12/02/07

Excellent Food and Exceptional Service

by raajkumari

I went to to Bolo last night with my family for my father's 55th birthday. Overall the experience was very good - the service was topnotch, the food excellent and the ambience casual, yet with an upscale vibe. The tapas are small, and can come in plates of four. Good thing we ordered two sets of four tapas, because one set would not have been enough for the food of us. The tapas were all very good, with the exception of the quail egg in the artichoke heart, and the flavors were sophisticated in taste. The entrees too were nothing short of excellent. The pork tenderloin was perfectly tender. I got the butternut squash risotto which was very good, although a little too rich in butter for me. I would have like to taste the squash more. I definitely recommend Bolo.

07/24/07

If you love olives, this is your place!

by elleboogie10

My friend and I went to Bolo last night as part of Restaurant week. We couldn't get a reservation when we called, but were willing to sit at the bar as they told us they offered full menu service. When we arrived, the hostess greeted us with a big smile, and I told her we didn't have a reservation. She looked at us and said, 'but you're hungry,' and fortunately she sat us immediately. As we sat down, I noticed a plate of mixed olives sitting on the table- my kind of place! They kept bringing more too. We had browsed the restaurant week menu online but hadn't yet looked at the a la carte menu. Let's just say it was hard to stick to the set menu. Our waitress came over and took our drink order, and we ordered a bottle of white wine from the extensive wine list. It was off, but they were not phased at all and we picked a new bottle. We ordered a cheese plate to start, which was devine. There were four cheeses- machengo, blue, mahon and one other. For appetizers, I ordered the salmon tartare and my friend had the chopped salad. The salad was good, but nothing to rave about, but the tartare was perfect. I had the scallops served with spinach and lentils, which was also a really good dish. The risotto was a little on the bland side though. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with apricot sauce, and my friend had the lemon pannecota, both really good, although we could only manage a couple of bites. Overall the meal was really good. It was a last minute decision and we were lucky to get in, but it was a real treat. The entire staff was so friendly and genuine, something I feel is lacking from a lot of restaurants in NYC. We will definitely be back again, so I can explore the a la care and wine menus a litle more.

• Pros: Excellent Service, Extensive wine list, Great food
• Cons: Tables are close together

04/12/07

Really Enjoyed Flay's Flatiron Treat

by icequeen41

I ate at Bolo last night for dinner with my boyfriend. I had high expectations for this restaurant and I have to admit that I really respect Bobby Flay. I know most prefer and are bigger fans of Mesa, but I don't think people should write off this Flatiron Spanish treat. The host at the door was very nice, he told us that while he could not give an exact time as to when a table would be ready (we did not have reservations), he said we could sit at the bar, and he would keep us updated in 20 minutes if it should take longer than the estimate of 20-30 minutes. We each had a drink and were seated before we could finish one (about 20 minutes). It took more time than necessary to get a drink at the bar; however, the bartender was friendly. The service itself was very average, not terrible but not great either. Our waiter was polite, but did not come back to check how our meals were or if we needed more drinks, and when he finally did, did it much too late. I find that being a young couple (myself 21, my boyfriend 23) I get substandard service. The white Sangria was wonderful and full of citrus flavor. The tapas were the highlight of the night and I only wish I could have ordered more of them. I disagree with the negativity towards them, they are designed to be small and full of powerful, inviting flavors. I also disagree with the food being bland; it may not be as colorful as Flay's other restaurants, but certainly not bland. I had the rabbit and cauliflower risotto (creamy and delicious), and my boyfriend stuck with the safe choice of black-pepper Angus steak. Both were very good. The price I thought was very reasonable as well. The ambience and decor, while not very elaborate, was simple, unique and colorful. The tables towards the back provided a comfortable atmosphere perfect for conversation amongst friends or an intimate date. The cons here were very limited, and the food was above standard. I would highly recommend Bolo.

• Pros: Tapas, Sangria, Ambience
• Cons: Service Substandard