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Bar Jamón
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Basque Spanish, Tapas Bars, Basque [Edit]
125 E 17th St(between 3rd Ave & Irving Pl)
New York, NY 10003
Neighbourhoods: Union Square, Gramercy, Flatiron
(212) 253-2773
- Nearest Transit:
-
14 St - Union Sq (4, 5, 6, 6X)
14 St - Union Sq (N, Q, R)
Union Sq - 14 St (L)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
159 reviews for Bar Jamón
Review Highlights
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"Can't wait to try Casa Mono." In 31 reviews -
"Their wine list is amazing." In 18 reviews -
"...loved loved loved the flan, and the churros y chocolate." In 4 reviews
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159 reviews in English
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Review from Andrea F.
Brooklyn, NY
4/7/2012
This is a place I like to go to to pretend I'm classy before a (usually less classy) night out. Wine and cheese, yes!! And high quality, too. I've had the three Manchego plate, the calamari, and the jamon iberico. The calamari was pretty standard, but you can't go wrong with the Manchego and jamon. The most aged Manchego was particularly delicious.
This place is teeny tiny, so I'm surprised that there always seems to be a cozy nook to squeeze into with some wine. Usually standing room only, unless you go at odd hours, so be prepared!! I lived in Barcelona for awhile, and while this place is a little more chic than your neighborhood tapas joint in Catalunya, it did bring me back. -
Review from Michelle R.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2012
Solid four stars for great wine and yummy food, albeit a limited menu.
I knock the rating down one star given my experience with one of the waiters. My friend and I arrived at Bar Jamon about 20 minutes earlier than the rest of our party, so we ordered two glasses of their red wine ($9). When the rest of my friends arrived, they tried our wine, and agreed that it was good and would order the same. When the bill came, we saw that he had charged my friends for $12 for their glasses, and when I asked the waiter what was up, he responded, "They said they'd take the red, so I gave them the red." -- End of story, he discounted the wine to $9 because he knew his claim was bogus.
Since the situation was dealt with properly, I'd definitely come back since it really is a gorgeous space, with large storefront windows. -
Review from Heather P.
New York, NY
3/29/2012
very delicious wine and cheeses - place is tiiiiiny always crowded and can get a bit uncomfortable, especially for larger groups, in winter time, when everyone has extra layers to shed.
neg: no glass of anything from the Ribera region in Espagna. -
Review from Randy S.
Manhattan, NY
1/27/2012
The wines selection here is very nice, but my favorite item on the menu is their manchego cheese plate with different aged manchegos.
We ended up here when we couldn't get into Casa Mono last night, but this place made that a good mistake!
We thoroughly enjoyed our evening, with great, friendly service and nice music and atmosphere.
We'll be back! -
Review from Jillian H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/16/2012
I work in the Union Square area and have two go-to spots for after work drinks. Reservoir Bar for cheap beer, and Bar Jamon for good wine.
The cozy, well-designed wine bar features family-style long tables, but my favorite nook is up front by the windows. The wine list is lovely, as are the servers and their knowledgeable recommendations. Definitely order a couple tapas to share; I've never had one I didn't like, and the tortilla is an inexpensive must. -
Review from Ricky C.
3/21/2012
3.5 Stars. This was a prequel to our dinner reservation at Casa Mono. Food was OK. Had the Polpo and was missing some acidity. We paired it w some cured meat similar to prosciutto. Wines were good and great selection. Food was not as good as CM but service and experience was better.
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Review from Cole O.
1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
So I took a date to Bar Jamon the other night with high expectations and these were exceeded not only by the food/drink but more so by the atmosphere.
I've been to multiple places within the Iberian Peninsula from big cities (Barca, Madrid, Valencia) to smaller spots like Benidorm or Alicante - Bar Jamon could be located in any of these locations - it's a legit Tapas spot.
When we rolled in on Tuesday the place was packed out (expected). We luckily got the end of a communal table and quickly ordered a bottle of Andalucian Pinot, it was a great decision that quickly eased the 1st-date conversations that were concurrently occuring.
After about 40 minutes some bar-area real-estate opened, believe me and date jumped on those like vultures - - don't be jealous.
Following the Jamon Serrano and one of the best calamari tapas I've ever tried - we were off and the stamp on a successful 1st date was implemented. Thanks Mario. -
Review from Wendee M.
Updated - 11/3/2011
Got to try the tapas here because my friend couldn't get a table for Casa Mono until 9:30!! A girl's gotta eat!
He is so picky with the wine. Damn it Stef, just get something!
Had the pan con tomate, which we saw going around and I guessed correctly what it was HAHA. It was smothered in flavorful olive oil, so delightful. We also got a plate of 4 different cheeses, about 2-3 ounces per cut. I can't really tell you which ones but I'm sure they gave us their best.
There was too much cheese and bread and wine so I told him to order some meat! YEAH! Went ahead and got some chorizo with pickled peppers. Peter Piper would be proud, just sayin'.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/25/2011
Luckily, not so packed for a late Friday night date.
He picked it, I complied. I was expecting it to… Read more »
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Review from Kenny C.
Bronx, NY
5/13/2012
good food
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Review from Laurel T.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
NYC with Roman Romaya involved eating and drinking our way through anything and everything we could afford. This was our "nice" dinner spot as were both on budgets and couldn't afford Casa Mono next door. The neighborhood is amazing and this little bar is the perfect addition. It is tiny and it is likely you will have to stand and eat if you don't get a seat at one of the large community tables or the bar.
We shared the olives, the duck liver with apricots, manchego cheese and the jamon Serrano. We also enjoyed a bottle of the Finca Allende Rioja.
It was a delicious meal but not all that filling, we ended up at the deli late night getting big cheap sandwiches.
This place feels so authentically Espana. I love it. -
Review from Joe N.
Venice, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outside looking in, a very exciting, intimate space. The menu? Also exciting. But peeling back the layers of this Spanish onion, we were very disappointed with the experience. The waiter wasn't very well versed in the wine list and what we landed on was okay, but not $20 a glass even in New York. He either forgot to put our dessert order in - or upon further investigation maybe just left it on the counter in the kitchen because the churros were on the colder side of lukewarm when they finally arrived at the table. I'd rather get them fresh from a cart on the street.
Come on Mario (and team), get it together! -
Review from Kirsten S.
New York, NY
11/6/2011
Delicious Spanish tapas and wine served up in a cozy, communal table setting with the menu written in Spanish on the wall... A total winner.
One of the highlights of the meal was the manchego cheese plate, a trio of Manchegos, each with a different age. My favorites were the youngest and oldest. Poor middle child... The cheese was served with bread and membrillo, which is a quince paste reminding me a lot of a spreadable fruit leather.
The serrano ham and chorizo went over really well with the crowd, but I did not try any. It was presented beautifully though.
The star of the show was the calamari, and what a star it was!! Served cold but previously sauteed with excellent olive oil, olives, and some other phenomenal flavors, the slightly chewy but still tender calamari was to die for.
Top it off with a shared bottle of red wine and a champagne toast, and there's no walking away unsatisfied.
The staff at Bar Jamon is really excellent as well. They took great care of us.
If anyone wants to impress someone, take them here! -
Review from Vivian H.
7/8/2011
This place brings back memories of Malaga for me. Especially when the unibrow waiter came by. I have no idea how I am attracted to that, but I am. My circuits are wired weird.
We started off with some "cuarto de vino," which is a bit more than a glass of wine. I, of course, am hooked on Tempranillo for the moment and like dry and light bodied reds, so this worked for me.
We had a few tapas which were excellent. The duck liver foie gras was out of this world with the apricot jam. A taste burst, orgasmic feeling immediately registered in my head. We also had the camarones with capers. Fresh and succulent. The bocarones were delicious and just like the ones I had in Espana. We also had the piquillo, stuffed red peppers. Que bueno! They also had bocadillos on the menu and also churros, which I will try next time around.
Seating is limited and first-come first serve. A nice couple left right when we arrived, so no waiting.
A great place to start off the evening. Vino y tapas. Next stop, Madrid!Listed in: Viva Espana! I am a tapaphile!
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Review from D. R.
Malibu, CA
12/28/2011
After the menu at the Union Square Cafe almost put me to sleep, I woke up here with some lamb spiced with some North African hot chili action and couple glasses of good Spanish wine. It was baaaaaaa-utiful.
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Review from Martin H.
Manhattan, NY
5/23/2011
New Years Eve Eve at Bar Jamon - a friend and I saw Steve Martin walk by as we were going in to the restaurant, then we saw a snowball fight begin, grow, and fizzle out while we were drinking wine (S.M. not involved).
We had some nice food and shared a tall beer after that.
Then we went to a party. -
Review from Diane C.
4/10/2011
Nice wine and tapas on the edge of Union Square. Aside from watching the World Cup here last year (yes, that was cramped but fun!), I hadn't hung out here much... but found myself back twice in one weekend as the weather got nicer and "chilling in union square" again became a fun and desirable activity. The scene at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon is completely different from a friday night - but both are fun and interesting in a different way.
In a tight spot (as Bar Jamon definitely is), elbows are thrown, space is hard to come by, and conversation is easy to start. I find the patrons here incredibly friendly. The waitstaff are great at making suggestions and putting customers at ease. Not pretentious or stuffy - the vibe here is great. But honestly, the space is a PROBLEM. The staff doesn't "force" any seating - meaning there is sometimes a group seated in an awkward formation purely because they wanted to. 3 people seated next to each other? Sure! But that means, 3 people have to sit across from this big talking group and listen to their chatter, while they might just want to have a chill night. I'd much rather the staff take charge and make the patrons sit in seatings that make more sense for the rest of the restaurant.
Food? Great but expensive. Cheese is served in tiny portions at $7 a pop. 2 girls here spent $100 on a cheap bottle of wine, jamon, 2 cheeses. A little pricey - but I wont' say we didn't have fun. The food was just too pricey for what it is. Still, can't say I won't be back. The atmosphere is good enough to justify the prices (I guess). -
Review from Shawn A.
Astoria, NY
2/8/2011
The perfect high end bar for a small group of friends to start, end, or middle a night out. They have a wide selection of wines and cavas, and an extremely appealing list of tapas to go along with it. We didn't eat when we were there, which was probably a huge mistake. If the place is half as good as Casa Mono, passing on the food could rank up there in with that Bob Sagat tattoo on my lower thigh as far as huge mistakes go.
The place is tiny, so don't expect to just waltz in and snag a place at one of the communal tables. But if you're willing to show some leg featuring Danny Tanner's smiling mug, you'd be surprised at how fast people will clear out.Listed in: The New York Bar Exam
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Review from James R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/12/2012
love it. just wish it were in a location that meant it got 25% less traffic - it's designed to be a hidden gem, but is now insufficiently hidden.
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Review from Chris C.
11/9/2010
WOMP!
Cozy, quaint, petite are all adjectives that really want to say TINY. Yes, this place is tiny. Especially coming here on a Friday night to gather up before dinner wasn't the best idea, you should never come here more than say 1 (you only) or a plus 1 (total 2), that is how small this place is. I was the first to get there from my party of 4, I can barely get a place for me at the seating area and at the standing bar. This place was tiny and packed.
I waited about 20 minutes until I saw 2 people scoot out and I squeezed my way into there slot. As more people in my party continue to arrive, we literally had to weasel ourselves so that we can be near each other, some had to stand.
Ordered our drinks, Bar Jamon has a wide selection of wine and only 2 choices of beer (not the cheapest either). Nevertheless, we ended up staying until our seat at Casa Mono was called. We had our appetizers at Bar Jamon, we had Pan con Tomate (baquette brushed in tomato juice), Calimari (raw, not fried), and thinly cut Jamon (cold cut). The food I will give it about a 3.5, it was an easy wine and bear pairing. Good amount before dinner.
Service was tough, it was not easy for waiters to maneuver around the tables, therefore making it tough for them to get food, drinks and checks to us.
Not sure if I'll go back to Bar Jamon alone, probably will just go if I had a wait for a seat at Casa Mono (Bar Jamon is the bar for Casa Mono). -
Review from Evan H.
8/23/2010
I heard about Bar Jamon over a year ago while reading Heat, by Bill Buford. He describes his journey of working at Babbo, but this isn't a book review, its a restaurant review and so the point is, Buford mentions Andy Nusser, formally of Babbo, who opened Casa Mono and Bar Jamon with Batali.
The restaurant has two sides. The small tapas/restaurant known as Casa Mono and the smaller side, Bar Jamon, which features smaller tapas, meats in a tiny bar, enough for about 25-30 people, packed in tightly.
Opting to try Bar Jamon for some wine and appetizers prior to dinner, my wife and her parents checked in for some delicious Spanish dishes. Here is what we picked:
*just to note, no dishes here are served hot, everything is made behind the bar, cold.*
Soft Egg with Romesco - a crispy piece of bread topped with a cold poached egg, accompanied by romesco (tomato) sauce. Which was recently dubbed "the best romesco sauce ever," by my wife.
Pickled Sardines - two whole sardines served with additional pickled vegetables. The sardines were crisp, crunchy and not overly oily, quite good.
Pulpo with Spicy Garbanzos - aka Octopus with spicy beans. The octopus was clearly marinated and then cooked over a wood grill, as the flavor was smoky. Often times i would think cold octopus could be chewy, but it was still tender and cooked perfectly.
Jamon Serrano Fermin - a plate of aged serrano ham. Each piece melted in your mouth like you were eating cotton candy. It was of course served with bread, but you almost didn't want to ruin the delicious meat. They offered a fancier, longer aged cut, but this was more than satisfactory.
Cheeses - Valdeon served Figs, aka blue cheese with figs. And also La Serena with artichokes, which is a sheep milk cheese that is typically aged for at least two months. I only tasted a small bit, so I can't say much, though they were all gone, which I assume means they didn't suck.
Overall, in additional to this pleasant and delicious tapas mini-feast, the wine selection was also quite good. They appeared to have only a handful of wines served in cuartos, which was a glass and a half. They had an enormous bottled selection, but going with glasses made more sense.
I would highly recommend Bar Jamon, but due to its size, it is not easy to get a spot to sit, or even a spot to stand at the bar. I look forward to trying Casa Mono too, as I'm sure it delivers a spectacular meal as well. -
Review from Karin G.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Next to Cafe Mono, but not nearly as special. Honestly thought the portions were small for the price. the long table format was not all that comfortable.
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Review from James E.
Manhattan, NY
10/13/2010
Cozy, tiny wine/tapas bar. There are about 15 seats total-which usually makes it a place I'd love; however, it's a bit noisy. The noise is a real shame because the cozy, yet sleek appearance is so warm and welcoming.
The slicing machines used to cut the cured ham take center stage for decor. They are really cool. The music that was playing was really not what I expected and I found it annoying. They were blasting Smashing Pumpkins. It's not that I dislike SP-but for an elegant-looking wine bar with a well-presented menu of Spanish tapas-the music was a bit much.
We had Serrano ham plate, olives, pan y tomate (bruschetta, Spanish version), and a bottle of bubbly cava..$50. Not too bad. Much of the menu is in Spanish - and even if you speak some Spanish, you might need to ask some questions, as the menu item's names don't always give away what the food actually is.
Since seating can be an issue here, if you've got your heart set on this sort of food, wine, atmosphere and there is no seating available, check out Pata Negra - just a hop, skip, and jump away (12 St. btw 1st/2nd Ave). -
Review from Liz C.
4/3/2009
I used to think that any assemblage of wine, cheese, cold cuts and dark oak conjured up sophistication. Patently untrue. Just contrast the intriguing Bar Jamon with duller Pierre Loti, across Irving Place.
The flavorful tapas at Bar Jamon are all ham-themed. 'Ham', like just about everything else, sounds and tastes better in its European carnation. If you're timely enough to score one of about twelve barstools, pick and slowly savor elegant, simple and delicious small plates, and peruse the concise but robust wine list (the Malbec'll make a man out of you).Listed in: The Ace In The Hole, Fine Time for Wine
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Review from Javier M.
New York, NY
11/2/2008
Fantastic Tapas Bar from the same owners of Casa Mono!
Bar Jamon is an intimate place filled with charm and elegant rusticity; it is a great place for a date or to bring a small group of friends for a night of wine and appetizers. The cured prosciutto is delicious as are the many varieties of cheeses, but the main treat is the toast with tomato (tostada con tomate) which is an absolute must if you happen to come. The wine list is outrageously extensive, and we indulged in a wide array of reds, beginning from the youngest to the oldest vintage. Truly and excellent place except that...
It's tiny.
Very, very small and only sporting a couple of bar tables/stools for a maximum capacity of 15 people; you will be forced to drink while standing, or wait a very long time till some table becomes available. No, you can't make reservations, and the best thing you can do is go Monday through Wednesday if you want to have a modicum of intimacy, and even then, it might very well be packed. Ughh.. this is where the Jamon gets rancid. But what can we expect from a wine bar named after the produce of a pig? A fat belly.
Still, do try and come to this fat belly, and enjoy everything it has to offer. And one last word of advice; watch your elbow. I saw two people spilling (and breaking) their wine glass on others due to the cramped space, hence the 3 and a half rating.
But Bar Jamon is definitely a good place, and worthy of its Yelp blue ribbon. Oink. -
Review from Preeti B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2010
What a wonderful wine bar. I got an education from our spanish-server-come-sommelier- who scolded me for saying I don't like sweet wine... because sweet indicates sugar. Looking down his spectacles at me he relays: "Wine has-a-fruit, not a-zucar, jo-k?" I quickly suppressed a knee-jerk neck snap and assumed my role of listening and learning.
And, I was slowly won over by how attentive he was and how he had me sample a few different wines before I made a final selection of the Bodegas Pirineos. I highly recommend getting a cuarto to share, because it is a great value and allows you the opportunity to try a few. And, to balance it all - I ordered the olives and they were cured with fennel seeds! Definitely worth a savory taste... -
Review from Christy V.
Boulder, CO
1/11/2007
This authentic little tapas joint is always packed full - getting a seat requires careful calculations. Kind of like finding a parking spot in the Village. You need to wait until you see movement and then pounce on the seats as fast as you can.
The tapas are great - from the artichokes with romesco sauce and the cheese plates to the simple baguette spread with salty tomato paste.
I think that the wine selection is fantastic, but the serving sizes and by the glass prices are a little weird. The amount of wine served is sizeable, but it makes it more costly and involves drinking a larger glass than you might ordinarily wish. What I really do like is how they serve the wine in a small carafe and then you pour it into the glass yourself. That indeed is good. -
Review from Hootie H.
New York, NY
10/5/2008
I've been here a handful (or more) times, and I can never remember what I drank. I take this as a good sign, because I just remember a sort of glowing contentedness. The last time I was here I tried some slightly effervescent white Basque wine that was absolutely like a party on my tongue.
It's a small, dimly-lit place with an intimate vibe. This is the kindof place you go with somebody you know really well, so that when you can't actually have intelligible conversation, it doesn't matter.
Laughter and smiles abound at this gem of a place. Can't wait to try Casa Mono.Listed in: Tapas
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Review from Chris J.
10/25/2007
This bar is how I like my women: petite, immaculately clean and well kept, aesthetically pleasing, having substance, and tasty...I know it's a stretch, so just disregard the terrible analogy.
I went here a few months back with a lady friend. She's real hip and loves to "conveniently stumble" into bars I've never been to nor would ever reasonably see myself in (read yuppie haven). If it ain't dive-y, I typically ain't interested.
Alas Jamon. What a great little find. The wine was exorbitantly over priced, but delicious. On this particular weekend evening the cafe was rather full. However, upon going to the bar with said companion, sampling, and ordering our wine of choice we were able to be seated. The seat, unfortunately, was strategically placed under the air conditioner, which conveniently spit out compressor juices. Now I've never been urinated upon, but I imagine this is what it would feel like. Minor distraction in the grand scheme of things, for the love I was making to my red wine and the company of my lady-friend more than made up for the waterfall effect cascading down from the a/c above.
I knew I was in love standing at the bar. Yeah, my friend she's a looker, but the bar, and the "retro" slicers stole my heart. This place belongs in Spain, or (gasp) even Italy. It's so comfortable, the offerings are pleasant, and the decor is retro/industrial/steel behind the bar. The butcher block tables with stools were a positive as well.
I'd surely go back. Ohh and my companion. She's equally as nice in all aspects.Listed in: Eighteenth Amendment be…
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Review from Mr K.
Phoenix, AZ
1/5/2008 3 Check-ins Here
Bar Jamon: An exercise in which a Phoenix Yelper discovers alluring little places in Manhattan that even Manhattanites don't know about.
Knowing my friend and I were having dinner at Los Dos Molinos, I looked on the Yelp map to see if there was any place else close by we could go to afterwards. And so I clicked on this one arrow, and there it was: Lindsay K's review of Bar Jamon, perfectly written, likening the little Spanish wine bar to a languidly posing tease.
Um, I'm sold right there.
Walking into Bar Jamon is like entering an intimate dinner party with your closest friends, except for the fact you don't know anyone sitting there. And except for the fact that there's a good chance you'll be standing for quite some time, darting your eyes this way and that, looking at anyone making the slightest motion to vacate their prized seats.
The place has a lot of Old World charm - tiny room, dark woods, low lights, a few long tables with stools. Small groups of young well put-together to-do's sharing bottles of wine, olives and cheese, laughing and enjoying each other's company. A trio of wine bartenders ready to answer any questions and pour you a glass. I'd say the only deviance from this scenario was the music... American alt-rock in a Spanish wine bar. A little strange combination, but anyway.
We finally snagged the duo of stools facing the window, and relaxed with some Tempranillo and took a long breather. Just in time, too. Because more people kept coming in and the room, for all its coziness, started getting pretty cramped up by the bar (which we fortunately were now seated away from).
Service was good and I can easily see Bar Jamon, while seated for an hour with a great glass and a good friend, being an excellent place to spend a few hours on a date or with some friends. We had a great time here and my Manhattan-living former roommate took a copy of their wine-tasting calendar for future visits. So definitely a great find.
I'm going to give it 4 stars for now since I couldn't rate the food (didn't have any) and the music didn't really fit in with the rest of what was going on here. But I'd come back here on my next trip (or make this a regular place to hang out if I lived here). It's tucked away from all the major tourist areas, which is a definite bonus (because I, coming from Phoenix, have convinced myself somehow that I am not a tourist but a "seasoned wanderer").
Whatever my credentials may be, I got merit points for finding this place and telling all my New Yorker friends about it, although the true credit goes to you local NY Yelpers who've all reviewed this place before me. You upped my "cool man who's in-the-know" factor as well as placing a great glass of wine in my hand, and for that, I thank you.
Salud! -
Review from sarah w.
Brooklyn, NY
4/3/2009
I want to go there more often.. I love the atmosphere of eating and drinking at the bar. Trying several freshly sliced deli preserved meats at the bar (they have the slicer at the bar) and baguette went down well with beer/wine. Great little tapas, too.
Now that I found out it is one of Batali's, it does remind me of the show "Spain on the roads again" and can see why he opened this one.
Love it!!Listed in: When I want to chill, Yes, I am a meat eater, Tapas and the likes, Espanol
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Review from Sadia B.
Montclair, NJ
2/27/2008
Bar Jamon Haiku
Ugh-- crowded as balls...
But mmm-- what's this murky wine?
Tasty txakoli! -
Review from Scott R.
9/27/2008
The casual alternative for those wary of making out with Casa Mono, Bar Jamon is a lively one-roomed Spanish wine and tapas bar.
As a wine bar, I like it. The communal seating dials the romantic vibe down a level and the wine is solid. The down side is that most of the Spanish wine is sold either by quarter bottle (somewhere b/w 1 and 2 glasses) or by the bottle. Prices are a bit on the pricy side but aren't all wine bars?
As a tapas bar, I kind of feel the same way I feel about Casa Mono. Too fussy. C'mon, the name translates to Ham Bar. Lighten up. The chorizo with pickled peppers ($9) is stingier on chorizo than most tapas plates and tasted a bit gamier. No offense to Mario Batali or Peter Piper but the pickled peppers were an unnecessary distraction. The mussels en escabeche ($9) were ok but i prefer mussels warm (maybe w/ garlic and some olive oil) vs. cold. The one simple thing I ordered - the Pan con Tomate ($3) - was my favorite. Just toasted bread with tomato spread but mmm.
So if you're coming just for wine, this is closer to 4 stars. But I think you can find more satisfying tapas places in the area... -
Review from Courtney P.
New York, NY
3/12/2007
I have finally discovered the secret to getting a seat at Bar Jamon. Pray to Mother Nature, give her a little dance and ask for sub-zero temperatures, and then go on a Monday night... otherwise you are screwed.
Okay, so things that you DON'T go to Bar J. for:
1. a pick-up scene (wander over to 3rd Ave for that)
2. Tourists and minors (get thee to Meatpacking for that)
3. Elbow room (leave NYC as a whole for that)
But if you otherwise want a chill crowd who co-exists peacefully in a space smaller than my apartment (yeah, that's SMALL) and that enjoys wine, has a good time, digs into the small tapas, cheese plates, meat et al. .... Well then, Bar J. may just be your place. Not to mention it is the best place to wait for a bar seat at Casa Mono (I know you are NOT thinking about taking mine!). So bring a small appetite, a big wallet, some patience and relax... it's freezing outside and it's Monday and you have a long week ahead of you. -
Review from Victor L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/18/2007
So I was killing time before a movie, and I didn't have to balls to eat at Casa Mono (even though I lived down the street for a year). I always passed by this place but it was so crowded with posh pros. Its a nice little place, i really wish there were about 10 people less, I was standing by the bathroom at the very edge of the bar kind of wishing I wasn't there because it was just uncomfortable. I had two glasses of rioja and went on my way. the crowd seemed fairly intelligent, but I feel that wine bars can attract some really just loud people, loud without having anything interesting to say. Its not a down to earth kind of thing, and it just comes with the territory and culture. Nothing bad, just on a different level.
I was interested in savoring the chorizo but left it for another time, I had to go see probably a crappy movie. -
Review from Princess M.
New York, NY
10/26/2007
Tiny and dim alright. Tries to be chic but stumbles now and then. Nice-looking crowd. Prices were reasonable. 8 dishes and 1 quart of very good red wine split between two people was a LOT of food but cost only $55 per person including tax and tips. Food is all lukewarm at best...I guess that's their style of tapas.
The menu is listed on the mirror on the wall behind the bar. There is a selection of about 16-20 small plates plus an additional selection of cheeses and ham. And of course, plenty of wine to choose from. 2-3 dishes per person is plenty.
How it works here is that you pretty much grab whatever table frees up. There are waiters but most of time they are busy weaving in and out between the tight spaces and the kitchen. There's no maitre'd so you make yourself comfortable as and when/where there's a space available. There's no system or waitlist to follow. People already at the bar don't necessarily have preemptive rights to the first table that frees up; it's just whoever has the sharpest eye. But of course, this place is not set up for any nasty table-hogging competition. Standing by the bar for your entire experience of Bar Jamon is perfectly alright too.
There are about 3-4 rows of high tables, a few stools and a bar in terms of "seating" area. You could end up with a space without stools and only standing space but you could also luck out with that cozy litte table right in front of the window. I was there at 7.30pm on a Thursday evening, had a glass of wine by the bar and a counter space freed up around 8pm.
Overall, atmosphere was quite nice, very intimate but also noisy and busy, perfect for a casual date or for a quick catch up with a friend. I like the red wine we had. My beef is that I felt most of the food was cold and slicked in olive oil with varying degrees of sour and saltiness. I didn't appreciate the food here very much.
Let's start with the dishes I liked best. The mussels were good. They were medium-sized, cooked mussels on a bed of wilted leeks. Of course, everything was doused liberally with olive oil and probably some vinegar. But I like leeks and I like mussels and both were cooked well enough in this dish.
Soft egg was good. A softly-poached egg atop a bed of some frisee and asparagus. This was served cold and doused liberally with olive oil.
Potato pancake was not bad. It's a 2-inch-thick wedge of sliced,layered potatoes. Served cold and with a dollop of slightly spicy (paprika?) mayonnaise.
Chorizo was served as thin slices (about 5 slices) on a plate topped with marinated piquillo peppers (basically smoked, skinned red peppers). This was liberally doused with olive oil. Everything on the plate was a very bright, ruby red color. The peppers tasted good with bread.
Bacalao was sour, creamy and fishy, served with some frisee salad, liberally doused with olive oil.
Pickled sardines were really 2 rather large, whole sardines that were fried and later marinated in, you guessed it, olive oil. This was interesting.
Quail with figs was the only dish that was slightly warm. It was a whole quail, roasted but not crispy. The green beans served with this was really delicious - sweet and snappy but not raw.
Lomo with roasted mushrooms was salty. Lomo is basically proscuitto and the roasted shitakes were a bed of sliced shitakes that reminded me a lot of Chinese dried shitakes. -
Review from Sue Y.
7/21/2010
Delicious!
Everything here was fantastic! Try the sangria and order everything off the menu that you're not allergic to. Hell, worth considering if it's break-out-in-a-rash allergic or grab-me-an-epi-pen allergic. I mean, it's that good. -
Review from Megan C.
8/14/2007
Cozy, snugly, and soooo nice that you'll want to kiss the Somalie after every bottle!
This tiny little Gramercy/Union Square Spot is just the Rx for a pre fab dinner at any one of the surrounding tasty eateries. Love the simple decor, love the wine selections, and love that it's dim enough to relax your eyes even after the hardest night out!
If you can't wait to eat where ever you are headed post Bar Jamon then try some of their tapas. Everything that came out looked tasty!
Date Rating: 8
Pick up Scale: 5
Strong Suggestions: If you can' t figure out the wines by the glass just go for the bottle! *hiccup!* -
Review from Velina L.
4/29/2008
Full of hits and misses, Bar Jamon gets only 3 stars. There were some outstanding tapas, especially the foie gras with sweet apricots, salt, and toasted bread. The perfect combination! I've always loved a well-balanced melange of flavors and textures and this one has it all. I also liked the salty lomo with bitter arugula and earthy mushrooms. However, the tortilla espanola, which any decent spanish/tapas place should know how to do well, was probably the worst tortilla I've ever had. It had a weird flavor and was served cold. The churros con chocolate was also kind of a disappointment; the chocolate wasn't thick or rich enough, and the churros felt kind of stale.
It's crowded so be prepared to stand, but it's actually not that bad. And although it's not the best place for conversation because it gets pretty loud, it's still a fun place.Listed in: Sharing is Caring, Small Places, Intimate Spaces, A Tapear!
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Review from Rachel A.
Jackson Heights, Queens, NY
1/24/2009
If I'm not careful, I could end up being an alcoholic and broke in NYC.
I love drinking in moderation and a night out with good company makes for a perfect combination. Might I add that Bar Jamon served as the perfect venue to end the night? Life is good.
The place is small and crowded but gives the illusion of space (a large wall mirror does the trick) and cohesiveness. You get everything under one roof. Food, libation, dim lighting, warmth, and ambiance. Blood pressures immediately lower upon setting foot into Bar Jamon. Partake in some Iberico ham and I beg to differ. But there's nothing like a little salt to jump start those faint of the heart.
My friends and I shared a carafe of red (Vinedos de Ithaca Priorat). It was rich but not too heavy. Given a swirl, a sniff, and a swish and the wine was heaven! I would have loved to try another but with the clock ticking and work waiting the next day, the end of the night was near.
Bar Jamon will have you salivating whether it is for the fine wine or the tapas and dessert. I already have my eye on some ham, manchego with figs, and churros y chocolate. But first things first! Bring on the reds and cava!
Chin Chin!Listed in: A Chef's Palate
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Review from Elissa S.
7/27/2007
I love this place. This is my favorite bar in the city, and I'm going to tell you why, in list format (I love lists too).
5) Despite the small space, they make very efficient use of it. There are a few stools at the bars, but no real tables or chairs. Hang your bags/jackets/umbrellas on the hooks next to the bathroom, or the hooks under the bars. A large mirror on the wall makes the room look a little bigger.
4) The lighting is great. Everyone looks hot here. Take a date.
3) Everyone is very nice, both the clientle and the servers. I've had people let me taste their bottles, I've let people taste my dishes. Even though we're in close quarters, I've never seen anyone be rude to anyone else.
2) The tapas are very tasty. My favorites are the ham, olives, bread and oil, and the artichokes.
1) High quality wines. You can order any bottle or carafe, and it's going to be delicious.
Now, if you get claustrophobic, don't like people, then I don't recommend you come here.
