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Step inside Sazon, the new Latin Caribbean restaurant and lounge from the team behind Sofrito, a popular mid-price Puerto Rican spot in midtown east. The bi-level place opened quietly last month in the Reade Street space formerly occupied by Fresh Tribeca; the swank and sexy interior design features bright tropical colors, black lacquered chandeliers, a tufted leather back wall, and a coveted private booth secluded behind thick drapes. The elegant yet relaxed vibe extends to the downstairs lounge—tagged wall-to-wall by street artist James De La Vega—where a second bar facilitates weekend salsa dancing parties.
Upstairs, Chef Ricardo Cardona, previously of Sofrito, serves a Puerto Rican-inspired menu that branches out throughout the Caribbean. An appetizer of dainty coconut arepas with crab meat escabeche ($12) are delicious and deceptively filling; four gigantic grilled shrimp with Puerto Rican rum glaze ($9) come served on skewers and could almost be a enough for a light dinner, but then there wouldn't be room for Sazon’s signature dish: Pernil ($19), consisting of three pounds of roast pork legs with pigeon pea rice and sweet plantains (pictured).
Other options include the big, creamy Sazon Paella ($23) with lobster, chorizo, clams, shrimp, and saffron; and the Whole Red Snapper that can be ordered with seafood stuffed inside the hollowed out fish skeleton—that one costs $28, but could easily feed two diners who don't mind staring down the Snapper's unblinking, reproachful eye. The cocktail list has a Latin inflection as well, and drinks range in price from $9 to $14. (The San Juan Martini, $11, consists of Bulldog Gin, Orange Liquor, White Cranberry juice, Muddled in cucumber.) Check out Cardona's expansive menu in full on Sazon's website. (And don't miss the desserts, especially the Tembleque: Coconut Eggless Custard with Cinnamon. Yum!)
Sazon // 105 Reade Street // (212) 406-1900 // Open for lunch, dinner, late night dancing, and Sunday brunch (Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Sunday Brunch 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
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But will it have the nasty attitudes and horrible service of Sofrito? One can only hope!
My husband and I are always up for trying new places in our hood. When Sazon opened we headed over on a friday night. When we walked in the music was blasting and there were a few people at the bar. We were both dressed nicely, and my hubbie was wearing a stylish bowler hat, totally appropriate for a summer night out. We walked up to the hostess and said we didn't have a reservation, but did they have a table for 2? She said of course, and then looked at my husband and said, "We have a dress policy, can you please remove your hat". My husband looked at me, thought it over and said, "let's go somewhere else tonight". We said thank you to the hostess and started to walk out, when she said to our backs "gentleman usually remove their hats". We could not believe the rudeness! She should have said, please come and join us another night, sorry it's our policy...instead she basically told my hubbie he wasn't a gentleman. We left and went to another restaurant down the block, had a great meal, and nobody asked him to remove his hat! Word to Sazon, you are a Tribeca restaurant, if you are looking to make it in this hood, lose the "policy" (and your rude hostess while you're at it).