{I was invited to a tasting of the everyday brunch menu. All opinions are my own.}
Just hearing the restaurant name Calle Dao, you know you are going to get a global dining experience. Calle Dao serves Cuban-Chinese cuisine, paying tribute to the heyday of Havana’s Chinatown. Located at 461 West 23rd street, the new Chelsea location opened in the beginning of September. This is the second Calle Dao location (the first one is located in Bryant Park).
Owner Marco Britti, a musician by trade, has traveled the world as a drummer. He has spent a good amount of time in Cuba, playing music and studying the culture and food. Calle Dao Chelsea is his seventh restaurant.
The restaurant’s decor reflects more of a Cuban vibe. The white-washed walls lighten the space and each table has its own overhead light. The abundance of potted green leafy plants, Chinese prints and neon lit signs add pops of color. The beats of the Latin music playing will have you tapping your toes and make you want to get up and dance.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bradley Warner helped create the menu at Calle Dao.
The restaurant serves brunch seven days a week. From 11 AM to 4 PM, you can enjoy all the deliciousness they offer! Appetizers are in the $9-$10 range, with options like these Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls and Shrimp Empanadas. I highly recommend the spring rolls that are served with a Mojo Lime Mustard. They really showcase the fusion of the Cuban and Asian cuisines.
Main entrees are priced from $15-$23. I was most impressed with the restaurant’s take on Beef & Broccoli. Tender pieces of smoked short ribs are served with Chinese broccoli and noodles in a garlic hoisin sauce. I just wish there was more than three small pieces of meat. They also serve a vegetarian, mushroom and broccoli version of this dish.
Another one of my favorite entrees was the Chorizo and Garbanzo Hash. The chorizo and garbanzo beans are mixed with sweet potatoes, peppers and onions and topped with sunny-side up eggs. This was a very flavorful dish with a great combo of flavors.
Other dishes I tried were a Lamb Picadillo & Corn Congee, topped with poached eggs and Huevos Al Horno (eggs baked in a white bean stew with Chinese sausage). The picadillo was an interesting fusion of the two cuisines. The Huevos Al Horno was a hearty dish. However, this was one of the few dishes that I felt that I could make myself at home. When I dine out I try to order dishes that I wouldn’t make at home due to the complex ingredients, flavors, or cooking methods.
The menu has a couple of classic dishes like this Cubano sandwich with Mojo glazed pork, cured ham, salami, pickles and Gruyere cheese.
Besides the Mushroom and Broccoli noodle bowl, Calle Dao offers several other vegetarian-friendly options. They make a Black Bean and Mushroom Burger, Shiitake Spring Rolls and two different salads. More breakfast-y options include a vegetarian omelette, Maduro & Eggs (fried rice topped with eggs), Avocado Toast and a strawberry jam and cream cheese filled french toast.
The restaurant has a fully stocked bar and also serves wine and beer. Master mixologist Joy Daniel has created several unique Cuban-Asian cocktails to accompany Calle Dao’s menu. I prefer my drinks on the sweeter side and sampled the “Flor de Oro”. Made with vodka, rose and vanilla infused dry vermouth, cherry jam and fresh lemon juice, this cocktail did not disappoint.
You have to leave room for dessert! I tried both the Bunuelos (fried dough balls, rolled in Chinese Five Spice Sugar and served with a chocolate coconut sauce) and Matcha Tres Leches. Both were amazing, but if I had to recommend only one, I’d vote the Tres Leches.
Whether you are in Chelsea to visit an art gallery, see a show or to shop, take a brunch break at Calle Dao. You are in for a great dining experience!
