Trendy Latin-American: Tavo | NYC (closed)

Chef Julieta Ballesteros and Francisco Decrescenzo recently opened up Tavo in NYC’s West Village neighborhood.

The food here comprises of both Latin-American and Asian flavors in a trendy setting.

As you enter Tavo, there is a beautiful bar to the left.

The space is sleek with white brick walls and copper tones accented throughout the restaurant.

Cocktails
Infante: Prepared with tequila, orgeat and fresh lime juice. Crisp, light floral flavor. Delicious!
Cotes du Rhone: Rich, medium bodied. Great wine!

Starters
Tuna: The tartare had a bold flavor of ginger with some creaminess and spice. A sweet and spicy combo and definitely my favorite item of the night.
Lotus Root: A light crunchy lotus root topped with red pepper chutney and a little yogurt. The red pepper flavor is obvious. Quite tasty and unique combo.

Appetizers
Octopus: Almost like an octopus empanada in a baby lettuce wrap. The empanada was on the salty side, however the flavors balanced out when eaten with the lettuce wrap. Thisappetizer was good, but nothing special.
Ceviche: A creamy, yet light sauce, that comprised of yellowtail, scallop and watermelon. The bits of cucumber and cilantro in the dish was refreshing. The ceviche had a slight kick and fried onions in the sauce was incredible. Overall, I enjoyed this dish, unique and tasty.
Tomatoes: Resemebled a cold tomoato soup topped with cherry tomatoes, burrata and fresh basil. Unfortunately, the soup lacked freshness and wasn’t flavorful at all.

Entrees
Gnocchi: The gnocchi was prepared with polenta and Parmesan cheese with broccolini. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy pieces that melted in my mouth, however the gnocchi was extremely buttery to the point where I wasn’t able to detect anything but butter in every bite. Additionally, there was butter floating atop of this dish. To my dismay, this dish was too rich for my taste.
Salmon: The salmon was seasoned very well and was soft and tender on the inside. The spinach salad was outstanding with a slight Asian kick, in addition to the fried onions and dressing flavors that dressed this salad. I loved this dish. A favorite.

Desserts
Cheesecake: Not your typical cheesecake, but rather it had a slight tart flavor, almost as though you were eating a sweet and sour Greek yogurt. Graham cracker crumbs and a berry sauce adorned the cheesecake. Very light, flavorful and scrumptious.
Brownie: Brownie squares sitting over a bed of cold white chocolate with a few mint leaves. The passion fruit sorbet in the center was delicious and all the flavors came together seamlessly in one bite. This dessert would have been even better had the brownie been warm.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Tavo
COST: $$$
CUISINE: Latin-American
FAVORITES: Infante | Tuna Tartare | Salmon | Cheesecake
VERDICT: 2.5 / 5
The menu at Tavo is short and sweet, and the flavors here are most definitely unique. If you are looking for a little adventure, Tavo is your place. When we arrived here at 7 pm there was barely anyone at the restaurant, however as the night progressed, the place started filling up. The scene here is trendy and the music is good. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly, hence the service was also good. My favorite dishes of the night were easily the Tuna Tartare, Salmon and that Cheesecake which was tart, sweet and so delicious. Unfortunately, Tavo wasn’t at par with NYC food standards. Not recommended!
Food: Okay | Drinks: Excellent | Décor: Trendy/Modern | Service: Friendly | Value: Fair