Vandal

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Ciasamia

199 Bowery (between Spring and Prince Sts.) 212-400-0199 www.vandalnewyork.com

Tapas. How can you not love a meal that starts with a Knish Reuben and ends on an Irish coffee milkshake shot (espresso ice cream, Jameson, whipped cream). Everything about Vandal is fun. The music, the space, the self-proclaimed street food. It’s as if each member of the UN got together and created a dish (but had taken awesome cooking classes while working on world peace). Their Reuben creation (corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss, thousand island) is just as amazing as it sounds. So is the Banh Mi’Eatball slider (spicy pork, foie gras mousse, pickled this and that). Remaining in pork mode, I pursued the sticky rice dumplings complete with chives and red chile oil. Then it was off to sea with the two pound whole lobster scampi, achieving pure brilliance paired with spinach atop garlic rice pilaf. What’s for dessert? Many things, but I indulged in the mind blowing s’mores with graham cracker ice cream and black + white crepe cake beside fudge swirl. From there, it was a short hop to that incredible milkshake shot. The crowds pour in and the reasons could not be more obvious. If fun is what you’re craving, come spend the night at Vandal.

Boqueria Soho

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Ciasamia

171 Spring St. (between Thompson St. and West Broadway) 212-343-4255, also Boqueria Flatiron 53 West 19th St. (between 5th and 6th Aves, 212-255-4160), Boqueria Upper East Side 1480 2nd Avenue (between 76th and 77th Sts., 212-343-2227) www.boquerianyc.com

Spanish, Tapas. Boqueria has three locations and one menu. Why? I can only imagine they don’t want to mess with mastery. Everything I tasted was adored. So much so, I ordered one dish twice (shout out to the pintxos morunos). These Colorado lamb skewers with pickled shallots and salsa verde were stunningly flavorful. I also indulged in the gambas al ajillo (shrimp, garlic, brandy and guindilla pepper in olive oil). When offered the opportunity to go gambas I will, and their interpretation rocked. As did the pulpo a la plancha. They grill the octopus, then adorn it with fennel and smoked pimentón. It is not unusual to add potatoes, but their design is of the mashed variety and includes picual olive oil. They grill their bread as well and rub it with tomato, garlic and olive oil. It has multiple uses including dipping beneath the albóndigas (Colorado lamb meatballs, tomato sauce, sheep’s milk cheese). You have that to look forward to after finishing this very generous and delicious creation. Good things come in threes. Like Boqueria. Just choose one and go!

Marcha Cocina Downtown

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Ciasamia

111 Avenue C (between 7th and 8th Sts.) 646-781-9147

Spanish, Tapas. If you’re looking for the Latin experience, look no further than Marcha Cocina Downtown. The music, décor, and menu are absolute immersion. I began with the pinchos platter, a combination of chicken and beef skewers served with romesco almond sauce. It is a plentiful and tasty dish which riveted me completely. That is until the appearance of the albondigas. These flavorful meatballs (sofrito, peppers, tomato, crème fraiche) arrive piping hot atop their own juice, a fact for which you will be grateful as you ultimately sop up the self-made sauce with the accompanying bread. If an award were given for prettiest paella presentation, it would go to their paella con langosta (lobster, saffron arborio rice, shrimp, mussels, calamari, baby scallops, chopped chorizo, clams, tomato). This is a seafood lovers paradise, as delicious as it is Instagram worthy. For dessert, I devoured the molten chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream. It is flourless as well as flawless. And so is the service. Everyone here cares, especially the manager who pops by throughout the meal, ensuring you will feel their casa es su casa.

Entwine

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Ciasamia

765 Washington Street (between West 12th and Bethune Sts.) 212-727-8565 www.entwinenyc.com

Tapas. Mere moments within these walls, it’s clear you are about to break bread in what was surely once a house. The fireplace and backyard are definite tip-offs and the server so incredibly sweet, it truly feels like home. Then there’s your meal, prepared with such loving care you would swear it was made by mom. At Entwine, they do it all well. The artichoke toast with feta is unique and delectable. Not only was I hooked from bite one, I found myself wishing the chef were my mother. The arugula salad with fennel was eye poppingly fresh, the shaved parmesan taking it from tasty to obsession worthy. Which brings us to the grass fed sliders. The name implies a modest size, but each 4 oz. creation is as thick and flavorful as any burger I have experienced, its toasted bun truly sealing the deal. It would be wrong not to mention the free range oven baked chicken thighs with mashed potatoes, vegetables and a deliciousness all its own. They also offer dessert, and by that I mean one. But who needs options when the cheesecake with strawberry sauce is this spectacular? If you’re thinking of eating home tonight, do yourself a favor and make it theirs.

Nai Tapas

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Ciasamia

174 First Avenue (between 10th and 11th Sts.) 212-677-1030 www.ntbnyc.com

Spanish, Tapas. Right before I went inside, a guy on the street turned to his friends and said, “All they do is tapas. And they’re good”. As I was about to learn, truer words were never spoken. Every one of the dishes I ordered made me happy (and twice, delirious enough to go back for seconds). Take the gambas al ajillo. It’s shrimp. It’s garlic sauce. And such an amazing combination of flavor, not grabbing the bread to absorb every last drop would be loco. The croquetas de pollo, no less attention getting, a wonderful lead in to the sea bass wrapped in white toast and crunchy deliciousness. Their albondiguillas estofadas is a multisyllabled way to say meatballs in brandy sauce. They could also just rename it WOW and define it perfectly. There’s actually a lot more wow to go round, as evidenced by both the tartufo and chocolate infused churros. I wonder if they thought, “Why just serve churros when you can deliver pure, inspired genius?” because that’s exactly what you experience. Then there’s the server, who could not have been nicer and the room, a continuous stream of fun. But it all comes back to the food. The guy on the street was right. There’s no going wrong at this tapas standout.

Alta

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Ciasamia

64 West 10th St. (Between 5th and 6th Aves.) 212-505-7777 www.altarestaurant.com

Tapas. I saw no name on the building, no number on the wall. Just an open door with the inviting sounds of a happy crowd beckoning entry. They’ve taken a townhouse and created a restaurant, a tribute to the gods of tapas. The tastes are multicultural, yet united in their wowness. Each dish I experienced - the grilled calamari, short rib empanadas, grilled octopus, beef sliders, flatbread and spaghetti pepperoncini was as flavorful as the one to come before it. But wait, there’s more. The carrot cake with cream cheese mousse, candied pecans and pineapple sorbet followed by their napoleon, a confection of chocolate cream, peanut butter ganache and malted milk chocolate ice cream sealed the deal on a meal without flaw. They don’t need a name outside to leave an impression. One bite will do that. And by the end of the night, there is zero chance you will ever forget.

‘La Cerveceria

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Ciasamia

65 2nd Avenue (between 3rd and 4th Sts.) 212-777-6965 www.lacervecerianyc.com

Tapas. Everything about this place is fun, but they are serious about beer. If that is your drink of choice, you will be in cerveza heaven. My school neglected to teach geography but, after perusing the encyclopedia of international options, I feel ready to join the UN. There is wine as well and an impressive list of tasty tapas. The chicken quesadilla borders on habit forming and the selection of ceviche is delicious. The staff gives you the feeling they are invested in your good time. And the music makes you want to get up and dance. What else is there to say?

Beauty & Essex

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Ciasamia

146 Essex St. (between Stanton and Rivington Sts.) 212-614-0146 www.beautyandessex.com

American/Tapas. When was the last time you dined behind a pawn shop? If the answer is more than a week, you should find this destination intriguing. Once you’ve passed through the anteroom, you are completely transported. Trendy in the best possible sense, the hiply styled bi-level space is notably large. Tapas is their thing (but every dessert sounds compelling and the Devil’s Food layer cake with milk ice cream is incredible). If you love being part of a scene, you’ll have an excellent time. At the very least, you might be able to get something fenced on the way out.

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