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Category: Tapas Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Chelsea23rd St-8th Ave (C, E)
Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
"Best egg salad sandwich - at brunch they put smoked salmon on it. Pretty awesome, I gotta say. I know it's hard to get excited for an egg…" read more »
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At 6PM on a Thursday night, the wait for a table of two was just under an hour. And though I usually shrug off any wait longer than 20 minutes, I'm happy that the boyfriend and I parked our butts on a small bench outside and waited. The tapas proved to be some of the more innovative we've had in a while, and we'd return.
The restaurant is on the narrow side and nearly half of the space is taken up by the bar. This translated into seating that isn't really the most comfortable: if you are not sitting at a packed bar, bordered on one side by a line of people waiting, then you are seated at tall stools, with your feet dangling, at tiny tables against a wall. There is a private dining area in the back for larger parties, and a table (or two?) for 4-6 people-- but ultimately, this place is very much a tapas "bar." Still, crowded, noisy, and hot (there's a somewhat open kitchen) are all part of the festive experience, and are nothing that a little wine can't mediate.
While I can't say so much for our waitress, the hostess was extremely friendly. So friendly that-- oh, wait, was she hitting on my boyfriend??? She greeted patrons with a smile, never giving that better-than-thou attitude that so many hostesses adopt at a crowded hotspot. Always warm and (a little too!!!!) friendly, she definitely set the atmosphere for the night. Unfortunately, our waitress did not have the same luxury. I don't think there was one point during the night that she was not running around. Service thus suffered, that though serviceable, was a little harried.
We started with a pitcher of red wine sangria, strong and not-too-sweet. The menu is separated into hot and cold plates, along with a variety of cheeses and desserts. Patanas bravas were sufficiently spicy, and the croquettes were delicious. One of my favorite plates was the crispy fish, that though somewhat unappetizing in presentation, were explosive with flavor. The paquetitots with jamon Serrano, artichoke, and manchego were the highlight of the night. It came with three pieces and the boyfriend and I actually fought over the last one!
The chorizo con chocolat that everyone raves about was interesting but not to my taste. I found the toasted bread it was served on to be too hard--almost painful, in fact. The tuna stuffed with marinated white anchovies was also a big miss, and I would pass on this for something on the specials list. We also had their house cheese plate to end our meal, and while the valdeon was superior, the manchego was stale.
I caution that plates are extremely small. Everything really is just a "taste," which probably makes Tia Pol better for dates than a group. Prices do add up. I can't recall what else we ordered but I do remember the bill being a little on the extravagant side.
Of course, the real raison d'etre to try out or even return to Tia Pol is the dessert. The leches fritas, fried milk with drunken cherries, were amaaaazing and something I still think about today! Warm, custardy, fried packages that were simultaneously sweet and sour, they were the perfect, luxurious ending to our meal. I would not hesitate to return just for a glass of wine and dessert at the bar--provided the wait isn't too long.
There has always been a warm little corner of my heart reserved for tapas. What could be more perfect than a few bites each of an endless parade of dishes? New flavors, spices, textures, and surprises come in rapid succession, all washed down with plenty of good wine. Plus, for some reason, tapas restaurants are always more *fun* -- louder, warmer, more boisterous.
Tucked away in Chelsea, Tia Pol is a bit of a hike from the subway (especially on such a cruelly cold night for early November). But, if you arrive breathless and chilly, you'll tilt back out into the night a few hours later, warmed through and with a full, happy belly.
Being a lover of all things potato, I have to begin by saying that Tia Pol serves the very best patatas bravas I've ever had. The ones at Casa Mono are so exotic they hardly warrant the name (though are fabulously delicious) and the ones at Boqueria are cut too small and have too little sauce. Tia Pol gets the traditional fried, spicy potato with paprika aioli just right. The pieces of potato were big enough to have a crispy exterior and soft fluffy interior but still be happily bite-sized. The creamy, spicy aioli was just abundant enough to make you press the bits of potato into the corners of the dish for more but not drown the poor spuds.
Other standouts included a bruschetta with fried rock shrimp and pimenton with a tiny dab of lemon cream (salty, slightly spicy, creamy and crispy all at once) and a spicy roast pork sandwich. We also really enjoyed a cold salad of baby greens with fried artichoke hearts and leaves, white asparagus, and creamy lemon vinaigrette. The only miss here were the asparagus (out of season and thus apparently out of a jar....boo) and the fact that the artichokes would have achieved perfection had they been hot (I believe all things fried should be served hot). We finished the evening off with a plate of smoking hot seared & blistered green peppers tossed with sea salt -- SO addictive!
Tia Pol is a very crowded (very tiny) restaurant. They do take reservations, but we hadn't made one. We arrived early, around 6:30pm and waited a little over a half an hour for a seat at the bar. The hostess had told us it would be a 30 minute wait, so she gave us a small plate of fried garbanzos for free as compensation (I was impressed, since the wait had only been a few minutes longer than promised, hardly something we even noticed). Those who arrived after 7pm waited over an hour to be seated. So, if you can plan ahead for it, make a reservation -- we certainly will the next time we return...which I hope will be very soon!
I thought it was good but it wasn't SOOOO good. Maybe because whoever introduced me to tapas described it as "Spanish dim sum", but I always have trouble reconciling the price of tapas with the amount of food. Dim sum, unlike tapas, is almost always really cheap and hence quite filling because you can eat a lot without much financial damage.
To be fair, Tia Pol is pretty inexpensive and generously portioned for tapas. And to be honest, no one seeks out tapas when they're starving either. Have you heard anyone say, "Dude, I'm starving! I could eat a cow! Oooh, let's go to TAPAS!" before? So if you're in the mood for a light meal then tapas is a reasonable choice.
But I digress. Suffice to say that the food at Tia Pol is savory and tasty but as a naturally big eater, I'm just not a huge fan of tapas.
Anyway, the highlights of yesterday's meal - a.k.a. Everything Fried + the Shrimp:
- rough cut potatoes with a spicy sauce so addicting and that we asked for extra bread to sop it up.
- crispy fried fish
- ham croquettes
- leche frita: very similar to the Chinese fried milk that you can get at dim sum
- shrimp with the head on had a nice flavor and the plump meat was nice and firm
Lowlights of the meal, a.k.a. Everything Not Fried:
- special chanterelle & hen-of-the-woods mushrooms + egg dish - really not good. It was musky and tasted faintly of bleach.
- special salt cod on baguette dish that surprisingly came in a mayo dressing. Hmm, there was no indication on the menu that this was a FISH SALAD. The waiter also grazed his hairy arm against the top of my fish while clearing some other plates so I had to remove that portion from my bread. Of course, he was so charming that I forgave him.
- chorizo con chocolate was not spectacular despite the rave yelp reviews. The thin slices of chorizo were cold (maybe it was just our order) and I felt that the bitter dark chocolate overwhelmed the taste of the sausage.
- almond cake was waaaay too sweet. The fact that it was served with even sweeter vanilla ice cream made it worse.
Have to admit they made a pretty great sangria too. Our waiter was great, very young and smiley. Seating is intimate though slightly uncomfortable. I wouldn't be adverse to coming here again because while it may be my first choice for tapas in NY, it's not my first choice for dinner.
I am a sucker for tapas restaurants. Take me anywhere and feed me wine, cheese and meat and I am good to go. Tia Pol in this odd fringe spot of 10th ave does a mediocre job of this genre - if you are in the area and dying for tapas, go for it, but tapas are done much better in other spots.
Yay, I'm a fan ! That is true... Nice nice place, unfortunately too small... Always a wait at the door... But the food is definitely worth waiting... It is amazing food, well priced... Always positively surprised when i get the check... Service is good for what it is... Love it... will go back soon...
GREAT SPECIALS !!
For some odd reason, Manhattan is not particularly known for having good tapas (perhaps the lingering curse of our mediocre Mexican restaurants?) and Tia Pol is no exception. We are giving it 4 stars however as it definitely deserves a "Best of the Worst" rating.
The restaurant is tiny, with several tables for two and a suck-your-gut-in bar area with maybe 6 stools and three times as many people waiting for a table. We went to Tia Pol on a Saturday at 6PM and arrived just before the crowd - we were able to get a table right away in the partially full restaurant however within about 20 minutes, the customary throng of people was waiting in the bar area.
The food was OK - we had:
- the deviled eggs (which tasted like dijon mustard and for $1 per half egg we kind of expected....more)
- some kind of octopus special which was described as "carpaccio" but looked like it was butchered by a blind person. The dish was bland (but not fishy!) except for some very spicy peppers
- the salt cod special, which was kind of like cod salad on bread, that was the best dish
- jamon and manchego cheese pockets - the jamon was sooo salty, but the filling was quite good
- the patatas bravas - probably the best thing that we ate and also quite a large portion size, although there was so much cream sauce that we were completely full after this dish
Nice atmosphere, would go here on a Tuesday. Early.
Some places, especially restaurants, are not worth long lines and second chances - but I sure am glad I gave Tia Pol that second chance.
Our first attempt at Tia Pol, we were told the wait was around 40 minutes. We stuck it out, sitting on the lonely little bench outside, and chatted until the time has passed, only to be told that it was going to be an additional 25 minutes wait. Pass.
The second time, with a smaller party, we had more luck, and were seated promptly after about 40 minutes wait during which we celebrated (? just what were we celebrating?) over some delicious sangria. Our waiter was attentive and explained each dish pretty well. We went for a goat shank, which was one of the daily specials, the pork loin sandwich, chorizo with chocolate, razor clams and the lamb skewers. Personally, the razor clams and the goat shank were my favorites of the night. The broth of the razor clams was flavorful without being too heavy, it was so addictive that we requested bread so we could dip it in bread. HMM heaven. The goat shank was also very tasty - flavorful without being too heavy. The pumpkin puree on the side was a surprising yet very complimentary flavor to the dish.
The food was wonderful, but I thought prices were a little steep - service was great, waiters were obviously knowledgeable about their food. Give Tia Pol a chance, or another chance and you won't regret it!
LOVE IT
usually go at least 2 times a week.
My favorites are Chipirones en su tinta, Cochinillo(when available), pinchos morrunos, croquetas and basically anything you try will be amazing.
Definitely one of the best/ genuine tapas place in nyc. So happy its 1 block away from my house.
I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time, after hearing endless raves about it. I would say overall experience was a good one. Not like amazingly mouthwateringly (is that a word?) great, but simple.. good.
The wait was 30-40 minutes long, and i would say for two people that's a pretty long wait for a Wednesday night. I saw many people ask and just leave to another place across the street because they didn't want to wait..which is perfectly understandable considering it was a rainy icky random Wednesday night.
I know it's a small restaurant but I hate when there's a long wait and there's no bar area or area in general where you can sip on some wine or beer while you wait. You have to awkwardly stand in the middle of the hall to get seated, because the bar where you can order drinks is full of people eating dinner. It's hard to reach over them to scream at the bartender for a glass of pinot noir.
Anyway, I was tempted to go next door to Izakaya Ten (i love this place), but decided to wait the 30 minutes because this was my 2nd attempt to eat here. (You see, the first time the wait was 1.5 hours).
When we were seated, I immediately loved the seating, high table with bar type chairs- very 'datey'. I don't exactly know how a huge group would go there to eat (i wouldn't recommend it), especially because they don't take reservations.
Okay so the most important part- the food and wine! We ordered a bottle of a red (to be honest, I forget which bottle exactly.. but i remember the price? 34$! hahahaha). The wine was very tastey, but a little too sweet or something.. almost tasted like a port... like 25% of port in there or something.
Arctic Char- it was one of the specials they had going on that night. Quite honestly, I thought it was pretty bland. They topped the fish with some sort of marinade that contained of beans, onions, carrots etc. If it weren't for the exceptional quality of the fish (very fresh), taste wise..bland i would say.
Veal sweet breads (another special)- I would have to say.. highlight of my night. THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!!! I might be able to eat 5 plates of this. These little delights were fried on a bed of pureed corn and tomato.. it had a great texture, very ...hmm.. melt-in-your-mouth i would say. The sweetness of the corn cut through the richness of the sweetbreads. Just... amazing. Just... lightening-y (as Remy would say from Ratatouille).
Gildas- just a stick of olive and anchovy. (i wish they gave me like 5 pieces of anchovies..I was sad to see only 1)
Tuna stuffed with anchovies- not a huge fan. i thought this was pretty bland as well. I wish they stuffed it with like..5 anchovies but it was only 1. Sad again.
Salt cod carpaccio with Frisee salad- YUMYUMYUM loved this dish. the salad was dressed perfecto. I love a delicious salad and this is definitely worth it.
Razor clams and squid- Very good with bread. By itself- could be quite salty. With bread.. amazing. i loved the little squid pieces. Gave me a little smile :)
Chorizo con Chocolate- Very unique. Chocolate as a savory dish can be pretty awesome i would say.. I wasn't used to the flavor, but I would say, I would like to keep eating and trying it.
Overall- good experience. It's always fun to try a lot of small dishes instead of one huge dish. I would definitely come back here again, more sooner if i could make reservations :)
Celebrating a recent promotion, a good friend and I recently visited Tia Pol for a gorging and drinking fest of truly gluttonous scale. A couple of bottles of vino later, I hastily jotted down some notes of that night's menu into my Blackberry, as a few more drinks and I wouldn't even remember how to get home to my apartment.
Our gorge fest included:
Octopus terrine - A loosely compacted 'loaf' of tentacles, it had been gently cooked and seasoned, giving it a very pure octopus flavor and delicate texture. A must have if you like octopus.
Squid w/ its own ink over rice - A recommendation that came with high regards from our waiter. Unfortunately, the flavors were flat and totally uninteresting. Gummy white rice was drowned in a pool of black squid ink sauce. In the mercifully low lighting, the plate looked like a trainwreck.
Gambas - The beauty is in the simplicity of these jumbo crustaceans, as well as the tasty juice that's sucked out of the head, and Tia Pol did them justice.
Peekytoe crab salad - Served over simply grilled bread, it was one of the top dishes of the night. Very generous with the crab meat and very clean flavors. One thing to note with crab is that medium quality crab can be a little muddy tasting. I have to emphasize that the flavor of this crab was clean and bright, with a slight spike of acidity to bring it all together. Again, another dish where a good quality ingredient shines through.
Patatas bravas - A necessity for soaking up some of the wine. They're good here, but a good patatas bravas is a veritable commodity amongst the various Spanish tapas joints.
Lamb Skewers - I unfairly compared these to the $1 skewers that you'd get in Chinatown, but I felt like they weren't worth ordering again. Good, but nothing to write home about.
Razor clams and cockles in a wine/butter/shallot sauce - Although my stomach was at the point of bursting, we ordered a side of bread to sop up every last remaining bit of bi-valve scented butter sauce. Along with the crab salad, it's something I would order again in a heart beat.
I think there was a charcuterie platter somewhere in the mix. Must not have been memorable enough to note in this review.
As others have noted, the wait here can be a bit long during popular evenings (which is pretty much every night). But fret not, the wines are an excellent time killer. And if you're a bottle into the meal before you even sit down like we were, then you're certainly in for a delicious evening.
A friend had recommended Tia Pol and so I took their advice and had dinner here. I was a little skeptical at first, seeing as they don't accept reservations and not having a specific plan sometimes makes me anxious (I know, it's weird). I called ahead of time and they said it was only a 15-20 minute wait, so I'm there. Have a glass of wine at the bar (wine only bar) and wait for friends to arrive. Looking at the specials across the bar, I noticed that one was for Cod tongue. Cod tongue? Really? I thought that was a fish...? How could you eat a fish's tongue? In all honesty, I was thinking of a Goldfish sized fish and tongues, having no idea how big a Cod could be.
The rest of the party arrives and we're seated at a high table just before entering the back. I didn't look around too much, but seems as though you could have a pretty decent party in the back (would they take party reservations?). Our waiter and waitress were great; often asking us for a refill on wine right after the other had just asked us. While at the bar previously, I had done a little reconnaissance and asked the bartender what their favorite tapas dishes were. They pointed me to a number of items and we later decided to go with the artichoke salad, crispy marinated fish, lamb skewers, tuna stuffed with marinated white anchovies and the Cod tongue special of the day. I feel like there might have been one more dish, but can't quite recall; maybe due to the wine.
The artichoke salad was good, but I didn't find it amazing. Maybe I'm just not much a fan of artichoke, unless it's in a dip. The crispy marinated fish was excellent and easily one of my favorites. The lamb skewers were tender and the stuffed tuna was also tasty. The Cod tongue ended up being pretty good. It was fried and served on a spoon with some other accoutrements, of which I don't recall. And now I can say that I've eaten fish's tongue.
Overall, Tia Pol was well received. The tapas were tasty, the menu different and the price wasn't unreasonably high. On a side note, Tia Pol is located right near the Highline's 20th St & 10th Ave entrance, which makes for a good stroll so as to shed some of the calories you just consumed.
Lord of Spanish Tapas in NYC, how could I have forsaken you?
I haven't been here in far too long. In the meantime, I've tried many so-so places. They may have filled my belly, but they did not feed my soul. Or heart. Or LUST.
Came here on a Monday with two of my foodie favorites. We put down our name, went on a walk along the Highline, came back, and were first in line. Sitting here is very limited, and you'll be perched atop uncomfortable bar stools with smoke permeating your clothes and hair. But the food is well worth it. Everything is good, but my favorites are: the pan-fried chili peppers sprinkled with sea salt (daily special, I HOPE HOPE HOPE they have these again), chorizon con chocolate, and leche frita dessert.
Service is always good, and they have a great Spanish wine menu!
This is one of my favorite tapas joints. It's tiny so make reservations for large parties. I… Read more »
Since it was my second time at Tia Pol, I called ahead to check for the wait time on a spot for two. At 6 PM on a Tuesday there was no wait and so my friend and I threw on our coats and ran out the door. Ten minutes and a brisk walk later, we arrived and the place was packed! The hostess let us know that the place had literally filled up to capacity from the time we had called to our arrival. We put our names down and walked over to Billy's Bakery for a little sugar boost. An hour later we got a spot at the bar and the tapas feast ensued. Standouts included the current Veal Marrow on Toast special (which literally melts in your mouth), the deviled eggs (which are mustardy and smokey but just the right amount of each), and the squid with inky rice. The food isn't knock-your-socks-off good but it's cozy and warm, has good wine and intimate atmosphere. Perfect for those cold winter nights if your willing to brave the crowds.
This is a tiny place, very much in demand and crowded on a Friday evening! And I can see why. Quick, friendly service and delish savory tapas. Plus, it's all authentic -I'm a big fan of the real goods. Great place for light dinner. Definitely recommend coming a bit early to grab some seats! Otherwise, it's a long wait and plenty of standing! And because of this long wait, they'd like for those seated patrons to leave as soon as the check comes.
Amazing tapas! The best I've had in NYC. You would think a Spanish tapas joint would have a better selection of Cava... they only had two, one of the a rose, but that was forgivable.
The lamb skewers were friggin' fantastic, as were the patatas bravas.
It was just good food, a good vibe, an all around great experience.
I agree with other yelpers: New York just can't get tapas right. Why can't we be like Andalucia - buy a beer, get a delicious slice of tortilla espanola???
With that in mind, I'll say Tia Pol is probably the best tapas spot I've found in NYC. I went on a Monday night and it was pretty crowded - lots of parties of two, which seemed right for the tight space. We got there at 7pm and got one of the last available tables, but by 730 there was a substantial line.
I thought the Sangria was good - a glass means a full glass, which is refreshing since other spots around the city aren't so generous.
The tapas were pretty good for NY. The shellfish/clams dish was pretty awesome (ask for lots of bread to soak up the juice). The tortilla espanola and the ensalada de alcochofa were both pretty good but not spectacular. the special croquetas were bacalao, which I thought were also pretty good.
Good vibe, pretty good food, good drinks...Tia Pol deserves 4 stars, but, again, this is going by New York tapas standards.
As far as tapas go, this place is quite good....I still stick by my guns in declaring Las Ramblas my favorite NYC Tapas restaurant, but Tia Pol does tapas justice.
Tapas are a bit difficult for me, because I don't eat pork, and dislike many forms of shellfish (blame my Jewish parents). However, Tia Pol has many options other than those, which is not common amongst some tapas restaurants. The bravas are perfectly cooked with a mayo-paprika sauce that is very similar to many I had in Spain. The gambas are also cooked perfectly. On the more just OK side were devilled eggs (somewhat lackluster), and the orange flan (just not my thing).
Ambiance is very date friendly, akin to many tapas restaurants, darker and narrow, with the wooden tables. There is almost always an extremely long wait, unless you come around 6, 6:30.
The place is teeny with very few tables. When they tell you its an hour and 15 minutes wait, don't hesitate to go grab a drink elsewhere, because they really mean it will be longer. The good news is that while there are very few places that still feel like they were worth the wait after a full 2 hours, I'd venture a guess this is one of them. Plus, the little plate of fried chick peas the hostess gave us for our long wait really eased the pain - delicious!
The red wine sangria is delectable, and while pricey ($30 per pitcher), you get about 6 glasses out if it. My 2 friends and I split 2 pitchers and I was pretty sauced....
The tapas is sooo yummy. My favorites included the chorizo with chocolate (ohhh godddd sweet and savory goodness!), the fava bean on toast (fresh and yummy), and the sugar snap peas with ham (a special - fresh and flavorful). I would highly recommend the fried custard dessert - it is like balls of fried cheesecake with soaked dried cherries... heaven!!
I would recommend going there early or making side plans during the wait, however you should definitely check it out!
The most consistent place for tapas. The quality and service are excellent. I don't mind the small space - it adds to the authenticity!
Tia Pol is an authentic tapas bar with pleasing food and that fun, socially conducive hole-in-the wall feel. They have some nice wines (I'm always a sucker for a good Tempranillo), but I was certainly more impressed on intial visits rather than subsequent ones. In the beginning, it may have been the novelty of finding a true tapas bar that really got me giddy since it had tasty food across the board and nice Spanish wine at okay prices. However, as time has gone on, either they have been slipping a bit or the novelty has just worn off. Dishes like the squid ink and rice never get old, but the pork loin sandwich is one of those dishes I realized is a rip-off at 9 dollars and can be easily be made at home. It's definitely a place I recommend trying, but last visit's 120 dollar tab (2 ppl; tax and tip incl.) and long wait didn't exactly leave me yearning to return.
Atmosphere= unpretentious, social, hip...and staff were very nice all three times that I've been here. Also, food comes out quickly. Small portions so will add up but deliciously ;) Oh, and great for large groups cuz have a back room that seats up to 10 ppl.
Memorable dishes:
1) patatas bravas - yummy, yummy, yummy
2) croquetas - crispy, fresh, not greasy bundle of joy
3) razer clams and cockles - get bread cuz good to the last drop
4) squid in ink with rice - wish there was more rice to soak up the yummy sauce...
5) jamón serrano, artichoke, manche - jamon a little too salty but bundle still good
6) head on shrimp - yummy, wish there were more
7) chorizo with chocolate - delicate flavors so saveur to appreciate
8) fava bean puree, beyos cheese on toasted bread - very, very subtle flavors but generous spread. nice and light on crispy toast.
just ok:
chickpeas, lamb skewers, imported white asparagus (cold), octopus terrine
Sangria whether white or (prefer) red are good. Note: pitchers aren't cheap and will add up ;)
Overall = highly recommend! Enjoy!
Thanks for reading :)
Arrived close to six and got a table por dos immediately. A high table with high backless chairs. "oh no...please don't put me in that high chair..I'm not a baby!"
The truth is I'm a big baby and baby likes back and cushion. The delicious Spanish wine, tasty tapas and attentive service made up for the unfortunate seats.
The service got kinda sorta neglectful once it filled to capacity. Our server didn't bring over the crunchy bread he had promised. We asked once, twice...thrice no crunchy bread....Wah! Wah! Wah!
Check out their wine store, Tinto Fino located in the east village. I attend their tastings before I go purchase the same bottle for less at Astor wines.
BEST. COCHINILLO. EVER!!!
no self respecting pork-lover should miss this. it comes as a special, so if its there, order it. just close your eyes and dont think about the $29 price tag. it is so worth it, i wouldnt be surprised if you start pork-whoreing yourself.
the sangria is good, and the other tapas are good too. props to the lamb skewers, since i dont like lamb but their lamb rocks. with the crusty bread.
1. chorizo with bittersweet chocolate
2. razor clams
3. squid ink
4. asparagus with paramesan
5. tuna with anchovies
6. fried fish
7.
8.
I don't remember the rest, but all time favorite was the razor clams. Maybe I'm a big seafood fan, but the soup in that bowl was delicious! We kept asking for my bread to soak up the yummy goodness. The only downside was the 1.5 hour wait, but I'd always wait in a long line for great food. The sangria was a nice complement, and all my friends were (azn) glowing by the end of the night.
There are lots of things I hate about Tia Pol, but I love it so much that I forgive them for everything.
They don't have a full bar. The Sangria is just okay. But they've got an amazing wine selection and even though I know very little about Spanish wine, I tell the staff what we want and have never been even a little bit disappointed in what they bring.
I hate the seating. In fact, I think the best way to go there would be with a group of 6 or more, because those are the only comfortable tables. (I'm not sure if they take reservations for big parties.) However, after being halfway through glass of wine number two, you forget that your feet aren't touching the floor and that guy behind you who keeps hitting you with his elbow has gotten a lot cuter.
I hate the bar area, with its European-style coffee ledge which means that you have to push through to get to a table and you have to guard your waiting space with all your might.
However... the food is incredible. Incredible. Sooooo good. I've never had anything bad. Mmmm.... patatas, pork sandwich, croquettes. The staff is perfect. Friendly, knowledgeable, fast, attentive, and... attractive. So, we keep going back and it's always a great time.
Secret? They're open for lunch, and obviously not as crowded.
When my original plans for father's day fell through, I needed to find a new place to take my dad (and grandma) quickly - it was 4:30 and dinner was scheduled for 6.
Originally, I was so disappointed that I wasn't able to take my dad to this awesome Greek restaurant I love, but I'm actually glad that didn't work out - if it had, I would not have found this gem.
They only serve tapas - delicious tapas - and have a good choice of Spanish wine. For three people, we sampled 5 different dishes and were comfortably full. If you go, try the chorizo in sherry, the ham croquettes and the white asparagus salad - all yum-o (as Rachel Ray would say). The brandada was OK - honestly, I wouldn't order it again. It was a tad bit salty for my tastes. The patatas bravas are very good and a staple in the tapa world (they had these all over Barcelona). If you haven't tried them yet, go ahead, it's good.
The food prices are reasonable, the wine is a bit expensive. Perfect for an after work drink or a casual first date. Also great if you want to try something other than a traditional meal (my grandmother is old school Italian - "why is there no chicken on the menu?!?!?!" - but loved the experience regardless of the lack of poultry).
The restaurant itself is very small - 9 tables, a bar and a small back room. Starts to fill up after 6:30pm.
Met up with my friend Steve here for a much-needed glass (or two) of wine. I had a glass of their Rose wine and one of their white wines (don't remember their names but both were quite good). I liked that they give generous samples of the wines if you are unsure of what to order.
We did not try the food but everything looked yummy. I'll have to try that some other time.
Get the suckiling pig if it's available.
Try the squid ink.
The sangria is pretty good, too! A pitcher is about $30.
Tia Pol was among the top of my string of tapas bars serving anything pork. This was one of our first dates spot for me and Bo. We had to wait a bit to be seated at the bar but we actually enjoyed eating there because you can get better service from the bartender. I remember the succulent suckling pig the most. Later on, Bo clarified that suckling pigs are baby pigs that never had a chance. I was traumatized for a few days and swore my New Year's resolution would be to not eat another suckling pig ever again. I may have broken the rule once but have been good at not eating anything suckling. All in all, this small, fungoing restaurant is a great place for dates with a boyfriend or girls night out as long as you don't mind that they don't take reservations.
Culinary Explorer's Guide to Enjoying Suckling Pig:
1. For meatatarians, roasted suckling pig has been a cultural tradition for centuries. (Whew, I don't feel so guilty anymore.)
2. The younger it is and the longer it's cooked, the more tender and tasty.
3. Order your own farm fresh suckling pig from Four Story Hill Farm or McReynolds Farms (Wine Spectator, November 30, 2008).
4. Sneak some fresh farm pork through the airport gates from Dallas, TX. (Yes, I did!)
Best sangria in the city!!
A few of my favorite dishes are the chorizo con chocolate (salty and sweet on a soft and crunchy baguette, so many great flavors/textures!), lamb skewers (reason alone to never become vegetarian... perfectly cooked and incredibly tender), and patatas bravas with spicy addicting aioli. The fried chickpeas are also very good, salty and slightly oily they remind me of a (slightly) healthier version of popcorn. Oh, and the ham and cheese croquettes. Hot and warm and gooey and mmmm.
Have a snack beforehand because 1) the wait can be long and they don't take reservations, 2) you'll need something to soak up all that pre-dinner sangria and 3) too many tapas get expensive fast.
If you're claustrophoebic, don't come here after 7pm. I've seen bigger walk-in closets.
Holy good brunch! Chorizo, eggs and potatoes washed down with an excellent cava...the start to a perfect Sunday.
** 4 1/2 stars**
OK so there are plenty of reviews on this teeny tiny tapas bar already, but I wanted…
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Delicious!
Hits of the night: roast suckling pig (special), bone marrow (special) and the razor clams.
But my favorite was the squid ink with rice. I definitely had a hard time sharing this dish with another person.
heartttttttttssssssssssss
tia pol is the SH*T! despite the long wait, the hostess was super gracious and agreed to take my cell number while we wandered around waiting for a table to be ready. When we came back, she remembered my name and told me a table was being cleared for us.
Now on to the important stuff - food and drink. We ordered a pitcher of red sangria, which to our chagrin came in a rather TINY almost individually sized carafe. But DAMN did that thing last, and we can drink! I'm not sure if it was the ice melting or what, but it really packed a punch and we got 7 or 8 glasses out of it. Also, the waiter kept returning to repour it for us anytime we were almost empty.
By far the best dish there is the squid in squid ink with rice. The scallops with chorizo in pureed melon are a close second. My boyfriend and I tried to recreate both dishes the following week, but after seeing how much scallops and squid ink cost (around $30 a jar! and they give you like HALF a jar in the dish) we realized we had really gotten a bargain at tia pol. They were also super generous with the bread so we sopped up ALL our deliciousssssss squid ink.
Will definitely be going back there. Great deal for tapas and they excel at seafood. Although I didn't try them, their salads looked delish too!
In high school I vaguely recall not being able to bombard the cuter girls with my dry sense of humor simply because they were often completely surrounded by the BMOC's, athlete's, and other pre-collegiate go-getters. It was simply a matter of access - or lack thereof.
I think Tia Pol went to my high school.
Upon arriving at Tia Pol, you will be confronted by a small, pretty-looking, quaint tapas bar and eatery draped in rich, mahogony wood. You will also probably be confronted with a long wait behind a dozen eager would-be diners. So twelve years and three academic degrees later, I found myself again confronted with the prospect of no access!
Do not let the crowd of culinary go-getters dampen your resolve or enthusiasm. Your reward will be very tasty dishes of chorizo (we tried the sherry-finished variety - if its available, you should try the chorizo con chocolate). Of note, the txipirones en su tinta (squid in ink with rice) was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Its tasty yet mild sauce mixed very well with the stronger flavors of the chorizo.
The salt cod with potato puree was an interesting dish that I would add only for texture purposes - the flavor itself was a little bland. However, the server was incredibly friendly and affable when recommending the accompanying wine.
Friends, don't repeat the mistakes of yesteryear. Fight through the crowd of jocks and talk to the cute girl this time. Have a drink at the bar, patiently wait for a table here, and be content with the fact that you are older, wiser, and much better looking than you were in twelfth grade.
I went here recently for an early dinner, having wanted to go for a long while, and thought it was pretty great.
We had the sangria, which was really good, along with a few of the tapas. The two specials we tried, the roast suckling pig and skewers of mushrooms and small sweet onions, were both excellent. The pig was tender, juicy, and very flavorful, with nice crispy skin. The mushrooms and onions were simple but complemented each other very well. The chorizo was, too, was great, if a bit more oily than I'd have liked. My favorite, though, was the taquitos de atun. These are pieces of seared, sushi-grade tuna stuffed with white anchovies with a bit of tapenade on top, and they are really excellent. I also tried the chorizo and chocolate, which I really enjoyed, but I think I was somewhat less impressed with it than a lot of other reviewers.
Seating was cramped and food comes out in unpredictable waves. But the food, as others have said before me, is worth the bumpy ride. Deviled eggs, patatas bravas, and chickpeas were excellent for this vegetarian.
While I think this is a solid restaurant, I wouldn't necessarily state that they're the best tapas in NYC. The txipirones en su tinta (squid in its ink) were pretty good, but not out of this world. I much preferred las navajas y almejas (razor clams and cockles) as they were perfectly succulent and garlicky goodness. My all time favorite tapas, la tortilla espanola, fell flat. I've had/made better. That's a bummer since I feel like it was a wasted carb. The patatas bravas, according to C, were delicious.
Overall, pretty tasty, but I'd only go if I were in the 'hood.
I adore this place -- it's adorable, unpretentious, and they serve great tapas. They don't take reservations, so either come early or be ready to wait for a table or bar seat. But it is worth the wait -- delicious small plates and a great wine list await. I recommend the fried chickpeas and/or the baguette that comes with 3 spreads (olive tapenade, fava bean, and pepper/onion salsa). The cheese plates are also wonderful -- had a delicious manchego last time I was here.
Tia Pol is my favorite tapas bar in all of NYC.
The staff is super great and friendly and has no hipper-than-thou-self-important ego (*ahem* Boqueria).
It does get expensive depending on what you end up drinking and eating.
It's also the most authentic Basque-region styled tapas bar I've encountered in NYC.
My friends and I like to get the patatas bravas when we expect more than two glasses of wine a person. I love the navajas y almejas (razor clams and cockles), and to sop up the broth with hunks of bread. Sometimes, the quality of it varies. One time it was salty and they were out of razor clams (which adds a sweetness to the dish). The fava bean puree on bread, with crumbs of beyos cheese is soooo good. The almonds are a must. The pinchos morunos are perfectly seasoned.
The paquetitos de jamón (ham) y alcachofas (stuffed with artichokes) are literally "little packets" and although they're yummy is a very tiny portion, even for tapas. Gamas a la plancha is a necessary plate to try. The huevos rellenos (stuffed eggs/deviled eggs) are picture perfect and taste just as good. The assorted spanish cheeses is also a great end instead of the traditional dessert.
The sangria jug is refreshing (but somewhat sweet) on a hot summer evening.
You may have to wait for an hour and half or more for a bar seat but it's a worthwhile experience.
I liked Tia Pol -- but I didn't love it the way a lot of other folks do.
+ portions are generous (with me, that's always a bonus)
+ the runner who brought our food was very warm and friendly
+ the manager was knowledgeable and also seemed very nice
+ the pork loin sandwich is banging!
+ they have more than 1 rose cava (you can never have too much rose bubbly in my book)
- chorizo was ok - perhaps it's because I was hoping it would be Barcelona good, but I'm afraid it wasn't
- seated at the bar, which is always a favorite of mine to do, but the bartendar who was serving us was alright but kinda stiff / cold (I'm not expecting her to be my best friend, but a smile here and there would help)
What we ordered:
-the spicy potatoes - yum
-the octopus - also yum, tender
-the white asparagus - my friend loves this but she's Japanese & it has this mayo / caviar topping - I think that's why she likes it so much
-pork loin sandwich (see above)
-chorizo (see above)
-bottle of pinot noir rose cava - excellent
-almond tort dessert - good, not fabulous
The food was very good - some dishes much better than others. The place is tiny and has a really cute vibe. For the food above & the bottle of cava it came to $60/person with tip. Love that part of Chelsea -- I would say definitely check it out...
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Spanish
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