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Home > Restaurants > Rayuela

All Reader Reviews of...

Rayuela

165 Allen St., New York, NY, 10002
nr. Stanton St.
212-253-8840

6.8 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
70% Would you go back?
60% Would you take a date?
0% Would you take kids?
50% Would you go on business?
60% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 7.9
Service: 6.4
Décor: 8.5
Value: 6.3
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 10

Excellent choice

Jason772 from 11779 | Posted on 10/12/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 8

From the moment you walk into Rayuela you are struck by the attention to detail. The ambiance is breathtaking with the live tree and beautiful bar. The wonderful smells eminating from the kitchen just add to the sense that you are about to have a wonderful experience. Once the food arrives you realize that the surroundings are just the window dressing of an amazing assortment of tastes. The dishes are beautifully done and taste excellent. The drinks are excellent with a nice assortment of wine. Expect to pay for all this wonderfulness as the cost is typical of NYC, but the cost cannot be to overwhelming as there is always a line, so make reservations.

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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A good pick for visitors, or a nice night out.

nycdoll from 10018 | Posted on 7/1/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 9
Value: 7

This place is very visually interesting. It just is. It's pretty. The drinks are delicious but a bit pricey so be prepared. We had a party of 5 and ate upstairs. Food was great. A little on the small side but that's the kind of place it is. It's a good pick for a dinner before going out to get more drinks or a special occasion.

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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Go with time

Ceeuy from 10002 | Posted on 7/12/08

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 8
Service: 4
Décor: 5
Value: 4

True to their Latin American culture, the staff at Rayuela take their time. We waited to be seated (even with a reservation), we waited for our order to be taken, we waited for drinks, food, and the check. Basically, too much waiting involved. The food is delicious though, and if you decide to go, try their ceviches.

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4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

horrible

xmjx from 10002 | Posted on 5/12/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 4
Service: 1
Décor: 7
Value: 3

Con(s): Long wait to be seated even with reservations. Long wait for the server to take our orders. Long wait for the food to arrive to our table esp. the entree. Service is awful even the manager was rude. Entree are bland. Dessert is terrible! Pro(s): Drinks are great! Ceviche are good. Atmosphere is nice. I do not recommend this place but if you just want drinks and ceviches those are the only things i recommend. And if you do not mind waiting for more than an hour to be seated even when you are on time and have reservations!

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5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

not worth the wait

nycmdubs from 11204 | Posted on 5/4/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 5
Service: 1
Décor: 8
Value: 1

made reservations for a birthday dinner with a bunch of my girls. we had to wait an hour past our reservation to be seated. then we had to wait another 2 hours to be served. the rest of the night was ruined because dinner took so long. the food was not even exceptional - just average. the worst part of the night was asking the waiter to bring dessert for the birthday girl... the dessert arrived with no candle and was just dumped in front of her. she looked confused and just looked at us. what an awful experience!!!

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7 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

A Ray(uela) of Light on Allen Street

lichi1244eva from 11205 | Posted on 4/24/08

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 9
Décor: 10
Value: 7

I met a friend there last night-she said she has been to Rayuela several times for their amazing brunch and wanted to try their dinner. We weren't disappointed. Loved the decor-modern yet earthy at the same time. Our waiter was kind and attentive and his vokda cocktail recommendation was tasty and refreshing. The Hamachi ceviche special I ordered was very well prepared and tasty. The entree special (scallop w/beef tenderloin) was pleasantly light, but otherwise not especially exciting. My only minor disappointment was the chocolate dessert, which reminded me of a Yodel snack that we used to eat in elementary school. Overall a good experience, a bit pricey, but I would definitely go back again.

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5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Delicacy and duende at Rayuela

Sandy MacDonald from 02554 | Posted on 1/4/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Maximo Tejada's artful pan-Latino cuisine finds a perfect match in Jun Aizaki's mystico-natural setting, with its play on grids (the restaurant's name means "hopscotch"). Geometrically niched candles provide a romantic glow, flowing muslin dividers just enough visual privacy (though stereo and neighbor noise can be a problem). All is forgotten once the servers start unobtrusively dropping off little dazzlers: nine variations on ceviche (viva la "Langosta Revolucion"!). We were only sorry that, only being two, we could only try two entrees, both -- the duck (with confit, foie, and an arepa as juicy cushion) and rack of lamb -- hearty winners. LES is a trek from where we sit, but we can't wait to go back.

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86 out of 151 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing

nyc08uws from 10024 | Posted on 11/27/07

Overall Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 5
Service: 1
Décor: 6
Value: 4

1. The wait for tables is an eternity 2. It is incredibly loud and you will have a hard time hearing someone sitting right next to you 3. The food is not much better than a run-of-the-mill Mexican joint 4. You will leave feeling ripped off 5. This place is nothing but hype 6. Awful choice for a date 7. Oh, but guess what? The $15 drinks are delicious

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63 out of 139 people found this review helpful.

Upscale Authentic Latin Cuisine (South of Houston!)

honduricanles from 10002 | Posted on 7/31/07

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 9

For some time now, this Miami native has been searching for a true authentic Latin Restaurant "South of Houston". And I finally did, the flavors both chefs (food and dessert) blends together are Euphoric! The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and the entire wait staff was attentive. Our top appetizer/entree choices are listed in order of preference: "Churrasco con Cangrejo" (Brazilian style with a twist!), "Jalea" (OMG!), "Camarones con Chorizo" (tasty) and the "Siete Potencia"(Huge fan of this "ceviche" plate). We ended the night with 3 sets of dessert but the "Limon al Estilo Libre" made our forks never touch the table (for a break!). The cream on top of the lemon tart took me back to my childhood days in "Little Havana". Drink items that topped our list: "Watermelon-Lemongrass Mojito: and "Pina Partida". The entire experience was the best I have had in a long time that is until the next time I return back!

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99 out of 217 people found this review helpful.

chic latino

anthon5 from 11375 | Posted on 7/9/07

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

I recenly organized a friends birthday dinner with 14 people at this gem of a restaurant. The place is chic and lively, yet warm and inviting. no attitudes anywhere. The food is outstanding we tried just about every appetizer and entree on the menu. By the second bite everybody was swapping forks. The drinks are bar none the best of any restaurant in ny. I go to all the top places and i never had drinks like these, though they take awhile to get to you... but, worth the wait. the service was fast and knowledgable. Go eat now before it's impossible to get a table.

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137 out of 267 people found this review helpful.

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