Went there last night with several friends. We were seated right away but it did take a while to get some water. No worries - gave us time to study the menu ;). My friends have been here before, so ordering didn't take long. We ordered their famous sangria which was great, slightly stronger than I expected. The dishes were delicious. My personal favorites are the shrimp, scallops, bacon wrapped dates and olives, lamb meatballs and the paella. For these dishes you might want to order x2 since the plate will be empty in probably less than 2 minutes. 3-4 plates per ppl should make the night! Cash or AMEX only. read more

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Best dinner I've had in a long time. The restaurant was beautiful. It's a very unique space with a ground floor for group seating and then a mezzanine around the top for smaller (2 person) tables. I was there for a group dinner but I bet it would be a very romantic date spot. Evey dish was spectacular but my favorites were the ricotta gnocchi, brussel sprouts and butterscotch foam dessert. read more

Alta - Menu - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing tapas, great service, good selection of drinks, (especially beer) and nice, intimate decor. I enjoyed everything we got, especially the brussell sprouts! I wish I remembered the names or wrote all of them down because my mind is at a blank right now! I would definitely like to try the "Surf N Turf" next time with a group of friends, because that's every tapa on the menu for $450. FYI: They only accept AMEX and cash! read more

Seating and feeding a group of 17 people is not an easy feat. Alta managed to do that in a timely manner on a busy Saturday night. 17 of us arrived at Alta for our 10pm reservation for our friends birthday. We were shortly seated upstairs. This was nice being that the downstairs area was super crowded and loud. Upstairs was a little more secluded, so I could hear myself think. The food was great. We got the "whole shebang". Literally. That is how it is listed on the menu. 1 of everything (plus some doubles of items that the waiter suggested). I won't even spend time listing what we had as you can just check out the web site. The only problem with going with a huge group was that since there were only a few pieces of each dish, not everyone had a chance to try everything. Still, what I did have was very good. Some highlights: Bacon Wrapped Dates Fried Goat Cheese Crispy Brussel Sprouts Grilled Shrimp and Chorizo Skewers Braised Short Rib Of Beef For dessert, we only got 3 of them and the only one I cared for was the Chocolate Molten Cake. I am knocking them down a star for their drink offerings. No Bloody Marys, only 1 type of vodka, limited scotch, etc. Every time someone ordered a drink, they seemed to either be out of it or just didn't serve it all. Odd. read more

This place is freakin' adorable. From the street, it looks like a hole in the wall, but then you go inside and what an amazing hole in the wall it is. Glowing lights, woodsy, rustic, charming, warm, cozy, romantic, inviting...gorgeous! Surprisingly more seating than I would expect, seating downstairs and more seating upstairs. Tapas style, small plates, order a few plates per person because you'll be hungry if you order less. Did you know you can order the whole menu for $450? Just saying, it might be worth it for bigger parties. I was here for a work dinner and we tried a good portion of the menu. Really there wasn't anything bad. The only thing that I didn't love was the spicy sauce on the short rib. The pork belly was delightful. The grilled octopus was excellent. The bass was delicious. The paella was good. The pulled pork empanadas were awesome. Bacon-wrapped dates were yummy. Roasted beets were wonderful. Shrimp was yummy. There may have been a few other things that I ate that I don't remember, maybe because the wine was so good :) Of the desserts, my least favorite was the olive oil cake, but the other three desserts we ordered including the sundae were all really good. Service was a bit slow, we were always trying to flag down our server to order more food or drinks. Understandably they were very busy and slammed. Atmosphere, ambiance, vibe, energy. If you're looking for a raucous good time or a romantic dinner, Alta's it. read more

Delicious meal and good service. But this is one of those reviews that's just about one weird thing. They don't take Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or even freaking Diners Club? It's kinda nuts. If you're a pop up shop and only take cash, I get it. If you're a really nice restaurant that only takes ONE type of credit card (sorry I don't have Amex, I am a human not a small business) to me that says something's shady going on. Cash or Amex, that's it. it's weird. And it's been this way for at least a year. And even if you ignore all that -- have the decency to have an ATM on the premises like any decent place running an ATM fee grift would. I had to walk around and hunt for one. It's cold! read more

I went here for my birthday dinner with my family. It's a beautiful place and yes the food was good, not the best (bacon olive and date(not a good combo, meatballs were not good either) but not worth the price. It's extremely expensive for such small portion. A few things we ordered that were small were the falafel, striped bass and risotto. There are other tapas places in the city that are as good but served a bigger/normal portion size such as Boqueria. I don't mind paying for delicious food but the portion is extremely tiny, unless you are looking to spend $500 on a birthday dinner for 5. I advise going elsewhere for good tapas, we definitely did not feel satisfied and the restaurant didn't do anything special for me even though the reservation noted it was a birthday dinner. Also this restaurant only accepts cash or American Express which is not clearly advertised except on a small note at the bottom of the menu. There is no ATM in the establishment which was annoying as someone had to leave to go find an ATM to help pay for the meal. read more

Alta - Small piece of stripes bass, good but not worth the price for such tiny portion - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Everything I've tried was so delicious. The interior design was romantic and lovely. I love the way the restaurant was set up. We sat on the first floor but I wish we could've sat on the second floor because I would love to look down at the other people (creepy, I know lol). However, there was an authentic fireplace on the first floor burning fire wood. I thought that was really cool because most places don't have fireplaces that burn actual wood. A good addition to the 'romantic' aura. Since the only other place we tried that was similar to this, was Salina's, I'll be comparing them a bit. Design wise, Salina's interior design was much more romantic, because it was darker with candles and loooots of flowers. My boyfriend was attracted to the squid ink paella which was why he picked this place. We had really good paella before at 'Salina's' and we wanted to see if it was just as good. In my opinion, I liked salina's better, even though Alta's was good as well. I liked how Salina's paella was crispy on the bottom when you let it sit for a while. This one, was cooked on a small cast iron pan which was probably why it didn't really develop the crispy bottom. We also tried the pulled pork empanadas, which was really good and surprisingly juicy in my opinion. I've tried pulled pork sandwiches/burgers before and they tend to be dry but this one was really juicy. The empanadas were smaller than I imagined though. At $5 each ($10 for two), I don't think I would order it again. I ordered the house made pizza and okay guys, this was the bombdiggaty. I looooove cheese and I was feeling for a pizza so that was perfect. The mushrooms were so good and the porcini sauce along with the fontina cheese was a fantastic, delicious combo. It was like a party in my mouth. This was the one thing that popped to me. It's so good. I highly reccomend it. Especially if you're a cheese/pizza person like me. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate molten lava cake. Okay let me start by saying my boyfriend doesn't have a sweet tooth like I do. He will eat sweets though, but not much. But for this, he said this was one of his most favorite desserts he has ever eaten and that is saying A LOT. I was pleasantly shocked. And I must agree. It is SO GOOOD and SO WORTH IT. the chocolate cake combined with the honey gelato was perfection. It was my first time eating honey gelato and it was so good. Guys. Trust me. You'd want to get this. Overall, it was a very good experience. The portions are pretty small. Which allows you to try more than one thing. However it is kinda pricey for the portion size. Starting at $10. For two, we had three entrees (or tapas) and a dessert. The paella was a good enough portion size and it definitely filled us up. I would come back here in the future. read more

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So far, I've only been here for the cocktails at the bar, and a bowl of house-marinated olives. It was on a pretty quiet night, too. I'll need to come back here for a sit-down dinner to get the full experience. What I can say is that this place has a very relaxed vibe and feels almost like a speakeasy. You probably wouldn't find this place unless someone tells you about it or you happen to notice the bar stools while strolling through the Village, which is exactly what my wife and I did. We each had a nice cocktail -- I had a Spanish Manhattan, which was made nice and strong with hardly any sweetness, just the way I like it. She had a Rye Apple, which was also well made, equally strong, but slightly more fruity. The taste of the apple definitely came through. The bartender was really friendly and conversational. This made us want to stay longer than we had intended. read more

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Why has it been so long? This place is always on my radar and I live close by, so why? I don't know because the food here is amazing. The ambiance equally lovely. However on one of the coldest nights of the year, this gorgeous old building is drafty. Be sure to start with a lovely cocktail, created by the friendly bartender. Of course jump to their luscious wine list after. Try the octopus a la plancha. So tender. The beets, not your ordinary beet salad. So many creative mushroom dishes however none of my dining partners eat funghi so I skipped them all. The short ribs and lamb meatballs were big hits. We ordered doubles of the goat cheese balls and fried potatoes. We had 4 of the desserts. Can't wait to come back and eat everything else. read more

Outstanding Tapas and great service...it was busy but yet no rush to bring your bill and rush you out. Maybe since Tapas is a continuous order/eat/order/eat process, they don't have a clue as to when you are truly done. Sea Bass ceviche was great as were the lamb meatballs. Will definitely be back. read more

Alta - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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After a wonderful day at Coney Island last summer, I came to Alta for dinner with the guy I had been dating at the time. What a spectacular place! Though not actually a hole-in-the-wall joint, Alta is still sort of obscure from the outside since the restaurant's exterior is plain and not at all boastful or demonstrative of the elegance contained within. When you get down the stairs and enter the doors, you will be visually pleased. On it's interior aesthetics, I can only give Alta effusive praise. The high vaulted ceilings, the dark, rich wood, low lighting, massive ceiling fixtures all blended in nicely to create a perfectly intimate and demure ambiance. We were seated upstairs, on the second level, which afforded us a great view of the first floor. The tapas menu contained a medley of interesting selections. I vaguely recall the dishes we ordered but we had about five or six different plates that were hit-or-miss, but overall, mainly successes. The spiced cashews (or was it almonds?), were excellent, as well as the avocado relleno dish.. I do remember the skirt steak not so much a hit with either myself or my date. Plating and presentation however, was top-notch on almost all of our selections (minus the skirt steak!).. it was clean, colorful, textured and appetizing; I'm glad I had my camera on me that day and was able to capture the loveliness on display before devouring it. We didn't order any speciality drinks, but I couldn't disrespect (nor could I resist) getting dessert, so I do have an opinion on their sweets. At the time, I had been on a rice krispies kick and amazingly Alta had that, so I naturally had to have my fix. Sad to say, I was displeased with........... pretty much everything about it.. there's better rice krispies treats to be found at Sbux (for real)! We may have also had the panna cotta, but I was so fixated on the former, that I don't remember a thing about the panna cotta whatsoever (I am going to take a stab at my memory bank and say that it was just fair). Overall, Alta gets high marks for decor, quality in terms of food presentation and flavors, less a few minor points for poor desserts (a big no-no in my book). Last thing worth mentioning was that service may have been a tad slow to my recollection, but amicable nonetheless. Tallying up the pros and cons, Alta still sat really well with me, and I am definitely a fan. read more

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I think it deserves the 4 stars that it has. We came here right before closing time so that's a plus that they served us. I think it's hilarious when you go to a tapas place and they tell you "you ordered a lot already"... really...? Maybe we just like to eat a lot. The red sangria was very good as pointed out by other yelpers. Nice selection of beer as well. On to the food, what we had, in order of favorite to least favorite: -short rib (delicious) -pulled pork empanadas -angus beef sliders -mac & cheese -spaghetti pepperoncini -fried goat cheese -shrimp & chorizo skewer -lamb meatballs -stuffed grape leaves -sea bass tartare I would definitely go back! Maybe try some of the dishes we missed. read more

Alta - Pork empanadas, Sea Bass tartare, fried Goat Cheese. - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I sat at the bar on a busy Saturday night without a reservation and boy did we get lucky. Shortly after arriving at 7:45 the place became so crowded with young 20 somethings most of whom looked like they were on a date that there was not even a place to stand. I was in shock as I only chose the restaurant because I skied on the resort in Utah bearing the same name. The unmarked door also made the little entrance hard to find on the little side street in the west village. Everyone was enjoying the drinks all at typical NYC prices $10-$15 each. The sangria is their specialty. Food: This is where I take away a star although I love the idea of a tapas bar where you can pick exactly what you want and slowly eat your way through the evening. I liked most of the dishes but did not LOVE them. The mushroom flatbread was the weakest of the items although it was recommended to us. It was peculiarly spicy and lacked crispness. The spaghetti squash carbonara was the surprise as they accidentally made an extra order and it was on the house. It was complimented well with bacon and parmesan. The gnocchi and beats were a little forgettable but tasty and the seared sea scallops were great. They were paired with a cauliflower puree with capers, currants, and pine nuts and was exceptional. Overall I rate this a 3.5 and would definitely love to return as the bartenders alone kept us entertained but expect a pricy evening full of hipsters! CASH ONLY! *unless you have American Express but I don't know anyone who does read more

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We came here with a 5:30 pm dinner reservation eagerly anticipating a nice dinner prior to a show in the city. The place is a little hard to find, as there is no sign out front. Very unassuming, which is kind of cool. You make your way inside past the long bar to a very cozy, inviting and intimate space. You feel as though you've just entered an underground club. We were seated in the maining dining room, kind of smack dab in the middle of the room. I would have preferred to sit upstairs in one of the tables overlooking the main dining room. No luck, as the maitre d told us those were reserved. Ok, fine. On to the menu. We started with 2 huge glasses of red sangria (which they only sell by the glass, no pitchers), which was really tasty and strong. We sampled the following dishes, which on the whole, I was a little underwhelmed by: - lavender goat cheese (I had heard so much about. Was good, but nothing spectacular, IMO). - calamari (not fried, but fresh with a sort of black ink sauce, with red peppers. Very good). - trumpet mushrooms (ok, but not my favorite) - lamb meatballs (ok, but tasted like they were missing something) - scallops (just ok, I think I make better ones at home) - pulled pork empanadas (my boyfriend seemed to enjoy, I don't eat pork) - beef sliders (served in a puff pastry, I think this was my fav thing that we ordered) We were by no means full, so before we racked up a $250 bill trying to get full on two bite plates, we decided to try a dessert (apple crostada) which the server said was pretty much full size, and move on with our night. Bill ended up being $130 with 2 glasses of sangria. Not horrible, for dinner in NY. However, we got to the show and ordered a pizza as we were both still hungry when we arrived. read more

Alta - Menu, which I hear changes sometimes. - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Yes, the plates are on the small side... however I thoroughly enjoyed every single dish I ate! We had the fingerling potatoes, paella, skirt steak and lamb All were delicately balanced and delicious. I usually feel stuffed with regret after I eat out but this time i left feeling satisfied and guilt free! My favorite hands down was the paella, first time I've ever had a dish with more seafood than rice I have only question to management.... why the heck dont you have a bloody Restaurant Sign??!?! Atleast a building number.... something... I had to count houses and ask the neighbor next door if I was in the right place. #notcool read more

Alta is a cool tapas bar serving up an eclectic menu of dishes. Alta has a very large bar which is accommodating for walk-ins without reservations (even on a Saturday night). We started with white anchovies and fried goat cheese balls. The white anchovies were topped with onions and herbs which added elements of bitterness and herbiness to the salty anchovies. To my surprise, they were not oily at all. The goat cheese balls were way too poignant for my liking. The fried cheese balls were very sharp. There was honey drizzled on the plate to add savoriness and sweetness, but it was still too sharp for me. Next, we had the foie gras with eel terrine. The eel terrine had a texture similar to jam. The foie gras and eel had very unique flavors. I'd characterize them on the savory side. The last dish (and my favorite) was the braised short rib. The short rib meat was juicy and tender. It sat on a bed of beet spaghetti. The pasta had mild beet flavors with the consistency of standard gluten spaghetti. It was topped with shredded horseradish which had the texture of shredded Parmesan cheese with the undoubtably flavor of horseradish. The staff here was very friendly and attentive. I appreciated how quick the dishes were ready. I also liked that we were able to immediately sit at the bar whereas other places had wait times around 90 minutes. read more

I have been here prior to my recent jaunts & new obsession; Alta is one of the gems I have come across that never fails to impress. As a Spanish/ Mediterranean/ North African tapas bar they have a heavy focus on amazing ingredients, and every dish has a unique taste and flare. They use a lot of crème fraîche on their dishes as well as different variations of nuts including pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts. Their menu is divided into different sections - land, sea, raw, vegetables... You get the picture. There's something for everyone, and that's kind of the point because they are small dishes that you want to be able to share and try amongst the table. Almost every dish has approximately enough for three people to have a taste so if there is more than three of you order accordingly. If everyone wants to taste the salmon tartare on individual black rice crisps, order two servings as this comes in a trio - plus it happens to be one of the best items on the menu... The Decour and vibe is very rustic with wooden beams throughout, and the Spanish flair is evident. They have a gorgeous long bar upfront where you can sit and eat with friends, but the seats are taken very quickly - this is also where a lot of people wait and have cocktails before their seat is ready. Even though this establishment has three levels it is always packed to the brim on the weekends, so unless you have a reservation be prepared to wait. It is worth the wait for sure- The bar area can get very crowded if you do not make a reservation, or you do have to wait either way.... I've been here twice the last two weeks one time with two other girlfriends and then I had to bring my parents back because small dishes amongst three people are always fun in my opinion, as I would preferred to eat light and taste many things than order one large entrée. Each experience was unique as we order different things but there was a couple mainstaysI highly recommend- as previously noted the salmon tartare trio is out of this world, as are the brussels sprouts with Apple pistachio and crème fraîche... The lamb meatballs were one of my favorite dishes of the night as was the shrimp with chorizo on a skewer. We also tried the seared scallops that were good but not memorable, and we try the pork loin which was different. Not something I would order again but I always like to try something new. Next time I would like to try the muscles. The beats in crème fraîche with hazelnuts are fantastic as well! To finish up, the yogurt cheesecake with blueberry compote and a cava sorbet was out of this world. Each dish is approximately $13 - Sum are more some are less, but the bill is always surprisingly on the low-end if you are not drinking. So order many and enjoy the food because like I said each dish has its own personality and you'll be happy to have tried multiple items . read more

Meh. I love tapas restaurants since I can try a variety of dishes in one meal. Although the dishes were nicely presented, I left dinner a little disappointed. The avocado relleno was stuffed with cold crab/shrimp. I thought it would've been better if it had been hot crab/shrimp and my friend agreed. I also ordered the sourdough bruschetta, which I thought was so-so. Too much ricotta in my opinion. The fried goat cheese with lavender-infused honey tasted like it was soaked in "snobby people soap" according to two of my friends. Aside from the food, the decor of this restaurant is lovely. The giant chandelier added a nice touch to the main dining area. I doubt I would go here again. Well, if some guy wanted to shell out $400 and buy "the whole shebang," which is all of the tapas on the menu (minus the cheese sampler), I'm there! FYI: "The Whole Shebang" is supposed to feed 9+ people. And although it says this place takes credit cards, it's ONLY American Express. read more

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I always try to write reviews of places very soon after they happen so I will remember all the nuances and tips for optimally enjoying any place I review. It has been a little over 2 weeks since I visited Alta, but I still remember the romantic decor, the bacon brussel sprouts that truly lived up to the hype, the sporadic timing of the dishes that only amplified the adventurousness of the meal. The "taglierini" calamari was an incredibly unique dish - calamari in the shape of spaghetti - as protein-packed as spaghetti gets! The bruschetta was piled high with spinach and mascarpone but was a but small. With the carb-focused first three entrees (well, the calamari pretending to be a carb doesn't count), some protein-rich dishes were in order. We ordered the empanadas were also really tasty but again, only two little small ones, but they gave just enough cilantro dressing to totally saturate the empanadas. Maybe that was the point! Lastly, the agave-glazed chicken wings were really impressive and even better than I expected them to be, though that expectation was set really high because of all the incredible preceding plates! read more

Alta - Calamari "taglierini" - half eaten! - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I dined in to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday after making a reservation. Environment is amazing and I love the staff friendliness. An amazing touch of detail I was obsessed about was when the restaurant texted me asking the name of the birthday celebrating their birthday, when I came in and got sat by the host my girlfriend's name was on our menu on the table and that was a surprise even to myself along with a 'Happy Birthday!!' Dining in we got a quite a few things to eat, every dish is delicious and I felt like we never went wrong with anything we ordered I would definitely come back for the Bass and the mushroom flatbread! Dessert was delicious, Cocktails were amazing and our server was great as well! Perfect place to dine in when celebrating! Just keep in mind it's cash and/or Amex only! read more

Alta is deceivingly huge! When you first walk in you walk past a dimly lit bar and are led to your table. It wasn't until we left that we got lost and realized how many different floors there were to the restaurant. Some spots are super romantic and others are perfect for groups. My friend and I ordered a lot .. Maybe two plates at a time. I feel like the food was amazing but then started to trail off as we kept ordering. First we had the infamous Brussel sprouts. They were amazing. Crispy, flavorful, sweet and roasted. I could have ordered more (and I wish I did) Then we had the fried goat cheese balls. They were played on top of lavender infused honey which created a salty-sweet taste. Another great dish. The pulled pork empanadas were next. They were also really good. Not greasy at all. They were paired with a green aside and I wish they had been paired with something more BBQ. Still, we gobbled them up! After those three amazing plates we kept going with the paella, sea bass, lamb meatballs and calamari. The paella came out with a piece of plastic in it. Before that little discovery, it was had too much cilantro and it overpowered the rest of the flavors. The plate was really big too - it could have been shared with 3 others. The sea bass was smaller than the palm of my hand, and costs 17.50. It was good but we thought there would be more to share considering the price and how it was closer to the end of the menu. (We assumed larger plates were towards the end of the menu and it was near the paella which was very big) I was really excited for the lamb meatballs. The table next to is ordered them and the smelled SO good. First bite, I was overwhelmed with a curry-ish taste. That was the only bite I took. I was a little overwhelmed by the unexpected taste. (Such a shame) Last came the calamari. It was a small plate, hot but not spicy hot (I love spicy things) it was peppery hot. Like someone literally added too much pepper. Overall the first three dishes were really good. The staff was supper attentive and the ambiance was very calm and romantic. I never felt like I was overcrowded or couldn't hear my friend. After finding the plastic we didn't want to order dessert. The first three dishes were really good - all of which I would easily recommend and/or try again. The other dishes I would not have ordered again or recommended. Alta has a huge menu, and I would probably return just in the fact that there is so many options and I hear the dessert is great. read more

Alta - Sea bass - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Horrible experience! We made a reservation for 3, however when we showed up, the douchebag saw the third in our party was a kid and decided to short us by putting an extra chair on a table of two to seat us. There was a table of three available right next to us and he said that table was for 4. The manager is a scumbag ! We walked out ! We never be going back to this restaurant and would not recommend this to anyone for such unethical behavior by the staff!!! read more

really bad service. waited for nearly an hour. the portion ofeach dish is like a joke. there's a reason why you can make a reservation last minute in Manhattan read more

J's friend suggested this place and my friend E raved about their truffle rangoon, but I didn't see it on the menu. Now that I see the menu online, perhaps it was the Philly Surprise? I swear I didn't see that on the menu there. I didn't see anything with the word Truffle. I got the Ginger Mojito - not very gingery or minty and it was weak. I usually can get buzz off of one drink, but nopes....not here. Pulled Pork Empanadas sweet & spicy cilantro dipping sauce - J loved the crust of the empanadas, but I thought it was too dry and too crumbly. It reminded me of a graham cracker crust. I didn't like it at all and didn't care for the overly sweet pulled pork inside either. Steak Tartare (nigella seeds, shallots, violet mustard), mache, almond oil, artichoke mousse - they didn't provide you with any sort of bread to accompany this dish. I thought that was weird. This was very lacklustre and just boring. The most mild manner tartare I ever had. Braised Octopus, Carrot & Rainbow Radish Salad citrus cumin dressing, cilantro - yawn. Crispy Brussels Sprouts fuji apples, crème fraiche, pistachio nuts - our waitress said this was the best dish on their menu. After hearing that, I seriously, thought I should be worried about our dinner, if this one dish was supposed to be the "best" thing on their ENTIRE MENU. No, it wasn't and I am sorry, it didn't change my life and my tastebuds didn't dance at all. Squid Ink Paella mixed shellfish, chorizo, preserved lemon, guindillas peppers & scallions - I think our dish said the Seafood Paella. This probably was the only dish that I remotely enjoyed. I like their spin on cutting up the squid that appeared to resemble noodles, when we first saw it, I thought it was their take on paella, using noodles rather than rice. But it was squid and it was good, nothing to write home about, but the best thing I tried that night. The place is super loud - not good, since I am hard of hearing. read more

I forgot to cancel the rez, and the restaurant called me 15 min later. Sure, that was my fault. I said sorry that we couldn't make it, and the owner all of a sudden talked to me in a very unprofessional and rude way, saying "learn your manners." Learn your manners? You please do, sir. If you want to be treated like a servant, feel free to go. No wonder other reviews say the service is terrible. read more

Romantic, DELICIOUS!!!! Not too pricey for what it is, service was a bit slow, but it was a VERY busy night. What to eat there: Fried Goat Cheese Balls Zucchini Flatbed Bacon Wrapped Dates Lamb Meatballs Stuffed Grape Leaves with duck Brussels Sprouts Mozzarella Bread DESSERT- Bon Bons are amazing! A really great experience! I highly recommend it! read more

This place is amazing. I love it. It's so versatile. I've been there on a little romantic date and I've been there with a group of friends for a BDay. The decor and space is great ... and cozy. You really can't go wrong with any of the food, but I'll name some of my favorites: Bacon Wrapped Dates & Olives stuffed with almonds (can I order 50 more, please?) Fingerling Potato Saltimbocca Carpaccio Of Beef Tuna Tartare Crispy Brussels Sprouts (these are simply divine) Pulled Pork Empanadas Braised Short Rib of Beef The desserts are awesome too - they change a lot though so I didn't bother putting up the ones I had because they aren't there anymore. P.S You can order everything on the menu (The Whole Shebang) for $420. read more

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Stumbled across this while walking in the area. Actually yelped Tapas places. Little hard to find. The entrance was downstairs. Looked like a small place, but that was NOT THE CASE! The bar decor was really nice. A stone wall, and nice bar stools. We didn't have a reservation, but the place was able to accommodate us right away. They did note that they needed the table in about 90 mins. Which was fine with us. We had very good service. Our waiter was extremely attentive to us. We ordered a few different items. Lamb meatballs, scallops, calamari, shrimps, the dates wrapped in bacon , eggplant, and the beef carpaccio. Everything was fresh, and tender. Melted in your mouth! The presentation was great. The taste was absolutely delicious. We will return there! l read more

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Best Spanish wine list in the tri state area and the food is always right on par. Very accommodating with reservations as well

This was a great find for tapas, thanks to Yelp! A friend wanted tapas for her birthday dinner so I did some quick research on best tapas spot and this came up on top. The small town house entrance leads into a large restaurant with several floors and sections. We were on the second floor with a balcony looking into the first. Apparently there are 3 floors! The decor was dark and sexy. The service was nice but a bit slow... On to the food! Large menu with options segmented by raw, fish, meats, etc. A good mix with something for everyone. The standouts were -Brussels sprouts - I always order these but they were spectacular at this restaurant! Savory and flavorful and crunch with pistachios. We took off the creme fraiche but still excellent. -Mussels - plump PEI mussels in lobster broth. Yum! -Mushroom flatbread with truffles. Perfectly portioned The fluke ceviche and fava bean falafel were ok but not especially memorable. Overall a great place and one to add to the restaurant rotation! read more

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Great I'm beyond delicious food. This is great place to bring people who are visiting from out of town. It has a lot of unique elements that make it feel special to something you would only find in NYC. read more

I met a friend visiting New York in the evening. The ambience was perfect for this kind of gathering. Food was good. However we would be happy if the menu had more diversity. read more

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Food snob from San Francisco says to New York chic friend "give me the best meditteranean spot in NY for a group dinner." Alta. I called two months in advance and spoke to a very nice chap. We ended up talking for about 20 minutes and sharing food snob secrets (he'd lived in SF) before I booked my reservation (a must). The food at Alta was fantastic! Even the Greek boyfriend in tow from SF was impressed. There was 8 of us and we ordered a lot of things on the menu. I absolutely loved: the bacon wrapped dates, fried goat cheese (HEAVEN), lamb meatballs (don't usually eat lamb), spinach salad, smoked mozzarella, filet mignon tartare, and the pork ribs. I docked a star for service. Not very attentive or friendly. More like "tell me what you want, I'll send it through." That's cool and all. Maybe that's more NY but I think a check-in is always good and we weren't checked in with between plates. All in all though: fantastic. read more

Three dinners later and I can say that this place is consistently excellent. I am a big tapas fan and must admit that I was getting a bit tired of the traditional offerings in NYC, so this provides a superb alternative to the traditional Spanish variety. This has now become one of the places I dream too much about just before I go or just after I leave. Regarding the atmosphere, it should be noted that there are two very distinct areas in the restaurant. The main dining room downstairs can get crowded, loud and vibrant, particularly as the adjacent bar fills up. Alternatively, you might be brought upstairs to the "front room", which requires a journey through the immaculate kitchen, and leads to an atmosphere which is much more subdued and intimate. I don't know where to start with the menu - it is massive and incredibly varied, composed of just a few old standbys (by tapas standards) and a mass of exciting, inventive dishes. Anything with fresh seafood has been consistently fresh and bursting with flavor (try the Fluke Civiche and the Tuna Tartare). I am not a huge foie gras fan, but the small little "pinxtos" of foie gras with cranberry and apple is amazing. Danish pork ribs are crusty, sweet, tangy, smokey and delicious. The signature, crispy Brussels sprouts are unlike any other Brussels sprout you have ever tasted and the generously-large bowl will disappear quickly (Brussels sprouts, fuji apples, creme fraiche, pistachios). One order of the pulled pork empanadas is never enough. I could go on and on about the various things I have tasted there, but my vote for the most interesting thing on the menu: Everything. And what do I mean by that? Well, should you be be daring enough (and hungry enough), you can order "The Whole Shebang", which is the entire menu of 50+ dishes for $350. The sangria is good, although they do not sell it by the pitcher. The wine selection is excellent and the staff knows the menu inside out. A shallow bathtub of ice built into the bar also shows off some of the great, chilled wines by the glass that are being offered that night. Nestled on a quiet block, but not far from the busy action in the West Village, this is a great place to start your night out for an early or late dinner. read more

The decor here is amazing, it really is a transporting type of restaurant. It feels like you are in someone's vineyard in the Mediterranean eating in their yard. Great date spot, it's a bi level restaurant that serves Mediterranean tapas. The bill does add up, it seems cheap and small so don't over order. The food: Crispy Brussel Sprouts- I don't usually review a veg dish first but this was excellent. It was a roasted brussel sprout dish with fuji apples, crème fraiche, and pistachios drizzled with a balsamic reduction. I don't know what kind of crack they put in this dish, but it's perfect. Bacon wrapped Dates & Olives- I am not the biggest fan of sweet and savory but this dish I will eat like there is no tomorrow. It's dates or olives with almonds wrapped in bacon. Nom Nom Braised Short Rib- this was melt in your mouth fall "aparty." God knows how long they braise this dish but it was fork tender. Textually, it's kinda boring because everything is soft but the horseradish does offers a nice kick. Foie Gras au Torchon- Very rich, very good. It's served with toasted brioche and a compote to offset the richness of the Foie. read more

My friend and I... (ok, I ate most of it) engorged on two orders of the bacon wrapped dates/olives. Indeed, I realize bacon makes everything better. But the saltiness of the bacon followed by the sweetness and texture of the dates and finished by an almond crunchy center is a tastebud party in every morsel! (There are other yummy things on the menu -i.e. avocado/seafood relleno, fried goat cheese balls with lavender honey, skewered "BLT" (pork belly cubes, cherry tomato over bibb lettuce and avocado w/ tomato mayo) and Coca: flatbread w/oven roasted mushrooms, fresh ricotta, truffle oil, herbs. But, alas, I am fixated...) I think of it as the Ferrero Rocher of bacon... I paired it with a Rioja Blanco which was a pleasant offset to such distinctive flavors... My one complaint is that the women's bathroom is on an upstairs level while the men's room is right there by the bar! Not a good idea after a few of sangrias... read more

Alta - Bacon wrapped dates or olives with marcona almonds - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This has been one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I love the atmosphere, diversity of the menu, and quality of the food. I live right by so I sometimes will stop in for a glass of wine at the bar. Its a nice bar to sit at and the wine list is really great too. The food though! I have not had everything as their menu is fairly large (I'd love the do the "whole shebang" for $600 w/ a group though). But some of my favorites are the brussel sprouts, bacon wrapped dates, burrata, MUSSELS (some of my fav mussels in the city), octopus and lamb meatballs. Its a great spot for a date or even just dinner with friends. Although, I will say it is great for a date because it definitely has a romantic vibe. Its not cheap but its definitely worth it! Pro tip: they only take cash or amex. So be prepared when you go. read more

Have been here twice. Surprisingly easier to get reservations to for similar type and sized restaurants. Have ordered over 15 different tapas. All of them have been exceptionally good. Great date place read more

Horrible food and customer service. I truly can not understand how this place has four stars. The pasta comes precooked, and they simply toss it in a pan before you order to heat it up. The paella does not come with rice, and this is coming from an Mediterranean/Spanish restaurant. The muscles were extremely salty. The waiter would not even offer up any recommendations, as apparently it differs table to table, and EVERYTHING on the menu is delicious, which is just laughable. I wouldn't return even if the whole meal was free, and would recommend stay far away from this place. read more