throttle and totally setting the mood for that high – energy mood and also the tray after tray of delicious Peruvian inspired dishes pouring in the busy kitchen from the equally hunky chef Alonso Toledo.
The meals are both hearty and healthy with the signature culinary touch being the ”brasa” or the charcoal oven which underlies the basic foundation of much of the way Peruvian meals are prepared.
The fine dining evening out at Baby Brasa must definitely begin with the home Cerviche fresh and piquant and full of huge chunks of the freshest flounder ladled with assorted citrus juices, onions and caramelized yams, inca corn and rocato. For those truly health-conscious guests, probably just replenishing following a hard work out at the chic Equinox gym just in the street then the Vegan Ceviche with mushrooms and quinoa is really a delectable starter itself. That too, and also the Spicy Rocoto Hummus, alllow for an ideal opening segue for this evening of casual fine-dining. The spot-on Shrimp Anticucho comprising seared grilled shrimp skewers with pineapple and sweet plantain bathed in lime and cilantro is another house favorite and should clearly be lending towards the enthusiastic and joyous decibel level that rings out among the din of happy diners. Another delicious and healthy first course isn't any doubt the tasty Quinoa Salad with the perfectly seared salmon increase a bed from the freshest arugula.
“I am happy seeing all these fine local ladies from the West Village coming in and thus many families too, especially earlier in the evening,” Milan Kelez enthused. It's now 9:30pm on this particular night and the Baby Brasa is a beehive of activity with diners experiencing hearty conversations over their meals and a busy wait staff pushed to brink with keeping pace with the frenetic scene unfolding.
The first rate main courses at Baby Brasa would without doubt include the Lomo Saltado that is a traditional Peruvian stir-fry dish with marinated strips of perfectly smoked sirloin steak and onions and tomatoes and served with house special Yucca fries or rice. The Organic Grilled Chicken is definitely an unquestionable stand -out and served with jasmine rice along with a green spice salsa. It is charred-rotisserie fowl from the highest order and simply a must-order! As to is the incredible Seafood Risotto the best idea risotto this arbiter has ever, ever had! And that is no mere understatement. This dish alone is well worth the trip to Baby Brasa!! If you're looking out for that perfect Downtown dining experience this season then waste no further time.
Culinary Delectables:
Grilled Wild Caught Salmon; Yuca Fries in Background
Grilled Fillet over a Passion Fruit Ceviche Blend
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Shrimp Anticucho, Pineapple & Sweet Plantain served with Lime & Cilantro
Fish Ceviche
Flounder, Citrus Juices, Onions, caremelized Yams, Inca Corn Rocoto
Vegan Saltado
Sautéed Portabello Mushrooms, Crisp Vegetables, Fries Plantains, , Avocado, a7 Quinoa inside a Savory Sesame Soy Sauce
Arroz con Pollo & Papita Huancaina
Green Cilantro Rice, Dark Organic Chicken, Salsa Criolla
BABY BRASA
173 Seventh Avenue South
646-590-9010
www.babybrasa.com
