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Bar Jamon

4 star rating
based on 40 reviews

Categories: Spanish/Basque, Tapas Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Manhattan/Gramercy-Flatiron, Manhattan/Union Square
125 E 17th St
(between 3rd Ave & Irving Pl)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-2773
  • Nearest Transit:

    3rd Ave-14th St (L)

    Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)

  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: No
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: No
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: No
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Good for: Late Night
  • Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
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40 Reviews for Bar Jamon

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Photo of P M.

 

1

50

P M.

New York, NY

3 star rating
07/22/2008

Pretty disappointed with this place actually. More like 2.5 stars but it's a rounding up kind of morning. The calamari was terrible and the bacalhau tasted nothing like it should. Not even close. Churro was cold and stale, They don't make it fresh for each order.

Wines were great. Had a bottle of the Cava Mono and then a quarter bottle of a Greek white wine (can't remember the name). Atmosphere was also nice. I absolutely love this neighborhood and the place has its charm though it gets very loud.

Service is pretty bad. They had about 2 people for an entire packed room.

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9

20

Scott S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
07/19/2008

I was disappointed in Bar Jamon. It looks like a great place, with exposed brick, dark (but not polished) woods and wine bottles lining the walls. And it has a casual hip young crowd that seems to be enjoying itself.

But this is a wine bar, right? At a wine bar, especially one like this with a limited menu (so you're unlikely to have a full dinner), I expect to get a glass or two of wine (and hopefully be able to try different glasses of good wine). But bizarrely, Jamon only has five or six red wines (not particularly interesting selections, at that) and four or five white wines by the glass. The rest of the wine list is page after page of wine bottles. Sorry, but I just don't go to a place like this for an entire bottle of wine. It kind of defeats the purpose of a wine bar, doesn't it?

The other knocks against Jamon: it's loud, and the menu is written on the mirror behind the bar rather pretentiously in Spanish.

Despite all these draw backs, it has a good vibe and is in a great location (Irving Place is one of my favorite areas in the city). A decent place to stop by for a glass of wine and a small plate after a day working on your laptop at 71 Irving Place (a great coffee house), but definitely not worth a special trip.

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5

27

J. S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
06/30/2008

I have been here a few times and I REALLY like it.  So I feel sort of sad : ( for bar Jamon because I just perused the other reviews which were "eh".  

My last visit was a few weeks ago on a Sunday evening on a second date....It WAS a Sunday so that probably is why it was not crowded at all and it was about 10pm or so.  

What I love about this place is the atmosphere and decor.  It is super cozy and very small.  I think maybe it seats about 20 people comfortably tops....

The tapas are very good and the waiters/bartenders (they all seem to do a bit of both) really know their wines....

I would def. make this a date spot above anything else but I do enjoy it and said date was quite impressed himself......I realy can not say anything negative about this place...

Sorry for those who don't agree, maybe try a Sunday evening....

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11

61

Velina L.

New York, NY

3 star rating
04/29/2008

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.

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49

40

Sadia B.

Montclair, NJ

4 star rating
02/26/2008

Bar Jamon Haiku

Ugh-- crowded as balls...
But mmm-- what's this murky wine?
Tasty txakoli!

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Elite '08

19

100

Diane A.

New York, NY

3 star rating
03/10/2008

I'm sad to give a winebar that used to be one of my favorites only three stars.  This is why:

1. Too crowded:  I went here on Sunday afternoon/early evening.  It wasn't too crowded when I arrived (around 4:30) but was packed by the time I left (around 6pm).  People, really, there are other wine bars in the 'hood!  Let's diversify our experiences a bit.  Does everyone have to come here?
2. Service: We had to keep walking over to the bar to ask for food and wine.  It was a bit annoying.
3. Food: It hurts to knock Bar Jamon on the food and I never thought I'd do it.  However, something was off.  The Pan con Tomate was not as delicious as usual and the churros with chocolate were... stale?! I don't get it...
4. Wine: I wasn't feeling my tempranillo rose.  Also I noticed a couple sitting near me that was so unhappy with their wines, they onlyed sipped a bit then paid and left.

Sadly, the problem here is two-sided.  Bar Jamon should definitely up their game.  That said, New Yorkers need to be more creative/demanding in choosing their wine drinking destinations.  I, for one, don't plan on coming back here for a while.  Sad....

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18

31

Stacey G.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
04/03/2008

Ok, so everyone comments on the crazy crowds here, but my "it's complicated" guy and I went on a Sunday night a few weeks ago, and it was perfectly pleasant.  We went mainly for the churros y chocolate, but, of course we had wine.  I can't remember now what we had, but J used to live in Barcelona, so I let him choose, even though I am more often than not the one my friends look to for wine recs.
Great atmosphere.  Sexy date spot as nearly every other yelper has already stated.  (Aside: if you don't find your date sexy to begin with, I doubt the location is going to make a difference.  Hey, that's just me.)
My date *was* sexy, the wine was lovely, and the churros were orgasmic.

But the service?  Seriously lacking.  Dude was more interested in texting his friends than offering us more wine when we finished our first quartino.  Eh, I'd still go back.

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93

302

Mr K.

Phoenix, AZ

4 star rating
01/05/2008

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!

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Elite '08

36

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fox f.

NY

4 star rating
01/31/2008

Great atmosphere. Great wine list. Great small bites.

Not great if you don't eat swine. Not great if you want to kiss and tell a new "adventure" with your girl friend (many ears listening). Not great if you go after 7PM (way crowded).

Great if you go first, get tipsy, and go across the street for a manicure and pedicure (open til 9PM).

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12

35

Susie W.

Manchester, NH

4 star rating
02/05/2008

I stumbled in here with a friend after Mono told us we were in the wrong place for snacks.

We ended up having an absolutely lovely time. Juan took excellent care of us, showing us around the wine list adeptly while oozing Argentinian charm.

We were there on a Monday night, which sounds like is the right night to go. Thank goodness in New York, day of the week doesn't matter :)

Go! Eat and drink and have some fun!

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9

28

Susan T.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/21/2008

This place is insanely packed and tiny, but if you can squeeze into a tight corner, the wine is great and the food is very good as well. I don't recommend making a meal out of the menu items, but as tapa-ish snacks, it's very good. I had the quail and it was delicious.

I'm also in love with jamon iberico so I came here in hopes that they'd have it. They did not, so I had the jamon serrano, which was very good and took care of the craving.

Oh, and Jimmy Fallon came in and drank right next to me.

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Elite '08

100

99

Chris J.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
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.

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8

123

Princess M.

New York, NY

3 star rating
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.

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1

13

Anwar A.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/14/2008

I went to Jamon for a quick bite and some wine after a movie.

Unfortunately I made the mistake of going there on Thurs ~9-9:30. It was insanely packed and I was standing at the end of the bar blocking the waiters from getting around.

The wine: Awesome. Had a bottle of a rioja that I can't remember but once that bottle ran out, ordered a glass of another wine that i also can't remember, and then wrapped it up with a Cab/Syrah/Monstrell blend  "El Seque" which I could've kept drinking all night. I will be ordering a bottle of it in a few minutes :)  

The food:
Jamon serrano - it was good. I prefer it slightly saltier and less fatty
Lomo - ehhhh I wouldn't ordered it when I go next time (and there will be a next time!). A bit on the bland side and the bed of greens it was served over was a tad too bitter for my taste.
Also had a plate of manchego which was great

The staff was very friendly also even after nealy knocking over the waiter and his tray about 4 times.

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Elite '08

11

131

Mog C.

New York, NY

5 star rating
05/01/2008

Bar Jamon is almost the perfect date place.  It's darkly lit, with little more than wine and a few tapas to compete for your attention.  The food menu is short and yet delicious, ranging from cured ham to some sandwiches.  The wines are reasonable with a quartino (about 1 and 2/3 glass) averaging $15.  As I pass by this place almost every day, I have a good idea of when it gets crowded (every night starting from 7:30pm-11pm) and I avoid it at those times.  But on a weekend, you can relax here with friends on an early afternoon.  After midnight, during the week, this place empties out and if you happen to be walking home, this is that perfect spot.  The set up is such that you can easily corner that special someone and exchange those long, searing looks and whispered nothings.  And this is why you'll see your share of dates and couples here.  Having said that, I've seen guys here with their dates and just because of the atmosphere and the wine, it will not lull your dates into feeling romantic toward you.  

Note that I am rating this place on the atmosphere on a non-crowded evening.  The food and wine, I am certain have to do with your choice.  I stick to full reds and olives and ham usually and am never disappointed.  I've also salivated over other people's sandwiches and what looked like a quiche.  

I may be biased bc I've spent some movie-worthy romantic evenings here but I always come back for more.

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Elite '08

174

445

Lindsay K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
09/19/2007

If bars were women, Bar Jamon would be a sultry tease, posed languidly on her stool, taking a drag from her cigarette, slowly crossing and recrossing her legs.

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Wade H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/18/2007

Tiny and dim, w/ more sex appeal per sq. inch than most high-end eateries; Bar jamon is awesome! As a single diner, I was treated very well by the multi-tasking counter guys. They made excellent recommendations ( it might have helped that I'm familiar w/ Tapas & know a wee bit of spanish) and gave me an extra plate of pan con tomate. All in all, excellent vibe & service, reasonable price, and food was damn good (best bocadillo ever!), they only lose 1 star for a cold tortilla ( I know tradition is room temp, but it was in the window on a brisk night )
As I said, SEXY! So get a sexy date (or not), put on some sexy clothes (or not), and eat some sexy tapas!!

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Elite '08

39

79

Ezra H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/14/2008

Great place to grab a small plate of jamon serano (while eyeing the slicer that you wish you could slip out the door without anyone noticing...the honed steel, the shiny red laquor...drooool....) and a glass of cava.  Always packed, usually standing room only so not a great place to Eat eat but theier small plates are delicious so if you do find a seat or two settle in and enjoy the crowd!

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56

64

Alex i.

NY

3 star rating
01/31/2008

Lindsay K., I have to take your analogy a step further:

If bars were women, Bar Jamon would be a sultry tease, perched atop a mahogany stool in a crowded F train on a summer's day. Without AC. Sorry, y'all but even though the wines were excellent and the staff friendly the place was far too small for it get more than three stars from me. I really want Bar Jamon to knock down that back wall so I can enjoy it.

I brought a date here last night, following the advice of my fellow yelpers that BJ was a romantic tryst hideaway. But at seven on a Wednesday night it was so crowded that we one, couldn't get a table, and two got knocked around more often that a hardcore kid at a Murphy's Law show. Seriously, it was so close, so packed that I think one of the waiters pissed for me. I don't know what Bar Jamon would be like with a few more feet of space. It would likely be the perfect date spot.

As it stands, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience for me.

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Elite '08

917

485

Megan C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
08/14/2007

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!*

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Elite '08

146

958

Victor L.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
04/18/2007

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.

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6

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Karen Y.

New York, NY

5 star rating
05/22/2007

My favorite neighborhood joint (favorite in all of the city)! Although very cramped, especially around dinner time, the wine list is amazing, and the small plates delicious. I love the atmosphere and the bar staff (very very cute -- and helpful). It is a wonderful place for an afternoon drink, or to end a night out. I would only recommend it for a date at non-peak times given how crowded it gets.  I heart Bar Jamon!

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Elite '08

41

131

Elissa S.

New York, NY

5 star rating
07/27/2007

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.

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Elite '08

96

290

Christy V.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
01/11/2007

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.

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52

487

Anita C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/11/2007

At first I was thinking all these people look real cozy, there is no way we are going to get a seat. But we were in luck! The wine was tasty and the tapas...WOWEEE!! So good. The bench style seating was cafeteria-like and the lighting was extremely dim.

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Elite '08

77

153

Courtney P.

New York, NY

4 star rating
03/12/2007

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.

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Al C.

Washington, DC

5 star rating
05/07/2007

For good wine or while waiting for your reservation at Casa Mono, escape into this (extra) small, cozy and totally campy wine bar.  Let a couple hours pass by like minutes drinking wine, eating tapas (but save your appetite for Casa Mono) and enjoying conversation.  Me encanta muchisimo!

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Thompson W.

New York, NY

5 star rating
02/15/2008

Absolutely love this wine and tapas bar. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE!

Bar Jamon is an intimate wine & tapas bar adjacent to Casa Mono (I think its owned by Mario Batali) near Grammercy Park.  The space seats no more than 10-12 people comfortably on bar style seating. Soft lighting, candles all around, a slab of aged ham in the window, with crme walls highlighted by wine bottles is what you got.  The wine list is exhaustive, and is primarily focused on Spanish wines. You have three options to run with when ordering wine - by the glass, a carafe (1.2-2 glasses), and of course the full bottle. I suggest sharing with a significant other or a  friend the carafe, providing the oppurtunity to try a variety of wines. Naturally, I would suggest going with white to red (genius I know). Be daring, try everything and enjoy it or hate.  The waiters provide excellent choices and have a ridiculous knowledge of what is avaliable. If you are lucky enough, try to snag a seat at the counter and benefit from some great wine tips from the main guy.

Tapas tapas tapas (or small plates). The food here is equally good and modestly priced; between $8-$10 bucks. My ideal set-up would be the marinated calamari, pickled sardines, and of course, the jamon and quesco selections. A variety of aged ham and a nice selection of cheese is avaliable. Bread is provided as well. The plates compliment the wines well and so goes the inebriation process. You could stay for wine and venture to Pure, Food & Wine around the corner. Casa Mono is adjacent but I've never been.

I suggest coming here early on the weekdays, anytime before 6 PM would be ideal. Weekends, probably the same. Because the seating is so limited and the services, food, wine quality is great, its obviously very popular amongst the locals. Yet, I still think its somewhat unknown by New York standards and is always tourist free. I understand people say its crowded and seating is nearly impossible. However, with appropriate planning, patience, and a smidge of good luck, you are fine! Trust me, you will love it.

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Stephen C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/09/2008

I was taken to this spot for a place to sit and enjoy a glass or two of wine; a recommendation of a friend of mine who has a much better "finger on the pulse" of this city.
I like the casual feel of this "small plate" eatery and bar. The wine list is long and will take an informed consumer to recognize all of the wines; I personally like to ask for help and in this case the servers made excellent choices. I only saw the menu but the food being served looked good and presented beautifully. The scene is an educated hip kind of crowd who are there to enjoy themselves, not to be "seen". The room is small but perfect for two to four people wanting to enjoy some of the finer things in life including each others company.
This place has a style that appeals to me: easy going and an understated sophistication. It has a good value for your dollar. The wine selection is first rate. The menu looks good. The staff is professional and they have a reserved presence in the room. And, I think Bar Jamon is a great spot to sit, relax and get to know some one.

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Mel C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/28/2007

The good wine and cozy yet bustling atmosphere are almost enough to make you think you're in Spain. If you go when it's not crazy crowded and can score a few seats, it's a great place to catch up with friends over wine. Be careful, though. When this place gets busy, cozy quickly turns to crowded, cramped, and overflowing. At peak hours, it's only a great place to go if you're waiting for a table at the fabulous Casa Mono next door--same ownership means they'll transfer your wine glasses over (but not your food)--or if you feel like blocking the fire/server lane while waiting for another party to leave. Keep in mind that everyone else went through the same laborious stalking process so it's unlikely anyone will relinquish seats or counter space anytime soon.

The decent cured jamon satisfied my just-got-back-from-Spain-and-miss-it-already craving, but sadly it's not like Spain. The jamon is too thinly sliced and comes out tasting very, very different from anything I sampled in Spain. Not horrible, just different. I can vouch for the chiperones though!

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Mariangela S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/06/2006

Great place to stop after dinner for a plate of serrano ham - your choice of aged 18 months or 12 months - and a fruity glass of Spanish wine or sherry. Candlelight - it is definitely a tight but very cozy atmosphere - especially when it is pouring rain outside.

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Hector L.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
07/01/2007

Now that I like in Peter Cooper Village I passed by here several times always looking in and curious. Finally got a chance to eat here with a friend and it was a great experience. Went back with my dad and he loved it. He even wants to bring my mother here. This place is small but the setting is perfect. The food portions are just right, excellent wine selection, great staff.

1st time: $110 (6 tapas with a $25 bottle of wine)
2nd time: $100 (5 tapas with a $25 bottle of wine)

I highly recommend it!

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erica c.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
12/21/2006

Was it the cozy ambiance, fabulous red wine, yummy jamon Serrano or the HOT Argentinian waiter that made me love this place most?

It could have been the oh-so-fabulous company I was with as well....:) :)

Whatever it was....bar jamon is a perfect little low-key and totally cozy place to drink wine, eat cheese, bread and cured meat ...gossip with close friends or have a casual but very romantic date.

FYI it is TINY and gets totally packed --so if you are highly claustrophobic, stay away! and get there early to be able to even fit inside!

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maureen k.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
09/06/2007

cute neighborhood, good place to have a drink while youre waiting for your reservation to open up next door at casa mono (use the bathroom here, cause casa mono doesnt have one and they send you here if you need to use it).  good selection of wine and the tapas here are as as good as next door (though the menu isnt as varied or complex, you know, jamon serrano on bread, tortilla, olives, etc. and my favorite: MANCHEGO!!!).  it's tiny and almost always crowded but it's worth going into if its not too packed. so not worth it though if you have to jam yourself in there.

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Don O.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
04/03/2006

As a recent transplant to NY, I've tried a number of places for tapas. I should have gone to Bar Jamon first. This is the real deal. I lived in Madrid for three years; I can tell you that this place is authentic. The ham is fantastic, the tortilla is an amazing spin on the traditional Spanish staple and the wine list is the best selection of Spanish reds I've found anywhere. I will take a long time to work my way through the selection of Ribera del Dueros alone. It's tiny scale and the casual yet efficient wait staff is exactly what you find in the best little neighborhood places in Madrid. If you're longing for a taste of Spain this is the place to go.

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Joseph E.

New York, NY

5 star rating
04/10/2006

Here is a great little spot for a glass of wine and some tasty small dishes.  My favorite dishes are the calamari dish, mussles on endives, and the aged jamon.  All cold dishes, all fantastic.  The wine list is superb. Also a great spot to visit while waiting for a table at the adjoining Casa Mono.  (which also happens to be a great place to eat).  On top of everything is that the place is open late isn't too crowded on a weekday night and is reasonably priced.

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Nosniv X.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
06/30/2006

Cozy little wine bar with  home cured jamon.  Take a spanish speaking wine afficiando with you to this place since the menu lacks any description of the wines, and even the serving sizes are a bit confusing.
The wait staff is pretty helpful in interpreting.

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Chris L.

New York, NY

5 star rating
01/30/2006

My favorite neighborhood bar! Bar Jamon, a tiny Spanish wine and tapas bar adjecent to Casa Mono and often used as a "waiting room" for those waiting for their tables next door, is a gem of a place. With limited stools available for seating, many people usually stand and mingle as they drink small carafes of Spanish wines and much on spanish ham, cheese, and small bites. It's the perfect place for a casual drink and a chat with a friend - the 2 or 3 bartenders that run the place are friendly and generous - and I usually choose to stand at the bar where access to wine, food, and conversation is more readily available. Although it can get really crowded in the tight quarters, it's always a great place to hang out and grab a glass of wine.

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Albert Y.

New York, NY

4 star rating
04/17/2007

The accompanying wine bar to Batali's Casa Mono located next door, thid perfect little spot is tinier than an NYU dorm room. I've been here several times and the only major complaint I have is that the space is practically non-existent. Two long tables and short bar comprise the whole of the dining and drinking area at Bar Jamon. And believe you me, this place can fill up quick. The joint does serve a great variety of small dishes and tapas with a good number of Spanish wines. There's definitely not as much 'value' in the wine list as compared to some other wine bars in the city but you definitely can't knock the selection. The decor is simple, rustic, and dark. It's a great place to go with a date or a (very) small group of friends, hope you snag a table, and sample some delicious spanish wines and small plates (love the ham). Because of the small size, you'll always manage to carry on a conversation with whomever you're with. And, prepare to get cozy. After all, if it's a busy night, you'll practically be right on top of them!

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Lori M.

New York, NY

4 star rating
03/27/2006

Such an authentic Spanish tapas bar.  This place is so quaint if you just want to grab a quick drink or catch up with