Ideya (CLOSED)

The breezy good nature of any eatery is something to celebrate, but pair it with exceptionally fresh and well thought-out menu and you’ve got the makings of a neighborhood—in this case, Soho—oasis. Whitewashed walls and an open door in summer complement the bistro’s vibrant Latin sounds, as do an array of tropical drinks, a gratis offering of salty plantain chips and house-made salsa, and appetizers such as the ensalada tropical, a pile of soft baby spinach alongside sliced avocado, tomatoes and papaya. Entrées like the luscious dorado a la veracruzana —mahi-mahi pan-roasted with caramelized onion, capers and black olives—and not to-be-missed desserts (secret-recipe flan, tres leches cake) only up the spot’s Latino cred.