Jean Paul's House is a "romantic charmer with Peruvian leanings" in Wynwood

Sara Liss3/18/2012

The goods: Chef Jean Paul Desmaison (La Cofradia) brings date-friendly Jean Paul’s House  to a quaint cottage in Wynwood.

Ambience: The space is decked out in artfully scuffed chairs, circular mirrors, a communal picnic table and an L-shaped bar. There are plans for a gourmet market, takeout pizza counter and small wine-tasting bar.

The grub: Eclectic, Peruvian-tinged eats anchored by classics like ceviche, lomo saltado and pisco-accented crispy pork belly and passion fruit tart. Prices are wallet-friendly: snacks $3, starters $9-$11 and mains $16-$29.

Start things off with house-made potato chips and black mint sauce or garbanzos sautéed with spinach and chorizo. Starters also include flounder tiradito topped with avocado, salmon sashimi, eggplant carpaccio topped with shaved reggiano cheese and a colorful salad combining yellow beets, avocado and blood orange. Mains include braised short ribs over polenta, a bouillabaisse with lobster stock and red snapper with white wine and grilled lemon.

Pastry chef Lamyaa Samir (Soho Beach House) offers peppercorn genoise, an Italian sponge cake topped with figs and balsamic glaze, and a passion fruit tartelette with a mango piscojito sauce and toasted meringue.

Verdict: A romantic charmer with Peruvian leanings in Wynwood.