Socarrat
discussons in the past 3 months.
259 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011
(212) 462-1000 GO TO WEBSITE |SEE MENU
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- HOURS:
- Sun-Thurs noon-3 pm, 5-11 pm, Fri-Sat noon-3 pm, 5-11:30 pm
- PRICE RANGE: --
- CREDIT CARDS: Yes
- ALCOHOL: Beer/Wine Only
- OTHER FEATURES:
- Romantic, Bar, Caterer
- TAGS:
- Spontaneous, Romantic
good to know
Other locations: Nolita, Midtown (opening 2011).
There is essentially one long table, so everyone sits close together, on high stools, in the order they arrive. If your whole party isn’t there together, you wait to be seated, usually outside, or standing inside with a drink.
The food is magical, fantastic, and authentic. Lots of seafood, lots of tapas plates with unexpected combinations in lovely combinations. Gambas a la plancha, but on little sticks, so informal and fun to eat. The wine, perfect, from every region of Spain. Best of all, it is reasonably priced, to go with the excellent food. The paellas are all different & are shared between 2 or more people. This is a great spontaneous place for a group of 2-6, but really no more than that as it is so tiny.
The owner also runs the exceptional old Manhattan Spanish restaurant La Nacional, where the bar always has a soccer game, and there is always someone with the latest Spanish newspaper waiting to talk politics. There, the paella is good, but the presentation is more traditional. Socarrat sparkles with a new vision.
quick reviews (2 Reviews)
Socarrat is just a couple of blocks from where you will be. They have good tapas and paella. REPLY (7 Replies)
I had a similar experience to many of the previous posters. We arrived at the restaurant on a recent Sat nite at around 5:30 and were told there was a 45 minute wait. So we headed over to the wine bar next door and split a pitcher of red sangria (very good) and chorizo (OK), both expensive though. We were told to order right away and that our food would be ready just as we sat down. So far so...+READ
I had a similar experience to many of the previous posters. We arrived at the restaurant on a recent Sat nite at around 5:30 and were told there was a 45 minute wait. So we headed over to the wine bar next door and split a pitcher of red sangria (very good) and chorizo (OK), both expensive though. We were told to order right away and that our food would be ready just as we sat down. So far so good. As promised we were seated about 30-45 minutes later in the last two spots in the back at the communal table adjacent to my friend ( I preferred this) as opposed to across from each other. Had the Paella Negro, which I thought was very good, although I would have preferred it a little more done so that the rice sticks to the pan and is crispier. The seafood was top notch and plentiful and the garlic aioli was wonderful.
Now for the not so great. We really had the sense they were rushing us as they continually emptied the remaining sangria in our pitcher into our still half full wine glasses. It became more evident as they attempted to fill up our plates with the remaining paella from the pan. When I suggested that they leave it there and we would help ourselves to the remaining food, the waiter said that they “needed the pan” (and I am sure the seats as well!). I found this a turn off and believe that being rushed at a somewhat upscale restaurant where we waited a while for a table to be a real no-no. What was most surprising is that the owner of this restaurant also runs La Nacional on 14th st, a restaurant as laid back and unpretentious as Socarrat was high energy and trendy.
In summary, great paella, but the rushed service was a turn off.-COLLAPSE
/ REPLY
(10 Replies)
dig deeper: related chowhound discussions (21 Discussions)
reviews around the web
In Chelsea, a Paean to Paella (New York Times, Oct. 2008).
chow editorial
Small Plates Married to Bridal Gown Bliss (CHOW Digest, Sept. 2011).
Paella Good to the Bottom of the Pan (CHOW Digest, Aug. 2008).
