31 West 17th St. (between 5th and 6th Aves.) 212-675-7223 www.aldearestaurant.com
Mediterranean, Portuguese, Spanish. Aldea is, to me, the dining equivalent of massage. Enveloped within these walls, all your stress and tension quickly fade away. The decor is instantly soothing, the staff low key yet attuned, the meal so satisfying you can’t help but crave your next encounter. There are several ways to go - tasting, prix fixe as well as à la carte. The creativity of each dish begs for a multi-course plan; more is more and the merrier you will be. Either the Bacalhau à Brás (farm egg and salt cod custard, crispy potato, black olive) or Hokkaido urchin toast (cauliflower purée, mustard seed, shiso) offers a magnetic opening. If fish is your dish, you might next choose the grilled octopus (roasted fennel purée, potato, chourico vinaigrette) or shrimp alhinho (garlic, pimenton, red bell pepper juice and pressed shrimp jus). As expected, the third course options are as deliciously crafted as you could desire. Their monkfish (braised red cabbage, ajo blanco, turnip) and Creekstone hanger steak (charred pearl onion, potato mousse, roasted carrot) could not be any less alike. Or more flavorful. If you find yourself wishing this would go on forever, you’re in luck. The sonhos (Portuguese beignets with salted caramel and calamansi curd) or strawberry-black cardamom vacherin (strawberry jus, pinenut and cocoa rib) will extend your state of bliss. Breathe in. Breathe out. Make a reservation.
