Salinas

10/10/2014

My girlfriend and I came in here with no reservation and it seemed like this place was booked, however they found seating for us in the dining room area and it was great! The dining room area was lovely with all the huge Ecuadorian roses, it's definitely a romantic, charming area to dine. Great place to bring a date.

The food was absolutely delicious! we had the Crudo tapa which we thought was the best dish and, of course as seafood lovers, we each ordered the Paella which was delicious! The whole restaurant was staring at the dish as it came out! We got so full we didn't order any dessert! As far as drinks we ordered some cocktails and they were very tastey and well made.

Overall, not only the food but the customer service there was what helps gives this place 5 stars because they offered us a table at the dining room after we were about to eat in the lounge area, the waiter was excellent giving us information about the food, and the host/hostess were very nice as we entered and left.

10/11/2014

Pricy!
The cocktails were good. But sangria was not.
Tapas were in so small portion. :-(

10/7/2014

Salinas was where my boyfriend took me to celebrate our 6-month anniversary. This place is delightfully charming, romantic, and mysterious - perfect for an intimate date being surrounding by romance. Definitely a gem. The ambiance is perfect. As soon as you walk in, you face a very Parisian bar with plush tall chairs and a bevy of roses and flowers await you.

The dining area is beautiful, although I wished they opened up the section of the restaurant that was closed for a private event. But nonetheless, it was a one of a kind experience.

The paella with was the most delicious. :-) wine was yummy.

10/4/2014

Came here on a Tuesday night for my birthday. We had made reservations but we probably did not need them.

For food, we shared the Paella. DELICIOUS. I may even dare to say that it was worth the $60. Do GET.

Definitely a place to go on a cute date with someone. Make sure you're ready for the prices though!

10/4/2014

5 Stars.

NYC needs more restaurants like Salina's. I just had dinner there last night with my girlfriend and we were both equally impressed.

The staff was amicable as can be, we were seated promptly on arrival. There was no hassle when we asked to be seated in the back by the fireplace. Everyone from the hostess to the bus boy were on point.

The ambience is one of a kind; everything is reflecting elegance and intimacy. The beautiful bouquet of flowers, the many candles, the lit fireplace; this is the place to impress a girl during a date. The crowd was also very clean cut and everyone looked like they were having a great time chatting or just taking in the music and the food.

We had the lamb and merghez in rice appetizer with a cloud of citrus atop it. Absolutely mouth watering, and a great potion for a tapa. Then came our paella for two. Phenomenal, I love paella and this is one of the best ones I've ever had in the city. The rice were cooked right and the seafood and chicken mixed in was delicious. Our two glasses of sangria helped everything settle in.

We skipped on dessert but I will not be quickly forgetting my experience here in Salina's.

10/12/2014

Second time here.. As good as my first time.. Great food in an amazing beautiful restaurant.. Can't wait for next time..!

9/26/2014

Last night was my second visit to Salinas and it was very good - the food and service are amazing.  The one peeve I have is the octopus.  I had it the first time at 10pm at night in June - sent it back - it was like rubber - thought it was a late Friday night slip up..  The wait staff agreed and said the kitchen apologized - offered a replacement dish but I declined and shared my friend's tapas which was excellent (like everything else).  

Went back last night (early evening Thurs) and ordered the octopus- it was better - not great and still not tender.  I guess I've been spoiled by Bobby Flay's former Bolo or the top Greek restaurants in NYC that really tenderize their octopus.  I still had to do some major chewing on this octopus and my bf tasted it an agreed.  I didn't send it back - it wasn't awful but wasn't great.  

The special Red Snapper was fantastic and the coconut rice pudding is very good.  Love their red sangria and drinks and the staff is over the top amazing and attentive.

Will go back soon.

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  Red wine sangria

  Red wine sangria
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  Coconut rice pudding

  Coconut rice pudding

9/26/2014

While the front of the house staff was professional and pleasant, and the decor was lovely (the flowers are really stunning), the meal itself was not good.

We ordered the bass (which was ok) and the octopus bomba rice (terrible).

The rice dish came with a small octopus leg (about the size of a small fingerling potato).  The octopus was charred, tough, tiny and bad.  Given that it takes 40 minutes to prepare this dish, I was amazed that this would be the result.

The rice itself had literally nothing in it, maybe a few pieces of wilted mushrooms.  And the only flavor imbued in the rice was the char from I presume the paella pan it was cooked in, and salt, salt and more salt.  At $28 for this single entree, this really was a poor offering.

Avoid this place.

9/24/2014

From the scent of fresh lilies and roses that permeated the air from the moment we entered, to the incredible candle light placement throughout the restaurant, to the background music, this must be one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC. What a great find. Absolutely loved it!

And of course, the food was incredibly delicious - in fact, one of the dishes was so good that we ordered it twice!! - as was the wine selection. Honestly, even the bathroom with its dimmed lights and fresh lilies matched the restaurant's overall mood! ;) I was here during daytime once and it was romantic and lovely, but being there in the evening is something else - makes for an amazing date. Will definitely be back!

10/6/2014

This place is perfect for a date night! It's a small little restaurant (as many New York restaurants go) but the food is big on taste. My girlfriend is vegetarian, and I'm a huge meat eater, so a tapas restaurant was perfect for us. We got the Arroz Murciano (vegetarian paella) that had great flavor. The restaurant has a cute back seating area that is outdoors but has branches/leaves that line the top to make it feel indoors. If you need a good spot for a dinner date, go here!

9/22/2014

We went to Salinas with friends visiting from Japan and Italy and as we arrived we discovered to have a corner seat which was very nice. Ambiance was fantastic - it gives a very chic atmosphere. We ordered paella for 2 and a bunch of tapas and that was enough for us. We also had dessert which was super delicious. Met owner's daughter outside as she was sitting with her dog. Very friendly, down to earth - works for dad to help run the business.
Highly recommended.

10/9/2014

What a great choice to take our friend to make her feel special for her birthday. Such a beautiful restaurant with the fresh flowers and perfectly lit. We loved all the food from the fried artichokes to the octopus, shishito peppers, fried garbanzos and finish with the torreja. Wow! Great service great food and such an amazing atmosphere.

9/26/2014

The restaurant is filled with flowers so it gives a very romantic vibe (you can buy the flowers there too). After you enter the restaurant, you pass a short hallway to get to the main dining area which is split into patio sitting and indoor sitting. The restaurant uses minimal lighting so it may not be good for children.
The food is great. My husband and I got one main dish and three small dishes and we were comfortably full.
Baked goat cheese, potatoes, lamb and rice were the small dishes we got which were very tastey and rice with octopus was the main dish for us.
The food was not too heavily seasoned and the staff were very friendly.  I would come back to try other  dishes on the menu or try new dishes on the menu (I think they change the menu to keep it fresh).

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  Middle area

  Middle area
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  Side seating (booth)

  Side seating (booth)
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  Gateway to terrace

  Gateway to terrace

8/21/2014

I am IN LOVE with this place, why it took me to long to discover is beyond me! 1st and foremost this place is absolutely gorgeous! Huge displays of long stem roses EVERYWHERE you looked. It smelled divine! It is most certainly the most perfect date spot ever. My friend was saying the day she gets married she will be hosting her bridal shower there. lol

As for the food- I had a bit of a hard time finding what to eat here because my diet is mainly vegetarian based. However, I did try all the non meat dishes and they were so very good.

Staff was very attentive and very friendly. Always a huge plus.

Finally, I have to mention the bathroom....it was like a spa! Simple, beautiful, fresh flowers and candles. I wanted to just go to sleep on the floor! ha!

A MUST GO.

10/13/2014

My boyfriend and I came her for our 5 year anniversary.  This place was recommended by our hotel we were staying at. This place is great the waiters were so friendly the food was incredible and the owner was so friendly and wished us a happy anniversary.  The place is so romantic and cute and comfy. Can't wait to come back here.

8/28/2014

The ambiance in this restaurant is to die for. I'm a big floral fan and the huge bouquets of roses everywhere made me melt.

Came here on a double date and the most memorable dish was the bass they had on special. It was so delicious! The white sangria was also quite good but strong (but then again, i think every drink is strong). The patatas bravas were TINY. Like small little cubes. Tasty but I would like my potatoes a bit bigger. I liked the rock octopus app as well but it was pretty small. The artichoke was good but a little oily. We all shared the Nuestra Paella for 2 which was plenty. It was good but not amazing. I prefer my paella from Soccarat. The rice pudding was very interesting with the manchego foam- very unique and tasty!

We sat in a rounded booth which made the seating very comfortable for 4. Everyone got to be on a cushiony couch instead of having to eye each other for who gets to sit there.

All in all, I would say the food was decent, ambiance was gorgeous, and I had a nice time here.

10/10/2014

great.  had artichoke app and the rice and crab dish. my wife had the special branzino.   all was terrific.

10/11/2014

Small, Salty and Oil-laden portions.  This alleges to be a Mediterranean Cuisine in the Spanish tradition.  Rather than the predominant flavors being high grade olive oil and garlic, it's salt and a vegetable oil blend that is certain to make your small portion only a "quick rental".  Sit near the bathroom.  The seafood stew was a ladle of salty, oily broth, devoid of rice or anything to balance the overwhelming salt.  The first time I visited, I did enjoy the paella rice, except for the overcooked seafood that tasted like bait.  The service was very pleasant however the management seemed used to frequent complaints and followed me out seeking feedback.

8/24/2014

Decor and ambiance are romantic (candles and pink roses everywhere, with soft, relaxing background music). Great for an intimate date!

We had the patatas bravas, garbanzos crujientes, plato charcutero, and croquetas de cochinillo. The food was good but not awesome - the meat plate was especially underwhelming. It came with a bunch of average meat and only 5 crackers...

We got mango flan and chocolate/pistachio tartine for dessert - I recommend both. Flan was refreshing and tartine was more decadent.

9/25/2014

The decor is beyond gorgeous. There are beautiful flowers everywhere, heaven. Just thought the food was overpriced, the portions were a tad small.

8/23/2014

Great place. Definitely a must go in the city. A bit overpriced but definitely worth it.

Very good wine selection.  Do not worry about what to order,  everything is delicious.

The service is impeccable and the decoration receives a 5 stars.

Great dining place for a very special occasion or a romantic time.

9/18/2014

Solid Spanish style tapas and paella. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. The flower arrangements and candles make for a perfect date night dinner venue. We had to wait over 30 minutes for our table to be ready, but the manager noticed and bought my group a round of drinks and apps for the inconvenicne. I'll definitely be back.

7/23/2014

My gosh this place is gorgeous.

I was with a friend scoping out places for a group dinner, and this one popped up on Yelp. We sat in the lounge to grab a bite, you know, for research. We ordered the cucumber gazpacho, croquetas, and boquerones al mojo picon.

The food is very good quality and interesting flavors. I liked the boquerones the best. The anchovies with the guacamole was a delicious combination. Loved the aioli that accompanied the croquetas. I found the cucumber gazpacho to be a little too vinegary, but otherwise it was good. The thing that knocks it down a star for me is that the portions are very tiny, especially for the high price tag. Even though we were just ordering a few items to sample, I feel like for an actual dinner,  we'd have to order at least 6 dishes for two petite girls to get filled up.

Nonetheless, it is a beautiful spot and the service was very good. I would still consider it a good place for a group dinner (as long as everyone can afford it).

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  Gazpacho

  Gazpacho
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  boquerones and croquetas

  boquerones and croquetas

7/30/2014

3.5 for the food
6 for the decor

My jaw dropped when we arrived and were seated in the middle of the garden area. Wow. Just wow. It's like you're dining in the garden of Eden. I've never seen so many flowers and candles. For ambiance alone, this is a 5. Snag a corner table for a romantic or sexy date.

As for the food, some were hits, some were slight misses, which is why I give it a 3.5. Highlights, however, include the patatas bravas. I always order this dish as a litmus test, and I would say these are the best I've ever had. Spicy and crispy.  The other standout is a paella. We were a party of 4, but ordered the size for 2. It was just perfect. Mind you, if this is your only dish, size up.

I will be back to eat and canoodle in one of those dark corner tables, for sure!

9/19/2014

Tapas feeds the little beastie in me who wants to sample everything on the menu. Salinas portions are perfect for two, and nothing disappointed. I found the price to be reasonable, especially because of the quality of the food. The professionalism, service, atmosphere and food all lend itself to Salinas being a 5 star resto.

7/17/2014

The place is beautiful,my girlfriend likes there.

The food,for me not any special!

The service,not bad! But they almost don't wait our appetizer finish,then the main dish came!  This point I don't like.
And also didn't pour us wine
And the wine glass is not glasses!

The price,be conclusion,not worth it!

8/12/2014

Couldn't be happier with my experience here. I came here last night with 6 people (three couples) and we all loved it. First of all the ambiance is amazing. I really did not feel like I was in the city once we made it to the back of the restaurant, which was open and outside. The flowers and candles were all so romantic and warm, it is truly one of the best in the city. The space was small and cozy but the service was very friendly and everyone was extremely attentive. The only thing I would have changed about the back area would be to add a bit more lighting. It got pretty dark once the sun set.

Now, for the food we tried everything... we had about 12 tapas and shared the Rib-Eye for two, along with two pitchers of Sangria. My favorite tapas were the Crispy Artichokes, the Seared Canarian Rock Octopus, the Baked Murcian Goat Cheese and the Tomato Salad was to die for. There was not one tapas that we did not all enjoy.

The Rib-Eye for two we all shared, and along with all of the tapas it was actually the perfect amount of food between the 6 of us. We each got a few slices of the steak which was one of the best I've had in the city. I would come back just for the Rib-eye and I plan to!

Overall it was a bit on the pricier side at about $80/person including tip. But considering everything we got to try and the two pitchers for sangria, I do not regret anything. I highly recommend this restaurant for a romantic date night or even a quiet but delicious night out with girl friends. Looking forward to coming back here soon!

7/30/2014

Stunning, beautiful, luxurious views in the garden area with the sliding roof. Fresh flowers consume you as you walk around in this back area of the restaurant. The restaurant entrance does not prepare you enough for the beauty that is to come within. If you just grab a drink in the front bar/lounge section, you miss all the beauty that's a small hallway away.

Paella was good. Tapas seemed more like appetizers. Was just a bit pricey. But I would definintely come back again just for the views!

8/31/2014

We have visited the pleasant Chelsea spot several times, but due to traveling had not been for over a year.
All I can say is they must be under new ownership, we were eagerly looking forward to their suckling pig, preceded by various appetizers, but arrived to find a completely different menu.
No suckling pig, except in the form of appetizer mini sandwiches, and the whole menu is now a limited selection of tapas along with a few rice plates.
The tapas we ordered were mediocre at best, but I was especially annoyed by a paella type vegetarian rice dish, which described succulent vegetables and arrived with some limp piecs of brocoli and canned straw mushrooms.
The food was pretty bad, but what is worse is that no restaurant employee, from bus boy to waiter on up, appeared to be the slightest bit interested in hearing about our disappointment.
This one's a no return for us.

8/3/2014

The layout and structure of the establishment is not functional. A small, narrow hallway is the only path for waiters, hostesses, and customers to walk through to the main tables. Once seated, the lighting was so dark that many people had to use their phones to read the menus. The chairs were clunky and it was difficult for people to pass by.
The paella took a good 45 minutes to come out; and the rest of the tapas were a bit greasy and overpriced. The food wasn't anything particularly memorable. I've heard good things about the garden; perhaps that is worth checking out but personally, I wouldn't go back.

9/8/2014

Amazing food. Wide variety of unique dishes. We had the seafood paella and it was outstanding! The staff was wonderful and made great recommendations. Beautiful atmosphere, although we didn't get to see the outdoor seating as there was a private event taking place.

7/19/2014

Salinas is a very solid tapas restaurant. It is expensive. By default when you go to tapas restaurant you anticipate to order many or at least quite a few mini dishes and experience a great variety of foods and flavors, but with prices of $18 and $26 per one tapa - a couple can easily spend around $200+ with a drink or maximum two. Service is great, nice presentation, very good taste, tiny portions (even for tapas).
In summary - definitely worth a visit for a romantic date or just a night out, but only if you have am extra $200-$300 to spare.

6/24/2014

The ambiance was magic. The outdoor space in particular is really special.

The food. Excellent. Flavorful. Well prepared. Thoughtfully plated. The tuna ceviche and patatas bravas were particular standouts.

The combination of food, ambiance and service makes this restaurant a success. It

10/5/2014

Excellent food great service nice ambiance we really enjoyed there tapas I would love to go there again thank you

5/24/2014

So, I was planing a friend's birthday dinner and was doing research on many places. Came across this little gem and couldn't be happier!!!
This place is awesome!!

Very intimate,  very romantic, amazing ambiance. Service was very on point!  Food was delicious!!!! And the white sangria is to die for!!! My friend and I split a pitcher, had a tough time walking after, but it went down like juice. Yum!!
The perfect place for a romantic date. If I could give it 10 stars I would!

5/20/2014

I've been here three times now. The first two times were outstanding; this past visit was so, so disappointing. What made this restaurant unique was that it wasn't just another high-priced tapas restaurant. It had some truly delicious food with a gorgeously romantic ambiance. Now, all the dishes that stood out (razor clams, fideos rossejat rapida) have been "transitioned off the menu".

During our most recent visit we tried some new dishes to us which included the foie gras, and their pulpo dish. "Meh" all around. The foi gras was more or less bland and the pulpo was just not a fave of mine.

We of course ordered the paella, which truthfully is just not their jam. I prefer mine a bit more crispy, plus I bit into too much chicken gristle as well as a bone (yuck).

Of course this place is spectacular on a summer's night. They open the roof and you're surrounded by freshly cut flowers. But, My hubby and I resolved that our fave restaurant is no longer our fave, and we will alas never return :(

8/18/2014

Two of my colleagues and I came here last Wednesday night for a final dinner in New York.  We picked it because it looks so pretty in pictures and it is!  As well as kind of romantic.  I'm sure the rain beating down on the roof added to that as well.  But we laughed about it and had a great time.  Their specialty cocktails (at least the two we got) weren't very good but the wine was tasty.  Definitely stick with the wine.  Our appetizers were really good.  Manchego cheese is my favorite so that was a must.  The blood sausage and beets were also tasty.  For dinner we each got a paella & with all the seafood oils in many of them I was only able to get the vegetarian one but it was good.  The real winner here though was the DESSERT!  Oh my heaven!  We ordered three to share and bread pudding and chocolate pistachio.  Very cute little place and we had a great time.

6/6/2014

This restaurant really has it all if you don't mind spending the money.

1. The decor is stunning. Good place for a date or a girls night out
2. The service was spot on. It was my friend's birthday and while we opted out of dessert they brought us complimentary cocktails
3. The food was amazing. For two people we got 2 tapas, the baked goat cheese and foie gras (ask for more bread!). We split the rabbit rice dish and had a side of the patatas bravas. This was the perfect amount of food for the two of us. I wish i could swim in a bowl of the patatas bravas.. what is the sauce? someone please tell me because its delicious and i want to put it on everything.
4. Wine list was pretty reasonable, starts at $45 a bottle and goes up from there
5. Good location to go out afterwards

9/27/2014

Excellent! I love Tapas, and this place was phenomenal. It was not one element that made it great, it was the sum of it's parts. I am shocked to find such an absolutely perfect restaurant.

5/6/2014

Salinas inspires a whole range of intense emotions.

Fear, because you're nearly 15 minutes late and you know they will give your table away (like they did the last time). So you run in anxiously, and see your friend sitting right by the doorway, patiently waiting with a smile. You hug her quickly as she stands up and speaks to the hostess in one sophisticated swoop. TaDa! You've made it just before the buzzer.

Joy, because the glorious main dining room feels like an airbrushed still when you walk to your table. Still catching your breath from the "walk" from the subway, you immediately notice elegant bouquets of pink and white roses and tall candles and other pretty stuff in the middle of the room.  And because the food, though salty in some areas (probably your own fault for ordering both appetizer and entrée that contained Murcian cheese), is just above decent, somewhat justifying the steep price that you know you'll pay.

Love, because as the meal comes to an end, you realize you've enjoyed everything, especially the chocolate and pistachios dessert: the epitome of a molten chocolate cake with homemade pistachio gelato. What is there not to love?

Jealousy, because as you're leaving, you find yourself staring at the anxious people, packed in the sexily decorated modern lounge waiting to uncover Salinas' riches. You force a smile, as you remember the gracious owner sincerely thanking you for coming.