Side notes- Prices aren't online, and the menu changes frequently. In general, as of a few months ago, the pintxos/bites are $14 to $16, the entradas/appetizers are mostly in the low or mid-$20s, and the platos/entrees are mostly in the $30s and $40s. Anyway, I was at this dimly lit Basque restaurant a while back with a small group. The place got pretty loud eventually, and the service was friendly. As we were waiting, I had some time to kill and ordered a tasty vermut. In this case, it was the Lustao Blanco for $16 on the rocks with an olive. In terms of small bites/Pintxos, someone ordered the Gildas for $14 while waiting, and another person enjoyed the similarly tiny Croquetas de Jamón for the same price point. Speaking of prices, I am unsure exactly how much everything cost, and I can't find descriptions of everything I ate, so I'm approximating, which is why you'll see the "~" before each price point. My entrada, or appetizer, was the Salmorejo de Atún for ~$25. Salmorejo is essentially a much thicker version of gazpacho, with olive oil, tomato, bread, and a few other ingredients. In this case, it was topped with plenty of raw tuna, cucumbers, and other greens. The cold soup worked surprisingly well with the high-quality fatty tuna, and I would order this again if I came back here. Another person ordered one of the appetizers as their entree, the Bikini Hemingway, which is a type of sandwich. In this case, it was ~$25 and was filled with txistorra, queso, shrimp, and pan de cristal. They seemed to like it but not love it. My main dish/plato was, unfortunately, the Magret de Pato for ~$40, with grilled magret duck breast, port and foie sauce, and pomme purée. Unfortunately, a few pieces of the duck were a little chewy, especially the ones with more fat. The sauce was alright, tasting like a slightly above-average red wine demi-glace with a touch more richness and sweetness than usual. The pomme purée was good, being rich with a nice texture. Overall, I think a bit of acid would have helped as well. This was alright, and I would have appreciated some bread to mop up the remaining sauce. Another person thought the Bacalao for ~$35, which was topped with two shrimp in this presentation, was pretty good. This place reminded me of Txikito in many ways. Both are a bit too pricey for the quality, with comparable food. For spending around $100, there are many other spots I would prefer, such as Casa Mono, El Pote, or a few others. If I were to go back, I'd probably just order appetizers. I'll leave the same score as the other restaurant, a bare 4/upper 3, and I would give a 3.5 if available. read more

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We didn't have a bad bite! Stand outs of the night include the bikini Hemingway, pinxtos matrimonio, and basque cheesecake. We also got the chips with Iberico, ham croquettes, and arroz conjejo. Fun Spanish wine list to go with it! read more

Ernesto’s - Basque Near Me - New York, New York

Five years since my first review here, and I'm still a huge fan. Came in with my wife on a random Tuesday and landed a table early even without a reservation. We stuck to our usual: the tripe and the Bikini Hemingway. Added three calamari to start, and everything was just as good as always. Their consistency is impressive. For mains, we split the Bomba rice and the duck. Both were even better than I remembered. Wrapped it up with the Concord grape sorbet, which was excellent. I feel lucky to have this spot in the neighborhood. It never disappoints. read more

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what a fantastic restaurant! Ate at the bar, the place was super cute and intimate Bartender was fantastic and was able to walk through all that they could do gluten free. surprisingly quite a bit of the menu. Everything was delicious It was definitely my favorite meal this trip to NYC! And i will be back next trip! read more

Ernesto’s - Basque Near Me - New York, New York

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Everything went well! Great service, delicious food taste and presentation! the drinks were well prepared and the ambiance is casual. The food portions could be a little bigger. I understand the tapas style which allows to try different plates. read more

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Nice atmosphere, convenient location and good food Nice atmosphere, convenient location and good food read more

We went to Ernesto's for an event where they served us 5-course Tasting. The inside was rather dimly lit, with brick walls and beautiful bar as the main feature. It had that nice cozy, romantic atmosphere. We started off with a couple of cocktails. We ordered Hell in a Hand Basqu-ette and Dicha del Higo. Hell in a Hand Basqu-ette was delicious with a nice kick to it, without being too spicy. Really nice drink. Dicha del Higo had amazing black fig flavor, so good! For food, the first course was Tartaleta de Txangurro, which is a crab tart. It had so much soft juicy crab, and nice flavor from the leek. Tart made it easier to eat handheld, so good! The second course was Morcilla con Pimientos, which is their housemade Blood Sausage. It was soft and juicy with a nice crunch. Pepper that was roasted for 7 hours was amazing with sausages! The third course was Pescado a la Brasa, which is a Grilled Monkfish. Monkfish was a bit on the tough side, since they are a more of a tight, firm textured fish, like a lobster. Nice and flaky, and really tasty. The fourth course was Confit de Pato, a Duck Leg Confit. Duck felt ever-so-slightly overcooked, but the tangy sauce was delicious. I really enjoyed the silky, buttery pommes purée. The sauce was really amazing. The fifth course was Tarta de Queso, a Basque-Style Cheesecake. I love Basque-style cheesecake, and I have made a few myself. It was rich, velvety, and delicious with a little bit of tang. They try to source the ingredients locally and create dishes with simple yet high quality ingredients. We had a nice time here at Ernesto's. read more

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Good food. So much to choose from. Service was good. Atmosphere was a bit cramped and can get loud. So it's not a cozy quiet theme. Prices a bit high for a local area. Would like to go back but the prices may be reason holding me back. read more

Have wanted to try this Basque place for a while. Definitely the top two categories in their menu is where to be. Punches of flavor in each little bite. Entrees are good but probably better plan to just order a few more things from the start of the menu. read more

We were starving after an event nearby and Ernesto's really ended up hitting the spot, both drinks and the food. I'd recommend everything we ordered. I'm sure their different seasonal menu choices are excellent as well, would love to come back and try! read more

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Been here a few times and always a great experience. I prefer to sit at the bar and order cocktails/wine as well as a full dinner. I will be back read more

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Quite possibly the best steak I have had in my entire life. I am a Texan with roots in the cattle industry, and the Galician ribeye, grass and acorn fed, without a trace of fat or gristle and served with fritas and roasted red peppers was dreamy. I have never felt inspired to write about a piece of meat, but this steak deserves the love. read more

Wow this place was popping! Despite having a reservation there was a bit of a wait due to the table before us not following the time protocol. Ernesto's however, completely made up for it! When we were seated we were taken to the separate dining area which was much more quiet & had access to view the chefs at their craft. Before ordering the sommelier brought us each two rounds of a different Jell-O shot creations specially made by the chef. They were BEAUTIFUL. It is not on the menu so I would definitely ask!;) The sommelier continued to impress us with her knowledge on "juicy reds" and left us with an impeccable choice! The food was incredible and by the end of the meal we had completely forgotten about the slight chaos at the beginning. I can't wait to go back! read more

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-No one came to our table until 45 minutes after our reservation (this included being sat late and the server taking forever to come to our table) -Dirty plate and napkin at my seat -3 items we ordered were sold out -continued to be a chore to get anything from the sever read more

Ordered: Spanish G&T (~$20): Gin, Juniper, Lime, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Tonic Una Noche Buena (~$18): Blanco Tequila, Lime, Peach Liqueur, Apricot Liqueur, Ginger Syrup, Honey Syrup, Lambrusco Float 3pc Croquetas de Gallina (~$18): chicken croquettes Tartaletas de Txangurro (~$28): San Sebastian-style crab tarts 3pc Pintxo Matrimonio Al Ajillo (~$21): anchovy fillets Fritos de Calamares (~$26): fried Rhode Island squid, aioli, lemon Bacalao en Salsa Verde (~$34): Spanish salt cod, garlic, parsley, white wine sauce, clams, potatos Arroz Melos de Conejo (~$38): soft bomba rice, braised rabbit, black trumpets Tarta de Queso (~$16): Basque cheesecake Tarta de Pera (~$16): almond pear tart, cardamom ice cream, anglaise Aya's take: Ernesto's is a Basque-inspired restaurant with a Lower East Side ambiance. I started off with the Spanish G&T which was light & refreshing. I've become very fond of these as they're not too sweet and great to sip on. We ordered a ton of food and I would say the stand-outs were the Croquetas de Gallina, Tartaletas de Txangurro, and the Arroz Melos de Conejo. I mean I definitely wasn't expecting to try rabbit that day but here we are! Both desserts were fine and their cocktail selection is nicely crafted, as well. Overall, I would say the food is a bit pricy for the quantity you're getting but there's no arguing about the quality. It was a good try but I prefer other Basque/Spanish restaurants in the city. read more

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Highly, highly recommend! Our party of 5 had a fantastic night at Ernesto's. The food was creative, delicious, simply amazing. The service was impeccable - the staff could not have been nicer or more attentive - and so much fun. We are still raving about how much we all enjoyed Ernesto's. Cannot wait to visit again. read more

I've waited years to find a place this good. Hospitable, pleasant, inviting, qualified. The menu items are all winners. Prices won't empty your wallet. I feel intense appreciation for this place. read more

This spot lets you sample freely. All employees were welcoming and accommodating. The restaurant shows true skill. Fresh and delicious. I vouch for the tasty dishes and the pleasant surroundings. read more

I have nothing but good things to say about Ernesto's! I've been here twice and both times have been 10/10. The service is so amazing, once we were simply taking a while to decide on the food and they poured us small glasses of bubbles to try as we were deciding. The small gestures really mean so much. I can't rave about the food enough. Literally, everything is so good I wish I could come here every week. The duck was probably one of the best I've had in NYC. The croquetas are always crispy and so divine. The egg scramble of black trumpet and chanterelle mushrooms was so flavorful and fun. The paleta iberico con chips (iberico ham & potato chips) are addictive! We could not stop eating them. I will attempt to remake them at home but I know it won't be as good as their house made chips. Can I also say, I appreciate how they actually have really good non-alcoholic drinks for a restaurant. They used Ghia in a mocktail and it's one of my fav non-alc alternatives! To top it off, the ambiance is so chic, warm, and welcoming. I would recommend getting a reservation for larger groups or to sit at the table. If not, the seats at the bar are always up for grabs and just as fun! read more

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I've been saying our area deserved something this good. Their servers add to the experience. The team balances efficiency with personal attention. This spot delivers what I want. I might need to force myself to try other restaurants. read more

It was fortunate timing when we found this restaurant for tonight's dinner. The workers create a warm environment. This place has my complete approval. The meal quality and staff attentiveness deserve notice. This place should top your list. read more

The negative reviews seem written about a different restaurant entirely. I judge places by their service, and this restaurant tops the charts. Quality cooking with pleasant service. Delicious preparations with helpful staff in welcoming surroundings. I might need to force myself to try other restaurants. read more

Salty food and very small portions for the price! We ordered the ham croquettes which were $14 for two pieces. We ordered a sausage dish which was $12 and when it came out it was one sausage link cut into five pieces! Glasses of wine were $16-$20. I did love the Zeta '19 red wine that I had. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily got two seats at the bar. The atmosphere was loud as the whole place was packed on a Thursday evening. The flan was my favorite part of the whole meal! Overall, not sure if I'd come back due to the size of the portions and the prices! read more

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From recommendations to the final bite, everything feels honest. I enjoy everything about this place, and you're sure to agree. The employees are amazing; friendly greetings and fulfilling all needs happily. They use good quality meats and vegetables and give good sized portions. This place offers clear benefits to diners. read more

WOW! I'm absolutely blown away. I don't understand the low reviews for this place. Spanish food is one of the cuisines that I'm most picky about, since I lived in Spain for a year. Dare I say this might be my new favorite Spanish restaurant in NYC?? Came here Saturday night at the recommendation of a friend. The ambiance was cozy and perfectly lit. The service was friendly, efficient, and well-timed. They were great at communication and coursed our food perfectly. We ordered a couple cocktails to start, then ordered wine with our food. Both were outstanding. I ordered the La Paz and my friend ordered the 5 Finger Martini. Then later we both had a glass of white wine that blew us away. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name, but the server said it was the closest in comparison to a sauvignon blanc. For food, everything we ordered was divine: - Gildas to start: anchovy, pickles, and olives on a skewer. We scooped up every bit of Spanish olive oil remaining on the plate. The quality was so high, it was drinkable, and I like my olive oils drinkable. - Alcachofas a la plancha - grilled artichokes with foie gras - the best artichokes I've ever had. My only complaint was that I wish there was more foie. - Ventresca de atun - grilled bluefin tuna belly with squid ink sauce - outstanding, couldn't get enough - Bikini Hemingway - a "bikini" in Spain is a thin sandwich, thinner than a bocato. This one had shrimp inside and was prepared similar to a panini. It had a drizzle of honey on top that sent it over the edge. The woman at the table next to us was losing her mind over it, so we decided to order it, and it did not disappoint. - Arroz meloso de buey - basically a risotto style rice with red wine braised short rib and yellowfoot mushrooms - again, it was absolutely perfect We didn't leave room for dessert, but we saw some going out and they looked delicious as well. I will DEFINITELY be back here and will be telling everyone I know about this place. Bien hecho!!! read more

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gorgeous interior and nice service. iberico tower is overrated but the croquetas jamon, pintxo matrimonio, and the cheesecake (that i didn't get a pic of bc it was eaten so fast) are a must. bonus points for really good drinks and byredo soap in the bathroom read more

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Food is a little too salty, like the tripe and pork. But the pork is really tender and the sauce is amazing, just slightly too salty. Bread with the tripe is a little burnt and hard. Croqueta is pretty good. Iberico and chips is olay; meat is good, but for the chips, they are extra thin, and some are not that crispy. Flan is okay, drink is pretty good. Kinda expensive. We sit in the open kitchen area where the chefs cook, but you can't see much unless you sit at the kitchen bar. You can download the inkind app for $25 off $75. read more

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I was very excited to try one of the city's pre-eminent Basque restaurants, but have to say I was disappointed with their poor accommodations for vegetarians. I understand that this is a traditionally meat- and seafood-focused cuisine, but I will offer some low hanging fruit suggestions: - Perhaps a main dish version of the vegetarian tortilla? This was really the only delicious bite I was afforded all evening, but was just too small - The French fries I scraped from the side of the pork chop were not bad. Perhaps pair these with the otherwise uninteresting marinated artichoke dish? - A vegetarian version of the mushroom lasagna, but without the foie, or perhaps the same of the Bikini Hemingway? In the 21st century, sad cold uninteresting salads should no longer be vegetarians' sole recourse. read more

Ernesto’s - Tortilla and asparagus - Basque Near Me - New York, New York

This is a nice intimate space. Our server very great, he explained the menu in detail. His recommendations did not disappoint. I didn't take pictures of all the food because I was too busy savoring and enjoying the flavors. There were five of us at dinner. We ordered from the "para picar" "entradas" section of the menu. They brought out items that allowed all five of us to try each item. Not pictured, we also had Txistorra Sausage, Ensalada Igeldo, Fritos de Calamares and for dessert the Tarta de Queso. Everything was delicious. read more

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I've enjoyed Basque cuisine here in New York (Txikito) and interestingly Atlanta, but this is clearly the winner. Ernesto's is really special. The Bikini Hemingway was stuffed with fresh shrimp, a paprika-laden pork sausage, cheese on a crunchy bread triangle. These were great. I savored every bit. The bartender suggested a marvelous, light, mineral-forward wine that brought out subtle nuances and found spicy undertones in the food. We were off to a perfect start. For my entree, I had a variety of ways I could go, but the bartender/server mentioned that one of my options, the Blood Sausage, was made in house. It has been a long time since I've had great Blood Sausage. It can go sideways fast. That did not happen here. This was a meal I will remember for a long time. The sausage was perfect, the sepia (a type of cuttlefish) was sitting in a pool of broth with peas, fava and mint flavoring. Forgot the fork. Use a spoon to pull broth, legumes, sepia and sausage into a mouthful of some of the most heavenly flavors imaginable. I'll remember this dish for a long time. For dessert, I wanted some stability. The rice pudding was creamy, rich and a dish I hadn't enjoyed for years. The sprinkle of pistachio was a perfect topper. I tried to visit this place six months ago. It was packed at 5:00. I'm glad I made the effort to return. My enjoyment was the proof. read more

Really enjoyed Ernesto's! More spacious than expected. Staff sat us quickly, food came promptly Food was great! The Iberico ham and chips were my favorite Only setback was we wanted to try the ice cream but had to lose our table for it because the ice cream stand was outside. We did find a table in the adjacent park but it's not as pleasant as enjoying the ice cream inside. Delicious ice cream though, especially that basque cheesecake flavor - out of this world good! read more

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TLDR: great place, just keep in mind dishes are smaller so you should probably get a couple entrees per person! Came on a Friday night with a friend after seeing rave reviews of this place online! We ordered the Spanish G&T and some coconut cream and strawberry cocktail that was really good to start. For an appetizer we went with the gazpacho: the drinks and gazpacho were so delicious that I was super excited for the rest of the meal. For entrees we shared the duck and salted cod dishes. The duck was extremely tender and paired well with the potato purée. I don't know what I was expecting with the salted cod. It was exactly as described: a piece of fried cod with a pepper on top. It was cooked well but I think I would try something else next time. Overall, solid dinner and I can't wait to try something new next! read more

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WOW! Just WOW! From out of town so was so happy to try something different. Had four of us so just split a bunch and it was amazing. The restaurant is super cute and not tacky. A place you could go on a date, with family, friends, work, etc. We ordered the Gildas, Ensalada Mixta, Callos de Joan, Crudo de Vieras, Cochinillo Asado (suckling pig) all of it was amazing. Do not be intimidated by the names. I would ask the waiter for suggestions as they were super helpful. If I come to NYC again will be sure to make a visit. read more

True gem of LES. I love how it's tucked away from the rowdiness of the neighborhood. The classy modern decor makes it feel casual yet upscale. When I come here, it's always a culinary experience. Perfect place to share a few plates tapas style. They're vegetarian and pescatarian friendly. I felt like I had a lot of options to choose from. And also have non-alcoholic cocktails, which I appreciated! (Of course they have wine and alcoholic cocktails). My faves: Asparagus salad - the dressing should be bottled. Softness of white asparagus with textures of other vegetables is perfect. Light and tasty. Squid ink Calamari - wow so rich! So much seafood. The cheesiness brings it all together. Mushroom Macaroni - also cheesy goodness! And the mushrooms go so well with the pasta. Desserts - all three I had were magical. Delicious cheesecake. Flan is to die for. I've never had one that was so deeply caramelized..loved! And the sorbet is creamy soft and taste just like melon - fruit in an ice cream form. Servers were friendly and good at recommending dishes. It's a great spot! read more

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Went here May 2022. Cute cafe experience. A bit of salt from the many varieties of dishes with rich Spanish ham combined with the fruitiness of a Spanish wine made this a great evening. We got stuck in some of the richness of the dishes -- sausage on top of croquettes on top of duck -- but it was all tasty. Shame on us for not getting a salad. Servers buzzed around and were attentive and knowledgeable about the wines if you ask. read more

I really wish I could give half stars because this would've easily been 4.5. The only thing that pulls down the score a bit is that 2 of the dishes (the rabbit 3 ways and the cogollos de lechuga) were slightly lackluster but when this place does well, it does reeeeaallly well. Standouts: -Octopus on top of potato purée and pimenton. It was tender and delicious and I could sit with a vat of just the potato and be perfectly content. -croquetas de gallina: best croquettes I've ever had -blueberry cheesecake: not too sweet, rich or dense, just flavorful and moist and perfect Special shout-out to the service here. Our waitress was super helpful in picking dishes (and affirmed all our choices w/ enthusiasm), and the rest of the staff was attentive and friendly. They deserve a 5 all on their own. read more

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Chef Ryan Bartlow and his team are unquestionably committed to culinary excellence at their restaurant Ernesto's at 259 East Broadway. My wife Catherine and I flew into New York in the morning, enjoyed tea at The Te Company and dined at Ernesto that September 6th evening. We had no problem getting a table at 5:00 pm. We will forego with the accolades describing our dining experience because readers must come to savor in person Chef Ryan's authentic Basque Country dishes and appreciate the dedicated service from the outstanding restaurant staff, in particular, Ella, Robin and Robbie. Catherine and I felt we were long time friends with everyone at Ernesto's after just a few minutes. The food took the evening to the next level. Here was what we had: Pintxos! Pintxos matrimonial Croquetas de gallina Entradas! Callous de Joan Madrid style tripe Bikini Hemingway txistorra, queso, shrimp, pan de Cristal Tartaletas de Txangurro San Sebastián style crab tarts Platos Principales! Rape a la Parrilla grilled Rhode Island monkfish, pastas panaderas Carrillera de Buey red wine braised beef cheeks, pomme purée The wine pairings were perfection. Thank you Ella! One can imagine Hemingway walking through the doors of Ernesto's to his favorite table (the restaurant was named after him) to write a few more lines to a short story, and to greet Chef Ryan and enjoy his interpretation of Basque Country food, wine and culture. That is living life well. read more

Great, creative cocktails. The pork shoulder was a masterpiece, tender and succulent, rich and a delicious crispy pork skin crust. Also enjoyed the iberico ham with homemade chips and deliciously creamy croquettes. Warm service. Highly recommend. read more

Ernesto’s - Pork shoulder with crispy crust. - Basque Near Me - New York, New York

Great traditional Spanish food, very nice ambiance, ideal to grab a few bites and some wine or to have a full dinner

I came for a birthday dinner and the food was amazing. Our waiter was so funny, nice, and accommodating, and the manager, Robin, is such a sweetheart. Tonight could not have been more perfect! I'll recommend this place to all of my friends read more