A very solid Spanish restaurant with all the traditional flavors. I came with a few friends and ordered the croquetas de jamón (the bechamel was perfection, loved them), carne y pulpo à la gallega. The meat and the octopus were cooked so well, so tender and it all reminded me of being back home. The service was also outstanding, our server was super kind and very attentive. Definitely recommend to try it! read more

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I came here for dinner to celebrate my friend's birthday. When I first arrived, I was a little confused with the set up and went up the steps and through the red doors. The interior was gorgeous, refined, and elegant. However, I found out my group was dining downstairs, which was also beautiful and tastefully decorated with a festive atmosphere. Looking at the menu beforehand, I was set on ordering the Steak with potatoes. On the night of, I decided I wanted something lighter. I ended up going with the Fideua Del Mar, which was Monkfish on top of a bed of thin noodles. This was plated beautifully and the Monkfish was served in delicate pieces. The noodles were tasty, cooked perfectly, with rich seasoning, albeit a little on the fishy side. The Monkfish was mild, succulent, meaty, and firm with lobster-like texture. I also got to try the Patatas Bravas and Empanadas. The Potatoes were delightfully crispy and well seasoned, served with a savory aioli. Empanadas contained spinach, aged cheese, shallots, and basil. The outer shell was perfectly flaky and crunchy, and there was satisfying cheese pull. I am not really a fan of spinach, so I didn't enjoy this. Honestly, I was surprised the restaurant didn't have a meat filled empanada option, such as Chorizo or Shrimp. For dessert, I had some of the warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries. This was rich and sweet, oozing with irresistible melty chocolate. Service was lovely. Our waitress was friendly and made sure we were well taken care of, amidst many questions and some dishes being sent back. Prices were decent. I wouldn't rush to return, but if I do come back, would like to try the Lobster and Rice or Chorizo Burger. read more

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My friend and I came here for a summer evening dinner and it was a vibe! The weather was perfect and sun was setting, ICONIC. Now onto the food, I think this place shines when it comes to their tapas. Everything we ordered was delish, highly recommend the Patatas Bravas, mac n cheese, and shrimp. We weren't a fan of the paella unfortunately cause it was super salty. We felt bad for barely touching it and not wanting to take it home. But it was nice that they had mocktail sangria. This place is very friendly for vegetarians, vegans and non-alcoholic drinkers. Or if sometimes you want a break and in a health conscious kick read more

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A group of 6 of us had dinner reservations on a warm Friday at 6:30. The space is pleasant enough and t he food was excellent but there were too few servers to properly attend to a packed restaurant I have to blame that on poor staff scheduling. We had excellent cocktails and small bites that were quite tasty, but it was a full 10 minutes until my cocktail arrived despite the fact that I asked about it twice. Even worse, two of our group ordered chicken pand the rest of us were all but finished dining when the dishes finally arrived. One of our group also went to the front to ask about it three times. The place was raucously full and the servers were slammed and those things resulted in a less than pleasant experience despite the excellent food. I could only recommend going there at an off hour if you expect a nice meal read more

Really great prices and good food. The atmosphere is loud and crowded with music, but the front outside is very nice. It definitely is Spanish feeling (including the service). The arroz con secreto was very good (be careful if you don't like things salty). The croquettes were good too--both flavors! Make sure to get a reservation as it's busy. read more

La Nacional - Rosalia - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for some drinks and a light snack. The sangrias were really tasty and the espresso martini was amazing. Prices are also so reasonable. We also got the potatoes and croquettes - both were tasty but nothing amazing. There were so many things I would like to try next time I come back! read more

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I do believe the place is a lot different than when they did the 2018 renovations. The food is great and still maintains the high quality but the service sticks a$$. The front of house took a while and the wait staff was just ignoring us at one point of the evening. We did put in another order for the delicious croquettes but they never arrived. The sangria was water down so save your points for the nice bar across the street called Dahla. Overall the paella was delicious and chef's kiss as the seafood wasn't dried out and the rice was moist! I am very happy that tue quality of the paella didn't go down hill. Visit if you need to but I do miss the orange stucco walls because at least everything else was great! read more

La Nacional - Paella - black ink seafood - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

Hands down the BEST, most authentic paella I've had in NYC and immediately added to my top 10 of places I actually want to come back over and over because everything actually tastes like Spain. We made a reservation for Saturday afternoon, upon arrival we were sat immediately, and the adventure started. The place transported us to Spain, to a family restaurant where people go to actually enjoy food and connect with the people they are dining with, no influencers on site, no absurd waiting times, no exorbitant prices, only good food, and people actually enjoying themselves. 100/100. This place has been around for over a 100 years! Who would have thought! I woke up craving paella, which is not an unusual craving of mine, so we decided to give this place a try only to be amazed by their incredible food. We ordered the medium seafood paella, pulpo a la gallega and boquerones. Enough food for at least 3 people, although we were only two. For drinks we had Estrella Galicia, served cold on draft, and the sparkling sangria made with cava, this was the most refreshing perfectly balanced sparkling sangria one could have. We also tried the churros with chocolate sauce and enjoyed them for the final touch to our meal. The atmosphere of the place is very nice, this is the kind of place where I can picture myself celebrating a birthday, gathering with friends or simply bringing my family. The bar is gorgeous and they have a beautiful outdoor terrace to enjoy aperitivo during summer days, I cannot wait for the weather to improve to book a table outside. Price point in my opinion is fair, drinks are delicious, food is generous, service is attentive and the overall experience was great. I'll be coming back. read more

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Last minute late dinner with a few friends my oh my. The most amazing food. I enjoyed the creamy gazpacho. Sangria chicken paella. Flan and some tapas I live in the neighborhood and never noticed this place read more

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The vibe was excellent, but otherwise La Nacional was disappointing. The food was fine, but better Spanish tapas can be found at other places. The cocktails were good but the wine list was extremely disappointing with none of the amazing Spanish wines on the list. The service was merely adequate. read more

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We went there this evening. I love tapas and the menu looked amazing. I would say the service is what impacted our evening. She was very inattentive and did not take the time to deliver and pleasant experience. After 20 mins, she stopped by to ask what we wanted. We ordered our drinks & food..... that was our first mistake. The food came out, 90% of our meal within less than 5 mins!!!!!! We didn't even have our drinks!! If you like to enjoy your meal, take time with your meal and enjoy it, this is not the place for you!!! Everything food wise was ok, with the rice dish, not being nice at all. Our waitress never stopped by, never checked on our meals or to see if we needed something. Not once! I'd say, there are great restaurants in NYC, skip this one! read more

Came back for more paella! Croquette was good as usual. The potato thing was delicious, especially with the aioli sauce. I could not have enough of it!! Also tried getting their drinks and they are not only fairly priced (13!! So hard to find in nyc now), but also delicious. Bartender was very happy to customize my drink :) read more

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Love how I felt I was in Spain. Staff was incredible. And the food on point!!!!! The croquettas...yum!!! The boquerones...ugh. So damn good. I am definitely coming back. read more

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I sat at the bar on a warm Sunday afternoon and ordered a satisfying red sangria with a paella mariscos for two - even if it was just for me. After a long walk in the city, I had no problem gobbling down the well-seasoned and generous dish. I will return! I hope you do, too. read more

La Nacional - Red Sangria - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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I came on a weekend afternoon for lunch with a few friends. It was pretty empty and they also had a bunch menu but we opted for their regular menu. We ordered the patatas bravas which looked simple but tasted delicious. The squid ink seafood paella was also delicious and a generous portion. Food and drinks came out pretty quickly! I would probably opt for a pitcher of sangria next time but they also had bottomless drinks for $20. read more

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One of the more authentic Spanish restaurants I've ever eaten at. There were 3 of us, (1 of which who has been to Spain a few times), and we shared everything. Everything was really good--mixed seafood paella, patatas bravas, pan tumaca and their refreshing drinks! We had a seat up at the bar (I think they referred to it as the chefs table), right in front of where they cook your food too! Pretty standard NYC prices too Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

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We found ourselves in NYC on a Saturday night with a sudden desire for Spanish food, paella more specifically. I found this place recommended online and we decided to give it a shot. We could only find a late reservation but they were able to seat us early. We immediately put an order in for their Negras - their spuid ink seafood paella, and also ordered the empanadas and mushroom croquettes as appetizers. EVERYTHING we had food wise was amazing!! The red sangria was a bit of a miss, but this is a fantasticz low key spot that we would've walked right by if we hadn't known it was there (we almost did even still), given it's a garden level restaurant. Highly recommend for the quality of food and service. read more

La Nacional - Negra Seafood Paella - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

I really liked La National. It's been on my list for some time and we happened to pass by so we went in and got seated on a Friday night without a reservation. Which was nice since it was pretty crowded. We chose to sit at the bar which I always like. We ordered drinks from the bartender. Just a glass of wine for me and soda for hubby. A server came to us for our food order. We LOVED the pan con tomate. Best I've ever had. The gambas ajillo were very good. Came in a small hot skillet. I had the meat and cheese plate for my main. It had a nice selection of chorizo, Iberico ham and salami. Along with manchego cheese, almonds and quince (?) paste. Really good bread on the side. Hubby had the chicken with garlic and roasted potatoes. Delicious. Too full for dessert or coffee. Service e was sweet all around especially bartender who gave us tastes of espresso martini. Would definitely return!!! read more

La Nacional - Gambas al Ajillo - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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The paella was the best I've had (granted I haven't had paella in a while). The tomato toast bread thing was so refreshing, the bread just the right crunch and softness. The shrimp was sizzling and garlicky, just the way I like it. We also got some extra toast to dip in the shrimp oil. The paella we got had so much seafood, super generous amounts and we left very full. read more

My fiancé and I came here for dinner with two friends. We made a reservation for a Saturday a week in advance via OpenTable and lots of spots were still available at the time. They have a very nice open seating area outside of the restaurant that has pretty lights and looks very green which is perfect for a nice summer night. We sat inside and it equally nice, with a rustic and classic tavern feel to it. Our waitress came by to get our order for drinks and we were shocked at how reasonably priced the alcohol was. I got a glass of white wine, my fiancé got a glass of cava, and our friends each got a cocktail, no drink being more expensive than $15 which is very good for NYC. We then put our order in for food. Our table had generous space for all our plates (which is always appreciated for tapas and not always the case). The food my fiancé and I tried: - croquetas: the table ordered croquetas de jamón. The order came with 6 of them as well as a side of aioli. I did not try these but my fiancé thought they could have been a little crispier on the outside. However, he said the filling was good and that the aioli provided a nice pairing to balance out the umami flavors. Very good for sharing! - patatas bravas: generous portion of patatas which are incredibly addictive so I'd still recommend getting one order per person (you will end up wanting to eat at least half). The potatoes had a crispy outside, and a moist and smooth inside. The aioli and brava sauce balance was perfect, bringing intermittent punches of heat but then smoothed over by the creamy aioli. These are definitely a little spicy but in my opinion it was the right amount. Would order again! - gambas al ajillo: we also got two orders of this since we figured one portion for 4 of us would be a little small. These came in a sizzling pan with the delicious olive oil and chunks of tender garlic. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. They gave us bread on the side to soak up all the oily, garlicky goodness. The aroma was divine! Reasonably priced. - citrus seafood salad: this was a special on the menu for a lighter summer fare. The salad came cold, came with marinaded scallops and shrimp that had a citrus and tangy punch. The salad was bright, refreshing, had very nice pickled elements, as well as sweet nuttiness from toasted cashews. I thought this was very good and reminded me of a ceviche. My only comment is that I wish it had come with a little more seafood but overall very good. - arroz negro con pulpo: this also comes out in a sizzling pan, beautifully plated with two chunky tentacles. The rice was rich, had a deep sea flavor without being too fishy, and had the perfect texture. The octopus was definitely overcooked and chewy but the flavor was pretty good. I am a big fan of arroz negro and thought this was pretty good overall. - churros: delicious! Hands down some of the best churros I have had in the US. These were airy and light without being dry... they also had the perfectly crispy crust without being oily at all. I appreciated how the dough was like those of churros in Spain and have an almost savory flavor (something a lot of places in the US get wrong). The chocolate they came with was rich and chocolatey with just the right amount of sweetness to contrast with the savory dough without overpowering their flavor. There was some vanilla ice cream at the bottom which had hints of cardamom and added a nice cooling surprise at the end of the chocolate. Really enjoyed these a lot and would come back just for them. Overall, I thought La Nacional was a fantastic spot. Even though some of the dishes were definitely not the best I have had, the prices were pretty unbeatable and the ambiance was lovely. The overall quality of the food was higher than I anticipated and I left very full and satisfied. Highly recommend for tapas with friends or a date! read more

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So cute inside & nicely decorated for Valentine's Day. There's a lot of history to the building, which you will see integrated in the decor & menu. Between the two of us, we shared paella and tortilla de patatas which were both great. We definitely didn't feel rushed and it was nice to have leisurely meal. read more

They were so sweet! The lady who worked at the bar gave us amazing recommendations and we loved all of them! read more

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#nycfoodies #paella #manhattan #nyc #unionsquare Today's weather was quite bad but it could not stop us to taste this delicious squid ink seafood paella at an amazing restaurant. Check out this when you are near the union square. read more

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Authentic Spanish, reasonable price. Sangria is awesome. Weekends they have Torrijas for brunch and it's 10/10. Best croquetas in nyc as well. read more

Food is always wonderful here. We had the paella. Hes of spanish descent so always interested in trying something spanish and this is the real deal. Small, intimate setting. Was nice to be able to relax after first few days at a new job w a glass of rioja on a rainy evening. Will definitely be back! read more

Overall rating: 4.6 Price: $14.15 w/ happy hour pricing (excl tip) I went here a few years ago on a date and really loved the croquettes. I remember the polenta was just okay, but I wasn't raving about it. What I loved were the croquettes that made me come back for more. Through out the years, the quality has decreased a tad but it's still a favorite for a happy hour. I just learned recently that they have HH until 7pm and I was able to get a great deal! I got the mix but I think I liked the mushroom slightly more. The dip is sooo good and I definitely want to re-make at home. I also got the happy hour red sangria. It tasted like juice. Wish it had more oomph to it. Not sure if I'd get it again. I sat at the bar and the bartender was only able to give me a drink. I had to wait for a waitress to put in a food order. It was a different experience. It seems like a very local spot & definitely local owned. I recommend giving it a try but better off with a group of friends to sample versus going solo. read more

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"Muy auténtico" It's doesn't get any more real than Madrid here! This is an institution, literally, a restaurant of the Centro Español- Spanish Benevolent Society, which traces its history to 1868. While casual, this place offers a great food and a welcoming setting. What's to cheer - Classic tapas - Well prepared, fresh and tasty food - Neighborhoody, community atmosphere - nice wines - Wonderful paellas - Reasonable prices - great happy hour deals What's to jeer - Sometimes the customers can get quite boisterous - Very simple decor read more

Made a reservation for five for 7pm, we got there late and they were really cool about it despite us adding an additional seat. They accommodated us nicely and didn't make a big deal. I appreciated that. The server was nice and informative about the paella and the history of the restaurant. The food is overall delicious, I recommend the paella marisco, the shrimp and calamari are so good. The sangria was also pleasant but in my opinion a little too much ice/water. My fav dessert is the chocolate lava cake with the vanilla ice cream, so delicious! Too small though. If you do try any small plate then go for the pan tomaca with ham! I've had it with and without, but the ham is an extra $5. Overall, I came here twice and left bloated twice. Super filling! read more

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This has become one of my new favorite restaurants. It has a friendly and homey atmosphere, and the restaurant has special origins to La Nacional society. They tell you more about the history and background of the restaurant when you arrive which I loved. We got the Negara paella which had squid ink, shrimp, and mussels. It was so good. The seafood was fresh and not sandy, the rice was cooked perfectly with a lot of flavor, and it came with a generous portion of seafood. We also got the patatas bravas which were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and the sauce paired so well. We shared this between two people and we ended up with some leftovers from the paella. The staff was really friendly. We did have to wait a bit for our food to come out, but it was well worth the wait! And the price is very reasonable in comparison to other paella restaurants in the city. read more

La Nacional - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Maybe next time I'll order the seafood paella just for myself since I was still hungry after this tapas meal. The food is very photogenic, but you really have to zoom in and add some light. We were seated in the back in a room that seemed like it was for parties. I could've passed by this restaurant a million times, but this time I actually went in after my friend did some research and saw this bright red restaurant. For appetizers, we had the octopus and sardines. The sardines with micro olives were alright. Probably wouldn't order them again since they are so small, but it was ok since you could dip your bread in the oil. The grilled octopus was actually really good. Not too rubbery and had some cheesy potato thing under it which was a good pairing. The seafood paella had a lot of seafood on it, but the rice was actually very shallow. Maybe you can order extra rice on the side if you are still hungry?!?! For dessert, we had churros. Probably better than Disneyland since they give you some crazy chocolate dipping sauce that even has ice cream at the bottom. I could probably drink it all by itself. The proportions are totally off, so you have a lot of sauce leftover, forcing us to drink it anyway. read more

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Don't be fooled into thinking this place approaches anything near a quality experience for Spanish food. I would chalk our experience up to something akin to finding a "Spanish themed" food option at an airport. Service was "fine" although it took most of our meal for a beer and a glass of sangria to arrive. Otherwise everything was ordinary and completely uninspired. The ambiance felt commercial, fake and left us feeling like we had wasted our time. read more

Such a cool vibe here. The layout so classy, sleek, and modern. Empanadas - Pretty good by themselves, I didn't care much for the sauce. Arroz de Lobster - Delicious! I enjoyed this rice more than the one in the paella. Marisco Paella - Huge and enjoyable. The seafood was cooked so well, especially the shrimp. Churros con Chocolate - My new favorite churros in the city. They were thick, crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The chocolate sauce was amazing. It was like a chocolate mousse pudding with cool vanilla cream at the bottom. We scooped it clean. read more

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Had the most amazing experience in this place. Have met very few people with a heart as big as Raymonds and his team. Incredible hospitality, made us feel at home. Thank you for everything! read more

I was craving tapas after work one day and I'm super happy we ran into this spot! I've never been to Spain before but it felt like I was being transported to a restaurant in Barcelona~ the octopus was so tender and the croquettes were the perfect crunchy to creamy. The tomatoes were nice and fresh and all around the meal was so delicious! Vibes inside were cute as well, not too loud not too quiet, overall a great time! And the service was great! read more

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Decently priced tapas spot in West Village. The seafood is strongly flavored and I liked their lobster dish- though there wasn't as much meat as I'd have liked. I really liked their croquettes which had a strong mushroom flavor and were nice and crisp on the outside and soft in the inside. It also came with a creamy sauce that paired well with the crisp exterior. The shrimps were also tasty but a bit salty. Service was moderate, with us having to ask for refills of water multiple times (and then only filling the glass of the person who asked even when other glasses were empty). read more

La Nacional - lobster - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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This was the best Spanish meal i had outside of Spain!!!! Everything was perfect and we enjoyed it very much :) read more

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Wonderful food,atmosphere, and service. We have now been there at least a half dozen times and it never disappoints. Our go to for Spanish cuisine read more

I was psyched for this restaurant as it was heavily hyped to me by a foodie. The service was good. The ambiance outdoors was festive and clean. The food was surprisingly the issue. The Arroz de Lobster was good and should've ordered an extra half lobster with it as we shared it amongst 4(my fault not the restaurant's and I didn't notice that option which is good) and the Arroz con Secreto even a smidge better but little overly salted. The Pan Tumaca with Jamon Serrano was a standout but it shouldn't be what I thought was the best dish served. The grilled vegetables with Jamon Serrano was small but tasty. The Crocquettes meh. The Gambas al Ajillo was slightly overcooked but still good as it should be. Every tapas restaurant does this dish pretty well. The issue was the Pulpo Ala Plancha. Heavily hyped and solid reviews on yelp. The serving size was good but the octopus was slimy and chewy. We ordered 2 of these. This was supposed to be the star of the show for us and a huge letdown. The sangria was fine. Signature Octopus dish was not good and nothing we ate would make me want to go out of the way to come back beyond the atmosphere. Regretfully I have to give it 3 stars. Fix the Octopus or find some other dishes that are memorable and the review would go up but we ordered the menu highlights. Too many other standout tapas places in NYC to return. read more

Great location close to train station. Service was good, albiet a bit slower since we had a large party (totally not their fault). Ambiance is dark, but warm and great for first dates, to birthday celebrations. Get the patatas bravas, you won't regret it! read more

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Delicious paella, patatas bravas, grapefruit salad and deconstructed lime pie - the homemade blueberry ice cream was perfect - not too sweet and perfect with mint. Eclectic interiors and cozy. The history of the place as a refuge for Spanish immigrants was fascinating to learn about too. read more

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