Sofrito

Named for the Latin spice blend whose bright orange color heavily inspired the restaurant’s décor, Sofrito is a Puerto Rican restaurant brought to the Upper East Side by a former detective JR Morales. It’s hard to imagine that I unknowingly lived just a few steps from this eatery for so long because it has one of the area’s most uniquely inviting interiors. With near nightly live Latin musical entertainment, the longest bar in the city (measuring up at 100 feet long), a delectable list of cocktails and plenty of lounge and restaurant space the venue has got you covered from the early eve through the late-night hours.

Given that the space was designed by Stephane Dupoux (also of Buddha Bar, the Gansevoort Beach Club, and Cielo), it’s little surprise that it’s swank (it could easily be confused for one of the big meatpacking district eateries). Sofrito evokes the natural beauty of Puerto Rico with its grasscloth wallpaper, neutral color palette, sculptural wood artwork, a sleek and almost futurist bar that has backlit changing lights.

For the food, Morales paired up consulting chef Ricardo Cardona (also of Mama Juana and Hudson River), and with the young and talented Andres Ortega.

We started our meal with a plate of mixed appetizers that included flaky, crunchy Empanadas filled with ground beef, fried savory plantains topped with octopus, and crispy fried shrimp and calamari. The standouts were the plantains which were cooked to perfection. The bread that was served when you first sit down is also worth noting – a garlic, challah-esque delight!

The appetizer was paired with Sofrito’s signature Mojito which is a blend of Rum, Malibu Passion, Passion Fruit Juice, Lime and Mint topped garnished with sugar cane. Though Sofrito’s wine list is comprehensive and affordable, with many bottles under $40, it’s their cocktails that are truely the most noteworthy. Besides their
Mojito, they’ve also got some sangria which Morales claims is the “best you’ve ever tasted,” thanks to some punchy additions, which include brandy, peach schnapps, melon liqueur, rum, and triple sec. It’s listed alongside other drinks including the Cocotini, a Puerto Rican favorite that blends Malibu Rum, Coconut Milk, and Pineapple Juice.

For the main course we had a baked red snapper which was served with rice and beans, along with as flank steak paired with garlic shrimp and rice. The stands out were the rice and beans and the shrimp. The rice had a wonderful nuttiness do it and the beans were perfectly cooked, while the shrimp were delectably large and perfectly seasoned – a must try at Sofrito.

As for desserts they range from tropical to decadent. Empanaditas de Guayaba y Queso de Crema consist of guava paste and cream cheese stuffed inside piping hot crescents of sweet dough. Tres Leches is only mildly sweet but heavenly in its soft, spongy texture, while a Pudin de Pan de Chocolate, or Chocolate Bread Pudding, is rich, gooey, and irresistibly topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream – this delicious option is the one we opted for. At $5 it’s arguably one of the best dessert deals in all of NYC and the hearty portion is more than enough for two.

The bar scene, which carries on late into the night, is accompanied by live Latin music five days a week. The Sofrito House Band, a five-piece group that plays musica sabrosa—merengue, salsa, bachata—plays live every Friday and Saturday, while Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays see a rotating cast of characters. Regulars are known to break into improvisational performance—and sometimes these impromptu performances feature the likes of Jaime Foxx, Marc Anothy, and Jennifer Lopez, who are all known to frequent Sofrito when in town.

Sofrito is located at 400 E 57 St. at First Avenue, and is open for dinner from 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM on weeknights and from 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM on weekends, with late night music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday. For more information on private parties and reservations, please call 212-754-5999 or visit www.sofritony.com.

July 29th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in General, News | (0)