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“Boqueria”


  Occasion: Cuisine: Area: Cost: Rating:
  Night Out Spanish Flatiron Moderate Great

y, one that is filled with the energy of people celebrating something, even if it is just the simple pleasure of sitting down for dinner with a group of friends as I did last week, with six old friends and one special new one.

Boqueria is somewhat larger than Tia Pol—the amazing 10th Avenue taperia—but it manages to still feel intimate, though it is decidedly different in vibe. While Tia is dark, sexy and rustic, Boqueria is sleek and cool—with glossy cream colored walls covered in oversized subway tiled walls, linen globe lanterns, and high top tables matched with tall retro-styled leather stools. To give you a daily after-work activity, there is a long marble bar displaying tapas up front to point and select, so you can hang around for a few happy hours and toss back some sangria and nibble on assorted bite sized tapas ($6)—wedges of delicious potato and egg tortilla, plump and creamy dates stuffed with almonds and cabrales and wrapped in hot heavenly bacon, and a most wonderful tapa called cojunudo—a slice of chorizo topped with a fried quail egg resting on a toast point. It’s like green eggs and ham on crack. Jamie and I enjoyed several of those on one of our first visits.

Last week, I returned with a larger group to see what the rest of the menu was all about. I like what the rest of the menu is all about. In addition to tapas, it includes media raciones (small plates), raciones (entrée sized dishes) and plates for the table to share. Chef Mullen, who was raised on an organic farm in Vermont and lived and cooked in Spain at Mugaritz in the Basque and at Abac and Alkimia in Barcelona, is turning out some terrific regional Spanish dishes, with an eye to authenticity, seasonality, and to fresh contrasting flavors.

We started with a bowl of padrons (my friend Vern introduced me to these in Barcelona)— thin, lean, salty, blistered green peppers, some that have a hidden kick, and followed them with a plate of cheeses and meats (wonderful chorizo, lomo, and jamon Serrano) while deciding how to approach our order—a lot of little plates, a paella with chicken, shrimp and mussels ($28), and a big steak for the table to share with patatas bravas and romesco ($62).

First up were the croquetas ($6 for 3)—small and crunchy on the outside and filled with piping hot béchamel and studded with Serrano ham. Salt cod fritters ($6 for 3) wer ... [more, click below]

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Other restaurants in Flatiron :
+ Suenos   + Amuse-- Closed   + Dos Caminos   + Lucy-- Closed   + Gramercy Taver   + Veritas   + Fleur De Sel   + Bolo -- CLosed   + City Bakery   + Shake Shack   + Kalustyan's Cafe   + Devi   + BLT Fish   + Sugarcane   + BLT Prime   + Barca 18-- CLOSED   + Beppe   + Barbounia   + Boqueria   + Eleven Madison   + Lonesome Dove-- CLOSED   + Hill Country   + Olana   + Wildwood   + Primehouse   + Allegretti   + Bar Breton   + Aldea   + SD26 by Bao Ong   + ABC Kitchen   + Ciano   + The NoMad   


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