8.05.2013

HudsonRW: Las Olas


RER 8.1.13
It was about 7/7:30 on Thursday during Hudson Restaurant Week, and Las Olas was not that busy. Most of the occupants were sitting at the bar, chatting and eating and drinking there, next to the neon glow of the enormous fish tanks. I went to sit further in the restaurant, passed the squeezed space of the bar, where a fuller sitting area was.  And it gave me a perfect view of the fish tanks, colorful and exotic. 
 
RER 8.1.13
RER 8.1.13
Our server was super nice, and gave my fickle mind suggestions as to what to eat on the $35 prix fixe menu, and I went with almost everything she suggested, except for the flan. We each ordered one drink, though all were tempting and with fun names and alcohol. I got the pineapple cilantro margarita, which only tasted like tang and tequila until the bottom where the pineapple chunks and sprigs of green cilantro were hiding. My friend ordered the bright pink strawberry jalapeno margarita, which was hot and sweet at the same time, just like summer.

RER 8.1.13
My friend opted out of the prix fixe, but indulged in guacamole three ways; each way was a tiny bowl of bright green and mild guac, topped with seasoned shrimp, salty bacon, or strong gorgonzola. The guacamole was just chunky enough to feel authentic, and the toppings made the avocado come alive.

RER 8.1.13
She also went for the spicy tuna dumplings, recommended highly and frequently by one of her friends. Each dumpling was a wanton stuffed with spicy tuna (like the sushi roll), fried and served on a bed of guacamole, garnished with a little samba sauce. These badboys were surprisingly delicious, with a wild variety of textures, hot and cold temperatures, and a range of flavors. Each dumpling was one and a half bites of fun and surprise.

RER 8.1.13
RER 8.1.13
For my first course, on the recommendation of our lovely server, I got the salmon kani poppers in lieu of the asian style wings and the guacamole starter. These bites consisted of kani salad wrapped in salmon sashimi and finished with a hot hot wasabi yusu sauce. The textures were raw and unsettling in a way, kind of slimy and wet, but that is what raw fish generally feels like. It was light and fresh, and most certainly, delicious. 

RER 8.1.13
RER 8.1.13
Despite the rave reviews of the fish tacos from friends and reviews alike, I sided with my server and got the tiger roll, which is soy bean paper filled with spicy crab, shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with a little chipotle sauce. The rice was cooked nicely, tender and almost buttery, and each grain felt separate. The crab, shrimp tempura, and avocado each offered a different texture— stringy, crunchy and smooth and creamy— while the chipotle brought a smoky flavor to the sushi roll.

RER 8.1.13
For dessert I had the mochi, the ambiguous and mildly contradicting ice cream wrapped in rice paper dessert. I got strawberry flavored mochi, and my plate was an abstract play of strawberry and chocolate syrup, three tiny balls of mochi, and far too much whipped cream. But it was delightful. These mochi were fresh; the rice paper was like thin stretchy dough, sweet and chewy, preventing the melting ice cream from becoming a giant mess on the plate.

RER 8.1.13
The food was pretty good and the service was prompt and friendly, but unfortunately, I do not feel that the dinner prix fixe was the best deal. My only regret was going for dinner instead of lunch, as the menus were exactly the same according to the website, but lunch was half expensive. I also did not leave as satiated as I wanted to. It was nice to have a light meal, but the price was not right.

RER 8.1.13
I will be back, though, to try the fish tacos everyone is talking about.
 RER
8.1.13
RER 8.1.13

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