My Brooklyn neighborhood of Prospect Heights is home to yet another new and innovative restaurant that's rapidly becoming a foodie destination. The most recent newcomer is Alta Calidad, Spanish for "high quality". Akhtar Nawab, the very talented chef-owner was formerly Tom Collichio's right-hand man, cooking at Tavern On The Green and Craft. Akhtar went onto cook at La Esquina, then became a partner at Choza Taqueria before landing on Vanderbilt Avenue with his own restaurant, focusing on very untypical Mexican cuisine.

Alta Calidad's cozy and intimate vibe, brings a pared-down fine dining sensibility perfectly in sync with our oh-so-casual neighborhood. Needless to say I've dined there several times and my favorite dishes so far include octopus and pork belly skewers, fried shrimp tacos with celery remoulade and queso fondido "complicado", a cheese dip with artichokes and chorizo.

We are so fortunate to have such a sophisticated dining option in walking distance that's on par with Cosme (read post here) in Manhattan. The chef-owner Enrique Olivera also hails from Mexico City with a menu that focuses on contemporary dishes with innovative flavor combinations in an informal, relaxed setting.

On my last visit to Alta Calidad, Michael Wetherbee, the managing partner informed me that they're now taking reservations on Resy.com - yay!!