Loved the ambiance and music. Not crowded at 8:30 on a Tuesday but enough ppl that it didn't feel weird. Just came in to check it out and get a little snack and cocktail. Tried the Hemingway Daquiri which was to my surprise a slushy but not too sweet. Cheese board was good but could have used a little more quince paste and I wish it came with crackers. Ordered a side of bread to go with it which was a hot 2/3 of baguette. Only downside, there was an old, not good smell coming from somewhere and I realized it was the cheeseboard itself. Like maybe it hadn't been cleaned well. And that did gross me out a bit. Also, one bite of cheese tasted like soil and it was a little gross. But I was trying to decompress from shooting an event and just wanted some peace so I didn't mention it in the moment. But overall I liked it a lot. It's a little bit pricey for the portions but it is definitely a unique menu. That also has some inventive cocktails including one with lobster oil that my sister told me not to try. read more

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$9 for one CAN of Diet Coke? Even by NYC standards, that is obscenely expensive. Service at the bar was slow, even though I was the only one there. The bar is beautiful though. read more

This is not the Samuel Quito's that we all remember from yesterday year. Much smaller venue, very dark, The lobsters they offer are super small and one size. About 3 bites worth. The butter is a mixed paprika and butter sauce so the flavor is smoky. No more rice is offered. And the salad is à la carte. I had to ask for bread 3 times. And I needed the bread to fill me up because the lobster was so small. Husband felt bad for me and offered up his dinner. read more

Love the Chelsea hotel and this restaurant has vibes but the food itself was just OK as was the service. read more

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Cute restaurant tucked in the hotel Chelsea. Loved sharing all the plates, our favorite being the surf and turf! read more

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Great evening with my cousins at El Quijote inside The Chelsea Hotel NYC. Cool ambiance and attentive but non rushed service. Shared the pan con tomate, calamari, endive salad, and seafood paella. All the dishes were good though I could have ordered one more dish. Great bar. read more

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Celebrated my friend's birthday in the private room. Service was on point. Wine was always refilled without asking. The vegetarian paella, Iberian pork, salad, and pan con tomate were my favorites. Space is gorgeous. Make sure to check out the hotel bar afterwards! read more

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First time here and had a great time. The food is soooo good. I appreciate the many vegetarian options. Service was attentive and so kind too. They were so nice and happy to suggest wines and food. The vegetarian paella is a hit! I also loved the citrus salad. I had a G&T to drink and it was huge! But refreshing. There's an extensive wine menu with wines from Spain. The decor in the restaurant is simply stunning. The restaurant was much smaller than I thought. I think in the early years this space was probably much bigger. Bathrooms are located out in the hallway and are equally as gorgeous, but don't think they are ADA accessible. I recommend a reservation as this place is lit all night long. One of the better dinners you'll have in Manhattan. read more

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The restaurant has a very interesting charm, much smaller than expected. Tried half the tapas menu, small plates to share which are easy to tried multiple thing, everything was pretty okay, did the job. But also nothing too amazing. Seafood Paella slightly on the saltier side otherwise not bad. read more

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Came with my daughter on a weeknight for some tapas and drinks, having talked the place up after my last visit. Great atmosphere, as always. But sadly lacking in every other department. Our cocktails were weak, and with strange flavors. The calamari was soggy. Potatoes a little greasy. Our server was the career waiter type - sort of smarmy and condescending, and everything came out together and so fast that we were rushing to eat the hot things before they got cold. Come for a glass of wine, maybe a nibble, but that's about it. read more

This is one of my favorite places to get Paella. I was introduced to it many years ago by one of my cousins. I took a couple of colleagues from work to dinner. One of them had lived in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) for two years which is what inspired me to bring the team here for dinner. We had a pitcher of Red Sangria that did not last very long. The sangria was quite good. Just not enough. Our appetizers were the Padron Peppers and a tablet of Spanish Cheeses. Both were a great way to start the meal. The peppers were grilled and sprinkled with salt which was a good complement to the taste of the pepper. The three cheeses served on the platter were excellent. They prepared my taste buds for what was to come next. The Paella de Temporada was enough for three of us and served in a Paella pan. This is a change from the times in the past when it was served in a pot. There were jumbo shrimps still in the shell with the heads on, mussels, clams, and chicken pieces. The rice was slightly mushy. The flavor of the paella was outstanding. The socarrat was delicious because all of the flavor was trapped in the burned rice at the bottom of the pan. I finished with the Orxata dessert drink made with bourbon, oloroso sherry, apple cider, chamomile, and tiger nut. It was a good way to wrap up my meal. read more

Came here for a private event in a private room. Room's decor was comfortable. Servers were excellent!! Iberian pork was very tender. Sliced into strips. There is a little sweetness to it. Not sure if it was the sweet onions. Hake and cockles: the fish was cooked to perfection. Very flaky. No fishy taste. Clams were tasty too. Paella was very filling. It had a lemony taste, not heavy or oily. Fried potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Probably the best potato fingerling wedges I've had. I would get this dish again. Flan was made of goat cheese. It was very rich and dense. This would be a great place for a date or with a group. Would definitely come here again! read more

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The menu was weak! This is not the famed Restaurant that it once was! The menu had more offings like a Tapas Bar. The entree's again were limited. No Seafood of any kind except for paella with lobster for $72.00 There was no seafood of any kind other than the paella. Even what we ordered was somewhat tasty it was not worth the price of the meal! I will never go back to El Quixote nor will I ever recommend this restaurant. What once was a fabulous restaurant WITH A ONCE FABULOUS MENU is now a sad Restaurant with a very SAD MENU! read more

Went here simply to be where Patti Smith once sat. It was, unfortunately, one of the most disgusting meals I have ever had in NYC. First off the old NYC water scam. "Would you like sparkling or still" = two 12 dollar bottles of water. Good thing though, as I had to rinse my mouth. We ordered: 1) Buñelos de Bacalao-fried salt cod fritters. This consisted of 4 grease soaked, tasteless blobs next to a suspicious puddle of aioli. 2) Montedito de Cangrejo - piquillo peppers, crab salad, baguette. This consisted of two wafer thin slices of bread and two peppers stuffed with what can only be described as fancy feast seafood platter mixed with the juice from wrung out dirty socks. I could not get the smell off my fingers for some time. 3) Tortilla de Patata - spanish potato omelette. A small, flavorless, lukewarm wedge. The total for this stomach churning meal was $76 before tip. I write this not out of spite but to warn people that this is not the restaurant that the cultural giants of the 70s dined at. No se acerque! read more

Food B +.to B ~. The Service F Sat down to an indifferent waiter - think airport lounge servers still indifferent. Started w olives. Potatoes bravas + Pan Tomate grilled bread w tomato all B+ Artichoke salad C+ had taste but some of the artichokes needed more peeling to get the tough skins off. Pork Special grilled w onions def a B+ The waiter did recommend it. I had 2 glasses of decent Tempranillo wine. My friend Diet coke Dessert was their Spanish rice pudding. Food pretty good. After the artichoke salad came out I asked for salt + pepper- rather then having ANY grace at all the manager/waiter 1st looked at me + said you havent tried it yet - in a Really 2nd grade teacher tone! Then brought the little salt/pepper shakers back w no smile no grace Nothing! At that point what could have been a rather pleasant meal became one I just wanted to end Note to Self - Next time just leave! The indifferent waiter did steer us well with the Pork special. No complaints there. At the end I told the Salt man that I felt he was unpleasant in his salt request response. He gave the standard like basically Drop Dead but the "Chefs here pride themselves on their food + I had Not even tasted it!" I agreed w him but said I'm a salt lover + Tastes are personal! Barely even an apology at all. Just a cluster F of poor service. Not sure what people get out of operating restaurants w reasonably decent food but Crap service. My workin class momma Loved Red Lobster, the last time I brought her, the food was just ok but Service Outstanding! When I said that to the hostess she said we are a "Hospitality"business. If one is looking fir Hospitality Look elsewhere. read more

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El Quijote is such a special place. You can feel the richness of its history the moment you walk in -- the ambiance is warm, nostalgic, and full of character. From the start, we were greeted by a lovely host who made us feel instantly welcome. Our server, Christina, was an absolute gem. When I mentioned my food allergy, she went above and beyond -- double-checking everything with the kitchen and chef, and walking me through each dish as it arrived to make sure I felt safe and at ease. Thanks to her care, I was able to fully enjoy dinner with friends without any stress or second-guessing. Every dish was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. The whole experience -- the service, the space, the energy -- made our night feel joyful and relaxed. Thank you to the entire El Quijote team for making us feel so cared for. It's clear this is a place with heart, tradition, and pride in what they do. I can't wait to come back. read more

Atmosphere eas top notch, service was good. Food was not good and not what it used to be.

Super fabulous hostess. Food was average at best. The appetizer of bread and tomato, and garlic tasted like catchup on toasted bread. Margaritas were inconsistent and ok. Waitress was lovely! read more

Had drinks at the bar. I had two espresso martinis which were delicious. My friend and I shared a plate of the croquettes. The bartenders were so friendly and professional. The ambience was so cool. I've lived in New York City for 30 years and had never been to El Quijote before. I'll definitely be going back--hopefully for dinner next time. read more

El Quijote - Espresso martini - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

This spot earned my loyalty and future visits with one meal. Staff members delivered superior service. The kitchen prepares food with obvious care. I couldn't imagine better execution. I had a good time; see you soon :) read more

Food and service could use some work. While the ambiance sorta reigns it all in, but that's purely because of the history and the amazing hotel Chelsea. Other than that, if I was purely judging the experience for what it was... I'd roll my eyes at all the bullsh*t. That ribeye, albeit thin, was delicious and even the fat melts in your mouth, but the lobster, I guess I got the half with absolutely no meat other than the little tail meat you see next to the clarified butter in the pic I attached to the review. The claw too. I wouldn't tell anyone they needed to go there but I would recommend walking through to the hotel and lobby bar, along with all the other beautiful spaces. read more

El Quijote - Empty lobster shell - thanks - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

The restaurant creates a sense of belonging. This spot's atmosphere has never failed to impress. Staff members work efficiently with a respectful demeanor. Every plate I've had has been remarkably good. I came across this pleasant spot through digital platforms. read more

Came in for a quick drink and a couple next to us had ordered an appetizer that looked so good I had to order it myself! It was absolutely delicious ! Really enjoyed my time here! Sat down at the bar! The ambiance and decor of the place are very elegant! I would come back here definitely to try more dishes! read more

El Quijote - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

This place is smaller than I expected. It's beautifully decorated with Spanish themed paintings. The waiters were wearing scarlet jackets, you can sense the Spanish ambiance. After checking in with the hostess, it's take some time to be seated. Our waiter was courteous but not too engaging. He asked us how the food was. However, after we finished our meal, he abandoned us. Thankfully, this nice friendly lady helped taking the plates away and informed us the dessert menu. Endive salad: nice presentation as it was stacked up, a lot chopped green olives. It's a bit too salty for me because of the olive. Other than that, it's a nice appetizer. Beef cheek cannelloni: the pasta was fresh, the beef was tender with flavorful broth. My husband had hake fish with roasted pepper and potato confit. Fish was perfectly cooked and everything was tasty read more

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I've found myself choosing this place over others repeatedly. In any situation, their dishes are remarkably good. About service, all staff are exceptionally accommodating. This place understands flavor. This restaurant gets positive ratings. read more

I would recommend this restaurant. Their service was just OK. The food was salty, but it is in the hotel Chelsea and it does have a really cool ambience. You definitely have to have a reservation and you do feel crammed in this place but I still come back? Yes. read more

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This place will never not be a treasure. I missed it for the years. It was going through the remodel with the Chelsea hotel. I'm so glad it's back. The lobster with green sauce is just not to be missed. Iconic. read more

In a city prized for its charming, historical eateries, El Quijote stands out for its excellent food and vibe that absolutely meets the lore of its hallowed halls. Forever memorialized as the hedonistic meeting spot for Jimmi and Janis and Bob and Patti, El Quijote is a revamped take on the classic Spanish tapas spot that set the scene for much of downtown NY's mid-century musical history. For that alone, El Quijote is worth a visit, and this current iteration has done an exceptional job in taking that history and meeting the moment. We were immediately impressed upon walking in under its iconic yellow marquis and into its dark and cavernous, yet cozy interior, made complete with Picassoesque murals and luxurious booths all bathed in a warm punk-rock red glow. You don't know if you're in pre-war Spain, 1960's Chelsea, or the modern day, and that's a good thing. After settling down at a nice little table towards the back, we started a couple of martinis - the El Presidente rum version for her, and the classic sherry martini for her, and we ended up splitting the Basque Martini later on, all of which were simply executed and perfectly done. For dinner, we selected from their traditional tapas menu. The pan con tomate was a highlight of the meal, perfectly toasted and topped with salty tomato pulp, which paired perfectly with their regal display of paper-thin jamon serrano. The tabla de quesos was a veritable tour of Spanish dairy, and the patatas bravas were delicious fried nuggets served alongside dollops of aioli and spanish sauce. We had to also sample the gambas, a favorite from the old days, which were served in the most delectable garlic scampi sauce. Unpretentious but elevated, with a keen understanding of old Spain and old New York but with an eye toward the future, El Quijote is a new New York must, and a spot that would make its former iterations proud. read more

Everything was delicious! We had a few appetizers and the paella. Favorites include the patatas bravas, shrimp and paella but everything was truly a hit. And the service was outstanding. Highly recommend read more

El Quijote - Seafood Paella - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

The first time we went there a year ago, Quijote was very expensive but the food and service were good. Now it is very expensive and the food is good but the service is bad. When we arrived nobody took care of us for a few minutes until we had to hail a staff member. The waiter was overpouring wine, probably dreaming of selling another bottle - man, those are glasses, not buckets. Then they realized they needed the table for another party and tried to push us out. We tried splitting the bill on three cards and they just charged the whole bill on the first card they got. Don't go there, there is a reason why Andy Warhol is not going there anymore. read more

We came here with a gift card and were excited to try something in a new area and had heard great things about the Chelsea hotel. However, our experience was quite mixed. We felt it was quite expensive for what it was. While the server was kind , she did continue to recommend more than what we were ordering (ex. Bringing a dessert menu after we asked for the check.) When I ordered a Negroni, she casually asked if a specific gin I had not heard of was okay, which made me assume this was the base option, but then come to find out with the check it had been a several dollars up charge. I was especially upset that neither the meat or cheese appetizers came with bread and we were quickly advised to order the $13 bread and tomato appetizer to accompany it. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. We've had better Spanish food elsewhere but the environment/ambiance is also unique here and helps a bit. As said earlier, we came here with a $100 gift card but ended up paying even more than that out of pocket for 5 tapas/appetizers (would have been 4 if bread was provided) and two drinks each for two people. When paying, we were given the handheld tablet device and prompted to tip (as usual.) However, for such an expensive high end establishment, it was surprising when the waitress stayed looking toward us as we had to make a choice, feeling pressured to tip atleast 20%. Needless to say, this is not a place I feel is necessary to return to. I should have been more aware from the fact we could make a prime time dinner reservation only a few days before. read more

El Quijote is a beautiful restaurant inside the Hotel Chelsea with old school charm and classic Spanish vibes. I have not been to the old version of the restaurant so I can't comment on the recent renovation. While the decor was great, the food was a bit of a let down overall. I tried a few different tapas with a friend. While everything was decent, there were no real stand outs and everything was probably at least $5 too expensive. While flavorful, the $24 gambas order came with only four moderately sized prawns which were also difficult to eat since they were not peeled. The Butifarra Casera (sausage) with beans dish was only okay and lacked any real truffle flavor. The best dishes were the classics: pan con tomate and croquetas de bacalao. Both were great ways to start the meal. We did not order the paella but at $74 (for two) I doubt it is better than other paellas in the city (i.e. Socarrat). Service was friendly and quick but not rushed. I did not order any cocktails but had a pleasant glass of white wine. In summary: great decor, okay food, and probably too expensive. read more

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This restaurant doesn't resemble anything like the old place. The lobster wasn't good the ribeye was however pretty good. The price is way over the top for the quality of the food Pass this one not worth it at all One big disappointment read more

3 stars and I'll tell you why. NOT El Quijote. Looks the same. Which is amazing and heart warming. Same wallpaper now clean LOL. Lovely small booths as always. Really nice tables and chairs. AMAZING service. Seriously. From front end to receiving the check and all in between!!! No bread. Bummer for El Quijote and whatever this new restaurant is. No garlic soup. Wtf? No steaks no lobsters. Yes a small Lobster dish on the menu but not the same. Warm towels with lemon to wash yours hands. My favorite thing. Thanks Nouveau cuisine tapas. Fine and actually very tasty but NOT El Quijote. I am glad they are open. I was THRILLED to sit in a booth and have red sangria (that was more like a cocktail and not at all like red sangria). BUT I can have tapas anywhere. I can't have El Quijote anywhere. read more

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Back since it's sad 2018 closing. Chelsea loves El Quijote & it's back with a revamped albeit smaller interior and updated menu- Basque leaning. Located in the Chelsea hotel you are transported to 1933 when it opened with its Moorish interior and Spanish wallpaper motif, wrought iron and banguettes. So many memories here especially of my dad's 80 birthday in the other room. Spanish food has a long history in Chelsea. Ate: Merluzza al pil pil hake piquillo peppers creamy sauce $25 which was divine. The menu is bar leaning with no bread service which we all fondly remember from El Quijote of yore. I wouldn't mind a small roll with a dinner entree , otherwise Chelsea nights are back! read more

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TLDR: A solid spot for Tapas in Chelsea We started with the croquettes which were well portioned, cheesy and paired well with the iberian ham. The best dish was definitely the sausage. On its own it was very dense and heavy but was lightened up with the fish. The fish felt very traditional in flavors to Spanish cooking. read more

El Quijote - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Friendly and attentive staff. Ate in the landmark Tea room. Food was alright, not particularly great but certainly adequate. read more

Beautiful Spanish restaurant inside the Chelsea Hotel. Really pretty, food excellent. We got ham croquettes. Stuffed squid, potatas Bravas, and sausages with tomatoes and beans. All delicious. Wait staff super nice. My only complaints...it took far too long to get our cocktail. Also we asked for more bread, was told "no problem! " and then never got it. Oh well. It was still a really good. read more

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The restaurant is over 100 years old with many original features (ironwork, murals, even some light fixtures). We were immediately seated in a little booth for dinner - comfy for two, would have been VERY tight for four. Complementary cava was brought out as it was the one year anniversary of their reopening. DRINKS: - the Las Palmas is a MUST! One of the best cocktails both of us have ever had - the Rebujitos was tasty and refreshing (would have been perfect on a hot summer day), but I switched over to the las palmas after one of these FOOD: our server was very knowledgeable about celiac accommodations. Everything on the menu except for two dishes could be made gluten free. We ordered: - Tortilla de Patata, which was delicious and tasted like the one my host mom used to make back when I studied in Spain during college - Crudo de Atún, sliced incredibly thin and in the most light and refreshing citrus and slightly spicy sauce - Morcilla, which sounds weird in its description, but TRUST ME, this is a delicious interpretation of a traditional Spanish dish and should not be missed - Patatas Bravas, which were fine, but not special enough that I'd order again - Arroz Meloso con Mariscos, which was as close to paella as they serve. Great flavor and topped with the most amazing fried rosemary that I am still thinking about. I personally didn't love that it had butternut squash in it, but easy enough to eat around DESSERT: we were celebrating a birthday and they kindly brought out chocolate soft serve chocolate that was less rich than expected, almost like a sorbet, and drizzled with olive oil and crushed nuts. A very sweet gift and although we did enjoy it, I prefer my soft serve to be creamier. Overall, wonderful ambiance, service, food, and drinks! Tons of gluten free options with very knowledgeable and accommodating staff!! read more

El Quijote - Las Palmas - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Rarely have I been so excited to dine somewhere that previously had such inconsistent reviews. This place is polarizing, that much I know. I should say that I honestly was not aware of El Quijote prior to its reimagined reopening, despite the fact that I've been very into the restaurant scene in NYC for about 10 years. I say this to be transparent about the fact that I do not have an earlier reference point with which to compare this iteration of El Quijote. I've noticed that most of the negative reviews -- both on Yelp and on Google -- are from folks who loved the old El Quijote and feel the new one lacks some of the aspects that regulars held dear. But from my vantage point, there are very few negatives to report. We had a wonderful experience here, complete with excellent service, solid food and other-worldly cocktails. Chelsea has long been home to many of the city's great tapas restaurants; El Quijote being both the oldest and newest of the bunch. We came here at 8pm on a Saturday night. Unless you enjoy West 23rd Street traffic, I'd recommend sitting inside as we did. From what I have gleaned from other reviews, much of the decor has been preserved, which is always a treat. The space is actually quite small but that made it feel relatively intimate, which was nice and unexpected. To be honest, I think I was more excited for the cocktails here than for the food. Spanish food is one of my favorite types of cuisines, but I had read a lot about the cocktail menu development here and the menu at first glance looked special. And wow, did it deliver. Improbably, my expectations were surpassed. To start, I got the Dirty Martinez (old tom gin, genever, curry leaf, melon, olive) which gives the dirty martini a real run for its money. Unique, savory and complex. My husband got the Quijote G+T (spanish gin, pear, aloe, celery, mediterranean tonic) which was fruity and vegetal. Any good tapas restaurant has at least one great G+T, and this one was it. My second drink was the Tuxedo #5 (yerba matte gin, manzanilla sherry, coconut, smoked pimentón), which again was unlike anything I had tried before. A clean, martini-style drink yet multilayered and complex. My husband got the frozen Hemingway Daiquiri (rum, guava, grapefruit, maraschino) which was decent but nothing special. Food-wise, El Quijote has a relatively small menu for a tapas restaurant but within there's still good variety. I would've loved to have seen a few more cooked veggie dishes (the veggies begin and end with two salads) but beyond that, no complaints. Two-thirds of the menu are small plates while the bottom third are entree-sized options. I saw that some folks complained about the portion sizes but of what we ordered, only one dish met the criteria of Excessively Tiny. Our eats, below: Matrimonio de Anchoas y Boquerones (anchovies and boquerones, grilled bread): A- Okay, for $19 dollars this was a sad amount of food. Delicious all the same. Ensalada Mixta (little gem, spring greens, toasted garlic, pine nuts): B+ To his credit, our server did say that of the two salads, this one wasn't quite as exciting. Not bad, just kind of straightforward and unexciting. Hinojo y Apio con Avellanas (fennel, apple, monte enebro, hazelnuts, caramelized honey vinegar): A This was the great aforementioned salad! Fresh, light, sweet, great mix of textures and flavors. The dressing was delicious but not heavy-handed. Gambas al Ajillo (head-on prawns a la plancha, garlic, arbequiña olive oil): A- Not the best prawns dish I've had but definitively solid. Cooked and seasoned well, just fairly straightforward. Merluza en Salsa Verde (hake, salsa verde, confit potatoes, pil pil): A Aesthetically simple yet deceptively creative. The fish was cooked beautifully and paired nicely with the subtle flavors of the salsa verde. Thinly sliced red peppers topped thinly sliced potatoes, making the dish heartier than some of the small plates but still relatively light. A couple of notes on the service. After we were seated we waiting a very long time before someone came to check on us. Our first round of drinks took a very long time to arrive. They did seem a bit understaffed. But once we ordered our food and our second round of drinks, service was seamless. We had two different members of the staff checking in on us, our second round of drinks came out in a timely manner, as did our food. I was concerned at first but my the end of the meal I was really impressed by how well we were taken care of. read more

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