Alta has been on my foodie radar for some time and I finally made it in. WARNING: It's cash or Amex ONLY, come prepared (thank goodness they told me when they called to confirm my reservation). Speaking of reservations, make one, or else you won't be seated. This place is a zoo. The food is fantastic. It's tapas so your best bet is to order a bunch of plates and share. The only thing is that most of the portions are pretty small with a heavy price tag. New York City, man. Anyway, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My friend and I shared the fried goat cheese, salmon tartare, black truffle burrata, octopus a la plancha, ricotta gnocchi, and the lamb meatballs. My favorites were the goat cheese and the gnocchi but everything was good. The rose sangria is excellent, and the glass is very big. Our server was great and super attentive. When you come, ask to sit upstairs. The ambiance is very romantic, a great date spot fit for foodies. read more

Where to begin. We had reservation for 7 and arrived at 7 and were immediately seated. Great! 15 minutes later a server finally arrives to take our drink. Yay! My girlfriend ordered a Moscow mule and I a dirty martini. A bar back came with our drinks and my girlfriends drink had mezcal on it. There was a language barrier with the waitress so that's fine. We then told the bar-back that it was supposed to be a Moscow mule. He leaves and then a different man shows up in a blue button down saying "Mezcal Mule". Again, now we wanted a Moscow mule. Cue 25 more minutes go by we finally get her drink. It's not 7:50 and it took 50 minutes to get our first drink and cheers. My dirty martini tasted like 3 parts olive juice to 1 part vodka. No apologies for how late the drink came. No apologies for the mistake of the drinks. They acted like this was all completely fine. Whoever the man in the blue shirt was, assuming they were the manager, should have read the room that this was severely disappointing and if not apologize at least comp a drink. There was a 4 top right next to us who was also constantly looking around for a server but none to be found. We had 3 servers that night ask us the same questions. What would you like to drink, eat etc. no organization. We didn't bother to get food because the manager in the blue shirt said the steak that's $32 is the size of a skewer. And when we asked how many ounces he didn't even know how to answer this question and kept just showing us with his hands. What a pitiful experience. Would never recommend anyone to go here. read more

Sorry to leave an awful review but this was a major disappointment! Went here last night for dinner and everything from the food to the service to the drinks was awful. While the food tasted moderately OK, the portions were ridiculous. $20 a plate for literally an ounce of food. We spent almost $600 and left starving. Also the drinks were poured like a half a glass. Waiter had a horrible attitude the entire night and our table was basically left dirty most of the meal. I used to work in the restaurant business so I totally get how things go but the place was not even busy. Even if you are super busy, not even a heads up that he was coming our way or give us the eyes that he will get to us shortly. Not to mention, didn't even say thank you at the end. Dropped the check, walked away with no eye contact. Horrifying. Not sure why this place gets a good rap but I was severely disappointed all around and would not return. read more

To start off with a compliment, I will say the cocktails and food were delicious! The service was the reason for this review. I think we might have been the four top James B's review was referring to. I have never left a negative yelp review, but i came here last night with 3 friends and had a disappointing experience. Our reservation was at 7 and soon after we were all seated we put in our drink orders. 35 minutes later and there was no sign of our drinks or our waitress. One of my friends brought this to a bar back's attention and soon after another waiter came by to take our drink orders again- No apologies or explanation and almost made US feel bad for inquiring about our drinks. Our drinks finally come and we ordered a couple of tapas (which were all great). Waiter #2 explains that it's best to order a few tapas at a time. Great. He comes to visit us once more and we put a couple of more tapas in. Those tapas come, and by then our drinks are empty. No sign of waiter. We finish those tapas, are talking about ordering one or two more, REALLYYY would love another round of drinks. No sign of waiter. Finally, we managed to flag down our original waitress and ask her for another round of drinks and the bill (we are over getting another 30 dollar tapa at this point). Mistakes happen and restaurants are overwhelmed right now which I understand and feel for. But an apology and acknowledgment goes along way, and the attitude especially from waiter 2 just felt really arrogant and rude. 3 hours, two drinks, 6 small plates, and our waiter(a) maybe stopped at our table 3 times total. Definitely put a slight damper on what was supposed to be a fun girls night. read more

This is a cozy restaurant with good food and even better staff! I met with a friend for dinner after work and would go back in a heart beat! The only comment would be that it was cold at the restaurant. The fire place did not emit enough heat for NYC cold winter night. read more

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

See all

Alta has become a Greenwich Village favorite for Tapas. The setting is reminiscent of an old farm house with a two-story atrium so it can be loud at times, but the vibe is lively and upbeat. The tapas are not traditional Spanish, but are more Mediterranean overall. The grilled shrimp and the duck confit are amazing. The pasta was overcooked, although the flavors were great. The cocktails are good too. Overall a really good experience. read more

See all

Great for date night. We love the ambiance. The service is amazing. Finally food the food is great!

Food was pretty good but service could have been more attentive. I may try sitting at the bar next time. The servers were hard to find, which is a shame since the food was good. The fried asparagus was especially delicious but the octopus was disappointing. read more

restaurant was fantastic. it is a tapas bar moderately priced and the food is to die for. We got a bunch of dishes that were all amazing, the paella was perfect and so fresh, the pastas were extremely fresh and perfectly seasoned, and the pork was tender and so flavorful. The unique combinations of flavors lead to many pleasant surprises and satisfied pallets. I definitely recommend this place to small parties (1,2,3,4) the outside dining is set up wonderfully and plexiglass dividers separate the tables, the greenery makes this space feel very private and secluded, perfect for many different occasions. Our server was fantastic- he held great conversation and wasn't afraid to be himself, something I thoroughly enjoy. The food was brought out in a timely manner and he was also very funny and charming. I would definitely recommend Alta to anyone who is in search of a small tapas place with super fresh and tasty food. My only complaint was the water could have used ice! read more

Alta - our small and secluded table in the garden - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

And now for something completely different! Lindsay and I and two friends choose this Mediterranean influenced tapas place, and it was such a nice change of pace. Set in a 19th century townhouse in the West Village, it's warm, comfortable vibe surely was a big part of why the night went so well. We order many small plates, and then we ordered some more!. Standouts were the Seared Scallops, Ricotta Gnocchi, Grilled Skirt Steak, and Bacon Wrapped Dates & Olives. Our waiter was lots of fun, and we were there a long time chatting and weren't rushed out. This was a wonderful place to hang with friends, which is what we were looking for, and Alta couldn't have been better. read more

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

Very solid tapas in the West Village with plenty of seating across 3 levels. Service was decent but the food was great! Some highlights: 1. Paella: one of the only versions I have had with more seafood than rice! The shrimp, calamari, and clams were fresh and very savory. Definitely worth a try. 2. Short ribs: Very tender braised short rib served over a beet noodle. This was one of the highlights for sure. 3. Braised rabbit with foam and fava: Amazingly tender rabbit with a creamy and light foam. The textures and flavors perfectly complemented each other. 4. Crispy fingerling potatoes: Solid and served over creme fraiche. Good but didn't really stand out. 5. Mushroom flatbread: light and crispy with a hint of truffle but otherwise pretty standard. 6. Roasted eggplant: Served chilled with toasted shallots. This was just okay and a bit on the bland side. 7. Key lime: This was primarily all whipped cream with a hint of key lime flavor. It was good but not exactly what I had expected. 8. Baklava cheesecake: Creamy and with a baklava crust and topping. A perfect blend of creamy and savory with a hint of crunch. Very solid. Overall the prices can be a bit steep for the portions but it's on par with the area and the dishes are innovative enough that it's worth it. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for tapas in the West Village. read more

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

See all

Hidden gem! Very cozy and warm feeling when you walk in. Definitely sit on the top floor - it's decorated beautifully and you get to look out over the restaurant. Food was great. They are definitely tapas-sized portions though, so don't come here if you are starving. We got the fried goat cheese, bacon wrapped dates, trout fritters for starters. Then we got the octopus, wagyu tartare, ricotta gnocchi. Gnocchi was phenomenal and melted in your mouth. Sauce was great. Wagyu tartare was also very good and had almost a citrus taste. The only thing that fell a bit flat was the octopus- wasn't crispy enough and the sauce/hummus was just mush. Waiter was very nice. Maybe a tiny bit slow, but we weren't in a rush. I'd love to come back here and try all the other things we didn't get! read more

See all

This place is a bomb and I like the fact that they take reservations via yelp! Everything we tried was delicious. I would give like a million stars to chicken skewers. Other favorites for the evening were shrimp with chorizo, broccoli-cauliflower (vegetarian tapas). We also tried the paella which was nice and flavorful but a tad bit soupy, If you like me prefer it with little burnt sides then thats not the one for you. For Deserts we tried the chocolate lava and the butterscotch dessert both were divine. Although the chocolate cake comes with cinnamon ice-cream which I loved but if you are not a fan of that flavor there are various other options on the menu. read more

See all

Tapas style and cute place with rustic decor. Ordered the following for dinner: Fried goat cheese Wagyu carpaccio Grilled sirloin steak Pork Brussel sprouts Chocolate lava cake The tapas come out 1 or 2 dishes at a time. So we found ourselves waiting for when the next dish would come out. We sat on the second floor which has a great view overlooking the restaurant. Overall nice date night spot. read more

See all

Loved this place! Came here for date night and it is the perfect spot. The ambience is very romantic and cozy and a great place to go on a date or just have great conversation. We ordered sangrias and they were good but as a warning they are very strong lol. The food was excellent as well. I enjoyed everything we ordered- we got the fried goat cheese balls, brussel sprouts, paella, hanger steak, wagyu steak and the chicken shawarma skewer. I normally don't order brussel sprouts at a restaurant but I'm so glad we did here- they were AMAZING perfectly crispy and topped well with the crème fraiche. My other favorite was the hanger steak which was perfectly prepared medium rare. The paella was my third favorite, the rice was a perfect texture with great seasonings in a beautiful broth topped with seafood and chorizo. If you come here I highly recommend getting those 3 do not miss out! read more

See all

I love this place that's tucked away from the busy 6th Ave. Its actually large inside when you start walking in but it's very intimate and romantic. I've been here for group birthday celebrations and on a date. The group dinners take a long time because it's a group and it's tapas so be prepared but the food is good. read more

This was one of the most unexpectedly amazing dining and food experiences I've had in the city. I've heard of this place before, but was never too eager to grab a reservation. We ended up going because my friends and I couldn't find any reservations elsewhere, and I'm SO grateful it worked out that way. This place has such a cozy, yet elegant ambiance to it. I felt like I was simultaneously dining in a medieval cottage and a upscale farm-to-table restaurant. However, the food was the main showstopper here. My friends and I got the bacon wrapped dates/olives, mushroom flatbread, heirloom tomatoes, gnocchi, perch fish, and lamb tagine to share. All were incredible, but the gnocchi and lamb tagine completely stole the show. I'm not usually a huge gnocchi fan because I often times find it to be pretty heavy and dense. But Alta's gnocchi was incredible light and airy, and was paired with incredible sauces. The lamb tagine was also next level. The lamb was SO tender and the sauce, well, I want to lather it on freakin everything. Overall, the food and experience were incredible. I'll be back again several times over!! read more

Really fantastic food. BF and I went all out and shared: + fried goat cheese - a must + bacon wrapped dates and olives - probably the best I've ever had + brussels sprouts - delicious + pei mussels - only thing that didn't speak to me + pork empanadas - delicious + lamb meatballs - delicious + butternut squash ravioli - so good we ordered it again later in the meal + banana split mousse dessert - possibly the best part of our meal Service was decent and the ambience is super romantic. Coat check girl was a little out of it and took forever to retrieve our stuff but it's nice that they offer it. Definitely one of the best spots for tapas in NYC and WAY better than their sister restaurant Cata. read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 I'm new to NYC and love tapas and stumbled upon this place after doing some research. I dined here on a Friday evening and had the most wonderufl experience. For drinks I had the red sangria which was abolutely delish! As for food I ordered the paella, gnocchi, grilled chicken shawarma skewer, and the brussel sprouts and each plate was quite flavorful. In addition, my waiter was extremely attentive and kind. I will definitely come back. read more

3.5 stars. Definitely great atmosphere, and I enjoy the surprise when unsuspecting guests who I invite here discover the expansive restaurant within an otherwise undescript townhouse. The terraces on the second floor overlooking the ground make you feel like you're in a colonial era villa somewhere else in the world. So for that reason alone, it is worth a visit. I am less crazy about the actual food - it is good but not jaw-dropping. On a recent visit, I tasted the hen of the woods mushrooms, which were fried; and that is the only adjective I can think of to describe them. The ricotta gnocchi was perfectly passable, and the texture was good, but the sauce lacked anything memorable. read more

Holy moly. Came here with the boyfriend last night and by the end of our meal, I was in a food coma, When Harry Met Sally diner-scene style. I felt high. Euphoria at its finest. Y'all: you must go to Alta. You just...must. We started out with the roasted beets (goat cheese panna cotta was so delicious it was almost laughable) and the fava bean falafel. SO GOOD. I had asked the waiter for a dry, light rosè and once he brought it out, I realized it was the closest thing to the rosè I recently had in Cannes (unfortunately I forgot to ask the waiter if indeed it was French. Darn!) Don't know the name of the wine, but it was phenomenal. Next up was the garganelli. The house-made merguez was VERY tasty and pleasantly soft, as well as the pasta (but be forewarned: it's a bit on the spicy side). The black bean bass was incredible. Who the hell has ever heard of tomato water?! I sure hadn't! I couldn't believe how good it was. Both my boyfriend and I were stuffing our faces like savages, our palates shell-shocked from the experience. I hadn't had duck confit in years after a not-so-great experience, but decided to give it another shot (since prior to the duck confit nightmare, I had always been a huge fan). Blew me out of the water. Perfectly crispy and yet still juicy. It really was perfect, I don't know how else to describe it. My favorite dessert of all time is key lime pie, so when I saw key lime espuma, I had to order it. Ho. Ly. Shit. It was perfectly light enough that I didn't feel bloated and regretful, and VERY flavorful (limey, limey, limey! YUM!) We also ordered the baklava cheesecake; now THAT was glorious. My mouth is watering just typing this review out. GO. read more

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

See all

An intimate environment hidden behind a residential basement stoop. Nice variety of tapas with a Mediterranean theme and a sensible list of craft cocktails. Would have liked a bigger beer list. The prices were a little higher than other tapas locations but the service and surroundings were worth the differential. read more

This place has a very intimate ambiance, great for date night. For a tapas style place portions were decently sized! The ricotta gnocchi and fried goat cheese were absolutely incredible!!! The lamb meatballs were just average, and the mushroom flatbread was kind of bland. It was an ok place overall! read more

See all

Food is excellent ( had paella + brussel sprouts) . Creative recipe, well executed. They did the hard part well BUT Service was truly horrendous . After explaining plates on table were for 'small plates', I mentioned we'll be having a big plate (paella) . this seemed to throw him off balance . Walked away , made sure to visit every table but hours (prior to taking order) . Didn't bring wine list for at least 15 mins, then reappeared to explain he'd be unable to take wine order and would convey to 'sommelier' ( order could easily have been conveyed as I had already picked bottle) . Assured us food wouldn't come before wine Mr. "sommelier" never stopped by to pour anything beyond the initial glass. Finally after 30 mins, we had wine (wife checked time) Toward the end of the meal , I had to ask a server for the check. She then conveyed request to a busboy who stopped to ask if I was looking for check. Finally , waiter brought check . Then waiter suddenly extremely VISIBLE -- seemed excited for us to pay and go On a positive note, they do not push alcohol (or dessert) on customers No name outside, small townhouse DOES NOT make you a social "Club" You're a restaurant -- act like one. At 55 and not accompanied by anyone under 35 , I clearly fall outside the desired 'demographic' Too bad. Could be a great place . Get someone to run it read more

This place is great! The vibe is romantic and the food is delicious!! Drink #1 - nothing special Drink #3- better than 1 Food Fried goat cheese-4 Octopus- 3 Paella-4 Shrimp-4 juicy with hints of unexpected treats Brussel sprouts- 5 not to mommas sprouts! You will ask for seconds! Salmon tartare- 4 refreshing Short ribs- 3 very good Linguine- 5. almost passed on this and ended up surprising me! Spicy goodness! Warm chocolate cake- 4 you can't go wrong with this classic! Hen of woods tempura- 3 only because the taste of the mushroom is hidden behind flavor distractions. read more

We ate: the pate, the linguini, the scallops, and the eggplant dip (not quite baba ganoush). The eggplant dip is almost more like a puree, and since the lighting is a little dim in this place, when it was first served I thought it was mustard. Overall, fine, but I probably wouldn't get this dish again. I liked the scallops a lot, as well as the pate (though I passed on the grape jam). The linguini was also decent, and had a slightly lemon-y taste. The main thing I would say is that you really shouldn't come here too hungry. The dishes are not terribly expensive (still pricey), but they are very small. For instance, the scallop dish only had 4 scallops on it. The linguini was also like... laughably small. Still, this is a pretty nice spot to bring a date, and that's why it's redeemed in this sense. Make sure to request a table upstairs next to the balcony, since I think it sets the mood a little better. read more

Alta - a special option on the menu - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great ambience! It's a cute spot with almost a hidden entry. Enjoyed our time there. Nice service too. read more

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

See all

Came here for dinner with 2 girl friends and we got off on the wrong foot, but the manager made it up to us by offering us a free round of drinks. I won't bore you with the details but we had a mishap with the hostess and our table, it was nice of them to comp us a round though. As for the food: The Brussels sprouts are so good, just order them, you won't be disappointed. They're sweet, crunchy and perfectly cooked. We ordered 2 because we liked them so much! Pardon Peppers. I didn't love these, they were a bit too spicy for my liking, and I'm not overly sensitive to spicy foods. The fried cheese was delicious. The fluke, also very good. The foie gras was very smooth, I enjoyed it a lot. Overall the price is right and food is good. read more

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

I came here for my birthday dinner with my husband. We had a great time! Ambiance- during dinner there are dim lights and candles and it is LOUD! I was almost turned off by the noise but we were seated on the third floor which eventually got loud too. The restaurant spans 3 floors and looks like it's supposed to be a house. The tables are arranged closely together so it's not good for those with claustrophobia. Service- the service was fast and seamless. Really no issues here. Food/Menu- they printed personalized a menu for my birthday! That was a nice touch. Their menu is filled with such a large variety of dishes that there is something to satisfy every palate. Every dish is infused with the flavors thoughtfully planned to create a beautiful array of taste and texture in your mouth. We saw that there was an option to order everything on the menu, but instead we opted to order every item we wanted, which was more cost-effective and just as fulfilling. Our favorites were the: heirloom carrots (MUST ORDER if in season), roasted beets, brussels sprouts, burrata, paella (be careful, it's quite salty), meatballs, short rib, and candy bar. We came a second time with my sister who was visiting and she agreed with me on how well-orchestrated the dishes are. They didn't have the heirloom carrots because they were not in season and I died a little inside. I was able to come back to life in time to write this review. read more

Alta - What we ordered - Tapas Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Food was delicious. Especially enjoyed the Brussels sprouts and gnocchi. The building is also quite large and there are a number of rooms that seem great for private events. read more

Really amazing food. Huge restaurant. The prices on Yelp were not accurate (probably pre-Covid) but the food and ambience were great. The sommelier will recommend a lovely wine for your dinner as well. Overall, we had a wonderful New Years Eve experience in a classy, unique, romantic restaurant. read more

Alta is a very romantic restaurant nestled in a West village townhouse. The service is excellent, the setting is cozy, candlelit and reminds me of Spanish balconies and open spaces. The food quality varies, depending on what you order. Alta was on my list of restaurants to try for a long time. I wanted to get a group of 6-8 to try the whole Shebang (everything on the menu for $520). But I was happy to try the restaurant first. For a Friday date night, we had a group of 4 selecting 7 items off the menu. We ordered the tuna tartare, lamb tagine, black truffle burrata, Hudson valley camembert, fried hen of the woods, PEI mussels with lobster broth, and grilled octopus. The best dish was the soft gooey savory aromatic burrata. The grilled octopus was perfectly grilled but very very small (one tentacle). The other small plates were good but not mind- blowing. I would suggest your order 2 dishes per person because two of us left the restaurant a little hungry. We went for dessert and drinks afterwards. Then pizza. read more

See all

Went for a birthday. Alta printed a special menu for the celebration which was really fun. They do soemthing called the big shebang where you can order one of everything which was fun to try with a large group. Personally loved the lamb Tajinnn and their version of a spicy margarita. read more

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

See all

Love this restaurant food is always consistently good. Service was great and the atmosphere is cozy and warm. I would highly recommend it.

We had a really nice dinner here on a saturday night. Here's what we ordered: 1. fried goat cheese (4.5/5)... magical little bomb in your mouth. they were perfectly fried and the honey was an amazing touch. Wish the goat cheese was slightly creamer/warmer 2. brussels sprouts (6/5)... probably the best prepared brussels I've ever had. such an interesting combo of flavors that just worked. 3. ricotta gnocchi (3.5/5)...sauce was delicious, but gnocchi was a bit over cooked. 4. hen of the woods (3.5/5)... delicious but not worth the steep price tag. Our waiter took great care of us. Only wish the food came out slightly slower... we got our first plates maybe within 8 minutes of ordering. Had gotten our cocktails just before. read more

Would definitely come again. Vibe/ambiance is 100% so romantic and lovely. If you're with a small party (~2-3 people), call on the day of and ask to be seated on the mezzanine. That way you get the best view of the restaurant. Food is A-OK, and good enough to return. We had the bacon-wrapped dates (great), the brussel sprouts (awesome), the paella (was OK), and linguine (was OK). I would get the bacon-wrapped dates and brussel sprouts again. Bit pricey for what you get, but worth it. read more

See all

Alta was pretty solid! NYC service was a hoot at this place, the food was presentable and delicious, but my only issue was that the servers' runner was a bit new and she forgot one of our drinks which caused for a long delay in our ability to toast our celebration . The scallops, the steak and the gnocchi were all recommended! read more

Always solid!! A hidden gem. Perfect date night place or birthday with friends. I'm surprised it's not always fully packed. And our waiter was ON POINT! Thank god good service is still a thing at some restaurants. Go! read more

Service was great. Food was good. Things to skip --- octopus, nothing to rave home about, fried goat cheese (ok, would order if you want cheese), mushroom flatbread (I didn't eat it but per y friends who I was with), and lamb meat balls Things to order-- Brussel sprouts, caulini and the bass where really good All in all if you are in the neighborhood it's a good tapas place to try. Pricey. Service is good and everyone is nice. read more

It's been over a year since I had a fabulous birthday dinner at Cata, Alta's sister restaurant. My experience there was all kinds of wonderful and I still remember--quite vividly, in fact--a number of the dishes I tried there. Yet somehow, Alta--the older of the two restaurants--had grown stale on my ever-growing restaurant bookmarks. Newer, less-reviewed spots kept shooting up to the top, and Alta became more and more neglected. Thankfully, I can say with great joy that Alta has finally been checked off. Though a different vibe than Cata, the execution at Alta is just as, if not more, stellar than its sister spot. The food here is creative, varied, beautiful, well-balanced and delicious. And the space itself is remarkable in its own right! Perhaps one of the reasons I forgot about Alta is its concealment. Despite being in a popular area, Alta is hidden on a predominately residential block. A bit of searching is involved. But once you've entered, you know you've arrived at the right place. The space itself seems like a flipped apartment building: three floors connected by two old-school, narrow, carpet-clad staircases. While the first two floors are a bit more like Cata ("hip", dark), the third floor feels more like the living room of your most treasured relative. This is the floor we happened to dine on. While I still somewhat wish we were seated elsewhere (I enjoy dark lighting, despite it not doing much for food photos), the third floor is cozy and intriguing. And somehow, the service was efficient despite the sheer size of the venue. The one underwhelming area (I'm getting it out of the way first) for me was the cocktail menu here. Whereas Cata has a separate cocktail menu *just* for G&Ts (my favorite drink, so I got lucky there), the Alta menu is more austere. Not many options, nothing too notable. The one highlight for me was the Lavender Collins, which is a refreshing gin drink perfect for getting the night started. My advice is to start out with a lighter cocktail if you're in the mood for liquor, then switch to wine (in contrast, *great* wine selection here) once the food starts to arrive. The food menu at Alta is vast. I always have a difficult time choosing at tapas spots, but this menu was particularly heart-wrenching. Everything just looked superb, and judging from what we did ultimately order, it probably was/is. There's something for everyone here: seafood, veggies, tartares/crudos, meats, cured dishes, grains. Important note: AMEX AND CASH ONLY. BS, in my opinion, but it's excusable. Excellent Eats, below: Grilled Octopus w/ blistered beans, kalamata olive celery salad: A I'm spoiled when it comes to octopus, which means I also have high standards. This yummy tentacle was definitely up there with some of the better preparations I've had. Cooked perfectly, crispy skin, very flavorful. The salad beneath has a few extra hidden pieces of meat in there, for when you start to lament the dish's conclusion. Salmon Tartare w/ truffle, black rice crisp, salmon roe: A+ There's something about tartare. I can't get enough of it, and it's plates like this that keep me consuming a questionable amount of raw fish. Simple, delicate, delectable and beautifully presented. The salmon roe on top felt downright luxurious. If you can, try to eat each crisp in multiple bites. Crispy Okra Salad w/ heirloom tomato, cucumber, vadouvan, basil: A- Peculiar dish for a tapas restaurant, but I'm not complaining. We order brussels sprouts almost every time we dine out, so we decided to opt for the okra as our veggie. Didn't blow me away but it was more than solid. Fantastic flavors and textures and a great interlude before diving back into more meat. Spanish Mackerel in Saor w/ currants, pine nuts, clove, spanish onion: A I was hesitant about ordering a cured dish here given the wide array of other choices, but I'm wholly satisfied with this decision. Each bite was solid and complex with tons of flavor. Tasteful, aesthetically pleasing and a nice change of pace from what I'm used to ordering out. Porcini-Braised Short Rib w/ spelt pasta, beet puree, horseradish: A+ I'm glad we got to devour this towards the end of our night at Alta because I hope to remember it for days and weeks and years to come. Melt-in-your-mouth good. And for a red meat dish, all components were refreshingly healthy. The flavors here worked together in the most harmonious of harmonies, if there is such a superlative. The perfect amount of horseradish, which can be difficult to execute. Bacon-Wrapped Dates largueta almonds: A+++ Usually one receives bacon-wrapped dates at the beginning of a meal, so we started to worry at a certain point that our order had been forgotten. But thank god we received it last, because these were no question the best bacon-wrapped dates I've ever consumed. The almonds in the center were *the* most pleasant of surprises. We didn't need dessert after these: pure indulgence. read more

See all