A very solid Spanish restaurant with all the traditional flavors. I came with a few friends and ordered the croquetas de jamón (the bechamel was perfection, loved them), carne y pulpo à la gallega. The meat and the octopus were cooked so well, so tender and it all reminded me of being back home. The service was also outstanding, our server was super kind and very attentive. Definitely recommend to try it! read more

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I do believe the place is a lot different than when they did the 2018 renovations. The food is great and still maintains the high quality but the service sticks a$$. The front of house took a while and the wait staff was just ignoring us at one point of the evening. We did put in another order for the delicious croquettes but they never arrived. The sangria was water down so save your points for the nice bar across the street called Dahla. Overall the paella was delicious and chef's kiss as the seafood wasn't dried out and the rice was moist! I am very happy that tue quality of the paella didn't go down hill. Visit if you need to but I do miss the orange stucco walls because at least everything else was great! read more

La Nacional - Paella - black ink seafood - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

Hands down the BEST, most authentic paella I've had in NYC and immediately added to my top 10 of places I actually want to come back over and over because everything actually tastes like Spain. We made a reservation for Saturday afternoon, upon arrival we were sat immediately, and the adventure started. The place transported us to Spain, to a family restaurant where people go to actually enjoy food and connect with the people they are dining with, no influencers on site, no absurd waiting times, no exorbitant prices, only good food, and people actually enjoying themselves. 100/100. This place has been around for over a 100 years! Who would have thought! I woke up craving paella, which is not an unusual craving of mine, so we decided to give this place a try only to be amazed by their incredible food. We ordered the medium seafood paella, pulpo a la gallega and boquerones. Enough food for at least 3 people, although we were only two. For drinks we had Estrella Galicia, served cold on draft, and the sparkling sangria made with cava, this was the most refreshing perfectly balanced sparkling sangria one could have. We also tried the churros with chocolate sauce and enjoyed them for the final touch to our meal. The atmosphere of the place is very nice, this is the kind of place where I can picture myself celebrating a birthday, gathering with friends or simply bringing my family. The bar is gorgeous and they have a beautiful outdoor terrace to enjoy aperitivo during summer days, I cannot wait for the weather to improve to book a table outside. Price point in my opinion is fair, drinks are delicious, food is generous, service is attentive and the overall experience was great. I'll be coming back. read more

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Came here for some drinks and a light snack. The sangrias were really tasty and the espresso martini was amazing. Prices are also so reasonable. We also got the potatoes and croquettes - both were tasty but nothing amazing. There were so many things I would like to try next time I come back! read more

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Love how I felt I was in Spain. Staff was incredible. And the food on point!!!!! The croquettas...yum!!! The boquerones...ugh. So damn good. I am definitely coming back. read more

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The vibe was excellent, but otherwise La Nacional was disappointing. The food was fine, but better Spanish tapas can be found at other places. The cocktails were good but the wine list was extremely disappointing with none of the amazing Spanish wines on the list. The service was merely adequate. read more

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Authentic Spanish, reasonable price. Sangria is awesome. Weekends they have Torrijas for brunch and it's 10/10. Best croquetas in nyc as well. read more

Came back for more paella! Croquette was good as usual. The potato thing was delicious, especially with the aioli sauce. I could not have enough of it!! Also tried getting their drinks and they are not only fairly priced (13!! So hard to find in nyc now), but also delicious. Bartender was very happy to customize my drink :) read more

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I came on a weekend afternoon for lunch with a few friends. It was pretty empty and they also had a bunch menu but we opted for their regular menu. We ordered the patatas bravas which looked simple but tasted delicious. The squid ink seafood paella was also delicious and a generous portion. Food and drinks came out pretty quickly! I would probably opt for a pitcher of sangria next time but they also had bottomless drinks for $20. read more

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One of the more authentic Spanish restaurants I've ever eaten at. There were 3 of us, (1 of which who has been to Spain a few times), and we shared everything. Everything was really good--mixed seafood paella, patatas bravas, pan tumaca and their refreshing drinks! We had a seat up at the bar (I think they referred to it as the chefs table), right in front of where they cook your food too! Pretty standard NYC prices too Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

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Wonderful food,atmosphere, and service. We have now been there at least a half dozen times and it never disappoints. Our go to for Spanish cuisine read more

We found ourselves in NYC on a Saturday night with a sudden desire for Spanish food, paella more specifically. I found this place recommended online and we decided to give it a shot. We could only find a late reservation but they were able to seat us early. We immediately put an order in for their Negras - their spuid ink seafood paella, and also ordered the empanadas and mushroom croquettes as appetizers. EVERYTHING we had food wise was amazing!! The red sangria was a bit of a miss, but this is a fantasticz low key spot that we would've walked right by if we hadn't known it was there (we almost did even still), given it's a garden level restaurant. Highly recommend for the quality of food and service. read more

La Nacional - Negra Seafood Paella - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

The paella was the best I've had (granted I haven't had paella in a while). The tomato toast bread thing was so refreshing, the bread just the right crunch and softness. The shrimp was sizzling and garlicky, just the way I like it. We also got some extra toast to dip in the shrimp oil. The paella we got had so much seafood, super generous amounts and we left very full. read more

I really liked La National. It's been on my list for some time and we happened to pass by so we went in and got seated on a Friday night without a reservation. Which was nice since it was pretty crowded. We chose to sit at the bar which I always like. We ordered drinks from the bartender. Just a glass of wine for me and soda for hubby. A server came to us for our food order. We LOVED the pan con tomate. Best I've ever had. The gambas ajillo were very good. Came in a small hot skillet. I had the meat and cheese plate for my main. It had a nice selection of chorizo, Iberico ham and salami. Along with manchego cheese, almonds and quince (?) paste. Really good bread on the side. Hubby had the chicken with garlic and roasted potatoes. Delicious. Too full for dessert or coffee. Service e was sweet all around especially bartender who gave us tastes of espresso martini. Would definitely return!!! read more

La Nacional - Gambas al Ajillo - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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My fiancé and I came here for dinner with two friends. We made a reservation for a Saturday a week in advance via OpenTable and lots of spots were still available at the time. They have a very nice open seating area outside of the restaurant that has pretty lights and looks very green which is perfect for a nice summer night. We sat inside and it equally nice, with a rustic and classic tavern feel to it. Our waitress came by to get our order for drinks and we were shocked at how reasonably priced the alcohol was. I got a glass of white wine, my fiancé got a glass of cava, and our friends each got a cocktail, no drink being more expensive than $15 which is very good for NYC. We then put our order in for food. Our table had generous space for all our plates (which is always appreciated for tapas and not always the case). The food my fiancé and I tried: - croquetas: the table ordered croquetas de jamón. The order came with 6 of them as well as a side of aioli. I did not try these but my fiancé thought they could have been a little crispier on the outside. However, he said the filling was good and that the aioli provided a nice pairing to balance out the umami flavors. Very good for sharing! - patatas bravas: generous portion of patatas which are incredibly addictive so I'd still recommend getting one order per person (you will end up wanting to eat at least half). The potatoes had a crispy outside, and a moist and smooth inside. The aioli and brava sauce balance was perfect, bringing intermittent punches of heat but then smoothed over by the creamy aioli. These are definitely a little spicy but in my opinion it was the right amount. Would order again! - gambas al ajillo: we also got two orders of this since we figured one portion for 4 of us would be a little small. These came in a sizzling pan with the delicious olive oil and chunks of tender garlic. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. They gave us bread on the side to soak up all the oily, garlicky goodness. The aroma was divine! Reasonably priced. - citrus seafood salad: this was a special on the menu for a lighter summer fare. The salad came cold, came with marinaded scallops and shrimp that had a citrus and tangy punch. The salad was bright, refreshing, had very nice pickled elements, as well as sweet nuttiness from toasted cashews. I thought this was very good and reminded me of a ceviche. My only comment is that I wish it had come with a little more seafood but overall very good. - arroz negro con pulpo: this also comes out in a sizzling pan, beautifully plated with two chunky tentacles. The rice was rich, had a deep sea flavor without being too fishy, and had the perfect texture. The octopus was definitely overcooked and chewy but the flavor was pretty good. I am a big fan of arroz negro and thought this was pretty good overall. - churros: delicious! Hands down some of the best churros I have had in the US. These were airy and light without being dry... they also had the perfectly crispy crust without being oily at all. I appreciated how the dough was like those of churros in Spain and have an almost savory flavor (something a lot of places in the US get wrong). The chocolate they came with was rich and chocolatey with just the right amount of sweetness to contrast with the savory dough without overpowering their flavor. There was some vanilla ice cream at the bottom which had hints of cardamom and added a nice cooling surprise at the end of the chocolate. Really enjoyed these a lot and would come back just for them. Overall, I thought La Nacional was a fantastic spot. Even though some of the dishes were definitely not the best I have had, the prices were pretty unbeatable and the ambiance was lovely. The overall quality of the food was higher than I anticipated and I left very full and satisfied. Highly recommend for tapas with friends or a date! read more

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So cute inside & nicely decorated for Valentine's Day. There's a lot of history to the building, which you will see integrated in the decor & menu. Between the two of us, we shared paella and tortilla de patatas which were both great. We definitely didn't feel rushed and it was nice to have leisurely meal. read more

Don't be fooled into thinking this place approaches anything near a quality experience for Spanish food. I would chalk our experience up to something akin to finding a "Spanish themed" food option at an airport. Service was "fine" although it took most of our meal for a beer and a glass of sangria to arrive. Otherwise everything was ordinary and completely uninspired. The ambiance felt commercial, fake and left us feeling like we had wasted our time. read more

They were so sweet! The lady who worked at the bar gave us amazing recommendations and we loved all of them! read more

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#nycfoodies #paella #manhattan #nyc #unionsquare Today's weather was quite bad but it could not stop us to taste this delicious squid ink seafood paella at an amazing restaurant. Check out this when you are near the union square. read more

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Food is always wonderful here. We had the paella. Hes of spanish descent so always interested in trying something spanish and this is the real deal. Small, intimate setting. Was nice to be able to relax after first few days at a new job w a glass of rioja on a rainy evening. Will definitely be back! read more

Overall rating: 4.6 Price: $14.15 w/ happy hour pricing (excl tip) I went here a few years ago on a date and really loved the croquettes. I remember the polenta was just okay, but I wasn't raving about it. What I loved were the croquettes that made me come back for more. Through out the years, the quality has decreased a tad but it's still a favorite for a happy hour. I just learned recently that they have HH until 7pm and I was able to get a great deal! I got the mix but I think I liked the mushroom slightly more. The dip is sooo good and I definitely want to re-make at home. I also got the happy hour red sangria. It tasted like juice. Wish it had more oomph to it. Not sure if I'd get it again. I sat at the bar and the bartender was only able to give me a drink. I had to wait for a waitress to put in a food order. It was a different experience. It seems like a very local spot & definitely local owned. I recommend giving it a try but better off with a group of friends to sample versus going solo. read more

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"Muy auténtico" It's doesn't get any more real than Madrid here! This is an institution, literally, a restaurant of the Centro Español- Spanish Benevolent Society, which traces its history to 1868. While casual, this place offers a great food and a welcoming setting. What's to cheer - Classic tapas - Well prepared, fresh and tasty food - Neighborhoody, community atmosphere - nice wines - Wonderful paellas - Reasonable prices - great happy hour deals What's to jeer - Sometimes the customers can get quite boisterous - Very simple decor read more

Maybe next time I'll order the seafood paella just for myself since I was still hungry after this tapas meal. The food is very photogenic, but you really have to zoom in and add some light. We were seated in the back in a room that seemed like it was for parties. I could've passed by this restaurant a million times, but this time I actually went in after my friend did some research and saw this bright red restaurant. For appetizers, we had the octopus and sardines. The sardines with micro olives were alright. Probably wouldn't order them again since they are so small, but it was ok since you could dip your bread in the oil. The grilled octopus was actually really good. Not too rubbery and had some cheesy potato thing under it which was a good pairing. The seafood paella had a lot of seafood on it, but the rice was actually very shallow. Maybe you can order extra rice on the side if you are still hungry?!?! For dessert, we had churros. Probably better than Disneyland since they give you some crazy chocolate dipping sauce that even has ice cream at the bottom. I could probably drink it all by itself. The proportions are totally off, so you have a lot of sauce leftover, forcing us to drink it anyway. read more

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Made a reservation for five for 7pm, we got there late and they were really cool about it despite us adding an additional seat. They accommodated us nicely and didn't make a big deal. I appreciated that. The server was nice and informative about the paella and the history of the restaurant. The food is overall delicious, I recommend the paella marisco, the shrimp and calamari are so good. The sangria was also pleasant but in my opinion a little too much ice/water. My fav dessert is the chocolate lava cake with the vanilla ice cream, so delicious! Too small though. If you do try any small plate then go for the pan tomaca with ham! I've had it with and without, but the ham is an extra $5. Overall, I came here twice and left bloated twice. Super filling! read more

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I was craving tapas after work one day and I'm super happy we ran into this spot! I've never been to Spain before but it felt like I was being transported to a restaurant in Barcelona~ the octopus was so tender and the croquettes were the perfect crunchy to creamy. The tomatoes were nice and fresh and all around the meal was so delicious! Vibes inside were cute as well, not too loud not too quiet, overall a great time! And the service was great! read more

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This has become one of my new favorite restaurants. It has a friendly and homey atmosphere, and the restaurant has special origins to La Nacional society. They tell you more about the history and background of the restaurant when you arrive which I loved. We got the Negara paella which had squid ink, shrimp, and mussels. It was so good. The seafood was fresh and not sandy, the rice was cooked perfectly with a lot of flavor, and it came with a generous portion of seafood. We also got the patatas bravas which were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and the sauce paired so well. We shared this between two people and we ended up with some leftovers from the paella. The staff was really friendly. We did have to wait a bit for our food to come out, but it was well worth the wait! And the price is very reasonable in comparison to other paella restaurants in the city. read more

La Nacional - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a cool vibe here. The layout so classy, sleek, and modern. Empanadas - Pretty good by themselves, I didn't care much for the sauce. Arroz de Lobster - Delicious! I enjoyed this rice more than the one in the paella. Marisco Paella - Huge and enjoyable. The seafood was cooked so well, especially the shrimp. Churros con Chocolate - My new favorite churros in the city. They were thick, crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The chocolate sauce was amazing. It was like a chocolate mousse pudding with cool vanilla cream at the bottom. We scooped it clean. read more

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This was the best Spanish meal i had outside of Spain!!!! Everything was perfect and we enjoyed it very much :) read more

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Great food fast service. The price is very reasonable especially in Chelsea. The staff are very friendly

Decently priced tapas spot in West Village. The seafood is strongly flavored and I liked their lobster dish- though there wasn't as much meat as I'd have liked. I really liked their croquettes which had a strong mushroom flavor and were nice and crisp on the outside and soft in the inside. It also came with a creamy sauce that paired well with the crisp exterior. The shrimps were also tasty but a bit salty. Service was moderate, with us having to ask for refills of water multiple times (and then only filling the glass of the person who asked even when other glasses were empty). read more

La Nacional - lobster - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious paella, patatas bravas, grapefruit salad and deconstructed lime pie - the homemade blueberry ice cream was perfect - not too sweet and perfect with mint. Eclectic interiors and cozy. The history of the place as a refuge for Spanish immigrants was fascinating to learn about too. read more

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I loved this place! The wines were on point and I loved being able to speak either English or Spanish at the bar. The bartender was attentive and warm. Will definitely return! I don't love the big art piece they should hire a muralist or something! read more

Great location close to train station. Service was good, albiet a bit slower since we had a large party (totally not their fault). Ambiance is dark, but warm and great for first dates, to birthday celebrations. Get the patatas bravas, you won't regret it! read more

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This place is great. I read that the Spanish government partially funded the restaurant so it must be very authentic. The food was very good. I loved every dish we ordered and would love to try more. Paella was super delicious in particular. Service was decent too. I didn't like the indoor dining space. It was very smoky. Also we had a reservation for 3 but the restaurant tried to squeeze us to a two-person table. The table was barely enough for three people's utensils. They really should change those tables. Overall it's a good spot for Spanish food. Highly recommend it. read more

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La Nacional provides dependable quality that creates regulars. The team displays sincere friendliness. As for the food: Interesting flavor combinations. A Yelp recommendation led me to this nice spot. I wish them many years of business. read more

We came to La Nacional for a dinner on a Thursday evening. The spot was packed and there was definitely a homey vibe. The menu featured tapas and paellas. We ordered the cold cuts, potatoes, calamari, a pitcher of white sangria, and a medium seafood paella. I thought the seafood paella was lacking flavor but everything else was super yummy. The food also came out super quickly which was great. read more

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Delicious tapas and sangria here! Definitely recommend the mushroom croquettes- those were my favorite. read more

La Nacional - white sangria - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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I love Spanish tapas so I was excited to try this place because of the amazing reviews but left disappointed. The below is what we ordered for 3 people. Nomz: Started of with a couple of appetizers before having a paella. Gambas al ajillo: The shrimp were big so the dish needed more oil to cover them properly, didn't have much oil to dip the bread in. Pan tomaca and jamón: My favorite tapa, delicious flavor and generous portion of jamón. Pulpo a la plancha: Not a huge octopus fan but my friends who ordered it were pretty underwhelmed. Paella mixta (small): Unfortunately the paella was dry, the layer of rice was on the thinner side so therefore more crunchiness overall, which I would say isn't typical and not my preference. Flan: Not very flavorful or too sweet. Drinks: Had a pitcher of red sangria, it was good. Service: Super nice hostess and waitstaff, properly checked on us and made sure we had everything we needed. Ambiance: Cool place, top floor has a performance like stage by the restrooms and high ceilings. Nope or Dope: Nope, the service was phenomenal but the meal wasn't something I would come back for. read more

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Good vibes, delicious food. Came with my parents. Will definitely be coming back. Got two orders of the potatoes, calamari, shrimp, chorizo and sangria and the potatoes were the best. Also very reasonable 28$ sangria pitcher ! read more

La Nacional - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Fantastic happy hour! The pan de tumaca was my fav, as well as the Tinto de Verano drink