ow correct me if I'm wrong but lately I've been noticing more upscale Mexican eateries competing for New York's fine-dining crowd. Hell's Kitchen, which serves show-stopping Mexican fare, certainly fits the bill.

All of the items in the entree department start at around $20 including an intriguing Seven Chile Pork Chop Mixiote served with drunken pinto beans, grilled cactus & sweet potato flauta. Another selection is the Grilled Wild Salmon with Sweet Corn Pudding which is accompanied by a baked vegetable cake and red salsa.

A few items from the dessert menu also beg acknowledgment such as the Caramelized Banana Empanadas with bittersweet chocolate sauce and the Tres Leches with cherries sponge cake soaked in rum & milk.

The space is small and lively so if you go a busy night, expect a wait.