I would like to come again and again to try all the food here. The paella tastes great and special. Highly recommend the popcorn octopus read more

Salinas - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

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Horrid experience. I would consider giving them less if possible. Hostess is extremely rude and calls me a liar to try to cover herself in front of manager. Never see a hostess argue with the customer in such a fashion. She was amazingly childish. The customer service is a definite zero. To top off the hostess, there was a hair in my food. I definitely don't understand its 4 star rating. Can't recommend this restaurant to any one. read more

Came here for the second time. Really like the ambiance here, intimate and delicate. My favorite dish is of course the paella... though the portion here is smaller compared to other paella places, but the taste is more special and savory. Definitely worth the try. The dry cured meat and cheese is amazing here!! Spain is famous for ham, and Salinas definitely offers the best of the best with no doubt. read more

The food here is out of this world. Out. of. this. world. Drinks: the cinnamon tequila drink is the best kind of surprise. Get: The charcuterie plate, the octopus, the pork belly, the brussel sprouts, the artichoke. Dessert: I've never had bread pudding that made me want to cry before. I've never had bread pudding that I preferred to chocolates and pistachios--another excellent dessert. What makes the food so good is its power; each dish has cohesion in flavors and delicacy in execution. The pork belly and octopus especially are flooded with umami. Just incredible food. read more

The place is beautiful,my girlfriend likes there. The food,for me not any special! The service,not bad! But they almost don't wait our appetizer finish,then the main dish came! This point I don't like. And also didn't pour us wine And the wine glass is not glasses! The price,be conclusion,not worth it! read more

Had a great meal here . Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Bar tender was very Nice and made interesting drinks. Wine list is good but small. We had braised short rib and branzino both were awesome! Great mashed potatoes and for appetizer octopus and artichoke appetizers. Artichoke was excellent it was served with a truffle vinaigrette, octopus was the only dish that wasn't amazing. It was crusted with popcorn it was cooked well but lacked flavor, all in all the excellent meal read more

I had passed by this restaurant many times before and never paid it much attention but don't judge a book by its cover. This place is extremely deceptive. I mean it is.....SO SO SO GOOD! To start off I have to talk about the decor. It was fantastic! Lux blue velvet couches, amazing lighting, and the most spectacular flowers I have ever seen. The front room is a perfect spot to sit and have a drink by the bar, maybe a couple of bites. A great date spot! When we walked into the back I was shocked at how big the place actually is with another indoor dining room that is quite large but still feels cozy and intimate. There is a gorgeous outdoor patio that is ideal during the warmer weather. The food at Salinas was just as good if not better than the incredible ambiance. To drink they offer comprehensive assortment of Spanish Wines, Beers, Sangrias, and Spirits. I split a liter of the Tinto Seco sangria, and loved it, not too sweet. Because Salinas is a Tapas place we took suggestions from the waiter about how many dishes and what he recommended. I throughly enjoyed every dish that was brought out even if I didn't know what half of them were! Highlights for me were the octopus, pancetta con castanas, ventresca, and the pollo al carbon. Needless to say I will definitely be back, and next time I will take pictures! read more

Hmm. I'm surprised this place wasn't rated higher, but then again, with only 38 reviews, it's got a way to go. It is a new restaurant (debuted in 2011), but given as such, it's already got quite a buzz from the restaurant world. Michelin reviews, one of Esquire Magazine's "Top New in 2011", NYT Critic reviewed...yet Yelp hasn't quite caught on yet. Well, I guess I can help there! Fiance and I were looking for a place to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We cabbed it down to Meatpacking, looking for somewhere offering both romantic atmosphere and a quality meal. I had my sights set on Buddakan - but I didn't realize how trendy it really was until we walked in and it felt more like a night club than a restaurant. The wait was only 15 minutes, but we decided to save that for another night with a larger group of friends and a party attitude. We waltzed around for awhile more, reading menus, peering in windows and finally, tired of searching and tummies starting to grumble, we stopped in front of Salinas. It has an alluring front - with cast iron caging preventing the all-too-familiar window-peer and menu-scan. It kind of draws you in through sheer curiosity. We walked into the dark, sexy entry way and inquired with the hostess (and her uber-gay sidekick) "What do you have available for dinner for two?" and were answered, by uber-gay sidekick, "Why a FABULOUS table, of course!" Haha. I mean, how can you turn that down? I was honestly so taken aback by that answer that as I was trying to process it, our fabulous new friend said, "Now let's get those jackets off!" and proceeded to begin unclothing me. This is all before we were ever told an estimated wait time or even saw a menu, mind you. I turned around to my fiance with a kind of "Well I guess we're going here" puzzled look on my face and we followed the hostess past an enticing front lounge and bar area to the back, more open dining area. The restaurant is certainly sexy, it's got character and it could be billed under "trendy" without a doubt. The crowd was a good mix though; young, old, couples, large groups. The lighting, provided mainly by candles and orgasmic-smelling gardenia oil lamps cast a warm glow on the unique decor - rustic European-inspired artifacts and books made it feel as though we were relaxing in an old Spanish study. The music - a mixture of trance-techno - didn't quite feel right though. It was kind of eclectic for the rest of the experience, but I also can't really think of what would have feel right. Jazz wouldn't be "cool enough". Something with words attached would be too much combined with the already overwhelming atmosphere. So I guess it worked, it just wasn't "my kind" of music. Onto the waitstaff - our waiter, Bryant, was great. Although a little awkward, he was knowledgeable of the menu, willing to make suggestions and all around friendly. He was a little eclectic himself, but then again, I guess we are downtown. Pricing was a little on the high end. Fiance and I agreed that everything should have cost about 30% less than it did (two drinks each, two entrees and one shared desert totaled $150 after tax and tip....). Bring the credit card. Warning for any beer drinkers - they do NOT have a very large selection (or quality) of brews to choose from. Nothing on draft for one. And as for your options, you're limited to maybe five beers. Not really good for the fiance, but he made due. As for cocktails - there was a menu with six or seven selections, which all seemed delectable by the way. If they weren't $15 a pop (no, I'm not kidding) I would have tried them all. And I could have - because there was seriously barely any alcohol in those drinks. They certainly aren't charging you for the alcohol in those. Tasted good, but might as well have been alcohol-free in my opinion. As for the food - wow! This place is a tapas-style restaurant, but seeing as we were both starving, neither of us felt in the mood to pick at shared dishes until we were full. They also offer entrees, so we went right in for the kill. We were completely impressed with both of our meals. Well prepared, cleanly presented and amazingly tasty. Wow, wow, wow. I got a roasted chicken and fiance got some sort of chicken over noodles dish. My roast chicken was delightful - juicy, robust, flavorful. His noodle dish was good as well, although I can tell he would have been happier with my chicken. We finished the evening off with a shared desert, it was a special that night (not on the menu) and it was wonderful. A fruit cake on top of dulce de leche sauce and topped with a side of vanilla gelato. We devoured it and enjoyed every last bite. I really enjoyed my experience dining here, and would certainly suggest. It could be a good place to bring a date, a group of friends, or even a large group for some sort of function. The ambiance and food should not disappoint, although the beer list and pricing may leave a bitter taste in your mouth. read more

Salinas is a mecca for traditional Basque and Catalan fare. When entering into the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the dimly lit cavernous feeling of the place-- it was romantic and intimate but also super trendy. Dimpled velvet couches were as comfortable as they were attractive. Tapas and cocktails were definitely the highlight of the meal. I had the hido en sidecar and my date had the new amsterdam. Both were strong and very good. The tapas were also quite delicious-- especially the grilled country bread, tomato and boquerones, and the bacon wrapped quail with mushrooms and shallots. The entrees were a bit less impressive-- We split the suckling pig and rosejat rapida. Despite rave reviews of the "fideo" (spanish style pasta), I was certainly partial to the former. Service was IMPECCABLE. Chef Bollo even made an appearance to give us a rundown of the menu. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Came here for my anniversary dinner with my lady. It is definitely a nice and intimate spot. Lots of exposed white brick and roses everywhere with dark wooden floors throughout and a nice open skylight roof overlooking the moon. The service is great and the waiter was very attentive, it seems like a waiter is assigned to each table because our waiter was only seen with us. We started with a glass of white and red wine and then transitioned to red sangria which was super delicious ..we each had 2 glasses and would def recommend it. We ordered a few tapas to start the night with the Plato Charcutero which was delicious from the fig compote to the cheeses to the meats. We also got the patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with spicy mayo sauce) which was really good and i would have ordered another 3 orders if my girl didn't stop me. For the entree we ordered the Nuestra Paella for two .. it was delicious and we got the rice a little toasty on the bottom (socarat). The paella was really good filled with lots of seafood (scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels) and chicken. It had the right amount of flavor with saffron. We didnt do dessert but the menu looked just as delicious. We will def come back and maybe even do a private event in the backroom in the future. read more

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5 stars for service. 5 stars for decor. 4-4.5 stars for food, but 5 stars for the Suckling PIg. A hidden gem. "Woah, so sexy"...I was definitely impressed by the decor. Madmen-style gentlemen's lounge kinda feel. Dark wood, darn brown leather furniture, a fireplace in the back room whose ceiling can retract in warmer weather- would love to see that. Gosh, I wish I was meeting a hot date in a sexy dress (me in the dress) n and not my old roommate in gym clothes for dinner instead. Wonderful company, nonetheless! From start to finish, everyone was simply wonderful. Our server, Meredith, not only knew her stuff, but has such a passion for the food as she gave us a run-through of the menu. Usually I'm half paying attention, but she had me leaning forward and drooling. The food- all delicious and recommended: Tostas de Boqueron (anchovy n avocado toast). Fois gras tapas special. Fig n proscuitto croquette. Entrees: House cured cod fish: tasty, but could be a lil more moist. Porcella: suckling pig. Excellent. Tender and juicy meat, crispy skin. Wine was great. Skipped dessert since we were too full. read more

This place was a good alternative after being informed of the 1.5 hour wait at Soccorat an avenue away. The decor is gorgeous - they have a misleadingly intimate nook in the front of the restaurant for patrons who just want to grab a cocktail. The dining area in the back is actually very spacious however, and they have ample room to accommodate large parties. We ordered: -Coles Y Coliflor, the brussel sprout / cauliflower mix -Brandada Y Hongos, the cod fish toast points -Gambas Al Ajillo, shrimp in garlic -Pancetta Con Calabaza, pork belly with squash -Rossejat Rapida fideo, "Spanish pasta" So I really only thought the cod fish on toast was truly memorable. The Gambas Al Ajillo were probably the most pedestrian I've ever had, and were even bested by the version we made in my Beginner's Spanish class in high school. The fideo, which is a "Spanish pasta" was really a glorified Lo Mein, a bad choice. Order it for stomach-satiety purposes only - the tapas dishes are small even in the full universe of tapas restaurants, so you will appreciate having a filling, albeit lackluster, carb at the table. What really lifted this place up were the desserts however. We split the Flan and the Membrillo Con Arroz Con Leche. The latter was very original and bolstered by the tartness of passionfruit against the cinnamon creaminess of the rice pudding. Overall ambiance saves this place. Otherwise it's just a series of well-plated, ordinary dishes that will leave you puzzling how your bill came out so high. read more

Went to Salinas again... It was bit of a let down :(. Wanted to experience the great service and food that I once experienced before. Unfortunately, this around wasn't a good experience. We ordered 5 dishes and could only say 2 were acceptable and 1 was good. Overall, the food was cold and bland. Pasta dish was underwhelming and not consistent. The service was fair at best. On a number of occasions I had to pour the pitcher of Sangria myself while the waiter was looking at me. To make it worse it was not that busy at all. Argh! what a downer. Sorry Salinas have to knock 2 stars! If I am gonna spend my hard earned money; I expect better service and food to match the price. Disappointed this time around. read more

I came here with my boyfriend for our anniversary dinner, a fitting occasion for such a romantic place! With the flowers, dim lighting, and courtyard seating, I wasn't sure who I loved more, Salina's or my boyfriend. I made reservations a week early, and put down a deposit so that I would be seated in the "garden room" (that's the courtyard area and I highly recommend it!). The day before, I got a call that there was a party in this section so they pushed back my reservation. When I arrived, we still had to wait, so we sat at the bart to wait. The front area is very small but still cozy. I had a white wine sangria which was above average (sweet but strong). They have a rose sangria option which is unique. Right when you walk towards the back you can smell the scent of roses. (BTW if you take a rose its $15 because the restaurant flies them in from Ecuador weekly.) The garden room is beautiful. We were the first ones to be seated and every party that came in after us were in awe. There is a fireplace, retractable roof, velvet seating wrapped around the perimeter, and shelves of wine on the wall. Seating is tight though, felt very close to the parties sitting next to me but thankfully they were friendly. The service was okay. The food came out slowly even though there were a lot of waiters working. We didn't really seem to mind since the atmosphere was so beautiful and the chef sent out some complimentary gazpacho and croquettes which definitely made up for the slow service. My favorites were the popcorn octopus (definitely called something more elegantly on the menu) and sea bass. I also got to the risotto (too salty for my taste). All in all, this was the perfect place to go to for a romantic dinner. As one guy said walking in with his significant other "oh man I gotta propose tonight!" read more

It was a random choice on a cold cold night. my friends have been here before. From outside it doesn't look so fancy. They have a big space in the back with beautiful rose flowers. I guess that's their theme. We got few cocoktails, they were all delicious, good tapas. This is definitely a date place or small groups. I enjoyed the food (small portion)n and cocktails. Apparently the rose are imported from south america, and you are not allow to take any. 15$ per rose. Need an idea for valentine? this is your place to impress your date ! read more

Delicious food, great service, amazing atmosphere. It was truly a beautiful experience. Foods to try? Suckling pig and the Popcorn crusted baby octopus. :) read more

Salinas - Patatas bravas (super yummy potatoes) & suckling pig. - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York

Food was great - decent servings, fresh food :) Service was normal - nothing super special, but our guy was pleasant and well spoken. Decor is amazing. Back room is nice. They've got nice booths which is great for small groups. Wine was delicious. Will be back for sure. read more

This is the most romantic restaurant I've ever been in with dim lights, candles and fresh flowers throughout the restaurant. We sat at a booth where the seating was U-shaped so you can be sitting comfortably next to your partner. The wait staff was top notched. The food was tasty and very elegantly plated. Unfortunately, I wasn't that hungry so many of the dishes we ordered I did not try myself but my partner did and thought it was wonderful. read more

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This is my new favorite place to eat and this is my first 5 star rating. We made reservations for an early dinner at 6:30, showed up before then and were seated immediately. Glad we did because it filled in very quickly. As others have stated, the ambience and decor are very cozy and romantic. There were so many large floral arrangements filled with roses that the whole room smelled of roses! Having traveled to Spain on many occasions and tasting the different cuisines of its various regions, this menu brought back good memories. They have a real Iberian cured ham discretely hanging in a window so you could see from the dining room if you looked for it! On to the food. We ordered the squid ink croquettes that were served over a sliver of creamy goat cheese sauce. Highly recommend this dish!! They looked like truffles and were served within 10 min of ordering. Then the fried garbanzo beans flavored with smoked paprika and mint. Yum! As we were indulging in the last of the croquettes, our artichokes with beets, pine nuts and capers arrived. Perfection! Then our pulpos (grilled octopus) with garlic roasted fingerling potatoes came. The octopus was actually chewier than expected, we had some thick tentacles, but it was still good. Our last small plate was a rabbit pasta dish with seared scallop. Very flavorful but a tad salty for me. However, I am sensitive to salty food, so this probably wouldn't taste salty to most. No stars knocked for the octopus and pasta as they were still enjoyable. Although our server said the entree would require 30-45 min to prepare, our tapas came quickly and perfectly timed, we didn't even notice a wait for the entree. We selected the suckling pig entree to share and it came with a salad. This was a very large serving, easily shared by two or more if you are ordering more tapas. The skin was perfectly crisp, meat so tender it literally melts in your mouth. Salad was the perfect compliment to counter the saltiness of the pig. Lastly, the service was wonderful. Everyone was attentive, paid attention to detail and were all very knowledgable about the food. We had a relaxing dinner in a restaurant that has an intimate yet energetic atmosphere. Will be back again! read more

From the scent of fresh lillies and roses that permeated the air from the moment we entered, to the incredible candle light placement throughout the restaurant, to the background music, this must be one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC. :) (And yes, I've been to quite a lot.) My new, absolute favorite. The food is delicious - my go-to menu: braised lamb with rice cake, baked goat cheese, popcorn-crusted octopus. I've been here four times by now and had that braised lamb with rice cake every single time (ok, I'll admit - the first time we actually ordered it twice, we loved it so much!). That said, the desserts are somewhat disappointing, compared to the amazing quality of the appetizers/main courses. During my last visit, I discovered the flowers are delivered weekly from Ecuador. Wow. The smell is just spectacular. :) read more

My sister and I had dinner here in the middle of a blizzard, hoping to get a good meal and avoid the drunken Santas still reeling about from SantaCon. Success on both counts! The ambiance is amazing...you walk down a tiny hall into a room filled with candles and roses, with a fireplace at the far end. The noise level was surprisingly low for a restaurant in NY. This would be a great intimate restaurant to take a date you are trying to impress or to celebrate a special occasion. We had the Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cheese plate, foie gras, and country bread with tomatoes. I would skip the cheese plate next time - it was fine but nothing special. Everything else was very good. We also ordered the patatas bravas, but the restaurant was out of fingerling potatoes. However, our nice waiter ended up having the kitchen prepare the dish with another type of potato to give us an idea of the taste, which was complimentary. That turned out to be one of our favorite dishes, so I would definitely order it next time. Service (from the coat check girl to the wait staff) was friendly and professional. Will definitely go back! read more

I came here for my birthday in December with my family and boyfriend. The decor and ambiance of this place are beautiful, which was what had drawn me to it in the first place. We were seated and ordered the sangria, paella for 4, and a chicken dish. The paella was absolutely delicious (i'm a huge paella lover), and was dished out by one of our many waiters we had that night. The service was great and I would definitely say I will be back to this place! read more

Love the ambience and setting the food was average pricey spanish food But the price tag was for the experience so overall good spot for dates read more

Being from Marseille, France, aside the Mediterranean Sea and Spain, I can tell that I'm very very impressed by this restaurant. The ambiance and the decoration is very nice. The service is Perfect and Excellent, with a lot of attention to the customer. The jambon de iberico was amazing the first time we went there, the 5J was cut in the restaurant. The Paella is just WOW, same as the one from my grand mother, it's rare. My favorite Spanish place so far. A good romantic place also. read more

We love it here. We just moved to the neighborhood and we've been back with friends, for a date night, and at the bar. Fantastic spanish food and service. Excellent! read more

The open roof in the back is very nice to dine under and the ambiance is great. Good first impression. We began with drinks.The bottles of wine we ordered - one a sparkling white and the second a Spanish wine (blend) were both very nice. Unfortunately, one diner was excited for the El Matador and did not like it at all. It went unfinished. We ordered a huge variety of things. Here's what I would recommend: -Patatas bravas - Cubed like I've never seen but love the spicy creamy sauce! Order one for 2 people, double if you have more diners. -Pulpo aq la plancha - the grilled octopus was very good - meaty and tasty -Salteado - sauteed greens salad - Montadito - Lamb meatballs. The manchego cheese was just that. The pimientes del padron were ok. The toastas de boqueron were good (if you like anchovy). The suckling pig (porcella) was good. The skin was crispy and enhanced each bite. Was it worth $44? Probably not. Do not order the ceviche. I took one bite and didn't want anymore. The service was ok. Waited a while for our wine glasses to be re-filled but they came around for water and brought out plates spaced apart. Seating is quite tight as is the space between tables. I understand maximizing space to seat patrons but our table was squeezed (me and three slender gentlemen) and walking out I was worried my purse would knock someone on the head. Overall, few hits, lots of ok, a miss. For the price, I'll probably go elsewhere but best of luck to you. read more

This is a very nice restaurant serving some delicious tapas. I would have liked to given it a higher rating, but its ambitious pricing cost it a star. The space itself is quite lovely, with a smallish and comfortable bar up front that even has a soothing waterfall fountain. Then you go through a narrow corridor to a series of two rooms, the first a bit dark but looks cozy enough, and then a back room under a translucent skylight ceiling, where we were seated in a lovely corner banquette on the back wall next to a stone fireplace. Our server was warm and gracious, and made some terrific menu suggestions. I was in the mood for tapas, my companion wanted a meal. She was able to accommodate us both. We started with an order of the pan con tomate, toasted bread spread with fresh finely chopped tomato and garlic. It was much more substantial than what you normally find in Spain (where they kind of just run the tomato and garlic on the bread instead of piling it on), but hey, it's a big world and it has room for both versions! I then had a creamy golden gazpacho that was simply outstanding. Other tapas included a crisp, puffy bread sprinkled with thyme, honey and salty mahon cheese, which, while tasty, was kind of difficult to eat (crumbly and sticky and a bit greasy). The salted, roasted piquillo peppers were delicious. The grilled octopus sadly did not live up to the accolades of my fellow Yelpers. It was....meh.The lamb meatballs were delicious, but three are a bit stingy - four would be a fairer order, especially when sharing! My friend had the roasted Griggstown chicken which she pronounced delicious. We also had glasses of a terrific Rioja rosé (but could have been colder). As the sun went down they cranked open the skylight and we were able to eat al fresco while sitting in our comfortable banquette. It was quite civilized. The dessert menu did not excite, so we called it a night. If the prices were a bit gentler, it would have been a 4-star review. Oh, and the midweek dinner crowd was quite attractive! read more

The previous reviews have it down pat. There is no better way to describe this gem but sexy. Sexy decor, sexy drinks, sexy lighting, sexy bartender (wink, wink). Let me just break it down for you by levels of sexiness. Decor/Ambiance: 5 sexy stars Lighting was just right. It wasn't incredibly dark but it was just enough to keep that level of mystique alive and well. It was a super cold night so the back garden area wasn't open, but I did sneak a peak and this would be such an excellent place to dine in the summer. Music complimented the sleek yet comfortable decor. And that bathroom? Candles, plug-in, small man in a corner blowing an effervescent potion? I dunno. But I've never enjoyed going to a public bathroom as much. So lovely. Drinks: 5 sexy stars My bf got there before I did and asked the bartender for a drink recommendation. He made him a gin fizz with egg white which was surprisingly tasty. I opted for the sangria which hit the spot. Appetizers: 5 sexy stars We had the Panceta Con Calabaza. That pork belly was everything; soft, perfectly seasoned and crispy around the edges. Also, I must find kacobach squash ASAP. We also had the Gambas al Ajillo. Once again, the shrimp were perfectly seasoned and the broth was a perfect compliment for the bread. Entree: 4 Sexy Stars We decided to order the Paella. I'm a little conflicted about this one. The flavors as expected were out of this world. The rice however was crunchier than I would have liked. We have both been to Spain and had some really good paella while visiting. The rice was crunchier than I would have liked and it wasn't the socarrat as you would expect. It was all around crunchy. Dessert: 5 sexy stars Best flan I've ever had. Hands down Service: 4 sexy stars Our waiter was nice enough. We never felt rushed and had a pleasant experience. Also, the bartender in the front was super affable. We had an awesome night at Salinas and plan to come back again. read more

Warning - do not come past your 15 min. grace period reservation time. We had reservations last Friday at 7pm got there at 7:21pm (6 mins after) and our table was already given away. Given that it was my birthday I was a bit annoyed but opted to wait for the next available table which we were told would be given to us if someone did not show up for their reservation. After waiting until 8:30pm we were finally seated. The owner came out to apologize and explained that their policy was strict due to the high number of reservations received. Fine, understood. Upon walking in I instantly fell in love with the décor. Flowers were everywhere, literally. The entire restaurant smelled of roses, I've never seen a restaurant decorated so beautifully. We started off with the tripe appetizer - oh my goodness. I've never had tripe so tender before. We loved it so much that we had it in the beginning of our meal and ordered another one at the end - it was that good. We also ordered the pan seared pork belly, brussel sprouts, patatas bravas and the suckling pig. Pork belly was delicious especially the fatty part (the best part) I always go for the fatty part first. Brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The patatas bravas tasted like home fries with sriracha - yum! Best part of the meal - SUCKLING PIG, hands down the best pork I have tried so far. The meat is succulent and juicy, it falls right off the bone. There is so much meat!!! I would recommend sharing it with another person. Do not walk out of restaurant without trying it, you will regret it. This place is perfect for a date night or girl's night out. It ended up being a great birthday dinner after all. read more

Gentlemen, if you're trying to impress a lady for Valentine's Day, this is the place to go. If there ever was a restaurant that screamed "DATE PLACE," this would be it. Music softly plays in the background, allowing for conversation without needing to shout. The light is dim, creating a soft and romantic vibe, but still allowing diners to see their food. The restaurant is spacious enough so diner's won't have to hear the next table's conversations, with uber-comfortable seating (love the booths especially). But having grown up in the Washington, D.C. area, Zaytinya and Jaleo (both from Jose Andres of minibar fame) have raised my expectations of Spanish food. The food here was good, but not amazing. Maybe we just didn't order the right dishes (neither of us had the paella or the suckling pig), but the chicken and the fish were both slightly dry. The chicken was slightly oversalted in areas and undersalted in others. But the skin was very crispy and the accompaniments were delicious. The tapas were excellent and the drinks were on par with expectations The service was almost impeccable, with the table being wiped down between courses and new cutlery brought out. When they gave us a wrong drink, they immediately apologized and brought out the new one. Few things here and there could be improved, but overall, the people were warm, friendly, and helpful. read more

The ambiance is absolutely exquisite- fresh flowers, candlelight and romance abound! The food is also very good- not the best paella I've had, but certainly above average! We enjoyed both the charcuterie and artichoke appetizer along with the paella that evening. All tasty, however the paella could have used a bit more flavor. Aside from the under-seasoned paella, the sangria was a bit of a disappointment. It lacked flavor, was watered down and overall pretty lackluster. With a few minor tweaks, this beautiful restaurant could really dominate. read more

Salinas is a beautiful and intimate Mediterranean restaurant in midtown west. I didn't think I'd be so impressed from the outside, but the inside decor blew me away. It's absolutely gorgeous and extremely cozy- I loved the fireplace in the back too! We were greeted warmly by the hostess up front who gave us our choice of seating in the dining area mainly due to a large party sitting within very close vicinity. We chose a corner booth and our server came over within a few minutes. We ordered a glass of sangria and wine to start along with some tapas for the table, queso al horno (spanish toast with baked goat cheese in a savory sofrito sauce) and montadito (lamb meatballs). Both were delicious and highly recommended. The chef even sent over some complimentary tastings, including a shrimp appetizer and another one with fish. A little strange for my taste but appreciated none the less! For our entrees, I ordered the rossejat rapida and my friend ordered the pollo campero. I went with this dish as it seemed pretty unique to the rest of the menu and I saw a bunch of reviews for it on here. It definitely had an interesting texture but I do have to admit it was pretty salty. I enjoyed it regardless but I think I'd try something else next time around. The portion itself was pretty small on top of that. My friend loved the pollo campero dish- she couldn't stop raving about it! Her dish looked like a normal sized dinner portion compared to mine. We ended our meal with the nuestro flan - incredible is the only way I can describe it... hints of butterscotch and the crumbled Maria cookies.. YUM! Our waiter was EXCELLENT throughout the night - patient, knowledgeable and professional - my favorite kind of service! The chef stopped by to chat after we finished our meals too which is always a nice added bonus on any given night. Salinas is a wonderful place to dine out - from what I saw, it can accommodate a large party, plenty of date nights and lots of catch up sessions with friends. I'd definitely return and try some more items from the menu. read more

It's a little ways out, but it's worth the trek! Though dinner reservations were made and confirmed, our names somehow didn't make the list. Sad face. Even still, our hostess was beyond gracious and more than accommodating, seating us promptly at 8PM. Yay! ATMOSPHERE: The interior was both elegant and cozy, with velvety booths, dim lighting, and a very welcoming staff. What I loved most was their semi-private back room/garden space with a retractable roof for the summer months and a beautiful wood-burning fireplace for the winter months. This space can be reserved for private parties and events or as an extended open dining area, when the crowds come in droves. A very unassuming exterior, with an amazingly lush interior and oh-so romantic vibe, Salinas is perfect for an intimate gathering with friends/family and also great for a date night. SERVICE: Our waiter was most helpful! While introducing us to the dinner menu and providing cocktail suggestions, we received complimentary croquettes and crudite from the kitchen. He also ran through the specials for the evening and answered all of our questions and dietary concerns. Dietary, you ask? Yep...we took Meatless March through April. On this note, both our waiter and the kitchen accommodated beautifully! FOOD: We started with tapa plates of roasted brussel sprouts and green cauliflower and grilled octopus. We loved the citrus yogurt dressing that came with the brussel sprouts and cauliflower and the octopus was cooked perfectly! For my entree of sea bass, the Chef kindly offered to serve up more than expected, adding cockles, mussels, and shrimp...don't mind if I do! Rich in flavor, yet light in appetite, I was happy as a clam through every last bite! DRINKS: With a savory meal on the way, my waiter recommended their Cava Blanca cocktail, of muddled grapes, vodka, fresh lemon, agave nectar, topped off with a cava float. Not-too-sweet and incredibly refreshing, it was the perfect pairing to my meal. After a wonderful 2 courses, I wished we ended up staying for something sweet...but alas, a feverish boyfriend was in desperate need of sleep. Oh wells...we'll just have to return in the not-too-distant future! read more

I ate here when I was most definitely NOT on detox. That being said, I dig look around and ask questions ('cuz I be's like that). What I discovered: This is place has five definite DETOX APPROVED options with potential for two additional options on any given night. And despite the tight space and "downtown-centric" staff, the food is pretty slammin' all around. Things to know before you go: -Portions run small. -They use high quality olive oil for sauteeing and finishing. -Ask about daily specials & daily fish specials - they might just fit the DETOX APPROVED bill) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Starters Cogollos con Bonito del Norte (Tuna Tartare) $13 Baby romaine, preserved yellow fin tuna, aioli emulsion, golden beets and piquillio pepper vinaigrette. Pulpo (Octopus) $14 Poached octopus, local potato emulsion, sauteed greens, smoked paprika, extra virgin olive oil Mains Bacalao $29 House salted local cod fish, poached leeks, butternut squash, empeltre olives, wild mushrooms, farmer 's leek pil-pil sauce (pil-pil sauce = garlic, olive oil, fish juices) Sides Salteado de Temporada $9 Sauteed seasonal greens, roasted beets, garlic, guindilla peppers & olive oil Pimientos del Piquillo $9 Confit of Piquillo Peppers (confit = piquillo peppers, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, salt) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *DETOX APPROVED = NO sugar, dairy, wheat, wheat-gluten, non-organic tofu, deep fried foods, red meat, coffee or alcohol. As always, give me shout if this worked out for you...or if for some reason it didn't. read more

Two friends and I enjoyed a great brunch here. Generous and flavorful dishes, fresh juice, and comfortable seating. Had some energy but not too crowded. The server helped get lemonade for my friend's three year old. A good pre/post-High Line spot. read more

This place is one of the BEST restaurants I've been to! The ambiance/decor is wonderful (very romantic and good for a date, but also a good place for a nice group dinner as there were several groups too), the service was on point and amazing and the food was INCREDIBLE! I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Quick review is - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. You def should try this place! Went for dinner with my boyfriend and we were seated in the garden room which has a retractable roof that they open in the spring/summer when it's warmer and I'm sure it's beautiful. We can't wait to go back when the weather warms up. Here's a breakdown of what we ordered: Drinks - La Gitana - awesome! It tasted kind of like a tea mojito -Verde sobre Blanco - my boyfriend ordered this and loved the flavors. He said it reminded him of Mexico Appetizers -Tostas de boqueron - I know it sounds weird because it has anchovies, but they make it work! I normally avoid everything anchovies, but I ate 2 of these they were so good! -Croquettas - amazing with great flavor - Panceta con calabeza - some of the best pork belly I've ever had. And it was a large piece. They are very generous with portions here -Codorniz con membrillo - they're like mini chicken wings wrapped in bacon. Very delicious, so tender and moist. Excellent Entrees -Pollo Campero - so delicious. This chicken is soooo tender and moist. It had great flavor, was a very nice portion size ( I had some to take home) and the beans and greens it comes with is a perfect blend. -Porcella - also delicious and a very generous portion. Even the salad it came with was delicious (my bf who does not eat salads even ate it!) Dessert -Flan - OMG GET THE FLAN. I do not like flan, but I LOVED their flan. It was the perfect creamy texture with just the right amount of caramel. -Blanco y Negro - this one was also good. The chocolate custard was very rich and creamy and was a strong contrast to the bizocho (just like black & white) The waiters were so polite and professional. You can literally see them monitoring the tables and making sure everyone is happy and they're available if anyone needs anything. At one point the hostess sat 4 people at a table and they all piled their coats on her and she was still very professional and handed each of them their menu, despite being bogged down with 4 large winter coats! Our waiter was also extremely helpful and polite and cracked a couple jokes with us. He made sure we were pleased with everything and made sure our water glasses were never even close to empty (I noticed at every table water glasses were also frequently refilled). We trekked out all the way to 9th ave in 20 degree weather and both agreed this place was worth it and we would do it again! read more

Well this is a hard place to review. Beautiful ambiance, fresh cut flowers everywhere and a very nice owner that checks in with you periodically. Went here with my two brothers and G for her bday dinner. This really isn't a tapas place, as they do charge entree prices for about 3-4 bites. $55 for a pitcher of sangria is a little steep in my opinion, although one brother did say it was the best sangria he has tasted. Sunny, who had his drinks made sans alcohol, was very impressed with the cocktails. Paella was just ok. Ams liked his fish, and G liked her chicken. Quail wrapped in bacon with apples was not worth it. Would have preferred Hooters wings. Bathroom situation - one for hombres and one for chicas. This equates to a log jam of people trying to pee and/or wash hands. All in all, will I be back? Probably not. Would it be worth checking it out for your first date with a girl you are trying to impress? Absolutely! read more

Came here on a Saturday night recently for my birthday. Booked a table on OpenTable a few weeks in advance and confirmed with Salinas ahead of the reservation. Let me just start by saying that my friends and I had an AMAZING time. The food, atmosphere and service were quite exceptional. Now on to the good stuff... Food - We ate the meal family style as all the menu items looked very appetizing. We ordered quite a few of the Tapas for the table. The tapas are indeed small plates...the portions were small, but delicious. Crowd favorites (in English for simplicity): Brussel Sprouts and Pork Belly (must try this!). Notable entrees include the Suckling Pig (special) and Nuestra Paella (better than what I had in Barcelona). Drinks - The Sangria was pretty good. Not too weak and not too strong. The Comandante was DELICIOUS...would highly recommend you try it. Overall, our table was happy with all the cocktails...well-made and tasty. Atmosphere - The restaurant is beautiful and very romantic. Could see this as a great intimate date-spot. Although Salina's is quite small, it's part of its charm. The restaurant limited our party to a 2 hour dining period (didn't experience problems with this). The flowers and table settings (arranged by owner, MC) were gorgeous. Service - The restaurant was quite packed on Saturday night, but the service was still attentive. The food arrived in a timely manner and our waitress was always around to take drink orders. Donald and MC (husband and wife couple that own Salinas) were fantastic. They came to introduce themselves and were extremely friendly and welcoming to guests. Overall, would highly recommend you try out Salinas. The venue isn't ideal for larger groups, but perfect for a nice dinner with friends / date. Will definitely be visiting again soon. read more

Amazing atmosphere and delicious food! Highly recommend coming here for a romantic evening or date! read more

I love this place for its delicate and romantic decor-a great choice for dates and friends gathering. Their flower arrangement in the restaurant is insane, creating a serene ambience in which you feel comfortable with dining and conversing. I would definitely come back again. read more

Salinas - Spanish Near Me - New York, New York