On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Tapas Bars, Spanish, Basque [Edit]
Neighborhood: Flatiron23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
23rd St-6th Ave (F, V)
23rd Street (PATH)
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Loading...
Love this place.
Friend of a friend's sister work behind the bar so I've been there a few times.
The balsamic duck breast is awesome in small doses and the portobello mushroom thing was divine.
They have great sangria and the mussel dish is HUGE.
Great lighting, relatively clean bathrooms and lemme mention that duck one more time... mmm.
I'm just torn between a 3 and 4 star rating. Stumbling upon this intimate-ish tapas restaurant when a friend and I couldn't get a table at nearby Boqueria, we were fortunate to be seated immediately on a Monday night at 8pm in the back at a great table.
The food really is good... we had some fried goat cheese w/ honey, dates wrapped in bacon, portobello mushrooms, and the lamb. Our sangria was not too sweet/sugary and not overloaded with fruit either, so that was a plus. As for the food, the dates were probably the best dish we had but the goat cheese was also great.
I loved the intimate setting, exposed brick, and dimly lit ambiance. Service was pretty good, and although our waitress was friendly and happy to answer our questions, we probably over-ordered -- I expect at a place like this that the waitstaff would be more helpful when it comes to making sure you order the correct amount of food. Fortunately, since the dishes are all small, it's not too pricey of a place. Then again, when you end up ordering too much...
Overall impression: I would definitely come back for a date.
Update: Upon returning with friends, I realized this is really a 3-star place. Our table up front by the bar was pretty totally lame -- in the future I would make SURE to be seated in the back or I'd be fine waiting it out with a drink at the bar. Whereas during my first visit we over-ordered, this time we did not order enough. Obviously, our waiter (who wasn't very helpful) didn't see fit to assist us with ordering properly and when we left the restaurant there were a few hungry individuals in our group, to say the least. In general, it just wasn't a great night out.
AVOID!!!!!..........i am speechless...did all the good reviews eat at a different restaurant? Not kidding, seriously.
Food = Bland (all potato filler in supposedly serrano ham croquettas)
Shrimps toast that tasted like cardboard with rubber wing nuts
tables so small, two apps didnt fit on it.
i should have went for street meat.
are you kidding me?
I'd rather lick the deep fry manager's ass at red lobster than chew the menu at sala.
This place came highly recommended from a friend and I really really enjoyed this meal. I cant wait to go back! The only reason I took one star away is because I have had much better sangria before, but their's still did the trick!
I would HIGHLY recommend the duck over toast. Soooooo yummy! By far my favorite item ordered, but who doesn't love duck?!?! We ordered 3 different items and countless glasses of sangria and enjoyed it all. I will be returning!
Came to Sala with a friend from out of town because it's near my office and I'd been intrigued by the storefront while walking by. I was hoping to be blown away...not sure why...maybe I was just in dire need of some great tapas.
Sadly I was disappointed. I like the decor but the good stuff stops there. Servers were a bit cold and distracted. That would have been tolerable had the food been good but it was not.
My friend and I both ordered sandwiches from the lunch menu. They sounded delicious, however, they were greasy and came with no sides or really anything to set them apart from something you'd get in a deli.
It's possible we just ordered the wrong thing and this place may be better for dinner but I'm not going back to find out.
Went here with the family. We looked it up on yelp, but if we hadn't I don't think we would have given it a second look. The mushroms are to die for and the fried goat cheese with honey is delectible. We ordered so much food that we had enough food for dinner the following night. It was a little loud, but the atmosphere was great. Service was friendly and helpful in ordering. We would definitely go back.
3 1/2 stars
Thurs night here is packed and fun. We were there for happy hour. Buy 1 get one free. The food was pretty yummy and pretty authentic by my radar, but i confess i've never been to spain.
We got the tapas: artichoke/chorizo excellent, a bit oily but anything with chorizo rocks.
2nd dish: sauteed vegetable over bread and fried egg. Eh.you could skip this one
3rd: duck breast/vinagrette over bread. I didn't really like the texture of the duck, not as tender and juicy as i am used to. The flavor was a bit tangy with the vinagreete
4th dish was a dessert: apple tart with carmel sauce. Decent but eh.
For two people you'd probaby have to order at least 2 more dishes. But decent food and good scene. Sangra was yummy but a bit weak.
Came here completely by accident. I got ditched by one friend and ended up roaming this neighborhood with another friend for something tasty. I had written down a few restaurants that I was interested in trying and since they happened to have a table open, we just sat down. Since this is one of the rare times I'm actually reviewing the day after when I still have everything fresh in my mind, it'll get a full treatment
Food
We had the:
Datil - OMG! Both my friend and I were in love with this dish. We never though we could love bacon so much but we literally stared each other down for the last piece (they come with 5 pieces).
Brie Fundido (with wild mushrooms) - Very tasty
Alcachofas Con Jamon - My friend really likes artichokes so we ordered it. This dish was a bit too oily, but in general it was very good. We attempted to eat it with the bread (bad stunt), fail.
Hogaza De Lomo - The pork was so well done and the gruyere (which was why we ordered this) was delicious.
Vieiras - The scallops were so good I can't even describe them. They were fresh, with the sweetness of the scallop and lightly roasted to perfection. This dish takes a little time to come out but it's so worth it. The veggies are OK, again, a bit too oily. But this is Spanish food, I ask too much. The chicken and lamb dishes are also excellent. Their potatoes are amazing! The calamari is SO good!
I think the thing that impressed me the most about them is how everything is cooked *just* right, not over cooked, not under cooked. I've found that very rare, but they nail it. Every time. Everything just delicious! You can't really go wrong here (at least I haven't found a dish that I don't like).
Setting: The place was dark and a bit loud and crowded. I guess pretty typical of tapas bars?
Service: Excellent. We had very attentive waiters (who, in my friend's words, always showed up in time to take your order and give you water but weren't overbearing) and the food came ultra fast!
Highly recommended. Wish there was a 4.5 rating option...
I had dinner with friends here last Monday and we had a fantastic time. The space is huge, but somehow feels cozy. The portions are also huge (especially for tapas!), delicious and filling. Wine list looked good!
Service is really attentive and my only complaint was they brought the food out so quickly - would have been nice to relax and digest a bit. Everything we had was really good:
Fried goat cheese and honey (yum!)
Potatoes (in an awesome spicy sauce)
Artichokes w/ham
Roasted veggie plate (great selection and lots! I liked the mystery dip it came with too - our server couldn't really explain it, but it was tasty)
Chicken with Chickpeas and spinach
It was SO MUCH FOOD, we barely finished it all between the 4 of us and we were hungry. Dessert looked good, but we couldn't fit another bite in. It came to about $35/person, including drinks making this a great option in the city.
Grab a fancy drink (before or after) next door at the lovely Flatiron Lounge!
Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Costco.
Costco who?
Costco sized box of wine that they poured into a big vat right in front of my eyes and then served me sangria from that same vat.
'nuff said...
I came here for lunch on a Friday, it was full so we sat at the bar tables and were served by the bartender. Overall, the tapas were fine, including the green beans, dates, and patatas bravas (but if you're a purist from barcelona, they were lacking). The Pan con Tomate was terrible. They didn't even use "real" european bread, no crusty outside. It was like they used pureed tomato and it was soggy and flavorless. The beer selection was the best surprise. If you are looking for tapas though, you'll be much happier at Las Ramblas or 1492, among others. Nothing here was bad, on the other hand it was neither particularly authentic nor original. In the end, it was overpriced for what we got.
Eat Fast and be prepared to get kicked out!
My first time writing a review! Went here last night and was highly disappointed with the service. The food was ok. A little too pricey, especially for $38 Paella for 2! The sangria, I've had better.
The hostess could use a smile on her face. I was really annoyed by the wait staff approaching my table every 10 minutes asking if I was done. Then I was given the wrong paella, I had to wait an extra 30 minutes for my original order to have the wait staff come to my table and attempt 4 TIMES to clear my plates when we weren't even done eating!!
We weren't even offered dessert but given two complimentary luke warm sangrias and sent to the bar and told by waitstaff guy, "I'm so sorry, but the hostess made me come to your table, I know it's annoying, but we also need the tables"
Well guess what, I'm never coming back again.
Chow'd down with a pal here and was absolutely taken by them. I was so impressed with many of the dishes we ordered, I wish'd they were big boy dishes.
Dates stuffed with almonds wrapped in bacon (com'mon!!! bacon?! need i say more? A wonderful mix of sweet & salt and crunchy & firm.), a chorizo special (who can say no to tasty sausages? plus, the juices/sauce was so yummy, we were dipping just about everything in there.), grilled duck on toast (the duck was marinated w/balsamic vinegar & shallots and was tender and flavorful.), and the brie and wild mushrooms on toast (the mushrooms were juicy and packed with flavor which melded lovely with the brie).
We each had a glass of sangria and it wasn't too bad. If it weren't a "school" nite and we weren't "poor", we'd probably do a pitcher to go with the flow (ambiance and food). Service was attentive and friendly from when we walked in to when we stepped out. Despite it being busy and there being a big group behind us, we were still serviced without a long wait. Definitely worth another trip back and we're definitely not sharing some dishes...
I really thought this place would be great based on reviews, but I honestly found it to be mediocre to totally bland tapas - and I have tried a lot of tapas places in NYC (and Spain!) Honestly - it was totally forgettable..I wish I had gone to Boqueria just up the block which is delicious!
Nice place sandwiched down in the Flatiron. The place is kinda small and there isn't much room at the table, so be prepared to get to know your dinning neighbors. We dinned on a Thursday night and it was completely packed by 8:30. The bar gets a good scene as well but it struck me as mostly wine drinkers.
The service was good. The food was good. Not the best I've ever had but good enough. One dish was good enough to split for two people We ordered the paella as a main course - very average in my opinion - too much rice - too much salt - not enough chicken or fish.
Would probably go back for a glass of wine and a quick bite.
One of the things I've learned living in New York is that they're lying to you.* See a really neat little place? It's going to be snobby. Great looking sports bar? They're not going to play your game. Hidden little dive bar? They're not going to have popcorn.**
But sometimes, when you're on an adventure, and it's a great night outside and you just want something awesome, you'll stumble into somewhere like Sala 19 and, lo and behold, just for a brief, flickering moment, you'll feel as though not everything's bad in the world and that maybe, just maybe, if you can find a gem of a place like this, you might one day get all the things you dream of.***
Sala 19 is perfect as a date locale, and as a group location, which is really one of those things that just never happens. The sangria is super strong and comes in a great big pottery-looking pitcher****, which blends in nicely with the dark Spanish interior.
We ordered the fried goat cheese with honey and caramalized onions, which was delicious, and would have had a second pitcher of the sangria if Rosario Dawson***** and the kitchen staff hadn't kicked us out (it was well past closing, they were nice enough to let us stay as long as we did).
An absolute gem of a location and not too crowded, even on a Friday night. I'm hesitant to review this place, because that just means you're going to all want to go. And there won't be room for me.*******
* - And that the clowns will get you. But that's a story for another night.
** - Every bar should have popcorn. Every. One. This is not open to debate, so don't waste your breath.
*** - Still no luck with Lily Allen dropping the restraining order.
**** - Pottery is native to Spain, dontchaknow?
***** - May not have in fact been Rosario Dawson.
****** - I'm sure there will still be room for Rosario Dawson, though.
Fried
Goat Cheese
with
Honey (!!!)
and
Caramelized
Onions
This tapas bordered on orgasmic.
Pair that with a pitcher of sangria and a couple other tapas and complimentary bread?
Done.
We closed down the place on a Friday night and I did not want to leave. This is like my new favorite place in the city.
Perfect for a group or a date. The person I was with* swears he saw Rosario Dawson sitting across from us, because it's such a hot spot and all. And we're trend setters.
I have to go call people and tell them how much I love Sala 19 and how we're all going asap. I'm sure I'll update this review multiple times with more details.
*Now, I'm not going to name names but this particular individual had never had goat cheese before this night. And this person experienced it fried with honey and caramelized goodness. I liken it to trying on the Tiffany Novo and then going to Zales.** He had the best on the first try. After this, ordinary goat cheese will just seem boring to him.
**Sometimes I speak in jewelry slang. No, I will not apologize for it.
Stopped in on a Sunday night, busy but not too crazy crowded.
We ate a lot for two people, and I'm not afraid to say it. From most to least favorite: Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds, pork loin sandwich (open face), salad with ground almond dressing, mussels in garlic sauce (large portion!), shrimp with grilled scallions sandwich.
Great, open space -- bar seating for casual drinks/dining or main floor table seating. Cool (and delicious) find!
We went to Sala on a Saturday night around 7pm. We didn't have a reservation, so there were no available tables. They have a bar area that has cozy little high round bar tables. The hostess said those were first come first serve. We ended up getting a table there right away. The table was great, but I would make sure you have a reservation on a Saturday night just to be safe.
The food was good. I have some complaints. The mussels were slightly on the fishy side, but the portion was huge. You could easily share with 3 people. The Hogaza De Lomo- melted gruyere with grilled marinated pork and piquillo peppers served on a toasted bread was so good! The verde salad w/ almond dressing was also tasty and a big portion. We also had the ham croquettes and those were pretty good. The sangria is probably what will bring me back the most. EXELLENT SANGRIA!
The server was friendly and didn't rush us. Sala is inviting and warm. A great spot for tapas and ambience!
Grabbed an after-work bite with my friend here a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was definitely worth a great review. The dates and almonds wrapped in bacon were heaven!! I could eat just that and be satisfied! Also loved the brie with mushrooms, and the duck on toast!
The only drawback is the sangria, which although delish, is a whopping 8 bucks a glass!
The service was also very friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was fun. I would definitely return.
Went to Sala on a Monday night. Place wasn't crowded at 6 which was good, because we got to sit in the bar area and take advantage of the buy 1 get 1 happy hour special. We chose a pitcher of white sangria to start, which was light and refreshing. (It seemed a bit watered down but it was still tasty and we got 2 pitchers for the price of 1, so who's complaining?) The interior is dark and cozy, the chandeliers are playful and colorful and its just an overall warm atmosphere.
There were 3 of us so we didn't order too much, figured we would start out with some dishes and see how we felt once we were finished, we ended up being very content with the 3 dishes we ordered.
In order of delicious-ness:
1. Duck on toast (great flavor)
2. Patatas bravas (I just love potatoes, but the sauce and crispyness of the potato skin was delightful)
3. Mixed Vegetable Assortment (surprisingly large and delicious. filled with artichokes, asparagus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, carrots, came with a nutty sauce that was subtle and didn't overpower the vegetables, yet full of flavor)
Honestly, everything was very tasty and I only wished our stomachs could have fit more food. Next time, I'm going for the goat cheese with caramelized onions..sounds great!
I will most certainly be back, esp. for the price point. We each ended up spending $23 not including tip for many glasses of sangria and full, happy bellies.
Warm and inviting tapas bar. 2 for 1 drink special starts at 5. Very good sangria with the right amount of fruit. About four nice fruit pieces per glass, not a Carmen Miranda fruit salad and not a lonely apple slice floating around with an orange garnish. It wasn't crowded at 5, but by 7-7:30 it was pretty hopping. The waitress was excellent, our glasses were never quite empty before our next drink hit the table. We ordered a meat a cheese tapas that came with some wonderful crusty bread. Fun date place for sure.
Wheelchair Access: French doors at the front are narrow, you'll need to open both sides to get in. A little narrow up front, but it opens up in back. A very nice, very accessible bathroom is upstairs across from the bar.
Went here on a Friday night w/two other girlfriends.
The host was very accomodating, and friendly. The bartenders were good and the waiters were helpful. She prevented us from ordering too much!
The white sangria tasted very watery, while the red tasted a little stronger. They both could have been better.
Standout dishes were:
The Goat Cheese w/onions and Honey----absolutley delicious!
Bacon wrapped dates
Spicy Potatoes
The ambiance is fantastic and its neither fancy or too casual. Just perfect! I would definitely go back, but just drink wine instead. :)
Dined here late on a Sat. night (10:30) and started out well as two of us didn't have to wait for a table. We shared a pitcher of Sangria, which was one of the better Sangria's I've tasted.
Bacon wrapped dates have always been my favorite Tapas dish and they came out on top for this dinner as well. They were nice and crisp and had just the right amount of sweet. We also had brie on toast and the honey covered goat cheese. Both good. The last dish we had was the rib-eye and it was tasty. I wish we hadn't taken the waiter's recommendation to get it cooked medium well however.
The ambiance was nice and the restaurant makes a good starting point for a casual or dressy night out, as people were dressed in both fashions and the vibe in general was down to earth.
It's also conveniently located next door to the Flatiron Lounge, which ended up being a fun place to go after dinner.
A perfect place for a large party. 16 of us dined here on Saturday night, the service, food, wine, alcohol were all delivered top-notch.
We had a set menu that included wine, sangria and beer. Our glasses were always full. The sangria wasn't fabulous but I was supplementing with the red wine. The food was killer good and everyone knows that tapas are the way to go with a party. So much fun!
I raced back up to the city from a weekend in DC and made my way over to Sala 19 to meet up with the bf and friends for tapas and sangria, and boy was it ever worth the trip.
Every tapa we had was delicious. Most were inventive, but the standard classics were all there and in abundance.
Our group shared:
- bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds (it may sound strange, but just go for it. It's the utmost in bar finger food)
- fried goat cheese with honey and caramelized onions (also totally worth it, especially with the crusty bread they provide in abundance)
- tortilla espanola (a well done classic, though a bit under-salted for my taste)
- baked brie and serrano ham toast (good, but not particularly original. bf really enjoyed its simplicity though)
- portobello mushroom toast with garlic cream and sauteed shallots (OMGOMG nomnomnomnom EAT THIS)
- calamares (fresh calamari in a very good garlic, parsley, and hot pepper sauce. i love being reminded that calamari aren't just fried rings).
The red sangria didn't wow me, but it's also possible that I was in such need of a drink by that point that I built it up too much in my head.
The atmosphere was cozy and the waitress was very nice, and I'd definitely go back, even just for the mushroom toast....and the goat cheese with honey...and the bacon wrapped stuffed dates...
This has recently become my GO-TO place for Sangria.
I am not a Sangria connoisseur, but I do think that Sala 19's Sangria is one of the best that i've had ($8 for a glass). The real star here is that they are generous with the fruit.
Sala 19 stands out in particular for me because the portions are a good size for Tapas. You will not get the stingy little plates that other Tapas bars offer. In fact, if you order the fried potatoes with spicy sauce or the Spanish chorizo (both are very good)- these dishes are large enough to be shared by 3. The prices aren't obnoxiously high either (about 9 to 14 dollars) for a plate.
Aside from Tapas, Sala also serves regular entrees, which would satisfy those who prefer a fuller meal. The creativity of the food may not surpass that at Degustation, but then again, Sala does not fall into the same genre as the latter. Unlike Degustation, Sala appears to attract a younger, livelier crowd.
I enjoyed every dish that I tasted - the croquettas, fried goat cheese w/ honey, duck breast on toast. I have yet to try the Paella, but I have heard that it is one of Sala's more popular dishes.
Dessert portions are large enough to be shared by 2, so dessert fanatics should not be discouraged.
Love the atmosphere - casual and cozy, yet trendy enough for a date. Spacious for a Tapas bar, so you will not find yourself bumping shoulders with the other diners.
I came here to do reconnaissance for my dear gal pal who recently gave up on romancing the ladies. She wants to meet a man, one with a real penis this time.
During happy hour from 5-7, Sala offers 2 for one drinks- beer (Estrella ) or sangria at the bar. Lots of single chickadees were perched on both bars in search of a mate to build a blissful nest with. Boy, did these poor birds land on the wrong tree. It was like Henrietta Hudsons sans the Lindsay Lohans and Samantha Ronsons. Not that I have ever been in a Lesbian bar before. Alright, just two, but I'm straight until my first cocktail.
The red sangria wasn't too sweet, with tangy bits of peaches and oranges. Big fan of the squid ala plancha- a generous portion in a garlic, lemon and parsley sauce. The tortilla was substantial.. light and fluffy, filled with diced potatoes. Bill for two- 4 sangrias, 2 tapas-$ 54.00 w/tip. I think I shall expense it to her.
Get there early to secure a bar stool before some girl decides to sprawl her Spanish homework and take up two seats with her jacket and parcels. There is nowhere to hang your frock.
To summarize...good sangria and tapas, low lights, music and courteous female bartender. No hooks to hang your shit... but a great place for blokes to hook up with studious, mainstream chicks.
Not conducive for ex-sapphics on the prowl for d**k! She will surely clobber you in the spine with her softball bat if you send her to Sala!
Yo Sala,
You would've gotten 4 stars, if you didn't DILUTE my SANGRIA!
Did I say, "I'd like to have water with some sangria, please"
NO! I said, "Dame Sangrrrria Ahorrrrita!" *rolled Rs*
And...where the hell is the alcohol-infused fruit? That's how I get my BUZZ, foo!
I have no idea why I'm getting Ghetto-fabulous right now, but it does anger me when I order an $8 glass of watered-down alcohol.
As for the food, it's pretty awesome. I love bacon and I can never say no to bacon wrapped anything.
Must Eat:
- Datil Bacon wrapped Dates: drool worthy
- Queso con Miel Fried Goat Cheese w/ honey: yummy!
Not bad:
- Brie Fundido Tosta w/ Wild Mushrooms: good, but not spectacular
- Filet Mignon Tosta Special
- Fried Date Croquettes w/ Cheese Special
- Hogaza de Lomo Tosta: Meh.
- Setas Tosta: Meh. (Recommended by random dude at bar...just average)
Don't eat:
- Sturgeon Special: BLEH (server raved about this, but worst dish of the night)
- Gambas Al Ajillo: Tiny shrimp swimming in a dish of oil
Summary:
The Sangria ain't worth it - go a few doors down to Boqueria for the best White Pear Sangria ever.
The Food's pretty great and the ambiance is fun although crowded.
Good for dates, bad for groups
Now where the hell is my alcohol?
If you're looking for a tapas place for a big group of people, this is it!
Sala 19 is much better suited for larger parties than the nearby Boqueria, or the delicious Oliva. But, you should still make reservations!
We were a group of 6, and ordered 8 tapas which was more than enough for our party (especially since an unlimited supply of bread will keep arriving at your table; in a classy way, not like the olive garden). My favs of the evening were the gambas and the fried goat cheese. The sangria was also pretty good, though the apples in it were kind of mushy.
The service was also top notch. The bread guys were very attentive, and so was our waitress. She even ran out after us because she thought we had forgotten something at the table.
Overall, a very pleasant dining experience that will certainly be repeated!
Nothing too memorable about this tapas place, except for the quaint decor and vibrant feel of New Yorkers enjoying a dinner after a long hard day of work. A friend and I waited for 20 minutes and the owner/host felt bad so he sent us a port wine after we finished our meal. They should rename this street tapas district not flatiron since there seems to be so many places around this area.
Regarding the menu, pretty standard stuff... the bread with prosciutto and tomatoes was excellent.
Came here with my co-workers and although we had a difficult time finding a place to sit down and mingle, we had a great time here. Drinks were good and tapas were amazing (not as good as what i had in madrid but they were good).
I would definitely come back here.
Quick and efficient service. Seated promptly on a crowded Wednesday night. The Brie fundido with mushrooms was phenomenal, as were the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds. Veggie croquettes were also adequately tasty. Dark, sultry ambience. Tasty fruity sangria - though at ~30 bucks for a pitcher, it was half of our check. I'd say we got about 7.5 glasses out of it though so not bad.
GREAT FOOD! Good service. Loved their calamari, red sangria, grilled duck on toast, mussles in sauce; YUMMY!!!!
So after living in Spain, I had been on a search for good Spanish food and good Sangria (which is surprisingly hard to get!!).
I have been to Sala 19 twice and gotten alot of different dishes - jamon serrano sandwich, tortilla espanola sandwich, gazpacho, and red wine sangria. All I can say is every time I eat there I am transported back to Spain. The food I have had there is all delicious and AUTHENTIC. The sangria tastes like the real thing I promise!
Ugh now I want to go back there hahha I will just have to wait.
I've had their tortilla espanola, croquetas, gambas, patatas bravas, and of course their sangria, which are my usual staples at a tapas restaurant. They were decent, but in no way superior in taste or price to the tapa bars in San Francisco. With so many fabulous restaurants in NYC, I wouldn't say that I'd come back solely for their tapas or drinks.
But what I WILL come back for is the vieiras (pan seared scallops entree). They're drizzled w/ a yummy green sauce and sit on top of a squash patty. So it's because of those scrumptious little things that make this tapas restaurant a total stand out for me.
I had a few friends up for the weekend and we originally tried to get in to Boquiera for a 9:30 dinner... to no avail, even after we called and the waitress insisted we wouldn't have a problem getting in...
So the 6 of us walked about a block down and stumbled upon Sala. The hostess sat us right away (to the chagrin of a group of 6 who had been waiting, and apparently being assholes to her. Pays to treat people like humans...) the interior was interesting, but I wouldn't call it bad- it looked almost like it shoud've been a tuscan Italian place.
Anyway, we ordered two pitchers of sangria (could've been better, it was a bit watered down) and a whole bunch of food to split... I highly recommend the the duck, portobello mushroom tostas, the brie tostas with ham... all of it was fantastic, but the steamed mussels in white wine sauce could've been more fresh.
The service was impecable- because we had so many plates the busboys were super attentive in clearing as we devoured our food, so it seemed a bit rushed, but that wasn't in any way their fault. I do think this is better for groups who want to share a bunch of things, as the portions aren't so big.
The bill for all 6 of us including tip, food, and drink, left us each only paying $32- a total steal!
Great happy hour spot that I think ends at 7pm. They have good Sangria that is 2 for 1 for happy hour. They used to do 2 for 1 for all drinks, but I think that ended. It gets crowded on thursdays and fridays after work, but it's one of the best happy hour deals in chelsea.
As for food, go with the portabello mushrooms, they are really good. You also can't go wrong with bacon wrapped dates.
Went here with a group of 9 people on a Friday night, 6:30pm reservations.
Interior is a little strange but the walls and floor and interior archways make you feel like you're outdoors in some candlelit promenade. You feel that way until you look up and see a ceiling awkwardly painted gold. Still, it's nice and dark and great for friends. A bit loud for a date I would say.
Recommended foods: Brie and ham on toast, roasted artichokes, shrimp in garlic and oil and serrano ham croquettes.
DO NOT order the cheese platter unless you want one of the funkiest cheeses ever. Super pungent, extremely musky taste. It tasted like liquid concentrate of the worst armpits on planet earth. I managed to choke it down but the only reason I'm still here today to type this is thanks to a heaping jug of sangria (which was enjoyable, red and white, although light on the fruit).
Paella gets a 7/10 from me. It serves two but the portions aren't monstrous as I usually expect paella to be. Rice could've used more seasoning but the goodies are nice. Could've used more shrimp.
I doubt I'll come back but it was a nice experience.
Service was fantastic - maybe too good, were they rushing us out of there b/c we weren't ordering drinks?
I'll leave the conspiracy theories alone for today, but I thought Sala's food was good. I made the mistake of ordering the cold meat and cheese platter, not that it wasn't good, just not as tasty as the other, cooked treats.
I thought the other food was solid, but not spectacular. Prices were a bit high for what we got, we ended up spending 65 bucks (including tip) with no drinks for two people. I can find a better deal than that.
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Category: Tapas Bars
My friend thinks that first dates should be an…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
These are tried and true places to take that…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
