La Zarza Resto Lounge

An intimate dining/lounge experience with dishes from Spain & Argentina

(212) 477-1111

166 1st Ave (10th St)
New York, NY 10009 40.72897 -73.98431

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

lazarzanyc.com/

Hours:

Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm

Sat-Sun 11am-11pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 7.04.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Private Rooms, Date Spot, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Online Reservations, Live Music, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Spanish, Tapas / Small Plates, Latin American, Mediterranean, Argentinean

What People Are Saying About La Zarza Resto Lounge

The Owner

La Zarza Resto Lounge

Owner

La Zarza resto-lounge, a lively, sophisticated restaurant, opened in February 2008 in New York's perennially hip East Village. A destination that intertwines indigenous Argentinean and Spanish cuisine and culture on the multifaceted menu, which features flavors, ingredients and techniques from both cultures. The harmonious combination of cultures is housed in a candle-lit, rustic space with chocolate brown walls, and Spanish inspired decor. International DJ's set the mood with soft, global sounds creating a smooth, rhythmic environment. NOW EVERY WEDNESDAY LIVE MUSIC with "FLAMENCO NIGHTS"

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Aaron Barker

Contributor

In Short – A rustic-urban ambiance--think wood meets exposed brick--infuses this bi-level boite where DJs drop global beats and the kitchen crafts Argentinean-Spanish hybrids. Either sup on entrees, such as Patagonian rib-eye steak kicked up with chimichurri sauce and grilled duck magret partnered with blackberries, or concoct a meal from plentiful small plates. Almond-stuffed dates wrapped in smoked bacon, quince-glazed short ribs and crispy calamari provide a precursor for a dessert empanada oozing with gooey chocolate.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Opt for a cucumber-tequila cocktail amped up with muddled jalapenos, or try a pitcher of sangria available in three fruity flavors: strawberry, peach-mango or guava-pineapple.
When to Go:
Only the front dining room is open during weekdays, so tables are scarce after 8pm.
The Extras:
Sit at the bar and look down: A forest's worth of wood is nestled beneath a layer of glass.
ambiance
96.96999549865723% positive
  1. Romantic atmosphere with killer cocktails!
  2. The atmosphere was nice and the night started off good until we started getting drinks at the bar while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive and the bartender was rude and obnoxious and acted like he couldn't be bothered with us.
  3. was looking for a cozy and romantic place to met up with my boyfriend.
  4. La Zarza's warm romantic atmosphere of dark wood and great music is a nice oasis on First Ave. The food is great and the drinks are wonderful.
  5. nice atmosphere
  6. Food is great and the atmosphere was very nice with music of a live flamenco guitar.
  7. Had a romantic dinner during the week.
  8. I'll definitely be back next week, the atmosphere was great !
  9. The food is spectacular, the service was great, the atmosphere is romantic and they make the best mojitos Ive ever had.
  10. First impressions were good, dark, cozy place with a fun vibe.
  11. We had a big group (30 people) but we all got in with no problem, they had a section for us not that big but we went there to drink and dance not to sit down, and it was fun fun fun.
  12. Also the lounge was great fun, great house music downstairs.
  13. highly recommend this place, the ambience is great for a date, a cocktail after work, or just to sit by yourself and listen soft live music.
  14. The atmosphere was very romantic and located in a trendy area of the lower east side of NYC.
  15. nice decor
  16. Service was polite and attentive and the ambiance is really nice, with the windows open to the street.
  17. We had a really great time there, the place is very romantic and cute.
  18. Very nice ambiance, delicious food, great drinks and an attentive waitstaff made La Zarza a very nice experience.
  19. However, the atmosphere was a +++++, nice soft music with real rose petals on the benches.
  20. Food was great, ambience was perfect (there is a dj playing music from Spain and Argentina).
  21. Our waiter was really nice and the restaurant ambience was very relaxing.
  22. very cute place, with great decor ( seems like it would be awesome for dates)
dessert
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. Then after shelling out a large amount of $$$ when I asked the waiter if we could have one piece of cake with a candle for one of our birthdays, the waiter was so rude and said he wished I had asked sooner as we had already paid the bill.
  2. The sangria was mediocre at best, and then because of their horrendous time management we were forced out without an offer of dessert or coffee.
  3. Food was delicious(specially the chocolate dessert), deco (with rose petals everywhere) and music
drinks
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. La Zarza's warm romantic atmosphere of dark wood and great music is a nice oasis on First Ave. The food is great and the drinks are wonderful.
  2. Romantic atmosphere with killer cocktails!
  3. the drinks are strong and cheap( they have a deal for party's more then 20 people) so if u have a big group U SHOULD GO THERE I KNOW I WILL.
  4. Very nice ambiance, delicious food, great drinks and an attentive waitstaff made La Zarza a very nice experience.
  5. The atmosphere was nice and the night started off good until we started getting drinks at the bar while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive and the bartender was rude and obnoxious and acted like he couldn't be bothered with us.
  6. In this case, you'll be ruining a perfectly good bottle of wine.
  7. Would go back for the drinks and enjoy the food.
  8. Excellent drinks, slightly inattentive service.
  9. The sangria was mediocre at best, and then because of their horrendous time management we were forced out without an offer of dessert or coffee.
  10. The best part was the sangria, we choose a white wine and mix it with some puree and flavored rum (recommended by our adorable waitress ) very refreshing, ideal for a hot summer night.
  11. So what im saying is this : if you have a big group that wants do drink and dance and no bull at the door thats the place to be.
  12. drinks specials were perfect for our budget.
  13. We had a big group (30 people) but we all got in with no problem, they had a section for us not that big but we went there to drink and dance not to sit down, and it was fun fun fun.
  14. The food was really good the sangria was very very good the salmon the stake, the ceviche the snails and i don't remember the rest the staff very warm and helpful , and then we went in to the lounge and we had the best drink deal ever $4 beers and $6 hous
  15. Clearly the consensus is great cocktails and reasonable $$ for the drinks too.
food quality
85.93000411987305% positive
  1. give one star because my dish was good, aside from that, do not waste your time!
  2. We had a great bottle of Liugi Bosca Malbec, that we share perfectly with a nice skirt steak and the paella.
  3. The food is spectacular, the service was great, the atmosphere is romantic and they make the best mojitos Ive ever had.
  4. loved the bread with the dips they serve.
  5. The appetizers were really tasty, as well our paella.
  6. didn't really like the hongos portenos,(sweet bread,mushroooms,potatoes and onions).
  7. food was good
  8. Food was really good, we had chicken empanadas and calamari as appetizers.
  9. Entrees we loved the skirt steak and the duck.
  10. the sangria is amazing, very tasty, my favorite dish.
  11. the best main courses were the paella and the steak.
  12. good food and sangria
  13. Food was delicious(specially the chocolate dessert), deco (with rose petals everywhere) and music
  14. The food was also delicious.
  15. The food was great and the service on point.
  16. All this dishes were really delicious.
  17. On the other hand , didn't like the salad, it was missing flavor.
  18. good food good vibe
  19. Very nice ambiance, delicious food, great drinks and an attentive waitstaff made La Zarza a very nice experience.
  20. Would go back for the drinks and enjoy the food.
  21. the food was amazing and sangria also.
  22. Overall the food was good, however the service is not.
  23. fresh food, amazing sangria, best scene in the east village
  24. Food was really good the fish and the stake out of this world.
  25. didn't really like the chicken.
  26. The food was tasty and had the potential to be worth its price but we found the dishes to be inconsistent in quality, portion and price (2 of 3 appetizers were excellent, duck was tasty but small - garnish was larger, and the steak was "chewy" and lacked
  27. The popular calamari and chese plate for starters were very good although we missed some tomatoes with the bread like they do in Spain.
  28. My rib-eye was tasteless, the skirt steaks people ordered were mixed up.
  29. Sangria is flavorful and absolutely delicious.
  30. The tapas were perfect to share,all the plates were delicious.
  31. La Zarza's warm romantic atmosphere of dark wood and great music is a nice oasis on First Ave. The food is great and the drinks are wonderful.
  32. music is soft and relaxing and sangria is absolutely delicious.
  33. food's not good and services were terrible.
  34. The food is great and so is the service.
  35. group of 10 of us had dinner first and we had the prix-fix menu with sangria included and that was the best sangria, the food was delicious and the staff was very nice and helpful
  36. Duck and Skirt Steak were both a little overcooked (skirt steak requested medium and served well done), but flavors were nice.
  37. but the one from La Zarza is definitely one of my favorites, the food is so good in general, and the staff is very friendly.
  38. All the food was amazing!
  39. Aside from being uncomfortable the food was also very mediocre.
  40. So everyone I talked to said this place was ssooooo amazing and that the food was life changing.
  41. have to say that the sweetbreads , skirt steak and empanadas are great
  42. The food was really good the sangria was very very good the salmon the stake, the ceviche the snails and i don't remember the rest the staff very warm and helpful , and then we went in to the lounge and we had the best drink deal ever $4 beers and $6 hous
  43. tried the pineapple mojito, which was refreshing and delicious while my husband tried the spicy margarita which turned out to be a little too hot for my taste (I loved the pansy garnish!
  44. We ordered Prix Fixe Menu for a very reasonable price ($35 including sangria) that was absolutely delicious!
  45. food was good as well, The "Crocantitos" (calamari) were amazing.
menu variety
75.0% positive
  1. group of 10 of us had dinner first and we had the prix-fix menu with sangria included and that was the best sangria, the food was delicious and the staff was very nice and helpful
  2. If you're a sangria lover, the menu offers 3 options, but you must of course purchase a full bottle.
  3. We had a great time, the pri fixe menu was deliciuos and the party afterwords amazing.
  4. They have a big variety of tapas and appetizers to share.
overall
90.0% positive
  1. First impressions were good, dark, cozy place with a fun vibe.
  2. great place for celebration
  3. great place
  4. We had for dinner the prix fix with the sangria included and wow good the sangria is in that place(we had the blackberry one).
  5. great place for b-day partys
  6. Tavern does best describe this place, but it is one overpriced tavern.
  7. Unique flavors and amazing presentation made me have a great experience in my first visit to this place.
  8. Our waiter was really nice and the restaurant ambience was very relaxing.
  9. We had a really great time there, the place is very romantic and cute.
  10. In my opinion this is the best new restaurant in Manhattan.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. I'll definitely be back next week, the atmosphere was great !
  2. I'll come back and i will recommend this place to all my friends.
  3. Would go back for the drinks and enjoy the food.
service
85.41999816894531% positive
  1. The food was really good the sangria was very very good the salmon the stake, the ceviche the snails and i don't remember the rest the staff very warm and helpful , and then we went in to the lounge and we had the best drink deal ever $4 beers and $6 hous
  2. Once at the table, the server was attentive and gentle.
  3. service was very attentive and music was very relaxing.
  4. but the one from La Zarza is definitely one of my favorites, the food is so good in general, and the staff is very friendly.
  5. The management was responsive and easy to work with in organizing the event, the space was accomodating, and the waitstaff was extremely attentive.
  6. The staff was very helpful and nice.
  7. Great service and brilliant flavors
  8. Service was polite and attentive and the ambiance is really nice, with the windows open to the street.
  9. The staff took care of us like if we were family.
  10. We had a big group (30 people) but we all got in with no problem, they had a section for us not that big but we went there to drink and dance not to sit down, and it was fun fun fun.
  11. Very nice ambiance, delicious food, great drinks and an attentive waitstaff made La Zarza a very nice experience.
  12. My rib-eye was tasteless, the skirt steaks people ordered were mixed up.
  13. Our waiter was really friendly with us and gave us an other pitcher of sangria for free!
  14. The staff very nice and helpful and attentive.
  15. group of 10 of us had dinner first and we had the prix-fix menu with sangria included and that was the best sangria, the food was delicious and the staff was very nice and helpful
  16. The food was great and the service on point.
  17. and the service was very attentive and helpful.
  18. would have given 4 stars if it wasn't for the bad service.
  19. Great friendly service, amazing cucumber jalapeno margaritas.
  20. Service was friendly and fast.
  21. the drinks are strong and cheap( they have a deal for party's more then 20 people) so if u have a big group U SHOULD GO THERE I KNOW I WILL.
  22. service was a little bit slow.
  23. The atmosphere was nice and the night started off good until we started getting drinks at the bar while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive and the bartender was rude and obnoxious and acted like he couldn't be bothered with us.
  24. Overall the food was good, however the service is not.
  25. The waiters are friendly, with nice soft music.
  26. The food is spectacular, the service was great, the atmosphere is romantic and they make the best mojitos Ive ever had.
  27. The service was attentive and friendly.
  28. Our waiter was really nice and the restaurant ambience was very relaxing.
  29. Then after shelling out a large amount of $$$ when I asked the waiter if we could have one piece of cake with a candle for one of our birthdays, the waiter was so rude and said he wished I had asked sooner as we had already paid the bill.
  30. Excellent drinks, slightly inattentive service.
  31. The food is great and so is the service.
  32. The best part was the sangria, we choose a white wine and mix it with some puree and flavored rum (recommended by our adorable waitress ) very refreshing, ideal for a hot summer night.
value
73.33000183105469% positive
  1. We ordered Prix Fixe Menu for a very reasonable price ($35 including sangria) that was absolutely delicious!
  2. Tavern does best describe this place, but it is one overpriced tavern.
  3. The prices were really affordable.
  4. The food was tasty and had the potential to be worth its price but we found the dishes to be inconsistent in quality, portion and price (2 of 3 appetizers were excellent, duck was tasty but small - garnish was larger, and the steak was "chewy" and lacked
  5. the drinks are strong and cheap( they have a deal for party's more then 20 people) so if u have a big group U SHOULD GO THERE I KNOW I WILL.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. service was a little bit slow.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/16/12

NYC Nightlife

by arielamir at Citysearch

NYC NIGHT LIFE

If you are looking for good parties in NYC,with a LOCAL NYC CROWD

Places like: KISS&FLY,TENJUNE,1OAK,JULIET,GREENHOUSE,LAVO and more

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I promote at every club, I have table with FREE DRINKS FOR MY GUESTS and I PERSONALLY will walk you in

If you are looking to reserve a table I can get you great deals

TEXT ME:347. 822. 2175

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you can also ADD ME ON FACEBOOK:

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-Ariel-

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/04/12

Awesome

by veronicanata20 at Citysearch

The food in this place is awesome. You must try the Datiles(stuffed dates wrapped in bacon), Tuna ceviche, the corn on the cob!, the risotto with meatballs and the parrillada(assortment of meat). For dessert the panqueques and churros. I can't believe we ate so much, lol. Everything was good. Service is attentive and the live music was an excellent touch. Coming back soon!

1 Star Rating: Poor

12/11/11

WORST RESTAURANT I'VE BEEN TO!!!

by Emille at Citysearch

I went today for brunch after I got a Dealfind coupon online. Came in the restaurant, it was 1pm, was empty & they manager asked if I had a reservation? & I said no, I have a coupon deal. He said " Do you have it print it out?" I said no. I don't have a printer and I hope that's ok I have the coupon and I can email it to you if you need me to. He said I can't let you have brunch. Without me saying another word he walked away. We could have totally stayed but the rudeness and the arrogance that Argentinians have are ridiculous. I thought that was very rude, and UN-polite from the manager. I am a Brazilian and we fight between our soccer teams. Proud people. NEVER GOING BACK THERE AGAIN!!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/08/11

Friday at La Zaraza presented by Set List Agency

by partytime10022 at Citysearch

Be conversational: Write as if relaying your experience to a good friend. Set Off the Systems!!!

Set List Agency, NYC's most accredited DJ Booking Agency, will be bringing you the top DJ's in NYC's top venues.

Party goes from Thursday night to Sunday morning- Set it Off!

Set List DJ Appearancess:

Mark Zarrella

DJ Pheelgood

Tyler Sherrit

Rob Palliser

THURSDAY:

Veranda

FRIDAY:

La Zarza

Traffic West

Open House

SATURDAY:

Lexicon

Santos Party House

Traffic

All Events Run From

10PM-4AM

21+ Dress to Impress

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/28/11

yes

by Cykoo at Citysearch

i think the food was wonderful. the smells coming from the tables made my mouth water, our service was superb, and the atmosphere was great. Coming back!

The Details on La Zarza Resto Lounge

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • great cozy place
  • best sangria
  • friendly service
  • helpful staff
  • great soft music
  • great experience
  • loved popular calamari
  • really good the appetizers
  • friendly waiter
  • appetizers paella
  • incredible pineapple mojito
  • bad service
  • definitely recommend new restaurant
  • great drinks
  • loved skirt steak
  • perfectly good bottle
  • absolutely delicious reasonable price
  • favorite dish
  • small duck
  • very nice waitstaff
  • nice flavors
  • romantic atmosphere
  • big group
  • nice decor

Message from La Zarza Resto Lounge

  • LIVE MUSIC WEDS. "Flamenco"
  • Customize sangria and clerico
  • Great atmosphere and music

La Zarza resto-lounge, a lively, sophisticated restaurant, opened in February 2008 in New York's perennially hip East Village. A destination that intertwines indigenous Argentinean and Spanish cuisine and culture on the multifaceted menu, which features flavors, ingredients and techniques from both cultures. The harmonious combination of cultures is housed in a candle-lit, rustic space with chocolate brown walls, and Spanish inspired decor.

International DJ's set the mood with soft, global sounds creating a smooth, rhythmic environment. NOW EVERY WEDNESDAY LIVE MUSIC with "FLAMENCO NIGHTS"

La Zarza Resto Lounge

Receive 25% off for meals in groups of 4 or more.

Valid Sunday to Thursday

La Zarza Resto Lounge - 166 1st AveNew York, NY10009 - (212) 477-1111

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