After a visit to the blooming conservatory gardens, we walked downtown through Central Park, stopping at the Met for a quick trip to the roof to see Alex Da Corte’s Enchanting Commission for the rooftop. He created a kinetic sculpture featuring Sesame Street’s Big Bird with an aesthetic of Alexander Calder’s standing mobiles. The installation will be on view through October 31, 2021.

We were able to get a reservation for dinner at Mission Ceviche, a Peruvian place on Second and 72 Street at the last minute, although we needed to dine inside. We perused the Pisco-focused cocktail menu as that’s the classic white brandy from Peru.

My dining mates tried their Piscajita ($16, Butterfly pea flower immersed in Pisco 100, Marie Brizard triple-sec with hierba luisa, lime juice served in a red lava salt-rimmed glass), the Maracuya Sour ($15, Pisco, limón juice, passion fruit and the Rinda ($16, Citadelle gin infused with cherry tea, sake, lychee, yuzu juice).

Once the server compared the Witch Hunter ($19) to an Old Fashioned, I chose that combo of Kikori Japanese whisky, 1615 Torontel mosto verde Pisco, Carpano formula antica, Barsol perfecto amor, Inca Kola reduction and Aztec chocolate bitters. I had no idea that the drink would come in a smoke-filled dome that the waiter uncovered in front of me. That intriguing presentation caused the table next to us to order the same. Delicious, too. I’d recommend.

We shared the mixed seafood (shrimp, calamari, pollack ) in aji amarillo (yellow chili pepper) tiger milk with corn and sweet potato ($26). Flavorful. Then we shared the tender Pulpo al Olivo, ($32) Spanish octopus grill in an aji panca (a Peruvian chile pepper) marinate with an olive sauce with Peruvian purple potatoes.

Our entree of slow-braised short ribs ($58 for two) was so huge that with three of us eating it we still had leftovers! The beef, yuca and pinto beans came in a cilantro sauce with a side of rice with posole.

One friend’s sweet tooth had us ordering the moist Algarrobina Tres Leches ($14) for dessert.

I recommend a visit.

Mission Ceviche
Upper East Side
1400 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10021
(212) 650-0014
missionceviche.com