Rayuela

...is located in NYC's Lower East Side at 165 Allen Street.

"C" and I took advantage the extended NYC Restuarant Week and had the 3-course prix fixe dinner for $35.

The amuse bouche was a yellow tomato gazpacho - light and refreshing.

I had a Pina Partida cocktail - fresh pineapple, english cucumber, lemon, agave nectar, Siembre Azul Tequila blanco ($13) - it wasn't strong, but it was thick with fruit and pulp.

"C" had the wine pairing with her dinner ($15 for 3 tastes) and started with the Guacamole ($18) which had shrimp and crab.

"C" started with the Costilla Con Pastel del Almeja - braised short ribs in membrillo chipotle sauce with clam pastel.

I had the Caracol con Curry y Fufu - crispy conch with guindilla curry sauce, pork bell and sweet plaintain.

For entrees "C" had the Piramide de Carne - grilled beef tenderloin, duck breast, pork loin and paprika rice and poached egg, finished with chorizo, longaniza, green apple salad and chimichurri aioli. The portions were not huge so it was not as meat-centric as it sounds.

I had the Espada Chaufa - grilled swordfish with rocotto coconut chaufa (mix of chorizo, shrimp, mussels and eggs) and aji amarillo-mango sauce saffron sauce. The fish was very tendery and smooth.

For dessert we had the Natilla de Chocolate - chocolate with coffee granita and white chocolate mousse (very light and refreshing) and the Pastel Rojo - red velvet cake with requeson filling, candied orange and mamajuana suace (very light and moist).

We were quite full afterwards.