El Charro Espanol: Spanish. 4 Charles @ Greenwich-7th Av; 22/15/$42; 242-9547; Reminds one of old Spain; Spanish classics, tapas and more; Great drinks in this hidden gem. Rustic basement scene; Been around forever; Shrimp Ajillo, the paellas, and Sangria are all outstanding. Also top notch are the Margaritas- famous for them here. Huge, huge menu. Sevilla: Spanish. 62 Charles @ W 4th; 22/14/$38; 929-3189; Garlic lover’s paradise; Sangria is strong and flavorful; Tasty food; Friendly service. Genuine paella. Been around since 1941.
Las Ramblas: Spanish. 170 W 4th @ Jones-Cornelia; 23/15/$38; 646-415-7924; Under the radar; Modern Tapas; Amazing Sangria; Service is friendly – like Barcelona! Incredibly small- prepare to wait to be seated. Uncomfortable Stools; If I go back – will be at an off hour for comfort and to take advantage of amazing service. Tons to choose from.
Flor de Sol: Spanish. 361 Greenwich @ Franklin; 22/20/$45; 366-1640; Excellent for Tapas served by an ultra sexy staff in a great date environment; Super strong Sangrias. Festive mood; Perfect for those looking for a large selection of Tapas. Wednesdays: Flamenco dancing and live music; Mojito-downing at the wooden bar. Try the skirt steak as well for a flavorful meal. Tuesdays: Martinis $6; Lychee Cosmos;
Sala: Spanish. 344 Bowery @ Great Jones; 22/19/$40; 979-6606; Dark, sexy setting; Roomier than usual Tapas house; Delicious small plates; Sangria calling your name; Date central; Fairly inexpensive & reliable.
Mercat: Spanish. 45 Bond St @ Bowery-Lafayette; 21/20/$47; 529-8600; Great, lively restaurant; Solid list of Tapas and also prepared foods; Open kitchen- date friendly; Fun for groups as well; Best new Spanish of 2008 from Time Out NY. Very popular on Yelp; Not a tapas place per se – more for a standard prepared meal. Excellent rice based dishes and innovative website.
Euzkadi:
Spanish. 108 E 4th @ 1-2nd; 20/18/$37; 982-9788; Tapas central served with wonderful sangria; What a fun, upbeat setting; Great prices and an overall solid Spanish experience. Popular for parties; Live Flamenco Tuesdays; Duck meatballs are incredible; Cool, dark, hip setting- major date scene/ hipster spot; Fairly large menu and something for everyone to enjoy.
La Paella: Spanish. 214 E 9th St @ 2nd-3rd Av; 21/18/$37; 598-4321; Dark, sexy lighting perfect for dates; Great website listing all the menu options; Tons of Tapas to choose from including my favorite grilled calamari; They focus on the namesake dish, Sangria and a large variety of Tapas – just what most want; Service and table spacing could be better.
Xunta: Spanish. 174 1st Av @ 10-11th; 21/14/$28; 614-0620; Keeps it simple – Fabulous tapas; Potent and tasty Sangria. Welcome to a lively side street in Madrid; 56 tapas to choose from; Flamenco guitar on Tues/ Sat; Raucous crowd at times.
Aldea: Portuguese. 31 W 17th @ 5th-6th Av; 26/22/$65; 675-7223; Best of its genre in the city; Michelin 1-star rated; Modern setting, deft service, food made from the freshest local ingredients; Ask for a table by the open kitchen; Chef George Mendes prepares works of art; Delicious cocktails- all $12; Entrees are $25-30 and there are about 10 to choose from. Seasonal menu- see website.
Casa Mono: Spanish. 52 Irving Pl @ 17th; 26/18/$57; 253-2773; Mario Batali’s take on Spanish cuisine; Negatives include the expense, size and elbow room; Positives include flat out outstanding Tapas; The Tapas range from $9 to $19 each and you’ll want to order at least 5 for a table of two; Just a delicious, perfect date experience best saved on a weekday or off-hours for greater attention. 1 Michelin star.
Boqueria: Spanish. 53 W 19th @ 5-6th; 22/19/$46; 255-4160; Traditional Barcelona-style Tapas; No-Rez policy so go early; Extremely tasty small plates. Ultra creative; Smallish place. There is also a Soho location; Brunch 12-5 Sat/Sun; Tapas served all day as well as Artisanal cheeses; I’d suggest this place almost for lunch over dinner or an odd-hour weekend visit.
Pipa: Spanish. 38 E 19th @ B-Way-Park; 21/23/$44; 677-2233; Trendy &popular; Gorgeous setting in ground floor of ABC Carpet; Young crowd; Date scene; Sangria is delish & potent; Tapas and smooth service
El Pote: Spanish. 718 2nd Av @ 38-9th; 22/13/$40; 889-6680; Small in size but giant in flavor; Known for paellas; Small plates as well as full prepared dishes; Happy staff make up for tiny space. You do get a nice table and plenty of friendliness; Rack of Lamb on menu is a specialty; Huge menu full of all the usual Tapas; The paella with chicken and lobster is a winner.
La Fonda del Sol: Spanish. 200 Park Av @ 44th; Met Life Building; 22/22/$57; 867-6767; Lively lunch scene and lively after work scene; Excellent bar with specialty cocktails; They feature a Tapas lounge and a dining room; Not as big a menu as you’d normally find in a Spanish restaurant; Excellent wines; Spacious setting for the genre; Excellent after work dinner option.
Alcala: Spanish. 342 E 46th @ 1-2nd; 22/18/48; 370-1866; Near the UN, this is a charming, cozy Tapas restaurant with many traditional Spanish classics. Try the Garden in spring! Pleasant setting and gracious hosts; Website is awesome- has pictures of every Tapas and main course and appetizer; Affordable cuisine; 100+ different wines;
Don Pedro: Caribbean /S American. 1865 2nd Av @ 96th; 21/17/$35; 996-3274; Nicer than most in genre; Delicious dishes; Strong drinks; Diamond in the rough. Family style portions. Lively vibe featuring a split level dining area; Also open for brunch which features a 3-course, bottomless sangria option; All-in-all, reliable and worth the trek to 2nd Av.