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La Fonda Del Sol
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Spanish, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
Metlife Building200 Park Ave
New York, NY 10166
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
(212) 867-6767
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand Central - 42 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St (S)
Grand Central - 42 St (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
107 reviews for La Fonda Del Sol
Review Highlights
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"Tuna Tacos - raw, but incredibly amazing." In 19 reviews -
"...and fresh, the salt cod croquettes with romesco sauce." In 2 reviews -
"braised short rib of beef with pomegranate, red wine..." In 3 reviews
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107 reviews in English
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Review from Dave H.
Manhattan, NY
4/26/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This is my favorite restaurant for taking out customers near GCT.
Spanish themed, but doesn't look like some kind of Moorish nightmare. Great innovative twists on Iberian fare. Also great wine list. Sit up the stairs for a more refined experience, or in the bar area for tapas. -
Review from Sarah C.
4/27/2012
The fish tacos were great. However, the items on this menu are ridiculously overpriced--even for New York. It is very easy for two people to spend $100 on very little food and only one glass of wine each. $7 for a piece of bread with tomato on it? $12 for two miniature tacos?
I realize the location dictates the pricing here, but I feel a lot less violated spending $16 on a yummy salad from Dishes than $50 on a few snacks at La Fonda. -
Review from Mark M.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
In the immediate GCT area, this restaurant is open later than pretty much everywhere else (kitchen closes around 10:45). If you're looking for something in this immediate area that is casual, drink w/ a friend, or a business meal - this is a solid choice.
- Great atmosphere. Tables by the windows are especially fun for people watching.
- Very traditional Spanish tapas menu (in bar seating area) that is straight from the book.
- Decent cocktails and wine list. Very standard beer choices. Pricey as hell.
- Good service, patient, not pushy. -
Review from Cheng S.
Manhattan, NY
5/18/2012
One of my favorite in the Grand Central area. Highly recommend the seared halibut and for starter, the soft-shell crab!
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Review from Benson Y.
2/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
La Fonda Del Sol is an elegant establishment situated at the base of the Met Life building right next to Grand Central Station. I've passed it a million times and always wondered about it. When looking for a place to spend a nice Valentine's Day evening it seemed like the perfect place that wasn't over the top but not your every day eatery either.
Divided between two floors, the ground floor is a bar/lounge area that is first come, first serve. The second level, a few steps up and tucked into the back is the main dining area that takes reservations. We wanted to experience the lounge area so we sat there instead of the main room.
We arrived early after work so we were seated immediately and the hostess and waitress were super nice. This may sound silly, but they actually smiled quite a bit and it didn't seem forced. I've been to some places recently where a grunt would have been considered extraordinary. They seemed genuinely interested in making the night a good one for us and it was much appreciated.
Styled as a modern tapas bar, the menu here will make any foodie's mouth water. It was a challenge limiting ourselves to a few select dishes. Here's the rundown:
TUNA TACOS
This dish comes with two "tuna tacos". It's actually a lot more elegant than that. Set on a taco crisp is a tuna ceviche with jalapeno and onions. This wonderfully tasty combination is set on a bed of avocado puree. Each one is worth about two (maybe three) bites but they are wonderful bites!
PORK BELLY SLIDERS
Yes, you read that right. The dish comes with two of these beauties. A small slice of perfectly cooked pork belly (tender and juicy) on a small slider bun with bacon marmalade and pickles made for a wonderful combination of sweet, savory with a bit of kick. I was worried there wouldn't be enough meat or the thing would fall apart too easily but neither was true. I think me saying "I could eat five more of these." during the meal says it all.
FLATBREAD
Served with romesco, smoked vegetables and goat cheese, this flatbread was huge, cut into six pieces and positively stacked with toppings. The bread was crisp on the outside but chewy in the middle. My girlfriend prefers a more crisp flatbread but this was my preferred consistency so your mileage will vary. The vegetables were great and the cheese added some wonderful flavor.
SPANISH CURED MEATS
This plate offered up several types of meats including two types of ham, blood sausage and more. What I enjoyed was the progression of flavors from one side of the plate to the other. Some of the meats were relatively mild while others were spicier. Having the range of flavors was great!
My girlfriend ordered the sangria and I got their chili mango cocktail. Both were fantastic in different ways. The sangria was sweet with just the right amount of alcohol to make it interesting. My cocktail was a great combination of spiciness and sweetness. The two flavors worked together very well and they didn't water the drink down at all.
You're definitely going to pay a pretty penny here, but it's a really nice experience with a lovely environment, great food and drink. -
Review from Semuteh F.
Brooklyn, NY
4/9/2012
Portion size was laughable but the location is great and we enjoyed the tapas and drink list. Complimentary breadsticks were also nice. Probably won't be back though. Too expensive and the food wasn't memorable at all.
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Review from darcey h.
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Thank frickin' gawd i found this place so the next time i have to haul myself to Grand Central for a meeting with someone who's coming in from Connecticut and doesn't want to venture past that rip off nightmare, Pershing Square, i have an option to give them.
I loved the atmosphere, from the wall of windows, to the brightly striped placemats to the fabulous spanish music playing. the atmosphere gets 2 stars!
The food is very good and authentic tapas, but its not particularly cheap. we had:
tuna tacos (amazing)
beef empanadas (very good)
ceviche (nice but not terrific)
fried dough balls with 3 dipping sauces for dessert (super yummy)
service was great and location is key! -
Review from Tim L.
1/20/2012
I came here for lunch and ate in the "lounge" portion and as people have said their food is absolutely delicious. It's primarily known for their tapas which can definitely rack up the bill given their pricing. Just to give you an idea their entrees are only a few dollars more.
This is certainly a place where you'd go for a business lunch with a client and that's exhibited at nearly all the tables. Service to be honest is pretty spotty and terrible once seated, but the manager who's by the host station is always on top of her game and friendly to boot.
The floor to ceiling and wall to wall glass as well as its location make this a prime people watching spot as well.
The best deal on the lunch menu has got to be their burger with the pork belly. It's actually very decently priced and tastes amazing. Especially for all the meat lovers out there. It's very indulgent and full of flavor, not to mention generously portioned. -
Review from G P.
Corona, NY
12/30/2011
This place is intersting to say the least ? stopped by for diner looking over the choices of "tapas" if you have ever been to a "real" tapas place this one does not compare.
the choices are not that great or common for a tapas place.
lets start w the 1) shrimp in garlic was good, 2 ) the empanadas were not bad but they need to stop trying to fancy these up ..not that kind of food but oh well.
( this is really the problem with this place, but then again what do u expect when it is located on park ave )
3) the pork belly sliders ugh this is a piece of fat on a bum did not like it 4) the meatballs... aside from the ok empanadas the best dish on the menu they were really good & tasty 5) & finally the chorizo ....ahh nothing special.
overall this place is higly over priced & the choices are not that great at least not worth returing , maybe for drinks but why bother.Listed in: Not Sure I Would Return ??
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Review from Suzanne S.
Little Falls, NJ
3/29/2012
I've passed this place many times on my commute and finally stopped in on a wed night after work. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. We only ordered 2 tapas and they came out so fast I was wondering if they were just sitting there and not freshly prepared. They were mediocre. My drink sounded unique, that's why I orders it, but it was just "OK". I won't be in a rush to return but I would try again in the future.
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Review from J B.
Astoria, NY
3/14/2012
Love the ambience in this place. Came here with a friend for some tapas and drinks. Great place for catching up - you can have a conversation with somebody without having to yell over the music lol. The tapas portions are tiiiiny but good! Wr had the croquettes which were delicious, especially with the sauce. Also had the olives which my friend seemed to enjoy very much (i hate olives lol), empanadas which were very yummy and also had the spanish meats which go perfectly with some nice wine. Will definitely suggest this place for my next outing with friends -)
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Review from Maria V.
Brooklyn, NY
4/13/2012
Don't waste your time or money this place is not worth either! Food is salty service is spotty and people at the door are just rude.
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Review from Khris S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/6/2011
Great tapas place right at Grand Central.
Met an old friend for dinner here recently. I got there first and walked in just as a group of 28 (!) were arriving. Ugh. (Timing! It's all about timing!) But not to worry. The host assured me there would be no problem, and they seated me right away, even though my friend had not arrived yet. Unheard of, esp. in NYC! Had a nice cocktail while waiting for him. The waiter was friendly and attentive.
We stuck with the tapas menu, and everything was a hit. Tuna tacos, salt cod croquetas, lobster croquetas, octopus, artisanal Spanish cheeses... did I leave anything out??? I'm not a meat eater but I do love my seafood, so we pretty much grabbed every seafood item on the menu. And cocktails, more cocktails.
The only thing: On the description, it says the noise level is average. I would say it's LOUD. I'm extremely soft-spoken and he is deaf in one ear (which always makes for interesting conversations anyway lol), so I was having to shout all night and he was still straining to hear me. But all in all, the place has a great, fun vibe to it. Convenient for people traveling in and out of the city. -
Review from Michael T.
Broomfield, CO
4/26/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Great company, average tapas.
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Review from Jeffay C.
Pelham, NY
3/12/2012
Purpose of Visit: Business lunch with 8 people. Two things to highlight about this place. Midtown convenience for people either commuting from metronorth, the subway to downtown. Very easy to place to meet people. Service was very attentive and helpful in ordering the food. Food was decent but not overwhelming. o ordered the tuna tacos as a started. Very nice sashimi style tuna in tiny tacos. I also ordered a lobstare salad. Salad was a nice porportion. The only downside was the lobster claw. It still had the cartilage in the thick portion and it was semi frozen so it was impossible to remove. Unfortunate experience but otherwise a decent salad. This is a very convenient venue to meet people. As for food you are not going to wow anyone.
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Review from Tess D.
New York, NY
12/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I usually eat in the more casual dining space, which I love, but with the holidays approaching and feeling expansive and festive, I booked the dining room. I had done this once before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. First, I have to say, let the sommelier select your wine, it *will* taste better (or maybe that's just me).
My companion ordered a few tapas while I had the golden trout topped with Serrano ham. It was complete perfection. I'd absolutely order it again. The wild mushrooms side was divine. Everything was delicious and the service was also excellent.
For those coming into the city from the outer suburbs and CT, who don't want to deal with the subway or a cab, this is a fabulous place to meet your city friends. Located outside of GCT, it doesn't get any easier. In the summer, grab an outdoor table and a margarita and people watch as you feast on tapas.
We decided on an extra glass of wine in lieu of dessert but I have had their bunuelos on a prior occasion and you cannot go wrong with those. Highly recommend. I can still taste the 3 sauces and smell the faint aroma of cinnamon when I think about those amazing little treats.
Great service. Great location. A little loud when crowded. Great food. Go for it. -
Review from Chris D.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice little spot. I would defiantly recommend the sardine tapa. You would not think it but this is actually a very light and refreshing tapa. amazing blend of flavors, very Delicious.
The cerviche was also very good as were the tuna tacos.
The lobster crochets were pretty good but skip the meatballs if you can as they are a good for some filler but its defiantly not their specialty. -
Review from Veronique L.
Manhattan, NY
11/22/2011
A solid Patina group establishment, with an excellent wine list and some good tapas.
No, it's not Spain but yes, it is a great place to meet with friends and enjoy some interesting versions of the beloved tapas tradition. The service is great and the setting is comfortable. -
Review from Maritza S.
New York, NY
7/14/2011
This place has been on my list for some time and finally decided to go.... and little did I know I would get lucky!
So I made a last minute reservation and as soon as i got there our table was ready.
It was lunch time and we didn't want to drink knowing we would had to go back to work. But the waiter suggested a nice fine white wine to be pared with our choices. He called it a "glass sample." Well thank you, yes I will take a glass sample!
My colleague and I decided to pick a few different dishes to share... Tapas are small so we got:
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Menu:
Jumbo Atlantic Scallop - seared to perfection with a light tomato base and a spicy kickback.
Calamari Salad- fresh beans, arugula, fresh and light for those of you on a diet...
Grilled Hanger Steak- peaches, mango, mojo verde.... The mix of the sweet and the salty was the best combination to go with that tender medium rare steak.
Mixed Seafood a La Plancha - is a sewer of season that included, salmon, sea urchin, saffron on a bed of buttered summer corn... All it needed was a little salt and pepper.
The ideal ending to our meal was a Torta de Santiago membrillo, fromage blanc ice cream with a guava melmalate and the Buttermilk Panna Cotta which was so soft and creamy. A flan like consistency.
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After great conversation and food indulgence, we got the bill. It was totalled and under that was our due total, which was $0.00.
We looked at each other in confusion... did he make a mistake? than at the bottom it read: THANKS (his name) and a SMILEY FACE... Come again.
Wow thank you! So I looked that the waiter and said "Really?" He said: "yes the manager fixed it for you..." I couldn't believe it, so of course feeling weird about it, we left him a pretty good tip!
As I walked out, I introduced myself to him and he said with an accent, "Your face... it looks so familiar not sure from where but..." I said thank you and told him I would be back....
Not only do they have good food and a stylish interior but they sure know how to make a girl feel special! -
Review from Sal S.
Manhattan, NY
11/7/2011
Definitely a fan of the place. I've been here twice, paella the first time and the filet mignon the second.
Tapas - Both times I've been here we ordered a fair amount of tapas to pick at while we waited for our entrees. There are many to choose from and they are all great.
Wine - They seem to have a sommelier available on site who recommends great pairings with your food.
Paella - this is typically prepared for 2. Paella has typically been hit or miss for me and this place definitely hit.
Filet Mignon - Awesome. They have a unique way of serving it here. I'm not sure if they cook it on a soaked piece of wood or what. They actually bring out the filet while it is cooking before it is plated to show you. A little strange but interesting nonetheless.
Atmosphere is decent, this is a surprisingly refreshing restaurant given its proximity to GCT. -
Review from Bill G.
Audubon, NJ
10/27/2011
La Fonda is good for drinks and apps but the tapas are mediocre at best. I have been here a few times for business and is convenient to GCS but would suggest you have a couple drinks and move on.
The epenadas are dry, the octpus lacked flavor, the chorizo was more like Vienna sausages in a brown gravy and the carpaccio needed salt pepper and some fish.
We even sent back the iced tea which was more like water with a lemon.
The service was good but the place gets very noisy after about 6:00pm. -
Review from Heather K.
Farmingdale, NY
4/6/2012
Had a nice dinner here after an aggressive happy hour at Bierhaus (it's only natural after a few liters of pilsner that you would want tapas). Had the red and the white sangria, both were great. Ordered croquettes, porkbelly sliders, ceviche, and the flatbread. I think I could eat 1000 croquettes in one sitting, they are impossible to screw up, but this one was good. Loved the ceviche, it was full of flavor and very well presented. Those were my favorites, but everything was good. Also, I'm glad the server had the good sense not to bring out 5 plates at once and broke up our order into courses like its supposed to be. Such a convenient location, I will definitely be back.
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Review from Jonathan N.
New York, NY
4/26/2011
With its proximity to Grand Central and prime midtown location, LFDS is popular with commuters and midtown businesspeople. I recently made my first visit for a celebratory meal with coworkers, and while I enjoyed the experience, I certainly wasn't blown away with any aspect of it.
I can say that the service was very nice, with the sommelier needing only a few adjectives about our preferences to recommend the perfect wines and the wait staff working efficiently to meet our every need.
And the food was presented beautifully. It was all pretty good, but when spending $350 on lunch for four, I expect more. The tuna tacos (tapas) were a highlight, but the grilled halibut was so mild that it was almost flavorless. I enjoyed the side charred asparagus salad more than the fish. For dessert I had the assortment of ice creams, which were fine, but no better than any other ice creams out there.
There are certainly better restaurants around, and while I wouldn't complain if someone invited me back to LFDS in the future, I wouldn't jump for joy either. -
Review from Michelle R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/13/2011
I've dined here many times and have never written a review, but on 7/11, I attended a wine course hosted by Nick Nahigian. It was such a fun, informative class with generous pours of 6 six wines, and tapas pairings that were out of this world delicious - I couldn't hold out on writing a review any longer. I later found out that most of the tapas served throughout the course are also available on their regular menu, which is really exciting because I tried several tapas I wouldn't have ordered myself and sincerely enjoyed each one.
Each time I've eaten here, I've had absolutely no complaints on the food or drinks - I usually opt for a fish entree, and it's always fresh and delicious. Also, their sangria is probably the best in the city, I love that I can actually taste the brandy in it, it reminds me of my time studying abroad in Spain. -
Review from Joanie K.
Updated - 3/17/2011
Now that i'm on the east side again, came here for lunch in the dining room.
The place was pretty laid back for 12pm, but it filled up in 30 min - just a heads up
The food was as amazing just as I last remembered it! woohoo!
We ordered a slew of tapas -
Garlic Shrimp, YUM
Manchego Cheese Croquettes - not as yummy, mostly bc of the oozing cheese
Tuna Tacos - raw, but incredibly amazing. The taco shells have sesame seeds fyi if you have any allergies (who knew?)
And finally, Roasted Baby Green Peppers - they look like jalapeno peppers so I was a little nervous. Some of the peppers ARE on the spicy side but most are minimal. Tasty, but wouldn't order again
For my main entree, I ordered the Atlantic Day Boat Cod. Doesn't that just sound dreamy? Like a sweet Mediterranean boat ride to Sicily.
Anyway, my "boat" was floating in a foam sauce, which I didn't expect. The fish in the sauce was perfectly cooked and top was crisped. The foam sauce had potatoes, porcini, leek, oysters. Not a generous amount but satisfying.
The best part of lunch was that after all these dishes, I wasn't stuffed. Awesome.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/15/2009
YUM! I just had a business dinner for 4 here and it was one of the best I've had in awhile - I'm not… Read more »
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Review from Irene H.
Updated - 2/27/2011
I had dinner in the dining room the other night, forgetting that I'm about to go to Barcelona, where I will be stuffing my face with tapas.
Service was great. You have a choice between two breads. We started with some tapas. The salt cod croquetas was a little too bready. The selection of Spanish meats was great (esp since the last time I had a meat plate, it was too gamey and left me with bad memories). The meat balls were mediocre, but easy to eat. The pa amb tomaquet was ok because I have been spoiled by this on previous trips to Spain.
For the second round of food, we got the salad of organic beets (yum), octopus a la plancha, and a side of roasted brussel sprouts. This round was way better.
For dessert, I tried the bunuelos. All of the sauces were really good. It's rare that I say no to fried balls of dough. They had an interesting selection of ice creams and sorbets. I can't remember all the flavors I tried but the pineapple one stuck in my memory.
All in all, a nice, classy place to eat in the neighborhood, but not the cheapest. Great for business meals.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2010
Review is for drinks only.
This is a recent find near my office, perfect for grabbing a quick drink… Read more »
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Review from Lina F.
6/2/2011
I definitely have a soft spot for tapas. A few years back I went to Spain and I'll never forget the tapas there. My bf and I ordered many things off the menu:
marinated octopus
salted cod croquetas
ceviche of the day
serrano ham
pork belly sliders (the best ever)
empandas
fried potato balls (dont remember what they were called)
They were all very tasty, but I advise that if you plan on ordering more than 3 dishes, you ask the waiter to stagger your order or order 3 at a time. Otherwise, you will get all your cold and hot dishes all at once. It was a bit overwhelming trying to strategize how to balance between the hot and cold dishes. I wasn't impressed with the serrano ham so I'd save your benjamins and order it elsewhere. It smelled like gym socks and didnt really have any of the rustic flavors serrano ham typically has.
For dessert, we got the donuts and it was amazing!!! Definitely save room in your Teletubby bellies for that one! -
Review from Samantha S.
New York, NY
5/20/2011
The stylish interior leans corporate, but if you can get past that, you'll find some great little nibbles to fuel your evening.
We sat in the front section, as we were not having dinner. Albarino by the glass was refreshing, and the whole wine list looked reasonable. Although the cocktail menu is not cheap, it's nicely thought-out.
Tuna tacos were fresh and flavorful, skewered meatballs were super-tasty, and the manchego croquettes were crispy on the outside and oozy deliciousness on the inside.
The staff is incredibly pleasant and professional. If you're on your way to somewhere or from somewhere (a good bet if you're in the Grand Central neighborhood), this classy place works as a pit stop or a meeting spot. -
Review from Leeann C.
5/17/2011
I came here for a student event with a big group. We had several tables and took up a pretty corner of the restaurant. The fixed menu consisted of a first course of salad (yum -- arugula was nice and fresh), steak (delicious! cooked very well), and dessert (special creme brulee that was good but maybe a bit on the sweet side). Overall, very enjoyable, but probably a bit pricey. Nice ambiance and convenient Midtown location though.
-L. -
Review from sara t.
Springfield, NJ
11/28/2011
My disappointment started with the sangria, blah. Then the potatoes were just potatoes and definitely not worth whatever price they charged. I would say the meatballs were pretty good. 30 minutes after I left my stomach was growling.
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Review from Emily C.
9/29/2011
Convenient location next to Grand Central Station for after-work drinks and small bites on a weeknight. Small groups can usually be seated quickly even without reservations and servers are generally friendly.
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Review from Meri S.
3/12/2011
Went here for a business lunch. The food was very impressive, in fact I have no complaints in that regard. But the service was spotty which, when trying to impress clients, was unfortunate.
I ordered the Alaskan Crab Salad with avocado and despite receiving a lobster salad without avocado instead without warning, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. (And my boss and clients insisted I ask for avocado on the side and the waitress obliged.) I ordered a cappacino and my client ordered an espresso but the waitress got the order mixed up. One client ordered cod and the other ordered trout and the waitress got the order mixed up. We asked for a table for 6 and received a table set for 5.
Maybe the waitress was just having a bad day. And maybe she tied too many on the night before. That's ok, the food was so good, we forgave her. Would definitely go back. -
Review from Neil D.
New York, NY
12/28/2010
Had lunch in the lounge, and I am still dreaming about the bacon burger. Had the crispy pork belly served with blue cheese, and it was delicious. Exceptional fries as well (thin and blond -- McDonald's-esque).
Good spot for a business lunch, modern and clean, though a bit distracting that they play IFC on a TV towards the rear -
Review from Jihea P.
New York, NY
3/28/2011
Definitely was not impressed. Will probably not return. Had reservations on Saturday night for 730pm - prime dinner time - and the second floor seating had all together 2 tables filled (including ours).
Overall, I thought the food was pretty salty. Like others, had a variety of tapas incuding garlic shrimp, tuna tacos (only one that we liked), jumbo scallop, etc. I really wanted the paella but it was a bit expensive, priced at $34 per head. The bread that they gave us were also hard as a rock and biting pieces of that was a work out itself.
Oh - the sangria was delish. I'd say we spent around 80-90 bucks on this meal - thank goodness we had a 50 dollar giftcard. -
Review from Deborah H.
New York, NY
7/26/2010
This restaurant was the only one that could accommodate my post-work group of about 10 people without reservations. We were happy with the service, and the food was decent, though not amazing. We tried the tuna tacos, salt cod croquettes, potatoes bravas, chicken wings, pork sliders, and the potted duckling. My favorites were the potatoes and duckling.
Prices are a little high, but that's to be expected for the area. -
Review from Alison C.
8/26/2010
Many people are surprised to learn that most of my Manhattan restaurant reviews are on the positive side, but I rarely suffer through a horrible meal in this food-filled city. Due to these high expectations, a horrific dinner experience at La Fonda del Sol really stuck out in my mind. From the moment I heard of the gorgeous, renovated space and innovative Latin menu, I yearned to dine there. After sending my friend the menu, she was also intrigued, so we scheduled a time to meet.
The restaurant was absolutely beautiful. It had a modern bar space, a upscale and refined dining room, and even a casual patio. While the tapas-style lounge menu sounded a bit more exciting, my friend and I were starving and wanted to check out the experience in the fine dining area. The menu for this section was much more elaborate, but also substantially more expensive.
Our server was a bit slow and blaze, but beyond endearing and accommodating. He started us off with some beverages - a glass of white wine for my friend and a delicious Peartini for me. This beverage was a sweet blend of ripe fruit flavor with its spiced pear vodka, elderflower liquor, and pear nectar. We also delighted in a basket of doughy, delicious bread.
At this point, we were pretty pleased with our experience, but we had yet to try the cuisine. Our starter of Grilled Octopus was bland and rubbery. In addition, the horrific plate only contained two tentacles for a steep $16. My Wild Striped Bass with saffron, tomato, and calamari was sadly flavorless and unsatisfying. My friend's Suckling Pig was topped with a rhubarb marmalade, oloroso sherry, and chives, but was still very bland. The pork meat was also full of fat. Lastly, we shared a side of Crispy Eggplant, which was tossed with tomato, raisins, and pine nuts. This was a mediocre addition, but when a side dish outshines a main course, that is rarely a positive sign.
Neither of us finished our meals, but we did ask for additional helpings of bread and even contemplated a second dinner elsewhere. When our waiter questioned our nearly full plates, we had to explain that we were unimpressed, which I have never done before. He seemed genuinely apologetic, but was also speechless.
La Fonda del Sol might have a lovely atmosphere, but its tasteless food, meager portions, and sky-high prices ruin the entire experience. I can now eagerly cross this restaurant off my list. I guess there really is terrible food to be had in Manhattan... -
Review from Rose O.
Manhattan, NY
3/28/2011
La Fonda del Sol's Tapas Lounge is Midtown in a nutshell. It's too bright. It's soulless. It felt empty even when it was three-quarters full. And there's nothing "lounge-y" about it. I did a furtive shoe swap from flats into heels around the corner as I thought I'd be, well, lounging, on comfortable couches in that dim lighting that makes everyone look fabulous. Instead my heels were hooked awkwardly over barstool rungs in a space that felt like a Cafe Europa or a college cafeteria.
"Ladies, what we have here are tapas! They're like Spanish appetizers."
Um. Are we wearing tube socks and giant Nikons around our necks? With faux black leather fanny packs at the waist?
Not even close. On a recent Tuesday, my friend and I arrived at La Fonda del Sol, both relatively well put together, having come from work events. We know our wine and each ordered a glass. The condescension as we reviewed the menu was only the start of the bartender's antics.
He was amicable, for sure. But had a running repartee that just wouldn't quit. Without our asking, he pored over the menu with us. I appreciate guidance if asked, but I'm not a child and I'm not visually impaired. I will read my own menu. I inquired about a special I saw on various food blog's: the restaurant's Tapas Tuesday, with three items for $22. The bartender acted as if he'd never heard of this, and after five minutes came back with a small card listing a tapas selection, either hot or cold, for $22--clearly not what their PR had been pushing online. Fine, you got us. Bring on the food.
The albondiguillas were slightly undercooked compared to others but the upside was the pillowy texture. There were four substantial meatballs on skewers with an extra dollop of sauce, which had a heat and depth to it. Meanwhile, the cheese plate's three cheeses were too warm and mushy. The manchego was serviceable, but the other two looked like they'd been sitting out in the sun too long. I had a bite of one of the softer cheeses and surrendered it to my friend, who didn't like the calamari.
Every since I had the stuffed squid at the old John Dory two years ago, that's been the standard by which I judge cephalopods in this city. La Fonda del Sol's featured was overcooked saffron rice squeezed into the squid's body. It was underwhelming at best, and needed a hint of chorizo--something toothier than the soggy rice.
The standout dish was the fideo with four tiny clams and aioli. The fideo was lushly textured, with notes of the sea foiled perfectly by the creamy garlic of the aioli. As we scraped bottom of the dish with our spoons and picked at bits that came loose, I wished we'd ordered the full-size version.
For dessert, I'd recommend the bunuelos. Airy, light but still indulgent, they arrived with three sauces: a rich salted caramel, a clear orange peppercorn, and a chocolate. The first two were the better options, as the chocolate one was one-dimensional, lacking the salty-sweet or spicy-sweet mashups of the other two. It was symptomatic of the whole experience: uneven, slightly bland, and lost amidst more dynamic options. -
Review from Nicole M.
New York, NY
2/16/2011
more of a 3.5
I went after work for dinner, with no reservations, and had tapas in the lounge. we were seated immediately but it took forever for us to get service from that point on, it seems that instead of having the usual 3-4 bartenders on that night, they only had one, so after we waited 10 minutes for our server we waited for 30 minutes for our drink.
We then ordered the fish tacos, the stuffed calamari, the queso croquettes and braised lamb sliders.
the food was terrific. to be honest we should have ordered more. the tapas were really good. and we had the bunuelos.. or cinnamon fritters for dessert. which were so freaking good. who doesn't love a good donut with some awesome dipping sauce. too delicious.
The hostess did apologize for the initial confusion regarding the seating and the length of time it took for us to get our drinks and service. I think if they could improve on the service this restaurant would be at least 4 stars. I would recommend going there but do not be in a rush and expect poor service. -
Review from Sarah G.
Manhattan, NY
2/11/2011
Ew. I hate this place.
Went last night with some girlfriends for cocktails and a few bites after work. The space was pretty busy, but the hostess told us it would only be 10 minutes for a table for the 4 of us.
20 minutes later we check back in with the front and she rudely tells us it will be about 20 minutes. Two 2-top tables open up, we ask if we can have them, and we are told they are in different sections even though they are right next to each other.
Our actual waitress was pretty nice and funny, however she didn't ask us if we were finished, instead she brought us our bill to cash us out. Apparently her shift was over - when we asked for another round she refused to take our order, instead said she would send our new waitress right over. After ten minutes she finally shows up, takes our order and promptly tells us it's last call. Uhm, it's not even 10 pm??!
A friend at the table was watching the basketball game when the manager started turning off the tvs. We asked them if they could keep it on while we finished our drink but we were promptly told no. When we asked someone else if they could turn it on, she rudely told us she is only the hostess and that it's not her responsibility.
I have never been treated more poorly, especially after spending roughly $400 just for a couple small plates and cocktails.
The staff is lazy, rude, and refuses to accept any accountability for their actions. -
Review from Irene F.
1/7/2010
I debated between 2 and 3 stars for quite some time, but decided I'd be nice and put 3 after all.
I came here with two colleagues (one a fellow Yelper even!) the day of Christmas Eve (does that even make sense?), having been here a few nights before for a company event where we had some pretty good stuff.
We agreed that we'd played it pretty safe previously (garlic shrimp, chicken wings, not exactly hardcore tapas) and wanted to get some really neat stuff this time. We got octopus, braised short rib (yes, singular, I thought it was a typo but more on this below), patatas bravas, potatoes with chorizo, piquillo peppers, empanadas, and the duck-pork pate. Now, I don't eat pork, so I can only speak to the octopus (delicious), the patatas bravas (pretty good, I lived on these for 4 months in Barca so it is hard to impress me with those), piquillo peppers (stuffed with lobster, yummy), and the short rib (delicious and fantastic). Oh, and of course, the sangria. Yum.
So why only 3 stars? OK, I know tapas are small portions. But this was ridiculous. The braised short rib? It's ONE little rib. I mean, come on, how can anyone really share that? The octopus had about 6 pieces and some chickpeas. The bravas were a decent portion, but it's freakin potatoes and if you skimp on those your restaurant should just burn down. The biggest portion was the piquillo peppers, which had 2 little peppers stuffed, but little nonetheless. Everything was delicious, but the portions were obscenely tiny. This was straight up ridiculous portioning, and it's almost insulting to think this stuff can be shared. It's not even enough for one person.
The portions were so tiny that we then also ordered the cheese croquettes and the fried cod, both of which were larger portions and definitely delicious (I'd definitely stick to those over other options if you are hungry). Our waiter was fantastic, and helped us figure out what to get when we were still hungry (I think he knew the portions were way too small), so kudos on that.
Overall, it is good but you definitely feel ripped off. I'd avoid it for an actual meal and head down for an after work drink and a snack, or just the sangria. There are some amazing tapas places out there in NYC...this just isn't one of them, unless you don't like to actually eat your tapas.Listed in: Midtown Mavens
