Everyone is talking about it. Ladino Grill has become the #1, kosher, fine dining establishment. “Our focus is freshness and quality. We don’t purchase any finished products. Everything is made from scratch, right here in the restaurant,” says Ladino’s master chef, Alex Petard (formerly of Jean Georges, Lespinasse, Les Halles, and Boxtree restaraunts).

Speaking of fresh, Ladino has a brand-new, innovative idea that is the first of its kind in the kosher world. Beginning on Thursday, June 7^th, there will be a live fish tank on Ladino Grill’s premises. This tank will be filled with 235 gallons of filtered water and will contain freshly-caught, live fish. Trout, black sea bass, and fluke fish will be delivered to Ladino by the Blue Ribbon Fishing Company, which supplies high quality fish to the most upscale restaraunts. Why bring an aquarium to an upscale restaurant, you ask? By having the fish swimming live on the premises, Ladino’s chefs can select a fish shortly before you are served, and do their magic as they present to you a most succulent fish dish, that is as fresh as can possibly be!

As you dine on simmering trout smothered with cilantro, garlic, and jalepeno flavors, your tastebuds will dance. The fluke fish dish is grilled a la plancha, over hot metal grates, to perfection. Ladino’s black sea bass is served with the skin on, over Spanish rice accompanied by saffron and a light jalepeno dressing. A true special at Ladino is called “La Truite Blue” (Blue trout). Chef Alex explains that the only way to create this naturally blue fish dish is to cook the trout as soon as it is caught. Unless you go fishing with a team of experienced French chefs, the only place you can taste this exquisite delicacy is at Ladino Tapas Bar & Grill!

Probably the most suprising part about Ladino Tapas Bar & Grill is their affordable prices. When you walk in to their stylish South American themed restaurant in Manhattan you will think you are in for an expensive evening. As you pass the beautifully presented dishes you may start to panic about the prices. “Dining at Ladino will cost the customer $30 or under,” says Ladino’s manager.

Ladino has a beautiful website with pictures, videos, reviews, and of course their great menu! Ladino Tapas Bar & Grill is under the kashrus certification of the OU.

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(Photos by Kosher Scene for Ladino)