Boqueria

08/03/09

Best Tappas outside of Spain

by truereview14 at Citysearch

Awesome selection of tappas, definitely try the jamon cerrano. The Sangria is great too, but be warned it's $32/pitcher which can add up quickly.

I have gone multiple times with groups of 3-6 and the longest I have ever waited in 15mins.

Great time for friends or co-workers, reasonably priced, definitely worth a trip!

• Pros: Great food, atmosphere, sangria
• Cons: None

07/30/09

Good food but sketchy Israeli manager ruins authenticity

by CityCritiquer at Citysearch

Boqueria in Flatiron is an excellent choice with two important exceptions - I'll get to them in a minute. On the positive side, the variety and quality of tapas is terrific. I'm a foodie and passionate about markets from Barcelona to Sao Paulo to Mumbai. This place knows its food. We had the Serrano, sardinas, saladas and gambas to start and the paella and fideua as mains, washed down by a couple of bottles of grenache (excellent) and tempranillo (average). Overall, this place was very good and our party of four had a great time.

Now for the issues -- more for the management than patrons, necessarily. The tapas of sardinas essentially had one sardine each for $12 each. Even by NY standards that's a rip. I discreetly mentioned to the waitress that I thought it was odd - she graciously said they would do something about it. Next, the manager Gil saunters up and loudly asks our table (me and three women) what the problem was. Firstly, rude and confrontational approach. I told him I'd come by in a few minutes and I did. I found him a bit later - checking email on a wireless Mac at a banquette, no less - and mentioned to him my irritation with the portions. He chafed and told me this wasn't Barcelona and that was the price of seafood here. And if I had an issue, I should write the chef a suggestion card!! I asked where this champ was from - Israel, apparently, where manners and restaurant management seem to have been perfected. When I asked the waitress if I could get contact details for the management, she politely declined and said ... yes, again ... I could fill out a suggestion card.

Bottom line is, the restaurant is pretty good and my review shouldn't stop you from going there. Rather, if ownership/management actually care about management of their properties, I'd suggest they find Gil a role at a falafel stand in Haifa where the portions are small and manners are smaller. This is New York, after all - we prefer our tapas joints staffed by Spanish hospitality, not Israeli pettiness.

• Pros: Good food and wine quality
• Cons: Surly Israeli manager, dishonest food portions

03/02/09

Fancy, modern, nice, and overpriced

by Vildan at Citysearch

As a Spaniard, what can I say? (even though my English grammar su....ks)...

The design reflects what's "in" in Spain nowadays; the minimalism of the decoration reminds me a lot different places I've visited in Madrid and Barcelona (nice to hung out with friends). However, the food was of average quality (not to say poor in some dishes; lets be nice). The chorizo is the low quality-sandwich-bocadillo-after school-type(cheap, I mean), Same thing with the serrano ham and the lomo. Small portions (too small) and in general overpriced. You ask for croquettes (croquetas) and since croquetas is plural they bring you that: 2 croquetas, if croquetas could be singular they would bring 1 for the same price...

The Staff (awesome, we work in a cool place...!!) is not really knowledgeable when it comes to know about what they are selling, but hey!, they are nice...

Wines: Extremely overpriced. I must be crazy (and I am) paying what I paid for half a bottle, but eating "quality" Spanish food (not the case) can't be done with a cheap wine.

I think the Staff, the Chefs, and everyone else that works there, should take a short trip to Spain (specially the north) and take a look at the real thing, that has absolutely NOTHING to do with what Boqueria is serving. My motto is: if you can't offer good Chorizo (ham or whatever) don't offer anything.

Desserts: are ok, but please, please, please... don't ask for the "churros con chocolate". Those used-fried oil-from 3 days ago-things they call churros, are NOT churros; they are something else. I guess "churros" is not a registrated trademark in the US by the Spanish Goverment, otherwise these "phony things" would be serving time in jail already.

Maybe for the average Newyorker that hasn't visited Spain before (or maybe has...) this is a good fancy place to eat great food, wine, and to hung out with friends, but not for me. I will just keep looking for the (good) perfect Spanish restaurant in NYC; definetly not Boqueria. Enjoy.

• Pros: Nice looking place and more or less friendly staff
• Cons: Everything else...