I haven’t been this excited about a restaurant menu in awhile. Wayku Restaurant & Bar that just opened in Wynwood a few weeks ago has a creative and original menu, delicious food, and artistically presented dishes. We went last week and when I was leaving I booked a return visit with friends for a week later. That doesn’t happen often.

The cuisine is described as Latin fusion rooted in Andean culture with flavors from around the globe. Yes, it’s different. You can see how this plays out as I describe the dishes. But first, something about who is behind this will tell you a lot. The owner, Diego D’Alvia, is the owner of a successful group of restaurants in Buenos Aires called Best Chivito in Town and also La Morocha. He has a special admiration for the Quechua culture.  He is joined by the Milanese Chef Matteo Gritti, a chef and DJ, who opened his first restaurant when he was 23 in Buenos Aires and then returned to Italy, training under Michelin star chefs.  He’s very cool. The bar program was created by Mona Gallosi, one of Buenos Aires’ most celebrated bartenders, TV and radio personality, and entrepreneurs. Vanessa, the bar manager, created a cocktail on the spot for my dessert. Quite a team.

The menu is not large but well-chosen. When you sit down they give you a plate of their signature nibbles – yummy fried kale and yucca with beet hummus for dipping. For starters, we shared three dishes. The first was the tuna tataki,  slices of very fresh red tuna accompanied by chunky avocado with aji Amarillo, mango, and black tuile – sort of Asia meets the Caribbean ($18).

Next up was one of our favorites, K’allampa bao buns filled with portobello and shitake mushrooms and purple kale. It melted in my mouth ($16). The third dish was the Kanka cauliflower with mango and coconut curry sauce, basil oil, and orange zest, a totally original take on one of the vegetables of the moment ($15).

I opted for the sea bass on a bed of brown quinoa tartare with edamame and a violet rainbow sauce that is poured around the dish by the waiter and changes color in the process ($27).

The combination of flavors and textures was exciting and satisfying. Another standout was the short rib with bone accompanied by a puree of green peas. Decorating the plate was the bone topped with dollops of alioli. The meat melted in your mouth tender, uber tasty, and rich. It’s a must ($37).  Next time I’d like to try their Tierra & Fuego rack of lamb with green crust and the black risotto with tomato confit and burrata.

For dessert between the avocado cheesecake with candy mint and finger lime and a pink lava cake with pistachio gelato brushed with dulce de leche we chose the latter, another signature twist ($12).

There’s an original cocktail program, with cocktails priced in the low teens.  A glass of wine (price by the glass starts at $12) is in the low teens and a bottle starts at $32.

The 2,000 square foot indoor/outdoor restaurant is sleek and simple in design yet attractive. There’s a separate bar area as well.

Wayku Restaurant & Bar is located at 73 NW 26th Street in the Wynwood district of Miami and is open for dinner 6-11 pm Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday; 6 pm-12 am Friday and Saturday.  Happy hour is offered daily from 6-8pm with $10 drinks and bar bites. The restaurant is closed on Monday.  For more information and reservations visit www.waykurestaurants.com or call 786.584.8487.