09/04/06

Tropi-Spanish cool

by kaibab1

These comments are based on 5 visits, including one with Spanish friends who delighted in the dining and drinking experience. We've always returned because of the cool atmosphere and decor (one of the handsomest bars in the area), friendly service and, of course, the excellent food. Some dishes are, indeed, pricey, maybe but quality has a tag. During our visits we enjoyed one of the best paellas ever in NY (at a fair price, as an order for one easily feeds 3) and remarkably good and fresh tapas. While these tapas are supersized in the best tradition of American chowdown excess (tapas in Spain are normally served on plates no bigger than an espresso cup saucer), they are exceptionally tasty. Our favorites (good every time) are the grilled skirt steak strips, the codfish croquettes, the tortillas and the different chorizo presentations. Whether for a romantic evening or a chatty group dinner, Marbella wins the Tropi-Spanish stakes in Murray Hill.

PS: the wines, mostly from Spain and South America, are mostly great value for the money, considering some of the outrageous prices charged by so many NYC restaurants.

PS2: We're told a new menu will be featured from mid-September onwards.

• Pros: Food, wines, ambience
• Cons: none

08/11/06

Best party ever!

by mgoldman1

We recently had our lawfirm gathering in Marbella.

We were supposed to have only 25 people there, but we ended up having almost 50 people altogether and we all had a fantastic time. We were so glad that we finally found a place to go, dine and have fun. The restaurant was cozy and elegant and they accomodated the exceeding numbers than the reservation without any problem or hesitation. We were very happy and all satisfied. I highly recommended to a company for corporate party or meeting there. The food was excellent not to mention the service! One of the very best places in NYC!

• Pros: Ambiance, Food, Service

07/31/06

Expensive, Bad service, Nor recomended

by marialopez11

I was at Marbella and all i can tell is it is a not recomended place for dinner.

The service is really bad and the food is overpriced.

• Cons: Price, Food, Service

07/23/06

...Pretty Good

by justis7

After reading the reviews here I expected a very busy, social, perfect 10 restaurant. So we were a little dissapointed to walk in at 9:15 on a Saturday night and be one of 5 tables there at the time. So it was a little empty. The prices are very high for tapas. Period. They start at $9- for an asparagus tapas even. The service was good in the beginning until the servers realized we were going to be there for a while to finish the huge sangria pitcher we bought (which was excellent.) After that they stopped pouring our drinks. Also we ordered using the english translations below the spanish dish names and that was a mistake. Our waitress messed up the order and then gave us ATTITUDE about it when we told her. We let that go- maybe she had a bad night. She had been very friendly up until then. The decor is ok. The bathroom??? I mean, it's ok. It's a bathroom. I think all these reviews were posted by people connected to the restaurant.

• Pros: Delicious food
• Cons: Pricey for an empty restaurant

06/16/06

The Best!!!!!!!!

by rick_ct

I have lived in a lot of different places and have tried a lot of different food. We finally discovered Marbella and it is by far the best. It actually has flavor!!! Everyone should try it if you want some good food. You have to try the Sangria and The Tapas. The Best!

• Pros: Cuisine, Service, Decor
• Cons: Nothing

06/14/06

Excellent service & creative cuisine

by hungry_hungry_harry

I honestly don't understand all the negative reviews...I went a few weeks ago and had the most attentive, friendly, and helpful service. The food was excellent and creative - and fortunately a departure from a lot of the "traditional" tapas joints (I know where to go if that's what I'm looking for). Yes, it was a bit on the expensive side, but so it might not be the best fit for those diners watching their budget. For those looking for a lively time at a place where they don't mind spending the appropriate amount for excellent dining, this is a great choice.

• Pros: Cuisine and Service
• Cons: Tables are a little close together

06/11/06

Excellent atmosphere

by wifeyrap77

My husband and i wanted to go somewhere we hadn't been before and feel like we had left the city. Marbella was the place to go. The service was prompt courteous and attentive. Let's not forget the food. The Tapas was extraordinarily good, particularly Carne Asada, Shrimp in garlic sauce, the BEST Empanadas in the city and a homemade Flan TO DIE FOR! The Sangria was outstanding and very reasonably priced than most places in the city. The ambiance was cozy, elegant and very clean. I recommend without hesitation. You must go! You won't regret it!

06/11/06

Best Tapas Bar around

by chilena1972lh

Great place to enjoy both with your family and with friends, i was there on Friday night with my family and we had a wonderful time, the food is delicious and tasty, the service is outstanding everyone there was so nice and attentive, we enjoyed the flamenco dancer and the music, it made me want to get up there and dance with them. Just by looking at Marbella from the outside caught our eyes immediately, we loved it, it's such a clean place that you can actually eat from the floor, i highly recommend it to everyone you won't regret it, from a scale from 1 to 10 i rate it a 20+.

05/18/06

Best Tapas in NYC!

by terrygordon1

I took my girlfriend to this restaurant and she loved it! I got a good credit for it.

Nice decor and tasty food. My girlfried loved these tapas and I loved them. too. My girlfriend even loved the bathroom and I had to check it out. Indeed, it was gorgeous.

True gem in New York City. Must check it out!

• Pros: Decor , Food,

05/03/06

Marbella needs to be recognized!!!

by anavarra26

First of all, it's poor class to make personal attacks on anyone. This website is dedicated to represent food and service only.

Second, it's ridiculous to criticize food price versus portion. If these reviewers were educated restaurant-goers, then they would know that top restaurants, such as french gourmet, serve miniscule, rich food at skyrocketing prices.

The small pitcher of sangria serves about 4-5 glasses, costing only $21 - opposed to NYC Standard $10 per glass of anything besides beer. And the paella for two is actually too much food for two! People need to realize that Tapas inherently mean "small plates" - tasting size portions.

Third, nothing in New York is for free except for Marbella's magnificent flamenco show with real dancers from Spain.

Finally, it could be true that an employee left positive feeback, but it could also be true that a FIRED employee left spiteful, vengeful, negative feedback!

• Pros: Decor, Show, Ambiance
• Cons: Small, Loud Music