I stopped by El Pinguino as a walk-in and was seated at the bar. We came for happy hour, and the bartender was wonderful, friendly and accommodating, even letting me sample the sherries. Unfortunately, the tapas were a letdown. I understand it's not Spain, but the dishes were disappointing overall, high prices with low quantity. We spent well over $100 and wouldn't have felt full if it weren't for the large chunks of bread that came with each dish. The anchovies were underwhelming, the cheese portions tiny, and the chorizo overly oily. Go for the atmosphere and drinks, personally i'd skip the food. read more

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Great happy hour for martini, oyster and this and that! Cute cozy spot with outdoor space in the back. read more

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Made a reservation for dinner on a weeknight and had a great time here! This is a great spot for drinks and light bites. I tried: + Frozen passionfruit daiquiri + Dozen oysters + Boquerones + shrimp cocktail + sourdough bread + Piquillos confitados + Black bass ceviche + Basque cheesecake The bass ceviche was my favorite, followed by the oysters. Otherwise, would recommend the boquerones and shrimp cocktail. Oysters were half off for HH until 7, which was a nice touch. Drinks - the daiquiri was excellent, and my friend had a ramp martini that she loved. Our only mistake was ordering the sourdough - pretty much everything comes with bread, so you do not need an extra side! read more

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went for hh and i have a new found love of sardines with mayo and crackers!! stuff is addicting hahah. their oysters are also super tasty and their sea bass ceviche is fire. never had sea bass ceviche before and it was so soft read more

El Pingüino - sardines - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Love the bar, great happy hour ($10 martinis til 7pm), not too loud. I don't love tinned fish but I enjoyed the cheese, peppers and chorizo. read more

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Definitely come for happy hour, 7 days a week 4-7pm! We enjoyed the half price oysters and $12 martinis. The food can get pretty pricey since they're all small plates, but they all tasted great. We had the roasted peppers, steamed clams, cheese plate, and basque cheesecake. Service was friendly but pretty slow. Overall, I'd come again, but definitely stick with the happy hour deals! read more

El Pingüino - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Decided to give this place a second chance. Won't be back. The menu was confusing, it says $12 martinis, and directly under there are three martinis listed. So I assumed that would be part of the deal. Was annoyed when I got check for a $22 cocktail. For that I would've just gone to bar Americano for my fave cocktail. Oysters were mediocre. Highly prefer Panzon next door. Service is really good and it's cute inside, but that's about it. read more

El Pingüino - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Stopped by briefly here for a drink to catch up with some friends. I tried some of the canned mussels and it was actually quite delicious. I know the sound of it is very appetizing, but trust me there's a diversity flavor profile to the dish. This restaurant is found in a new "restaurant row "of Greenpoint, and it is actually quite stellar. This is one of the spots that really drives home how great quality in Greenpoint food and drink can be as well as maintaining a larger space for you to breathe and relax compared to the city. My drink was wonderfully made, no complaints. The ambience is very nice and chill, but somehow cozy and intimate as well. A great place to drink with some friends in a lively area but depending on where you're sitting, you can get a little bit more quiet. It just depends on the time of day as well. read more

El Pingüino - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Perfect lil Spanish seafood tapas bar nearby transmitter park. Went in a Tuesday night and it was kinda dead which was perfect for the 1st date I was on. Oysters slap, martinis pack a punch. Highly recommend read more

I sat on the pretty patio for the afternoon and picked across their cold bites: oysters, shrimp, gildas, and the chorizo with sourdough. The martinis (dirty vodka and classic gin with a twist) were excellent. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. I would definitely come back! read more

You must order the Basque cheesecake. The selection of oysters is stellar. The service is great. Fun place.

Wow! Just jumped in here for a quick bev but bar staff was awesome. Dylan was great. I asked him about food recommendations and he was so helpful. Also made a killer martini. read more

Love love love this restaurant! Such a cute moody bar in Greenpoint. As a long time Alameda fan, I was super excited to try the new concept. We came for the Claud pop up and sampled some amazing food, my favorite being the butter poached shrimp... unbelievable. If you're in the hood or not, definitely worth a stop in to try some delicious food at a new neighborhood staple! read more

El Pingüino - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The owner has an attitude. I had a reservation and we asked to sit in the back patio area on a beautiful day and he said it was fully committed. Luckily I went back to check and I saw the perfect table available for my family of 3. Set up, ready to go. The next folks that walk in are actually a smaller group of 2 for this 4 seater table and he says the back patio is first come first serve. They rush back and sit down since ofcourse the table was available. I was super surprised so I asked a waitress she's said he's the owner idk what to tell you. It completely ruined the experience and I wouldn't go back unless you're looking for someone to ruin your beautiful afternoon. read more

So good... so, so good. Oh, and I should mention that this review is strictly for cocktails. Haven't had the food just yet but have heard and read all good things about it. Second time there and figured they've got some solid consistency going on. Long story short, El Pingüino gets five stars, no questions asked. Here are a few reasons... 1) One of the best martini's I've had. Gin with a lemon twist. Kicker is, it's on Happy Hour. Can you believe it? They do their martini right. They're in the business of a well crafted cocktail, not a quickly crafted coc 2) Music? Pretty slammin' playlist every time. 3) They have Happy Hour... ready for it? EVERY DAY. As in seven days a week. 4-7pm El Pingüino does it right. Gosh, I really enjoy this spot. read more

El Pingüino - Martini. The best. - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I was in the area for a day date and we found this oyster bar. It was during the happy hour special. We ordered oysters, ceviche and a cheese plate. The food was great. We sat in the outdoor back area. It was very cute, quiet and intimate. The day was nice and while it was sunny they have a shade. There seemed to only be one waiter working here back area and there was a significant amount of people in the outdoor area. We ordered a margarita and one of their mezcal tequila martini. It was a great find in Greenpoint read more

El Pingüino - Oysters and ceviche - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

cocktails/snacks/service 10/10 my bestie and I had the nicest dinner here, I can't wait to go back. read more

Low-key, artsy bar in Greenpoint. I loved my experience here - it's a homey environment and perfect for a catch up with a good friend. Drinks were also great, I would love to come back to try more. Service was amazing - I didn't like the first drink I ordered and the staff was kind enough to take it off of my bill. read more

El Pingüino - Dirty Martini, Bloody Mary - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

TIME AND TIME AGAIN! My ultimate go to- must go. From the bites, happy hour, people, ambiance, and THE TEAM HERE is what makes me a regular. Coming solo, with friends, meetings -basically EVERY REASON. read more

So I went in excited for tapas and martinis. The decor is great but the service was not it for me. On a Sunday it took a half hour just to get someone to take our order. By then I wasn't really excited anymore. The oysters are great and my martini was fine. I just didn't enjoy my dining experience overall. read more

I'd rate El Pingüino four and a half stars. Had a few glasses of wine while hanging out at the bar. I tried each of their three reds available by the glass. Bartender was incredibly insightful and attentive. Lots of great cocktail options here too. Decided to have a small snack. I had the Boquerones which were anchovies served in a tomato vinaigrette with some bread. An awesome snack to have alongside drinks. On the salty side which paired well with the alcohol. They had an extensive variety of canned seafood offerings. There was one super spacious, gender neutral, and handicap accessible restroom. read more

My friend and I came for happy hour and loved it! They have a super cute backyard patio that wasn't directly in the sun so it felt so nice on an august early evening. The happy hour specials was half off oysters snd $12 martinis. You could get any kind of martini they could make (except espresso martinis. Those were regular priced). We got a classic dirty and with a twist as was recommended by the server and it super yummy. Strong but very smooth and well balanced for a martini. We also got a dozen oysters. Their oysters were from Canada and delicious! Usually happy hour oysters are pretty basic and quite briny, but these were sweet and juicy and perfect. We also ordered the chorizo which came out in small sausage form. They had the perfect balance of salty, spicy, and fatty. My friend couldn't stop dipping the bread in the chorizo juices - it was that good. It's been a very long time since I've been impressed by a happy hour and this place was awesome! I would absolutely come back again for happy hour and to try out other stuff on their menu! read more

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For some reason whenever I come to el pinguino it's the perfect temperature, it's golden hour, transmitter park is poppin off, and I'm on an absolute bender. I end up drinking one too many dirty martinis while make audible pleasure noises while downing the anchovy pepper skewers. The folks behind the bar really seem to love their job, the food they serve, and the drinks they come up with. The first time I went they poured us a drink and then let us pop out to transmitter to have a glance at the sunset before even paying our tab. That kind of trust in the community is rare and beautiful. El pinguino is a lil slice of heaven in greenpoint. This writer pens this review begrudgingly because he doesn't want this spot to blow up. Part of the magic is the intimacy. But because he wants the good people at the Pinguino to succeed he feels compelled to show some love. read more

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This is a fine bar, but it's been baffling to see it listed in articles as a seafood dining spot-- don't be fooled, this is not a restaurant. Tinned bar snacks to go alongside drinks in a casual Mediterranean style, maybe. But the oysters were messily shucked (wouldn't rank it an "oyster bar"), table service inattentive and vague, clams in a tiny portion no effort to make it into any kind of "dish" and so overcooked they were rubbery. Tapas it is not. Martini only ok. The bar stools are a decent perch, the backyard kinda cute, most of the (very small) tables inside are possibly repurposed elementary school-style hard wood, not exactly comfortable. The design has sort of a cool ship's cabin energy, it's a very narrow space. A bar for a beer or glass of wine? Sure. But if you come here trying to actually eat a meal, it's a disappointment. read more

Came in for a cocktail with friends loved the vibe here. Definitely recommend for a drink and a snack. Tried some of their famous canned mussels and thought they were delicious. read more

Cozy casual vibes for cocktails and seafood small plates. Great for 2 or a group of 4. Nothing over the top or extra ordinary. We got the the shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, shewolf bread 3 slices, aguachile and a few cocktails. Good place to start the night. read more

El Pingüino - Simple cheese and bread combo. - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

El Pinguino in Greenpoint is a Spanish tapas and seafood bar serving up some of the freshest seafood towers in NYC. We ordered the seafood tower for dinner which included a dozen oysters, bass ceviche, scallop ceviche, and crab salad. The oysters were among the best we've had in NYC and the scallop ceviche and crab salad were particularly excellent as well. We paired the raw bar with a mineral-forward Txakoli wine from the Basque Country in Spain. Still feeling peckish, we ordered the chorizo and roasted red peppers. Each came with fresh sourdough bread from Shewolf Bakery to mop up the delicious juices. El Pinguino is a must-try for some of the best raw bar in NYC. Be sure to show up during happy hour for half off oysters read more

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Came here on a solo date for myself and had a lovely time. Came for their happy hour, had the oysters and a vodka martini. Sat outside and enjoyed the lovely weather and the views of the apartment buildings, quintessential Brooklyn. The service was great as the waiter was knowledgeable of the menu and had a good energy. Would love to come here with friends and enjoy the park next-door looking at the Manhattan skyline. read more

El Pingüino - Oysters, vodka martini - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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A vegetarian probably has no business coming to a place like El Pinguino, but I will nonetheless testify to the pleasantness of consuming high-quality sourdough bread and olives in these environs on a Sunday afternoon, paired with a Basque cider. I do wish they served more than one kind of cheese on their cheese plate. read more

Upping my prior review to 5 stars after another visit. Their oysters are fabulous. The fresh horseradish you mix together on the platter is divine. -I much prefer the small tables in the front of the restaurant to the larger tables in the back. These are more comfortable, more festive somehow, and more intimate. -Happy Hour is indeed the best time to go. It's a Day Off kind of place, and for probably a lot of restaurant workers and chefs (just guessing). -It's better if you order *less* of the Conservas dishes, and focus on drinks, oysters, and stuff like the chorizo as well. The cheese plate is good, but not mind blowing. -Their bar remains very fast and very efficient. Drinks are great. -The $12 martinis/oysters Happy Hour Deal has got to be one of the best deals in town. -Shout-out to the '60s Spanish pop playlist, MY GOD, way to set a mood. One of my favorite new places. read more

High quality seafood and super friendly staff. They were able to accommodate us as walk-ins and the bartender was chatting with everyone. The seafood tower is a great sampler of several menu items, though I do wish they included horseradish. A little out of the way but worth the trip here! read more

El Pingüino - Seafood tower - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

solid seafood tapas offering. we ordered oysters and scallops; the food arrived paired together. service was odd - we were a group of five but still had to ask for napkins, forks, water. we felt a bit rushed after the bill arrived but took our time by finishing our bottle of wine. a stuffy greenpoint crowd did not enhance the ambiance but the diffused sunlight in the back yard was lovely. a staff member crushed my date's foot without apology while she waited in line for the single restroom. another did manage to say 'excuse me'. move about at your own risk! read more

El Pingüino - Scallops, Oysters - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Left less than impressed. Small venue. Dark date night vibes. The service at the bar while quick was a bit apathetic. The steamed clams lacked flavor. Probably won't return. read more

Fresh oysters and tasty sourdough bread, but $20 for bread and 6 oysters is overpriced.

Small Spanish tapas bar in Greenpoint. We stopped by for Happy Hour, just ordering one drink, and ended up spending the evening there, getting several dishes in the menu. It's simply delightful. Everything was so delicious from the bread to the olives and pimentos. The standouts for me were the chorizos and the scallops. The cheesecake is a traditional basque one and a must try! read more

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amazing amazing place - great drinks, amazing service, great food and vibes all around. great happy hour deals - $12 martinis (and i think other drinks have deals too? but i'm not positive) and $1 oysters i believe. i'm not normally a huge martini person but got a dirty gin martini and it was we also got oysters, the gilda skewers (which are a must), the sourdough bread (which is delicious- perfect mix of crunchy outside and soft chewy inside), a variety of the conservas (tinned/canned fish like mackerel and spicy squid) and it was all delicious! also has an adorable back patio that we sat on with our drinks after we finished eating. this place is a true gem!! read more

El Pingüino - outdoor patio view - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Absolutely delicious! Stopped by on a Friday evening for a low key date night. We ordered a dozen of oysters for happy hour and were pleasantly surprised by the quality. They were sweet and plump. My favorite of the evening were the steamed clams in a white wine sauce. Could not stop dipping my sourdough bread into the sauce!! (Note: happy hour is every day 4-7pm) read more

This Spanish seafood bar has excellent drinks and I love the food options. From the extremely fresh oysters with perfect mignonette to a curated conservas list alongside She Wolf Bakery bread, I would highly recommend making the trip to this restaurant. I would be sure to get the cheesecake. Not to mention, it's got great decor including an AM radio in the bathroom! read more

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The food was fantastic. The vibe is fantastic just a classic awesome small but lovely New York restaurant a great place to bring friends.

Finally a chance to try conservas! Guided by our waiter's suggestions, we greatly enjoyed our tinned fish and oysters. read more

El Pingüino - Cocktails! - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York