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Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: East VillageCome watch the Yankees take the title with $5 Yankee…
Announced 3 days agoDelancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
Tue-Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thu-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat. 6:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 6:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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I really know how to make a first impression.
My girlfriend spotted a friend from college sitting at the bar. As I stood up to introduce myself, I jostled our table, and the vase and both glasses on top dropped to the ground and shattered. Smooth.
I was impressed by how sweet every member of the staff was in the face of my idiocy. No one was angry that I broke a ton of glass in the front, they were just concerned if we were OK. Even the busboy who quickly swept and mopped smiled at me.
Essentially, Poco is the sort of place that you always hope will open in your neighborhood. It's pleasant, classy without being pretentious, and the management obviously cares about keeping customers happy. Most importantly, the food is delicious.
Brunch is $20 for AYCD Bloody Marys, mimosas, and sangria. $12 if you are a teetotaler, or if you're just so hungover that you don't want to vomit on Poco's floor, especially after you just broke two glasses and a vase.
I never get Eggs Benedict. Canadian bacon just doesn't deserve to be called bacon. However, the Poco Benedict is everything I wish regular Eggs Benedict was: a crispy arepa topped with manchego cheese, tomatoes and poached eggs, finished with pimentón hollandaise. Served with potatoes and greens. And instead of the Canadian bacon? Chorizo.* It was fantastic. Her French toast was delicious as well, but I think real maple syrup would push it over the top.
Just a couple blocks north of brunch giant Clinton Street Baking Company, I fear it's only a matter of time before Poco has a similar wait on weekend mornings.
Thankfully, Poco's talents extend to dinner as well. I've enjoyed the Lobster Mac and Cheese, the Skirt Steak Lollipops, and their eponymous salad. Everything was delicious: well-presented, well-executed, with great flavors. Sitting at a table in the open air, watching the world walk by...I would do this every night if I could afford it. Unfortunately, everything is just a touch too expensive.
According to the signage, however, they do run all sorts of daily specials. I think I spotted AYCE mussels on Sundays, and on Tuesdays you can pay $30 for two tapas and AYCD sangria. I think you'll find me here again.
*As Jill M eloquently articulated, I pop a boner for chorizo.
People thought this was:
brilliant.
went for brunch sunday at 4:30, (yeah i'm a late bruncher and they serve brunch till 5pm, already a plus, totally stayed till dinner.)
the poco benedict is hands down the best eggs benny in town (rhythmic flavor combination) . the lobster benedict is a close second. the pork belly appetizer is rad, as is lobster mac&cheese.
atmosphere is gorgeous, high tables, good design, perfect lighting. sunday football was on at the 2 flatscreens at the bar but mood not sporty (+). there was live a 3 peice live jazz band that was not too loud not too soft, not to abstract not too jazzy, the perfect ambiance.
the staff is like family, sweetest ever, all smiles & good people.
shout out to sarah, ashley, alexis & michael who made the experience extraordinarily fabulous.
I was not at all impressed with Poco. Their food is just not that good. It's definitely very OK but that's about all.
The Pimenton Roasted Lamb was served to us cold, the crispy pork belly wasn't crispy at all, the Grilled Dates, which we couldn't finish, kinda tasted like glue, and the Wild Mushroom dish never got to our table. The lobster Mac N Cheese was delicious but probably took a few days off my rapidly declining life expectancy.
The staff is very nice but a little spacey...sorry guys! We were seated and ready to order drinks when we were told that the table was reserved. So we grabbed our coats, umbrellas, bags, etc. and were taken to a table in the basement. We went downstairs but it smelled too much like a moldy, musty basement. It looked like a moldy, musty basement too which didn't help. We waited at the bar.
When we got to the bar, I ordered a drink but was given the wrong brand of vodka. I didn't really care, but don't tell me I'm wrong when I clearly saw you pick up the wrong bottle. It wasn't in a rude way, it was just ...spacey.
All in all a very OK experience. We had 4 people looking after our table so it got a bit annoying when every few minutes someone new would come by and ask us how our food was. Again, very nice, but spacey staff and given the quality of the food, I'm guessing there were a few space cadets in the kitchen as well.
The food:
Yet again, I'm disappointed with another paella in NYC. The valencia paella here tasted like sour, soggy rice. I couldn't taste the seafood or any other flavors, but I did appreciate that they didn't put the chorizo in mine since I don't eat pork. I think less lime juice would have been nice. My friends thought the pork belly dish was very good and gobbled that up. The fave of the night was the lobster mac and cheese. I could only stuff in 3 bites of that since it was so heavy.
Drink: The watermelon margarita was way too strong and just tasted like alcohol.
The service: For some reason, we kept getting 2 of each dish that we ordered--not that we minded, but obviously we didn't want to get charged for it so we sent them all back. We were here for a friend's birthday, and when the server brought out the little chocolate cake he asked us if we ordered one and there wasn't even a candle on it. I think the manager talked to him and made him go back in and bring it out with a candle on top and the second time around, the waitress sang happy birthday.
Since this restaurant is definitely a long walk from the subway (I did get lost coming out of the delancey stop and had to escape some creepy guys in the LES) and the food was not very impressive, I would probably never come back again on my own volition.
People thought this was:
This time I tried their dinner... i have to say it still didnt really impress me. The service was still quiet slow.. however the staff were friendly but what's the point when you really need some food.
I can see this place is a great for grab few drinks. i will never come here when i'm starving hungry. The sangria was so-so too.
People thought this was:
My friend told me I HAVE TO GO THIS PLACE FOR BRUNCH.. so I DID!
I have to say I wasn't too…
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I realize I'd already given them 5 stars but I felt the need to update with...another 5 stars...from shear gratitude after brunch yesterday. After a raucous lunch with some friends I'd left my wristband for a CMJ concert I was supposed to go to this afternoon on the table after our meal. Only 5 blocks down the street did I realize my error and my entrance to the concert in jeopardy, I returned to retrieve said wristband. The hostess literally went through 5 huge garbage cans with gloves on for about 10-15 minutes despite our insisting she didn't have to. Finally the last garbage can had our prize and when I tried to tip her she refused so much so that I had to just leave the money on the counter hoping she'd take it. Now that's service.
People thought this was:
This is the story of how you will go loco for Poco:
You walk in and it's packed, but you wait a bit…
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I just came to meet up with friends for drinks but ended up sampling their dishes.. I don't know if the jalepeno margarita influenced my taste buds but everything i had was really good. Slider, croquettes, scallops, etc .. Bartender was quick and friendly ... This will definitely be an option next time I decide to meet up with a friend for drinks and food in the East Village
Drinking in the middle of the day is stupid! But since I'm so cerebral for all other days, I indulged.
I'm not a member of the school for brunching and drunkin', which seem to be so popular on yelp. Either, I eat and enjoy my food or I drink and enjoy my dranks. Otherwise I feel like it's a waste of either: feeling heavy with alcohol and food, not sexy; drink so much I can't experience finer points of culinary excellence, wack. I guess, that's why brunch food tends to be...not too delicate.
Anyway, philosophical waxing portion is done. This place is cute and cozy. I dig the decor, wood panels and whatnot. If they offered outdoor seating, I may be a sidewalk loiterer more often. I only had mimosas, all eight of them. Can't really mess that up, so, good. I tried a bloody mary for the first time, I'll tell you, my face is extra sexy when it contorts in disgust. But that's nothing against Poco per se. Swearsies.
I had the lobster mac n cheese. The dish itself was good, although I'm not sure the concept itself is really all that ingenious. Lobster flavor is mostly lost in a dense dish like mac and cheese.
My friend had the salmon benedict. I am a big fan of smoked salmon. I can eat it with my hands and nothing else. Actually, most of the time, that's my preferred way of eating it. Salmon slices being too thin kind of gets lost with the eggs, hollandaise and arepa.
My bad yall. I really did enjoy myself here even if it doesn't seem like it. The positives have been covered over and over again.
Great price. Good service.
People thought this was:
My experience at Poco went very well, especially since the vibe was fun and fast, the host was friendly, and the bartender made one strong margarita, heavy handed with tequila.
Accompanying my drinks were the stuffed dates and lobster mac-n-cheese. The dates were beyond rich, and that fig sauce was insane. While eating my second dish, I noticed the lobster seemed very happy in their pool party, swimming amongst their friends: manchego, parmesan, and asiago. The panko bread crumbs served merely as arm candy... (I am so glad they let me have some fun in their party.) After these two dishes, my date and I WERE stuffed.
I have heard that they have a super fun and super drunk brunch special. Fun!
People thought this was:
Came here again for post-softball celebrations (I know, not exactly your typical sports joint, but we were the ladies of the team and they were offering $5 Mango Margaritas).
We ordered the Lobster Mac and Cheese, lots of Mango Margaritas, got roped into Wednesday Trivia Night (and we were doing alright), chatted about things that had nothing to do with softball and generally had a good time.
Once again, a fantastic time! I recommend the Trivia - the prize was a 2 hour open bar for you and 9 of your special friends. Sah-weeet!
People thought this was:
After dropping in for a hot second at Mo's and Craig's birthday shindig @ Barramundi, I mosey'd on… Read more »
Lobster mac and cheese -- YUM! Heart attack waiting to happen, it was so rich and creamy. MUST TRY!
Pork Bellies - Done excellent. The skin was crispy, and the navel oranges and the sauce complimented the salty fatty pork extremely well.
Paella - What stopped it from getting five stars. I really did not like this paella. It was a bit sour for some reason, and too greasy for my taste. I did not feel that the rice was infused with the taste of the ingredients, which is something I'd expect from a good paella.
Where to start? Well first, we were shuttled downstairs to what we first assumed to be the dungeon where the staff stuffed those people who were audacious enough to be late for their reservation... but what i initially thought was some old gay frathouse basement turned into something glorious. See, it was about 85 degrees outside at 100% humidity, and while the upstairs is open air... the downstairs is air conditioned. Score!!!!!
We were shown to our table... which was really just two coffee tables surrounded by thrift store couches (though i still think they were somehow stolen from my great grandma's old apartment in queens). It was comfy enough, but it was a few minutes before the real magic happened. Our kind waitress brought us over mason jars of mimosas (and a bloody mary for the lone dissenter of our group) and some little muffins that were so ridiculously good. I swear, they were like little baby jesuses touched by the hand of god. I could have survived on mimosas and muffins alone... but alas, there is more culinary magic happening at Poco.
The lobster mac 'n' cheese is absolutely ridiculous. Topped off with baked panko crumbs, it is like spooning crunchy/cheesy bits of heaven into your mouth. I also got the skirt steak salad which came with quite a bit of steak all perfectly cooked medium rare.
The waitress never rushed us once, was always prompt to refill our mason jars, and never judged us as we got drunker and drunker. And drunk we got... there was spillage, screaming, pillow fights, and all around drunken revelry. Yet, she didn't judge... she just kept on refilling. What a brunch!
People thought this was:
Poco's eggs benedict - manchego cheese-sprinkled hollandaise and chorizo over poached eggs and golden-brown arepas - are godly. Those, for a trifling $20, may be washed down with bottomless breakfast brews - coffee, tea, mimosas, sweet summer sangria, bellinis. Fantastic? Oh, yes.
But the big girl with the big hangover refuses to pardon the biggish hole left in her tummy (and her heart!) following the speedy Sunday morning demolition of her order. Isn't this Brunch, AKA the land of plenty? Those sugary liquids almost distracted me from the lack of an endless basket of starchy carbs. Almost. And while not 'small', those wondrous eggs didn't leave me gut-busted and revitalized - and isn't that what brunch is about?
(Yea, okay I know that 'poco' means 'small', and maybe -maybe- the disclaimer's right there in the name, and I ought to stop kvetching and pay attention. Come on, Liz.)
People thought this was:
Dear Poco,
The problem is this: you purport to be a tapas joint, yet you don't offer a small-plate version of your lobster mac-n-cheese during brunch. This is a crime against humanity because that mac-n-cheese looked f-ing amazing, but I need eggs at brunch, and I was not about to buy 2 brunches.
Actually, I WAS about to buy 2 brunches, since your Poco Benedict wasn't quite the mountain of food I craved. Oh, it was delicious, and the fried arepa was so ridiculously good I may never be able to eat an English Muffin again. But there was very little chorizo, and I wasn't food-coma stuffed like I like to be after brunch. And I kept seeing those steaming bowls of LM&C go by, and I found myself wondering whether it wouldn't be completely unreasonable to order it, eat half, and take the rest home. But then I realized that would mean taking it to the Water Taxi Beach, and I wasn't quite sure how long I'd want to have lobster in my purse in 95-degree heat. How long would YOU want to have lobster in your purse in 95-degree heat?
Also, you are a much better deal for alcoholics. $20 all-you-can-drink + an entree is excellent (and I plan to return to take advantage!); $13 for a not-quite-filling entree is less than awesome. It should be $10, really. But your staff were super nice and friendly, and I love the laid-back, non-sceney scene you've got going on here.
In short, I would love you more if I could have ordered a side of LM&C, much like my 90 year-old grandma recently told me she would love me more if I rooted for the Red Sox. I promised grandma the latter for her 100th birthday, so could you please promise me the former for, like, next weekend? Kthxbye.
People thought this was:
The one-liner: European atmosphere that's complimented by New York service and okay food.
So the night with my friends didn't start off well, having had a reservation mistakely called a no-show and waiting nearly an hour afterwards for a table. And during that hour, the drinks weren't exactly flowing, making for a fairly cranky party.
But when we were seated, the service was much improved with topped-off sangria, profuse apologies by the host, and okay food. The lobster mac-n-cheese was a tad old-tasting, steak "lollipops" didn't have much pop, and the garlic shrimp were garlicky but overcooked and served with soggy toasts. Overall, a tweak on their execution and a few more waiters would do well to improve the overall experience.
Poco was probably the first place I ever went to upon moving to NYC almost 3 years ago and has always been my Mark of the Summer go to place. I can pretty much slide out of bed and into the front door.
It really is a great place to sit and relax and watch all the quirks of Ave B pass you by as you sip some sangria in front of the open facade.
I've only munched a couple apps, which were just delightful I might add, but they do run a variety of different drink and food specials, which always turn out pretty great.
I haven't experienced much more of the food, so once I'm blown away by the brunch I'll add my 5th star.
If you want to just check the place out before committing to the brunch or dinner shuffle, come in the late afternoon or early evening con su novio o novia and revel in that cute little open corner spot.
Want to get mileage out of your Andrew Jacksons? Well then, spend them on your Sunday brunch at Poco!
I read Melody's ROTD on Poco and read about their $20 AYCD Brunch Tapas deal and was instantly sold. I gathered my AYCD brunch crew and made reservations. Our table for 9 was instantly available in the cool and dark downstairs area, a nice refuge from the exposed to the outdoor humidity first floor.
Most of us were drawn to the Lobster Mac 'n Cheese entree. Although the bits of lobster were minuscule, the dish itself was pure greasy tastiness. Ditto with their Chorizo Hash!
The drinks held their own, as well. Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys, White Sangria, and Red Sangria made up the AYCD lineup. The service was slow, but the waitress did not employ the "you have to finish your drink before I give you your next drink, you alchie" tactic and was generous with the good tasting beverages. She even brought us pitchers and potent smoothie shots.
Regarding the leisurely service, the waitress gingerly remarked, "You must not have had brunch here before." I then looked around and noticed how the other patrons were enjoying their lazy Sundays here by boozing, chatting, and playing cards. Each party probably stayed 2-4 hours.
Reservations are a must here, and please make sure to block out a good segment of time to enjoy the company of your brunch buddies.
People thought this was:
Hmm, I'm gonna have to join the not quite blown away club on this one. The food? Wasn't bad, but all this talk about the best brunch ever? Eh, not so much.
"Poco" is unfortunately not a reference to the time you'll spend waiting. We stood in the doorway for a good 5 minutes before someone came by to say "I'l be with you in just a minute," then waited at least another 5. Once seated, it was another 10 minutes before a waitress came by, and then only because the manager told her to come say hello to the table of dusty skeletons over in the corner. I don't mind waiting a bit if it's busy but no one here was going to move any faster then they would on a Tuesday afternoon. The whole experience clocked in at well over 2 hours.
All in all, I would give it another shot if the food was really THAT amazing, but it's not.
If you don't know peter d., do yourself a favor and introduce yourself. This man will not let you down for restaurant suggestions. Hearing him rave about Poco all week, I decided I'd try it for myself for a birthday brunch with some buddies. Called up on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon and was greeted not only by a cheery hostess, but an open table for 3. Off we went and let me just say, boy oh boy were we happy campers. Why? I'll break it down for you in 4 easy steps as to why you want to go:
1) AYCD: $20 ALL YOU CAN DRINK Mimosa, Sangria or Bloody Mary's. No time limit; my glass was never empty (and word to the wise, they are HEAVY on the pour) -AND- this price includes your entree.
2) Food: I concur with Pete, perhaps some of the BEST food I've had in NY and the brunch selection is killer. A strong range of breakfast and lunch options and with house favorites like lobster mac and cheese or arepas eggs benedicts, you'd be a fool to pass this menu up.
3) Atmosphere: Chillax with lots of woods and bamboo, and doors and windows wide open to take on the breeze, it's the perfect place to sit back in your chair while enjoying a drink and catching up with friends (and shoveling stuffed dates into your face)
4) Service: Everyone we encountered was so nice and (seemed) generally pleased to have us there. No judgment on the (constant) refills either.
Watch out Essex, Poco's at your back.
PS: AMAZING bread basket with carrot corn bread muffins (Yes!) and homemade breads.
PPS: NO! I am not making this place up. It's real...
People thought this was:
I did the Tueday night all you can drink sangria and two tapas for $30, holy crap I got WASTED. Not to mention free shots because my bday is next week and I was jamming to the bartenders music and she sent me over one.
Food - pretty good, not the best but good. Paella - good, but i didn't like huge chunks of octopus tentacles found in it, mac and cheese lobster - good. Scallops and garlic shrimp both good.
I'd go back def on Tues night and looks like I need to try some brunch here too.
People thought this was:
This place is really cute! Came here with a bunch of friends and they were able to accommodate us no problem. The staff was very nice and friendly and the food was great!! I didn't get to eat the lobster mac and cheese cause everyone pretty much scarffed it down before I got to it lol I had the steak and it was delicious. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the food overall. The ambience was fun and the music in the background got you in the party mood for sure.
While Poco means 'a little' in Spanish, there's actually a lot going on here! I've been searching for a tapas restaurant in the Lower East Side, and Poco serves all of my needs: a nice atmosphere (open area), good service, ok prices, and delicious foods. I came here twice, back to back, and overall, enjoyed both my visits. (Although, the second time around, my waitress (can't remember her name) barely paid attention to us, and I had to rely on Jason, the manager there, to help us out.)
Okay - so why 3 stars? Well, while I enjoy the food a lot, I *did* only say "ok prices". (Let's be honest, everyone, times are rough!) Between two people, 4 tapas, and 2 drinks, we easily racked up a near $70 bill. I love their crispy duck arepas so much, I wish it didn't cost me $12 for three meager pieces. I'll definitely be coming back here, but probably when I have a little bit more disposable income. However, Poco does have a Brunch special that I have yet to try, which is $20 bucks for three cocktails (mimosa, sangria, bloody mary, coffee, tea, etc) + an entree. Yummy!
Here are my recommended dishes:
Crispy Arepas - w/ Duck Ropa Vieja - ~$12
Lobster Mac & Cheese - ~$13
Mango Tuna Ceviche with jicama, cucumber and jalapeno ~$13
Valencia Paella (Seafood) ~$15
and of course:
Gambas Al Ajillo shrimp with garlic sauce topped with sundried tomatoes on garlic toast points on garlic toast points ~$13
Can you see how you can easily rack up the bill?!
Enjoy muchachos!
(Good for Groups; Can also be good for Kids, depending on time)
I'm finding it hard to connect with the allure and high ratings this place received here. I thought the food was mediocre, ambiance, atmosphere, and vibe were cool but nothing special. Service was, well, ok, in fact, other than the company I brought, everything was just okay.
I ate a handful of dishes which rate like so:
(Out of 10)
Tortilla Espanole: 2
Mango Tuna Ceviche: 9
Grilled Dates: 6
White Bean Hummus: 4
Sangria: 8
For weeks, I would pass by the breezy, open-walled brunch hotspot that is Poco on Avenue B at 3rd St and wish I were a part of the wonderful thing that was happening there: a $20 endless brunch. Andrew Jackson gets you your choice of brunch item and as many sangrias (red or white), bloody marys, or mimosas you can handle while it's still light out.
Our party opted for some heavier dishes to offset the copious amounts of alcohol imbibed just hours beforehand (we had brunch at 1 pm after having gotten in at 6 am-gotta love NYC). However, the standout brunch dish wasn't the lobster mac 'n cheese (which was still very tasty) or the Poco Benedict (mediocre)... it was the Salmon BLT. Seared salmon served with bacon, mesclun greens, tomato, avocado, and a creamy horseradish sauce.
I didn't try the mimosas, but I assume they were fine since it's pretty difficult to make a terrible mimosa. The white wine sangria wasn't wonderful, but the bloody marys (mmm... big fat stuffed olive) and the red sangrias (tequila-infused strawberries, HELLO?!) were excellent. And boozy. I vaguely remember a pina colada shooter that they gave out for free... Thanks, guys! I remember feeling a lot like I was floating on a dense, tipsy cloud... and then I went home and slept for several hours.
I love a good, boozy brunch.
(Minus one star for the hash browns that accompanied the chorizo and the Poco Benedict. Too greasy and not quite crispy enough.)
People thought this was:
Awesome brunch that is worth everyone trekking down to Ave B.
In a way I'm glad its not overly packed here as the customers are mostly local residents of East Village.
My friends enjoyed the 20 dollar including unlimited drinks + food. I optedout on the drinks since i had to keep my brains intact for studying but didn't get to ask if there was an alcohol-free brunch option.
Food:
Salmon Benedict and by far this is the best egg benedict I've had !!! better than Prune !! they make it different and use a special toast in replacement of the english muffin bottom.heavenly !!!
if u wanna get trashed during the day then come to POCO. Your 20 bucks will get you pretty far here :D
People thought this was:
Everyday I'd ask my stomach...what do you want to eat? No response. Then I'd ask more furiously...what do you want to eat asshole!? Nada. Nothing. My stomach was beginning to get jaded. I needed something to give it renewed passion. Something delicious, quickly. Thankfully, I found Poco.
We were seated on a table just by the large open windows. Perfect for a breezy friday night. The water served was just the right temperature, and thats when I knew Poco was going to be excellent. I ordered the caipirinha, and she ordered the strawberry caipirinha. Mine was stiff, just how I like it after a long work week.
Okay, that came out all wrong. My CAIPIRINHA was stiff, which is how I like my drink after a long work week.
Everything on the menu looked fantatic but we went with the steak skewers, lobster mac 'n' cheese and vegetable paella. The fig and onion sauce (among other things) that came with the steak skewer was INSANE and the steak itself was perfectly cooked. The lobster mac 'n' cheese was equally delicious! The only slight disappointment was the vegetable paella. The problem was that it wasn't paella at all. What is paella without saffron? This tasted like a tangy tomato rice with vegetables, which was good in its own right, but failed under its label.
My stomach is jaded no more. On my way out, I saw their brunch specials listed on a board. $20 brunch with all you can drink mimosas/sangria? Sign me up.
People thought this was:
On a visit to New York, a friend of mine thought that Poco would be a good place to catch up, have some light bites and drink some sangria. We had the lobster mac and cheese which did not have overcooked lobster rubber and actually was a decent sized portion. The Dates stuffed with blue cheese and the grilled octopus were also good. The food was well presented, used quality ingredients, but was small, as usually should be expected from tapas. The sangria was also alright but not the best I have had. On a hot New York night it is a good place to chill, catch up with friends and watch the entertainment passing by outside.
People thought this was:
Great staff and very good food.
Grilled octopus app. - a little rubbery
Mac & cheese lobster - very good
Paella - Excellent (seafood)
Skirt steak lollipops - Excellent
Happy hour drinks too, $5 margaritas on this night.
One of the freshest Tapas spots you will find, more Latin than Spanish, a nice twist.
I came here on Tuesday night and didn't realize there was Drag Queen Bingo every Tuesdays....with awesome prizes too!
I ended up winning this crazy doll with a pink dress that sings Barbie Girl by Aqua....haha it defintely made me laugh!
The best part was we came in and was offered complimentary mojitos by these 2 "Bacardi girls" :)
Had a Poco salad and a white sangria. Not bad at all! The salad was perfectly dressed and had a good balance of goat cheese and dried apricots. The white sangria was refreshing!
The waiter gave us a coupon for free sangrias the next Tuesday we decide to stop by :) The bartender was cool and the drag queen host was hilarious! Will definitely stop by again!
The have brunch on weekends where they offer 20$ all you can drink!
People thought this was:
Sitting by the large open windows drinking $5 sangria on a warm summer night... ahh, this is good livin' in NYC.
This tapas bar in Alphabet City was stumbled upon randomly on a Thursday night. The friendly staff quickly sat us and within minutes we have our first sangria in our hands. Tasty and refreshing, this sure hit the spot on a humid July evening. We proceed to have the Lobster Mac-n-Cheese (a lil' pricey at $12.95, but nonetheless delicious), Grilled Marinated Octopus (decent, a lil' too much acid for my taste), and the Pork Belly (don't know how they figured out to pair orange and pork, but it works!). The staff there is great and very accomodating, and everyone at the place seems to be having a good time. After some delicous tapas and 4 rounds of sangria, so were we.
Came here with 9 total people at 1pm on a Sunday. It was pretty packed at that time so reservations are a good choice. Any all you can drink deals are a good deal to me. Ambiance is very relaxed and chill, nothing fancy here. Great for groups and you don't have to shout to hear each other.
The food was excellent. I highly recommend the Poco Benedict with your $20 brunch. The hollandaise was delicious and the crispy arepa adds such an amazing texture to the dish. The food came out on a very hot plate that wilted the salad that came with the meal. I am not sure if the salad was dressed too early, or the heat from the plate affected it. Probably both. Not the largest plate, but the dish is filling and satisfying.
The great thing about this AYCD brunch is that you can try different drinks. The drinks were decent and came in jars, I had the mimosa and white sangria. Many of the party got the lobster mac-n-cheese but were slightly disappointed in it, but everyone still finished the entire bowl.
The servers were still getting accustomed to the new brunch and pace, but were friendly and worked as quickly as they could. They were always friendly and attentive.
Poco is a very good choice for brunch. Good food and decent drinks for a solid price. I would actually come back here sooner than later. Go check Poco out.
People thought this was:
This is a nice place with a lot of potential. The waitstaff and management seems to really give a hoot, and the vibe is friendly without being overbearing.
Tried a nice cross-section of foodstuffs, which were solid with one notable exception.
- Dates wrapped in ham - harmoniously tasty despite a cacophony of flavors (dates + ham + cheese + almond).
- Skirt Steak Lollipops - pretty tasty; nothing special.
- Lobster mac + cheese - quite good, though a little too light on the lobster. extremely rich and, if the portion was a little bigger, could be a standalone takeout order.
- Sliders - GROSS. they use "serrano ham" that caused both me and my dining companion to gag. I'm not sure if the ham was bad or if their stock ham sucks, but it was rubbery, chewy, and tasted uncooked. rendered the entire slider inedible.
- Scallops - delicious and delicate, as scallops should be.
Those tapas and 3 cocktails came to $90. A little on the pricey side, but not ridiculous.
Drink-wise, we stuck to the happy hour special, which was strawberry margaritas. Drinks were strong and tasty, though I would like to see a little more diversity (and perhaps a better deal $5 a drink is still a bit high) in their HH offerings. Our waitress was helpful and friendly - service with a smile the whole way.
I'll be back.
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Great happy hour specials during the week. The mac & cheese is a must as well as anything else your waiter/waitress recommends as they are usually pretty spot on (or ask for most popular items). Apparently, Tuesday nights are Drag Bingo nights - sounds like a good time!
I went to Poco last weekend for a dinner with the girls. After much thought, one of my friends suggested Poco. She knows the women who opened the restaurant. I didn't really know what to expect being a vegetarian who just started eating fish again.
When we arrived our table was ready ready for us as soon as we walked in the door. We had a nice table for 4 right by the windows. We ordered a picture of Sangria expecting to each get a little over a glass when in actuality we each got almost 2 glasses. I am not a huge fan of sangria, but if I am going to drink sangria, it should taste like it tastes at Poco.
Onto the food. We all shared 4 or 5 tapas. Everything was very tasty, but if I had to recommended something everyone should order, it would be the scallops and the lobster mac n cheese. The portions were a great size also. We got enough food, but it wasn't to much that any of us overate.
The service was also a highlight. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the food and the cocktails, letting us know what her favorites are. A few minutes after we received our drinks the bartender came a taste of their specialty mojitos. The manager and the owner both came over to check on us. Both very nice and concerned with how our dining experience was going.
We also tried Watermelon basil martinis and they were fantastic! The perfect combination of basil, watermelon and vodka. I highly recommend Poco for a casual dinner with friends, or a cozy dinner with a date!
I came here as a going away dinner with a girl friend of mine who loves to explore the city just as much as I do. This place has got to be my new favorite spot to eat and drink. The owner is an absolute doll, so attentive and sweet as a southern pie. But let me talk about this food! We tried four different plates, it was almost like the menu was catered to our taste-buds...yummy! And to the douche-face below who gave them 2 stars...you complain you need to order 3 plates to feel like you are eating? It's a TAPAS BAR!!!!
TAPA;
noun: Usually, tapas.
(esp. in Spain) a snack or appetizer, typically served with wine or beer.
My friend and I were stuffed after 4 plates, and we can eat!!!! The prices were extremely reasonable as well.
My drink was actually a bit sweet too, so I asked the waitress if they could remake it and she ever so kindly took it back to the bartender and had a new and better one in front of me in a minute! Then the owner sent my friend and I a round of shots on the house.
This place is in a great neighborhood, the food was impeccable and the service was outstanding! Great for dates, groups, day and night. I love it!
By the end of the evening we walked out of there with happy faces and a great new spot to come to when I get back in town.
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Loved this place! I had a friend in town and had a group of 4 ladies looking for a cozy, chic restaurant with delicious food and cocktails - Excellent! We did have someone in our party who knew the owner, but we met her and she was super nice. They are trying to get outdoor seating, but even without it, they open up all the doors and if you sit by those you are more or less outside as is. Try the mojitos and the basil watermelon martini - YUM. Food wise, the scallops were awesome, lobster mac and cheese rich and tastey and the sliders as good as you'd want....we only ordered 5 tapas including those and it was plenty. Perfect for a date or group dinner before hitting up the east village and apparently they have brunch too with unlimited mimosas...will be trying that next!
Have been twice for brunch this month, both times got there right before the crowds and managed to get spots at the bar. Highly recommend doing this since cocktails are unlimited and the bartender is right there to do refills. The decor was unique and open, looking out the open sides, I felt like I was on vacation somewhere tropical. Had the incredible lobster mac and cheese both times, which is a relatively small serving and despite the deliciousness, I barely made a dent to either. The restaurant is a little far from the upper east side and a few blocks from the subway but well worth the effort.
Interesting tapas and great to share with a group therefore we got to try a bunch of things:
*Skirt Steak And Manchego Cheese Lollipops*
Gumbos Al Ajillo
Sautéed Spinach
*Lobster Mac-N-Cheese* (wow-heavy)
Bacon wrapped dates
Meatballs
and drink specials for $5-strawberry margaritas!
Lobster Mac & Cheese. WOW. What sold me was the panko crust on top. Perfect crunchy to creamy ratio, an important element to superior mac and cheese. Looking forward to the next time I get to have their eggs benedict with chorizo and arepas too... And $20 brunch with unlimited drinks??? Talk about best hangover cure in the East Village! Great space + Great staff + Great food = Happy Brunch Hangout!
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This place was was so good! I had the Lobster Mac & Cheese based on reviews and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The panko topping was a perfect edition and it was just soooo creamy and gooood. We also had the scallops, seared perfectly and great seasoning and the Vallencia Paella was fantastic! We originally went for the $30 all you can drink sangria and 2 tapas deal, but ended up skipping the sangria for their Jalapeno and Mango & Cinnamon margaritas. Both AMAZING! I never thought about Jalapeno in a margarita, but it was a perfect edition with the perfect amount of kick. Highly recommended!
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