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Manolo Tapas
Categories: Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Spanish Tapas Bars, Spanish [Edit]
4165 Broadway(between 176th St & 177th St)
New York, NY 10033
Neighbourhood: Washington Heights
(212) 923-9100
- Nearest Transit:
-
175 St (A)
181 St (1)
181 St (A)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 12 pm - 1 am
Thu-Sat 12 pm - 2 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
About This Business:
Siete Ocho Siete is a restaurant bar-lounge brought to Westchester County featuring the most refined Puerto Rican Cuisine - Come celebrate Puerto Rican food with…
29 reviews for Manolo Tapas
Review Highlights
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"The pepper stuffed with lamb is enjoyed first." In 3 reviews -
"It's the real deal, right here in Washington Heights." In 3 reviews -
"2) Happy hour drink specials-- can't beat it." In 2 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Alexis R.
Manhattan, NY
3/15/2012
Why haven't I tried this place before?? Desperate for tasty food in the "hudson heights" neighborhood, my boyfriend and I ventured down Broadway, to discover this little gem. Having spent time traveling spain, the decor invoked memories of tapas joints down the side streets of Seville and cavernous restaurants throughout Barcelona.
The impressive, mostly Spanish wine list led me to believe this place was no impostor. $7 a glass also seemed just about right. We decided to split 4 tapas, at the recommendation of the waiter. It was the perfect amount for a dinner that didn't make us feel as though we needed to roll each other home. The Chistorra Confitada Al Caball (bread topped with spicy sausage and a quail egg) was delectable. The sausage was crisp and tangy, the egg cooked perfectly so that the yolk oozed onto the meat and combined with the saffron sauce to add another level of richness. We followed with the langostines, which were succulent and juicy, the lamb stuffed pepper, which was tasty, if not a little mushy, and the broiled scallop in its shell with breadcrumbs...YUM!
For dessert, the waiter recommended the almond tarte. Not being sweet eaters, we were expecting to take a bite or two and push the plate to the side. We DEVOURED the tarte. It was outstanding. Moist and flaky, caramelization on top, and not too sweet.
Overall, this place was pretty stellar compared to the rest of the spots in the local dining scene. I knock off one star for being cash only...c'mon, buy a credit card machine. -
Review from Tony B.
Washington Heights, Manhattan, NY
2/12/2012
I am very disappointed for this place after going for over 3 years straight I would say 3-5 times Monthly....
I live in Long Island and my girlfriend lives in Washington Hights, this is one of the few places in the Hights that is very good, in quality food, nice decoration and layout, plus decent people attend here, hence it's Cash only.
The last time I was there (and will be the very last). My girl and I when to have a quality meal and some drinks locally by her place.... The service that day really lacked, we where rushed, and got our bill even before we asked (right after they took our plates with food on it away), aside from that. The whole service was disappoint ing, food took long, server was rude and rushy. Refuse to change order (30 seconds after we place it)
All this things I could of forgotten... Until it came to leave. I usually tend to leave a very decent tip 20%+ minimum. This time I was very upset and I contemplate leaving a $1 tip to my girlfriend, but we decide to leave a just short of 18% tip... It was short about $2 for 18% as I had no change... When we where leaving my girlfriend had gone a little ahead, the waiter stopped me with the hostess next to him. Said something in the line of "your tip was too small it was short of X%" I was thinking this guy serious? I told him "how much was tip suppose to be" he said "mandatory X%" I was like for a party of 2?! Really? And I asked how much more? He said about $2.50... This got my really irritated.... He said they would take it out of his check... I gave him and extra $20 since had no change and said "good bye"
I am never coming back ever, and I will tell all my friends in Washington Hights about my story, and will post it on every ratting website and will be sure I contact Zagat, in case they every to rate this place...
You lost about 70-100K (200-300*3-5*12*5-10) in business from me over the next 5-10 years I would of gone there... I hope your happy for being $2 stiff... Ridiculous to have mandatory gratuity for 2 people or maybe he lied...
Either way. Bad place don't go here, I have call NYC Health inspection services @ 411... Who know they may find other shady stuff in there -
Review from Ambika K.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2012
When you step into Manolo, you forget that you're in Washington Heights and could easily imagine that you've stepped into the warm interior of a Spanish castle. The tranquility was somewhat marred by the crowd watching the Giants/Packers game at the bar near where we sat, but the atmosphere was otherwise enchanting.
The food was good. Not amazing, but quite good. Then again, the only thing I had was the paella. I tried the vegetariana and my friend tried the marinera. Huge portion sizes and overall decent, though it could have used an extra kick of flavor. The service was excellent--very attentive waiters. They had an overwhelming wine list with bottles ranging in price from $25 to around $75. We had a 2008 Finca Resalso Temperanillo for $33. Wine is always overpriced at restaurants, so bearing that in mind it was good. Soft and a little earthy with strong fruits(mostly cherries and blackberries), floral notes, and a hint of vanilla, leather, and spices.
I give the place 4 stars because (a), many of the menu items are a bit overpriced, (b), they only take cash and do not really have a clearly visible sign to make you aware of this fact, (c), the setup of the restaurant ensures that some people will end up sitting right next to the sometimes noisy bar, and (d), while I cannot speak for the rest of the menu, the food that I tried was solid but nothing special. -
Review from Fenia C.
Manhattan, NY
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I live around the area and I always tgat that the downtown-posh resraurants have better quality of food. I was suprised about the amazing ambiance(wood and brick walls), live music, good service from the waiters and excellent food! The waiter knew abiut cuisine and his service was excellent! Try the seafood crepe if you like sweet sauce! And the desserts... Like paradise! Loved it!
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Review from Alyvia M.
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were transported back to Spain in Washington Heights the other night. Manolo was absolutely fresh and the flavors were pockets of memories of our trip to Spain not so long ago. It's a hidden little gem that I would never have found, had it not been for my friends and I am so excited we found it. They have a beautiful wine list, reminiscent of my trip to Seville and Toledo - amazing tapas and desserts that made my friends very happy (I'm not much for dessert). The bacon-wrapped dates were a repeat dish and do not leave without trying their croquettes. Garlic shrimp and fresh meats and cheeses were my favorites. I miss Spain, but Manolo allowed me to tame the desire for a bit longer :)
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Review from Alex V.
Bronx, NY
2/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
my first experience at a tapas bar, its a nice place but the food was less than average, we ordered for a party of 12 about $600 worth of tapas and out of all that once thing was what really caught my attention, and that was the tripe! Would I come back here again? no, ill look for a more authentic tapas bar
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Review from MARIANA L.
New York, NY
8/5/2011
I am always ecstatic to find any decent restaurants in the Heights. Manolo tapas is being added to my rotation for the good sized tapas portions and paella.
The chaos of Broadway is efficiently left behind wye thee or shuts and you're in old brick Spanish-Esque interior.
Top off the tasty food with one of their strong mojitos or sangria that can take the edge off any crap day.Listed in: In the Heights
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Review from Nataliya B.
New York, NY
7/24/2011
Good stuff. We live upstairs so having a half price happy hour bar is wonderful. $3.50 for a large glass of wine, $3.00 for a beer, all good.
Great bartenders, servers, always friendly and willing to help.
Only downside to this place is that it is CASH ONLY. There is an ATM downstairs, which helps, but really wish we could just pay with cards. I like my miles. :) -
Review from Taeko F.
New York, NY
4/2/2011
I very very much like Manolo's. A block away from my work, great place for lunch or happy hour-- especially if you catch the 4-7pm 1/2 off drinks!
Pros:
1) GREAT bar. Seriously long, good view from all sides, beautiful tap and barrels of 'wine' behind. Ambiance is the best feature.
2) Happy hour drink specials-- can't beat it. Even Tipico, the crappy loud-music aluminum/mirrored walled restaurant across the way (which I love for Mangu Tres Golpes, no mas) is more expensive
3) Waitstaff are very friendly and attentive in my experience.
4) I mean, compared to Coogans? Way classier, better music and cheaper drinks
5) The bathrooms are gorgeous.
Cons:
1) Sometimes they don't have music going which is odd.
2) Food is very good, but can be pretty greasy and unnecessarily so.
So, there is my 4 stars. I'd give it 5 but lets give em something to work for.
Te quiero, Manolo! -
Review from Sam N.
Manhattan, NY
11/10/2011
Hit and miss on many levels. Expensive with some things, cheaper than others. The iberico ham was awesome, and at $25 for a healthy serving, pricey but great considering what it is. The alhambra beer,$2.50, amazing, the soup $6, no rhyme our reason to prices. Caldo gallego was cold, pricey, and not substantial, the HUGE paella was great on size and seafood, but flavor was off.
$175 for 3 people was ok, food was just 3 stars.
Oh and it should lose half a star for being cash only. -
Review from Mark H.
6/7/2011
I went here with two friends, on the recommendation of two super-foodies, and was very happy that a nice place like Manolo is in this neighborhood. It's the real deal, right here in Washington Heights.
We had copious amounts of bread with herbed/anchovied butter, and then the tapas... first a hearty soup to start, then yummy sauteed wild mushrooms, piquillo peppers stuffed with lamb (yummmm), pulpo a feira, patatas bravas, pan catalan, and chorizo al jerez.
There were great desserts, beautifully presented: an almond tart, and a chocolate truffle thing that was nice.
We had a nice, reasonably priced bottle of rioja, and I finished with a glass of amontillado. Am looking forward to coming back here with friends sometime! -
Review from Michelle D.
Bronx, NY
12/28/2011
On a hot summer day, manolos is the place to be for lunch! Ive never been for dinner. Their waiters are consistently great people, a decent wine selection and their deserts are yumm! Coconut flan *drools* ... Their Spain influence is all over their menu... Love the place
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Review from Ari H.
Mt Kisco, NY
5/28/2011
I ate here right before going to the Adele concert across the street, and maybe it was the fact that I ate there right before going to the Adele concert, but the food tasted quite good.
We had a wide variety of tapas and just about everything was worth ordering again. The sangria, the serrano ham and manchego plate and the crab cake were all fantastic. The olives, potatoes and octopus were also solid. In fact, the only miss were the lamb stuffed piquillos, which was unfortunate because I had high hopes after all of the other dishes, but the lamb was a little too mushy, like sloppy joe.
Service, decor and price were all great as well, adding to the draw. Should I ever be in the hood again for a concert, I will definitely return. -
Review from Nydia C.
11/8/2010
My friend asked me to find a place to have a drink and some food prior to the Interpol show at United Palace so I picked Manolo Tapas. It turned out to be a really good choice. The drinks were good and not too expensive and the food was awesome. We had a couple of sides and shared a skirt steak which was very flavorful and one of the best steaks I've had in a while.
So what was not so awesome? The fact that thy are cash only. This always annoys me and they lose a star because of it. If the location weren't enough to keep me from coming back, this would. -
Review from Tolky W.
Brooklyn, NY
10/18/2010
It is strange that a tapas restaurant created by actually a Spaniard is located here, just a couple of street south of the George Washington Bridge.
The decor is totally as in Spain. Very authentic and quaint. You can't miss the beautiful façade.
The food is pretty good actually. It has many typical dishes found in Spain that you can't find in the States.
I had a cream of lobster that seemed to lack some flavor.
Then, a blood sausage pâté was smooth and flavorful. The real thing. They put too much of it over a piece of bread though (Maybe because it was 8$ for 2 pieces so they felt compelled to put more pâté (?).
Finally, the best dish was callos a la madrileña. Very tasty chick peas stew with chorizo and...cartilage (the latter might not be appetizing for women...)
The bread served on a Sunday was like from Friday (they should toast it if they don't have fresh). -
Review from Pritio M.
Manhattan, NY
11/19/2011 1 photo
This is an excellent restaurant serving some extraordinary things. I especially like some of their seafood. The place is a bit pricey for the location, but the quality of the food compensates for this and you are likely not to be sorry you dined here. Their wine list is extensive, too extensive in fact and before going there you should do some research of Spanish wines.
My favorite tapas:
Pulpo a Feira
Boiled Spanish octopus with first cold press olive oil, sea salt and Pimentón
Calamares a la Plancha
Seared Spanish squid served over marinated mixed greens
Langostino a la Espalda
Imported langoustines seared with Sherry vinegar and sea salt
Setas Al Ajillo (mushrooms in a white wine sauce with herbs).
For dessert, I especially like Crema Catalana (Custard cream sealed with
flamed caramel).
The atmosphere in this place is pleasant, but they do have 2 large TV screens hanging over the bar area. The service is polite and reserved, typical of Galician Spain. We have frequented this place a few times and have not been disappointed in the least and now consider it as a special destination. The decor is very authentic and certainly enhances the food and the atmosphere. I would rate this place a 4.3 if I could. The place is a bit lively on Friday nights as they have live performers. Interestingly enough this Spanish restaurant fits quite comfortably into the diverse Carib and Latin American neighboring community and is patronized by Latins who expect very good food, thus forcing the chef into maintaining a very high standard of food preparation, more so than if this restaurant were catering to English speaking community. Of late I have encountered a few Russians dining in this place-- a great addition. -
Review from Maricelis G.
New York, NY
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, so this place is great to listen to some live music, Friday nights there is a spanish rock band, the singer is from Argentina, has a great voice...Defenitely has pontential. On saturday nights the is a solo artist he mostly sings music like Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes which I Love. Beers are pretty inexpensive they have a good variety...also a good variety of wine...However, have not had the pleasure of haviing dinner yet...Guess I will have to update once I try their food. ohhh the only little negative thing I can think of is that they like to keep their doors open to kind of draw in new customers, however if the night is chilly not such a great idea for those of us already inside...and especially if we have drunks standing at the door because they happend to be walking by and obviousely listened to the great music and decide to just stand at the door, taking nonsence.
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Review from Tony C.
New York, NY
8/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is my nabe, so I have to put in good word. By leaps and bounds, the best tapas restaurant in Washington Heights (OK, I don't know of any other tapas restaurants in W.H.). I've been to Spain a few times and eaten my fair share of tapas there. It would be hard to say Manolo reaches local authenticity, but it comes fairly close. I would definitely go back for more. P.S., love the sangria.
On the night we went, they were doing a flamenco presentation in the small dining room off to the side. It made for a noisy night, but it was very cultural and the dancers were really good. In the end, it made for an even better experience. -
Review from Britton B.
New York, NY
"If You Were Me"
The exposed brick walls shelter a well stocked bar and most of the patrons appear to be older gentlemen in sports coats. It is as if you and your younger friend had snuck away to your fathers parlor to listen to the grownups make business deals over glasses of slowly sipped wine while you ease drop, munching on your snacks in the corner.
Manolo has only been opened for a month or two, tops, and already seems to have a pretty regular clientele, suggesting that the place is worth coming back to.
You settle for the soup of the day - the cream of asparagus - and are not disappointed when the polite server sets a shallow earthenware bowl before you, containing a smooth green liquid. It is flavorful, savory, and goes very well with the bread basket when it comes to dipping. It takes the edge off your appetite, allowing you to pour over the menu at length while enjoying every spoonful of goodness.
Once the server returns you order the pepper stuffed with roasted lamb; the baguette slice topped with tomato puree, chorizo, and quail egg; and the bits of potatoes served with a spicy dipping sauce.
The food is impressive in both presentation and taste, but you are somehow now regretting the fact that you did not order wine with your meal. You soldier on, however; reminding yourself that Manolo is a cash only joint and you were unsure how many of the $9 plates you would be ordering.
The pepper stuffed with lamb is enjoyed first. Savory and sweet, the sauce compliments the subtle tang of the pepper's soft skin delicately.
The quail egg and chorizo is good - but better suited as a breakfast dish, you think. Your dinner companion suggests popping it in your mouth with one go, next time.They are of the opinion that it tastes much better if eaten in one bite.
You save the potatoes for last, nibbling on them cautiously at first. They are very well seasoned - your friend thinks they are a little too salty but that doesn't keep their fingers off them. The sauce they are served with is quite spicy, but combined with the seasoning and salt it all balances out.
The men at the bar have finished their wine by now and are saying their familiar goodbyes to the bartender and hostess. And out the door you go, a few moments later. The parting words are not as familiar, but you feel as if they will be soon. You'll be back to Manolo, alright. -
Review from David P.
New York, NY
4/24/2010
This is a great place! Exposed brick, iron scones, arches everywhere. They have a friendly, helpful staff, and the place seemed to be packed with folks having a wonderful time. The menu is very varied and seems to transport you to Spain. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp in garlic -- the sauce made for tremendous bread dipping.
Go! Go now!!Listed in: Washington Heights
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Review from James J.
New York, NY
5/31/2010
I went last night and was pleased with this new addition to Washington Heights. I have to disagree with both Ruslana S. and Julie K. My dishes were flavorful and well presented. Also, I enjoyed the sangria very much. I am one who usually shies away from sangria because many restaurants uses really bad wine. This sangria was smooth and good. I had the Little Neck Clams which had a wonderful broth suitable for dipping and the flank steak special. The meat was tender, perfectly cooked, and tasty. I will say that the vegetables beneath (string beans and sliced potatoes) were a bit overcooked. I also tasted the tuna and mushroom dishes. Both tasted wonderful but the jury was out whether or not the wild mushrooms were really wild.
Atmosphere is sophisticated in a casual way and the staff was extremely friendly and courteous. Prices are a bit high for the neighborhood but would reasonable compared to downtown. -
Review from Jon L.
1/27/2011
Wow. Thank you random stranger on the street who recommended this place to me and my friend as we were deciding where to eat for dinner.
This is a wonderful gem hidden amongst a lot of the mediocre offerings that surround Washington Heights and Hudson Heights. One of the few places I would take my family (or a date) for a nice dinner.
Ambience is actually really nice, with plenty of space and lots of exposed brick. Service was great, and our waters and bread basket were filled constantly. The waitress also was nice and told us when we were ordering too much food, which I really appreciate. She could have just let us spend a million dollars stuffing ourselves.
Everything we ordered was delicious.
We started off with a series of tapas: Roasted eggplant caviar with cured anchovies, Catalan style bread with fresh tomato pate, dry-cured Serrano ham and extra virgin olive oil, and peppers stuffed with lamb.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
And then the paella. Though we mistakenly ordered the seafood paella instead of the paella en marea negra, it was amazing. Lots of large chunks of fresh seafood, and a delicious flavor.
Price-wise, it's not the cheapest, but for good food and nice portion sizes, it's not bad. If you want, two people could just split one paella and that would be enough..you'd end up spending like a little over 10 each? Not bad at all.
Nom nom nom.Listed in: Hudson Heights things
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Review from J R.
New York, NY
10/15/2010
Great tapas!
I've been in Spain 3 times and this is the closest it can get here in NYC.
True spanish delight on a non-turistic ambience. Also, service was great! -
Review from Roy C.
Manhattan, NY
7/9/2011
Good spot, good food, good drinks, good decor, but one reason I don't go too often is that it's CASH ONLY.
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Review from Diana B.
Bronx, NY
Everything I've ordered has be awsome!! portions are perfect definitely not for hogs...but the main dish.... Paella Valenciana was out of this world and perfect for two people!......I LOVE THE GRILL CALAMARI as a hot tapa!! they have great sangria and happy hour prices are superb.....GREAT DECOR and Ambiance!!! can't wait to go again!!
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Review from Ginna M.
Manhattan, NY
4/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is practically right across the street from where I live so I decided to give it a try. The salad we ordered I didn't really enjoy, I think it was the house salad or something like that. The sangria on the other was tasty and so was the paella we ordered. I will definitely be coming back, mostly because it's close to home.
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Review from Julie K.
4/27/2010
Ate here last night. I really wanted to love it because it's a block away from my apt and there really isn't much in this neck of the woods besides dominican, dominican, and wait, you guessed it, more dominican. Not that I don't love dominican food, but. Sometimes I want a little variety.
The room is lovely. Lots of brickwork, nice lighting, etc. There is a long bar and some bar height tables in the front room and regular seating in the main dining room. The restaurant was pretty packed at 7 on a Monday night when we went.
We figured we'd do tapas so we ordered the anchovies with eggplant caviar, the boiled octopus, a baked scallop dish, and the caldo gallego soup. Also the sardines that were on special.
Ehh... everything was sort of alright. They brought a lentil "hummus" flavored with tons of smoked paprika to start. I would have appreciated some pan con tomate instead, but okay. The hummus was pretty good. The eggplant caviar was completely unseasoned, but I love white anchovies, so that was nice. The octopus ... was boiled octopus. Dusted with some paprika, served with overcooked potatoes. Needed acid and texture. Why not grill the octopus? The caldo gallego was bland, but fine. Slightly mushy potatoes again (probably due to the poor quality of the potatoes). The sardines were broiled, which was fine, and I love sardines, but they didn't gut them. What's up with that? Nobody wants acrid fish guts on their plate. The baked scallop dish was pretty good although the scallop was a bit overcooked. Basically it is a scallop shell with one small scallop in there drenched in tomato sauce and breadcrumbs. But it is pretty fresh tasting and not half bad. Really.
We were still hungry after all this... my boyfriend got the churrasco which was actually really delicious (4 stars for that churrasco) and I got a salad which was fine. Nothing to write home about but not bad. The vinaigrette was a little sweet.
The wine list is pretty good. Very extensive but featuring only wines from Spain (I love wines from Spain, so that is good for me) and lots of good choices under $40 in all categories.
What sealed the night for us, though, was when we got the check and gave the waitress a credit card, she told us that the restaurant was cash only, but we could go to the ATM downstairs. Nowhere on the menu does it say cash only and this was a really unpleasant surprise. We had enough cash on us, but it came off as very unprofessional. The management needs to give their waitstaff some more training, too; even though our waitress was nice, the service felt obtrusive and unrefined.
I know I am uptown and I shouldn't necessarily expect a downtown eating experience, but Manolo was pretty sloppy. It's only been open about a month, so maybe they are still working out their kinks. I probably won't be back to find out.Listed in: Washington Heights/Inwood, AVOID
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Review from Ruslana S.
New York, NY
5/25/2010
As Julie K. said before me, I really wanted to love this place, since it's the only tapas place in the are, but really just couldn't. Although the decor and service weren't bad, the food was bland. Sangria was nothing to write home about either.
Listed in: Eating in The Heights
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Review from Tazjuan S.
New York, NY
7/10/2010
I'm a Spaniard. This is definitely NOT a good place. The food is pretty lame and way too expensive.
We ordered three tapas: "gambas al ajillo", "jamón ibérico" and "ensaladilla rusa".
The "gambas" were tasteless, poorly cooked.
The "jamón" was NOT ibérico. Salty and bad quality, despite the $25 price.
The "ensaladilla" was small and extremely oily.
Dessert might have been the only ok part. The "crema catalana" wasn't bad, and the chocolate-based dessert was pretty good.
We also drunk a bottle of Ribera del Duero. It was ok, nothing to write home about.
The total for two persons was $92.
And they never tell you they don't accept credit cards!!!!
We won't go back. Sorry...
