Ayawaskha Gastro | Ecuadorian Fine Dining Reviewed

Ecuadorian Rhapsody!
 Pro It tastes as good as it looks. Seriously.
 Con Service was just a bit slower than it should be. That's it.

Per Person €40-45 Food ★★★★ Service ★★★★ VFM ★★★★

Practicalities
Website  https://www.instagram.com/ayawaskha
Access Some tables on the ground floor. Main eating area upstairs.

Menu Here.

Dietary You'll need to ask.


Pictures
On Google Images

Details

Hopes? We have never had food from Ecuador before. Will it be something new?
Reality? It absolutely is. Ayawaskha Gastro is a winner.
First Impressions? It's a classic 80s/90s Madrid interior, with added Ecuadoriana. There's an explanation of ayawaskha, too. It's the cord connecting the soul to the body. It's also a common name for psychoactive substances. So is this food real life or is it just fantasy?
USP? There's no escape from reality, Polished dishes, with ambition in the ingredient and flavour combinations.
The offer in three words? Ecuadorian fine dining!
Service? Very friendly and informative. Lots of covers for two staff to handle, and it started to show.
On tap? Victoria and Mahou. 

Friend friendly? Vegetarian versions of two starters, and a dish of the day on enquiry.

Rating for dating? Yes, For two keen food enthusiasts Ayawaskha Gastro's a goer. Lots to talk about.
Tip? Yes.
Change one thing? Just details. How about some nuts or something as a little warm up? Just a touch would be nice.
Revisitability? Very good. A visit is recommended.

 

Llapingachos arrive stunningly plated, with a myriad of sauces - blackberry and avocado among them, we're told, The potato and parmesan rolls or dumplings are the perfect vehicle for them and the chorizo-style sausage cooked in beer. I'd have liked a little more intensity in the sauces, as they can blend into each other rather, but this is a lot of fun, with a delicious pot of lime juice-fuelled fresh chilli to add a welcome extra dimension and balance.  Muchinas de Yuca carry on the immensely stylish aesthetic, arriving on half a plate that looks like it was deliberately smashed against a wall. These two yuca cakes come with marinaded chicken and an acidic sauce heavy on mysterious ingredients that'll have you googling hard. Put away that smart phone though. These are so good by the time you've worked out what's in them, someone will have eaten your muchina. They're delicious. Savoury. Acidic. Recommended.

Hornado comes close to looking like a standard European dish - it puts a decent chunk of excellently juicy belly pork - Torrrezno shortages are on the cards if this keeps up - on top of a sweetcorn puree. Then it adds a llapingacho to make the most of the multiple sauces on offer. There's a small tomato and red inion garnish for acidity, too. Seco de Carne is another coordinated and balanced blizzard of flavours and textures - there's smoked rice on a banana leaf on the side. Then a spicy, fruity sauce seasons the rare steak - the meat varies with recomendations to Ayawaskha Gastro from the market - some delicious shredded carrots, plus more of those signature sauces.

The Dessert test? A restaurant that's truly invested makes its desserts a highlight. And here we go, Success, Ayawaskha Gastro, A.cheesecake is uniquely flavoured. A dessert, yes, but not a sweet, one as such. That comes feom the balance from a large scoop of terrific rum and raisin ice cream. It's almost two desserts for the price of one. Delicious.

 Muchinas de Yuca at Ayawaskha Gastro