Liking to try new restaurants, I met a friend for lunch at Kausa, a relatively new Peruvian restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen.

My dining partner sampled a pisco sour ($14) for the first time; it won’t be her last. This traditional Peruvian cocktail combines distilled brandy, egg white, lime and bitters. I sipped a Moscow mule from a classic copper mug ($14).

We had to sample the restaurant’s namesake (also spelled causa), the layered potato starter. Do not miss this half avocado stuffed with Leche de Tigre (tiger’s milk) marinated shrimp atop a bed of mashed potato ($18). We also shared a single order ($21) of Jalea Mixta, deciding to wait to continue ordering.

Thank goodness we did, as we couldn’t finish this overflowing single-portion ($21) of fried yucca, shrimp and calamari served with pickled red onions, salsas, tartar sauce and crunchy corn nuts (cancha). 

So, we skipped entrees and shared a portion of tres leches, an incredibly moist cake made from three different kinds of milk sitting on a chocolate-drizzled platter with some whipped cream ($7).

I do suggest a visit.

Kausa
Hell’s Kitchen
745 Ninth Ave
New York, NY 10019
(646) 678-5227