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Having a late night outting in NYC I came across this smal tapas restaurant that surprised me as I walked in. I was greeted greatly, even with only a few minutes before last call for dinner service. The server and the bartender was reallt friendly and knowledgeable with the menu. Gave me really great options. For food I had the Spanish Olives, Pop a La Pedra, & the Croquetes Del Dia(made fresh every day and changes as well). I had a old fashion to drink, needed something that will warm me up for the cold weather. The ambiance was cute, and chic. You can tell that the workers run it like a little food family and I love that the most about El Born. Will definitely come again ans try out their brunch , heard it was amazing.
This place is the bomb! I felt like I was in barcelona having delicious tapas. The food is so good, very much like in spain. The service super quick and attentive. It feels like you are transported to barcelona for real. The lights in the restaurant are dimmed which create a very cozy ambiance. I would go back in a heartbeat
Incredible Spanish tapas and arguably my favorite in the city for a decent price compared to many over-priced tapas restaurants here. Must try: croquetas (we had mushroom which were insanely good), bacon wrapped dates were to die for, the bean and bacon dish, the tartare, and the mussels which were in a delicious white wine sauce. The service was very friendly and the ambiance was just the cozy spot my family was looking for on a dark cold night! The cocktails were also very tasty. Right on the G line in Greenpoint. Definitely will be going back asap!
I've got mixed feelings about El Born and couldn't decide whether to give it 3 or 4 stars - it's a 3 1/2 kind of place for me. The inside is quite modern in design with plenty of spots to eat at the bar and high top tables. There's also a garden out back which is where we decided to eat. I think eating outside was a mistake tbh as it was a little rundown and shabby and once a large table there had left I felt like we were neglected by the wait staff. Maybe they forgot we were there as I had to go inside and ask for the bill. Food was mixed. We had a large meat and cheese plate, it was good value and the meats and cheeses were plentiful and good quality but it didn't come with bread. Maybe they had run out of bread, because I did ask for some when I ordered and then when I reminded them they brought us two small slices. Croquettes were very good, they were cheese and spinach on the evening we went. Octopus and potatoes was okay, not outstanding in any way and the portion was on the small side. Patatas Bravas ( which I admit are described in the menu as being their version) weren't what we were expecting- they were presented in a tower with lots of sauce. Fried artichokes, were from a can and so oil laden they were inedible. They did take the artichokes off the bill without prompting and asked us if they were oily so it is obviously an ongoing problem with this dish. If you can't get it right, take it off the menu rather than serve something inadequate. Prices were reasonable but the food and service were so inconsistent I'd rather have paid more. I wouldn't go back.
Thank you to my friend for getting me a gift card for my birthday! We live in different states now so each year we give each other a gift card to somewhere we wish we could dine at together. Really cute tapas restaurant conveniently located in a busy shopping and dining area not far from the subway. Party of 4 on a Thursday night, reserved in advance. We each really enjoyed our food and cocktails. Get the prix fixe "Chef's Menu" served family style! SO worth the money, such great portions! We went for the tapas-only option (instead of tapas and paella). The staff asks for dietary restrictions and if there are any dishes on the menu that you ABSOLUTELY would like to be included in the chef's selection. (We requested the oxtail dish). The food just kept coming and it was a great portion for 4 people! And each dish was delicious. The staff was helpful and attentive and we loved the food choices sent to us. Would def come back!
this place is amazing, very chill ambience that can be dressed up or down and really, really friendly staff! food was amazing: I didn't really know what to expect in terms of tapas, but I felt like all of the food that we had was very creatively done and, honestly, larger portion size I would've expected for tapas as well. really really enjoyed every dish we had, but obviously have to hand it to the croquetas which were perfectly crispy on the outside and warm on the inside. top tier. we'll definitely come back, the drinks menu looked amazing and I really want to try
TLDR: El Born is a Spanish spot in Greenpoint with tapas, rices, etc. It is nice to have an option that's not all the way in Manhattan and something other than Boqueria. Gambas and Montadito were our favorites. We tried this on a Friday. It's a cozy little place and very dimly lit, nice for a date night or an intimate conversation. There's the usual run of Spanish tapas but a few twists on things. Our two favorite items were the Gambas and Montadito. The shrimp is de-shelled, the oil is chock full of garlic slices and overall the flavor was solid. The shrimp itself was cooked well and plenty of bounce to the bite. The Montadito was a crostini basically with a beef carpaccio, manchego and artichoke. Classically Spanish and what's not to like. The Bravas potatoes were interesting. They were served on top of each other, more crispy smashed style and a dollop of aioli on top. Enjoyable but I personally prefer the smaller dice and the traditional way. The squid ink paella wasn't bad and at $50 for a pan for 2, very fairly priced. There was a good amount of seafood in it, my only gripe is it was a bit wetter than I'd have liked. I like that socarrat fried hard on the bottom, I want to struggle to hold the pan steady as I scrape that goodness off the steel. Nonetheless, a decent meal and a good option if you want some vino and small bites.
What a great Spanish restaurant! Not only were the staff incredibly accommodating, friendly and extra attentive, but the food was nothing short of wonderful. After studying abroad in Barcelona, I've been dying for authentic tapas and this place certainly impressed. The Iberico Ham and Picos (pictured) were a wonderful appetizer but the Dàtils Amb Bacó Fumat was my favorite. The paella came hot and was a huge portion, with all dishes perfect for sharing. Amazing cocktails as well. We sat inside but the outdoor back patio was super cute looking and I imagine perfect for summer brunches or group dinners. Would definitely recommend checking out if you're in the area!
4 stars for the service and ambiance. The food was a solid 3, however we only ordered 3 tapas plates. Patatas bravas could have been crispier but presentation was great. Grilled octopus was a little tough and too charred for my preference. The shrimp was fresh and delicious but the sauce was on the spicy side for my taste. I would return if I were in the neighborhood to try the paella and other tapas. A big fan of the warm and cozy ambiance with candlelit tables, as well as the outdoor garden area in the back. One note is to clean the menus .. they were super grubby and sticky.
Some friends and I wanted to try this place and I'm so glad I did! They're dog friendly (only outdoor seating for that - not back garden seating) and have us a hefty amount of sangria for 25 dollars! This is only from 4pm to 6pm so it's sort of tight on schedule. They have a unlimited Tapas Tuesday for a longer time period on Tuesdays but we didn't get to go during the time so we only just ate and drank a normal happy hour. First off! These tapas were literally all so tasty. My favorites were the Tortillas Espanolas, Pa Amb Tomaquet and the Paellas! The Tortillas Espanolas is one of the best egg dishes I had for sure because the potato and the egg meld in together so well that it also just melts in your mouth when you eat it. I would say this is A MUST EAT! I thought all the rest were very good and the Pa Amb Tomaquet just had a very good tomato sauce with a crisp bread that sorted out the rest of the dishes so it was like a dish that could "cleanse the palate" with the other dishes. From my friends comments, their favorites were definitely the croquetes (they were mushroom and cheese) and the patatas bravas. The seafood paella (DePeix) was a top hit but hard to share amongst 4-5 people because theres only 2 mussels, 2 piece of white fish and 3 clams. Use that as a guide to grab for the rest of the group! 2 people is perfect for this dish. It offered a lot of that fresh seafood flavor and the rice ended up being very flavorful. The Paella de Verdures is perfect for vegetarians and i loved it personally as well because I like mushrooms. The only hiccup we had during our time is that the waitress didn't know what vegan was since we had a vegan amongst our group and didn't know if the aioli had mayo but I think there was a miscommunication in that so make sure you are extra cautious if you are vegan. The only one I know off the top of my head thats vegan for SURE is the olives, Paella de Verdures and Pa Amb Tomaquet, which to me were parts of my favorites. I would totally come again and definitely for their Tapas Tuesday! This is definitely one of the best tapas places that is also very affordable during happy hours!
This place was amazing! We ordered a pitcher of sangria which for a party of 2 was about 4 glasses each. The iberico ham and picos were fresh and crunchy, the pica pica felt healthy and light, and the patatas bravas was rich and creamy! They were some of the best appetizers I have ever had. The braised oxtail was very solid (very rich in bechamel sauce) and the grilled octopus was rich in all the infused herbs and spices. The only knock I would give in this experience is the many mosquitoes if you sit patio, but there isn't much that can be done, and they try combating it with repellant candles. This was a great experience and can't wait to come back here.
I came here on a Monday night with a few friends and it wasn't too busy. We had a reservation and was seated right away. I enjoyed how it was dimly lit the restaurant was. The food was delicious! Everything we got was cooked to perfection. The only traditional tapas we got was the croquets which were good, but I really liked the pork ribs. They were so juicy and tender. The brussel sprouts were also amazing and had a sweeter flavor which I enjoyed. The paella was beautiful and was just the right amount for 3 people. Next time I want to try out their brunch or their Tuesday specials. Glad I tried this place and will be back.
5 years ago
Delish Spanish cuisine post right at home in BK! First thing first, get the tasting menu ($45/pp) hat's the real deal, with which you got 6 chef's choice of tapas and your choice of paella . Our fav is def the selection of cheeseboard and Iberico ham and chorizo. I mean who doesn't like a good plate of good charcuterie. Spanish octopus, my bench mark dish for Spanish restaurant, not so good here. It has good flavor but the texture was not exactly what I expected for a la plancha - where's the charred mark? The Brava El Born was surprisingly another fav. And the Brussels? Was good, tho I don't quite care for the honey seasoning :/ And the paella lamer? it feels slightly under prepared tho the flavor was there. My drink of choice - basque style cider, was another fav of mine - dry , tart , refreshing. All in all , El Born is good, for NYC standard - I have had better in some no name eatery in Barcelona and Madrid . Will be back and try happyhour one of these days. read more
5 years ago
Excellent tapas spot in Greenpoint. Been coming here for years, and have found it always consistently delivers. Also, the everyday happy hour deals can't be beat for both drinks and bites. Stopped in this weekend for a quick snack (patatas bravas) and a drink, but including some additional photos from prior visits. Would recommend the potatoes to anyone who visits, as they are some of my favorites in the city. Also, don't sleep on the squid ink paella. read more
Just came back from Spain so the taste bud comparison was strong... Brava Patats - great as always Tuna & Beets - Tuna was dry and tough and not fresh (sad), beet was good but well. Mushroom - very delicious and the alioi sauce came with it was amazing Garlic Shrimp - yum! Squid & Fideua - squid was very good, slight crispy and tender. But fideua was way too salty / heavy Beer Marinated Pork Rib - didn't feel like it's good meat. I miss real tapas in Spain,,,,,..... read more
Stumbled upon this place randomly for bottomless brunch and I am a fan. You're getting a lot of bang for your buck! For tapas my friend and I had the croquettes del dia, xistorres, bacon wrapped dates and brussels. Everything was great! My favorites were the dates and the brussels. For our entrées we got the Spanish omelet and broken eggs. Pro tip: if you get the broken eggs it comes with xistorres so try something else when ordering your four tapas. I def want to come back for tapas Tuesday! read more
6 years ago
Quite the nice place to have a few plates to share! Got here with two friends for dinner time without a reservation and the staff was able to accommodate our party without a hitch! Service was a tad slow as there were 2 servers for the indoor and outdoor area, nevertheless we did not feel abandoned. We ordered a few tapas, a few of the staples the Braves El Borne (patatas bravas), Gambes Al 'ajillo' (gambas al ajillo), the Pebrots Shishito (padrón peppers) and the restaurant take on a Tortilla Española. We also ordered the Croquetes Del Día( today was the Morcilla/ blood sausage), and the "montadito" De Bou We also ordered the Paella DeCarn, which was part of a special with a bottle of house wine for a nice budget deal! Food was spectacular! The gambas were well seasoned and came with a warm piece of bread to dip into that delicious oil, the tortilla was nice and hot, definitely made to order like the menu suggests, the croquetes were quite creamy, though my companions did not like the sauce it came with. The paella was smaller than we expected, no socarrat but nevertheless still delicious! Overall a very pleasing experience, I will definitely return to see what else the restaurant has to offer. read more
4 years ago
Excellent food (we got the potato, cauliflower, maitake, shrimp, and eggplant dishes) but there were a few things lacking. First off, it was HOT in there. There were open flame candles on small, high top tables which I thought were adding to the heat and seemed pretty unnecessary and dangerous The wait staff were insanely nice but very slow and not very attentive. Our food came out (by the runner) VERY quickly but after that, it took a LONG time to get waiters attention for water, dessert, closing out bill, etc. To be fair, the restaurant was 75% packed and there only seemed to be 2-3 waiters. The shrimp were lacking a bit - the oil was full of garlic and hot Chile but it still had no flavor. Great drinks (spicy mango mash and ginger mojito) Overall, very good restaurant and since it came out to $100 pretip for 2 people with dessert and 2 drinks and 5 dishes (after which we were STUFFED) - I think it's a decent deal. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Brunch here is fantastic!! $30 bottomless brunch, they have 2 options and we chose 4 tapas and paella. The bacon wrapped dates and the croquettas were my personal favorite, as well as the seafood paella. And they are not stingy about the bottomless at all!! My glass would be about 1/4-1/3 full and they'd fill it right back up. I had about 4 full drinks within the 90 minutes and my boyfriend had about 6. They even refilled after we got the check. Service was very chill and friendly. Definitely want to come back here ASAP. read more
I'm so excited, I could poke myself in the eye. - quote from one of my best friends in Barcelona You don't understand... There are two types of food I can't eat out, because I will inevitably be disappointed: one is Greek food (my grandmother was a legend), and the other is Spanish (I used to live in Barcelona for a year after college). I've tried everything. I used to live in DC and frequent a famous chef's (not to be named, but you probably know him) tapas restaurant, but the food still didn't measure up. So please do not take this lightly when I say: THIS IS THE BEST SPANISH FOOD I HAVE HAD IN THE US. Not only that, but some of the dishes were better than you could get at your run-of-the-mill tapas place on the corner in your neighborhood in Spain. Speaking of neighborhoods, this restaurant happens to be named after my favorite neighborhood in Barcelona, so it had a lot to live up to. Anyone who has lived there before has their go-tos. Mine are the following (but not limited to): - Patatas bravas. Even though it's a tapa, I NEVER share and I ALWAYS order my own portion. I also always order an extra side of salsa brava. They freaking nailed it. Perfectly cooked fingerling potatoes with separate aioli and salsa brava. Exactly as it should be. - Croquetes del día: a Spanish staple. They were tuna that day and excellent. - This is the one that blew my mind - THE TORTILLA!!! Perfectly cooked, a bit soft inside, bursting with flavor. Better than I've had in most tapas bars in Spain, which often overcook them. If I had to find any critique, it would be that the this particular batch of sangría was a little too sweet. Perhaps a mistake or perhaps catering too much to the American palate. Either way, it was still good and negligible as part of an overall incredible experience. These are the moments that make me so happy I live in Brooklyn. I will be back as often as possible. Moltes gracies! Mol bei!!! read more
El Born is a Barcelonian restaurant in Greenpoint. The service is great, the food is solidly good and the ambience is very nice. The four of us met for a Friday night dinner. All of us opted for their tasting menu ($45 pp). Together, we shared: tomato confit on bruschetta, roasted shishito peppers, croquettes, garlic shrimp, potatoes bravas, seafood squid ink paella, roasted brussel sprouts, and cut up key lime pie. The food was filling and plentiful. My favorite drink was the Vermut Lacuesta, it was dry, fruity and slightly sweet. It tasted like the Vermut we had in Spain. The best dishes were the sweet-savory crispy roasted brussel sprouts with slices of prosciutto; and the crispy fingerling potatoes bravas. The tomato on bruschetta was good. The confit was very naturally sweet and refreshing on the crunchy toasted bruschetta. The rest of the food was ok: the shishito peppers were not roasted enough so they were not sweet and very spicy. The croquettes were crunchy and pretty but not very memorable. The paella was hearty and filling. I liked the rich seafood taste. However, it was missing a beautiful crust of roasted rice on the bottom. The service was great! The servers were very attentive and cleared our plates, explained each dish and were very friendly. I would return and order other dishes. read more
3 years ago
Best tapas in NYC! I've been obsessed with tapas since visiting Spain a few years back and I haven't found a place that does it quite like it until El Born... I would highly recommend the croquettes and cheese platter! amazing happy hour drinks & tapas! They also have a cute backyard seating area. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
came here for a bottomless brunch! cute little spot. delicious food, nice atmosphere and pretty good prices for new york read more
9 years ago
The short: this has been the best Spanish/tapas restaurant I've had in NYC since I've been to Spain. The longer: we called and made a reservation. This is a small, well decorated spot in Greenpoint with great food, awesome service, baller affordable wine list & a cozy ambience. We did a bottle of the Tempranillo Cab Franc ($35) and a bottle of white. For $35/bottle... we were all very happy! We decided to do the tasting menu for a group of 6. Here's what we had: - pan con tomate: fresh tomatoes & crunchy bread - croquettes: filled with gooey potato, bits of ham - bacon wrapped dates: holy shiz -shishito peppers: we rocked these -Brussels sprouts with jamon: because everything is better with jamon iberico -potatoes al born: because everyone needs some potatoes with aioli - squid ink seafood paella - the best seafood paella I've had maybe in my life? It's a close tie with the one I had in San Sebastián. - some delicious pie with a buttery pie crust (was in the ladies room when they brought it out- so missed the name of it.. but it was yum) I would come back here in a heartbeat. It's a great date spot, or good for small groups. Our waiter was awesome. We weren't rushed AT ALL. We allhad such a satisfying meal & great experience-- at a really affordable price point! read more
4 years ago
El Born is a great place to hang out with your friend to get some small snack and drinks. Me and my friend went to tapa's Tuesday ( 4 pm to 9 pm ) which get unlimited tapas for 2 hours for only 15 bucks each person but the catch is each person have to order a drink plus the tapas menu for the 15 buck is limited like only 6 type of tapas is available for us to choose but all 6 of the tapas is great read more
4 years ago
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This place has a great atmosphere. It is a great, intimate spot for date nights or to catch up with friends. The food was delicious!! I really liked the squid ink paella, olives, and patatas bravas. read more
4 years ago
Amazing drinks and music. Great for all times of the day. Love the decor. Didn't try the food but everything smelled so good! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
This place is good! Came here for brunch and the service was great, food was amazing, and drinks were strong. My only complaint was the brunch menu for my party. We were a party of 11 and we had to choose as a group either 2 entrees OR 1 paella along with 4 tapas. Granted the kitchen makes enough food accordingly to your party size but still unfair considering we're a big party and you have to come to a consensus on what to eat. I'd definitely would have preferred picking my own food according to my taste I just don't understand why the menu was set up that way. If I'm paying $30 something dollars for food and drinks I'd like to pick what my stomach desires not settle on what the group wants. Regardless food was great just wish they had a different option for brunch. read more
Came here for Saturday brunch and I think I found my new local weekend spot? The brunch deal itself is VERY affordable! I came along with 3 other friends and we shared 3 small tapas + one large paella. They are very accommodative and food portions are dependent on the amount of people sitting at the table. For instance, since we had 4 people total, our paella was larger than for example, if we had 2 people at the table. Brunch drinks were great and we were able to get refills pretty quickly. Food was amazing!! Food was honestly very good and was shocked at how flavorful it was for a brunch spot. Will definitely be back! read more
4 years ago
One of the best happy hours I've been to during the pandemic! All of their tapas were well portioned and delicious and I loved their sangria (not too sweet). Service was very attentive. read more
Review during Covid! My bf took me To El Born for a date last week. He was craving patatas bravas and knew that I had been craving paella for months. We sat down in the lovely backyard and had red wine sangria. Foodwise, this is what we ordered: -Patatas Bravas: such a cute idea to serve them in a little tower. The texture is similar to smashed potatoes, which is unusual for patatas bravas. Cheers to the chef for the creativity! -Cheese platter: great selection of cheese and of little accompaniments (honey roasted walnuts, a jam, fresh apple slices, toasted bread). - olives: tasty and refreshing, a good way to take a break from the richness of the patatas bravas! -Squid Ink Paella: simply delicious. It looks great (as you can see from the pictures) and is full of seafood! Loved the variety of seafood and the crunchy texture of the rice. Great job! It reminded me of the paella I ate when I visited Granada. -Vegetable Paella: my bf is a Vegetarian and never had paella before for this reason. I'm so glad he could finally try this dish! He was very happy with it. Great experience overall. Just remember to bring some bug spray because there are some mosquitoes in the backyard! read more
This review is overdue!-lol. Myself and some great fellow Yelpers that are absolutely wonderful people got together to have dinner at this establishment (Rob ....you were missed!). Making connections and hanging out with lovely, authentic people who have been warm, welcoming and kind is cool and I am thankful and fortunate to have met some great people! Appreciation filled within me as I loved the fact that El Born displays a cozy, intimate indoor dining setting as well as a beautiful outdoor patio. Although three of us were present and we were still waiting for another person, they quickly seated us and took out drink and food orders. El Born is inspired by the section of Barcelona that bears this same name. This eatery serves Tapas/Small Plates and it just so happened that we were able to order from the Happy Hour Menu! I really enjoyed my $5 glass of Red Wine Sangria! The 3 of us ordered and shared Chicken Croquettes, a Cheese Plate (which included crackers, apple slices and nuts) and Spicy Potatoes. Our party of 4 soon became complete and we all raved about how delicious everything tasted! The Vegetable Paella was divine! We ended up sharing dessert which was Pistachio Cake with Fruit Ice Cream and White Chocolate Sauce.....let's just say that it was devoured !-lol. I hope to come sooner or later and try some of their other dishes! Thanks to the gracious staff! read more
4 years ago
By far the worst brunch spot. Staff isn't friendly. The Bottomless brunch menu is deceiving. They give you 4 tapas, and 1 shared paella. The paella is enough for 1 person. Henry the manager was not helpful and unfriendly. He suggested we order more from the menu if we were unhappy, or to extend our bottomless drink, which we declined. Also he blamed the kitchen being backed up due to large parties as to why it took 45 min to get the apps. Wouldn't recommend. read more
El Born is a nice restaurant with a menu that is pretty reminiscent of Somewhere in Spain. We walked in around 9:30 on Friday without a reservation and were seated right away in the back. The backyard area is perfect for a date or spending quality time with someone you actually want to hear talking as there is no music only lights,( you can faintly hear the music from the inside through the door used to carry out the food) candles and greenery. It feels like being in a backyard and so incredibly intimate. There's a stillness to it all, the location, the lack of sounds, almost like New Yorkers slowing down and taking a pause which is rare. Coliflor gratinada (The cauliflower) had a strong scent that filled the table as soon as it was brought out. The sauce was delicious and creamy. The Carxofes confitades amb idiazable (artichokes) were interesting and my partner really enjoyed the Cru de tonvina (tuna) Our sangria pitcher yielded about 5 glasses. The pistachio cake is delicious but could go without the mango as it drowns out the taste of pistachios. There was also quite a bit of mint..too much. All and all great place would come again. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
More info about El Born
651 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Greenpoint
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(347) 844-9295
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http://elbornnyc.com/
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Is it noisy?
It wasn't when we were there, or I didn't notice. The four of us had no trouble talking to each other in a normal voice and hearing what the other ones said.
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