La Estufa, kitchen for the neighborhood – A Review of La Estufa
“La Estufa - kitchen for the neighborhood” – A Review of La Estufa
BY CLAIRE McCURDY
La Estufa
American-Organic
5035 Broadway near W. 214th St.
Inwood
212-567-6640 / laestufarestaurant.com
Mon-Sun: 11:30am-10:30pm
Exterior of La Estufa Restaurant - from laestufarestaurant.com
La Estufa is a personal Inwood neighborhood favorite of mine. A former tiny rundown bodega, it is in its new incarnation under consideration for a Zagat listing; it is close by (a flight of 102 steps – downhill– away from my apartment); and the waiters are uniformly friendly and eager to exchange the latest gossip about prominent sports figures, as well as to recommend their favorite foods. It’s a communal dining experience—their parting shot after filling your order is always to sing out “Enjoy!”
Capri salad at La Estufa - from laestufa.com
Oh, and there’s the food. Dominican owned, by Alex Torres–a former day trader by day and personal trainer by night–the restaurant prepares simple and healthy Italian/Mediterranean dishes which do not disappoint and which don’t break the bank either. Light fare like grilled chicken kebabs with salad, or Caprese salad (mozzarella, tomato, basil) are consistently delicious as are heavier dishes such as the many pasta and grilled fish offerings. And the ingredients are fresh—the tomato and basil crunch in the teeth. The dessert list is short but choice– the brownie ice cream sandwich has Ramon’s vote, and by now it has mine too. .. with the panna cotta running a close second.
The tiny restaurant is equally welcoming to single customers as to large family groups—everyone is accommodated. The owners have recently started a week-day happy hour: half-priced pitchers of sangria and bottles of wine, and 2-for-1 beers from 4-7pm.
And so the place has become a hangout, at virtually any hour of the day from noon to early evening. I’d say it has indeed become the kitchen of the neighborhood.
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