Bartolo

4.77/5

For our New Yorkers, or for anyone going to New York, this is an absolute must try. This dimly lit (read mood lighting), cozy space offers Basque style tapas designed to make your taste buds speak Spanish. Nothing about these dishes is what you expect from a tapas place, and it made them even better. Leaning heavily into the savory realm, each dish provided a totally different flavor experience. I was full about 2/3 of the way in but kept eating because... well because it's me and I'm pretty sure that food is what will eventually take me out. But if food is what gets me, let it be the dessert from this place which had me wanting to do a Pasta Queen spoon toss across the room on the first bite. Believe me when I say I will be returning to this restaurant next time I'm in NYC, though will probably be ordering less food (we were a group of 4 and all of us LOVE food). For the wine enthusiasts, their wine selection is heavily Basque and Spanish, which meant we got to try some fun new wines, definitely let the sommelier do her job on this one because she did not disappoint at all. While not a perfect score, it definitely does not disappoint.
I've had to do some retouching of the pics because the place is in fact, very dimly lit

Champiñones al Ajillo: 5/5 - Think of escargot, the best escargot, but now make it mushrooms. That's what this is. The same flavor profile as escargots, but with the added earthiness of mushrooms. It's delightfully savory and served as the perfect starter.

Jamón Ibérico: 5/5 - I'm biased here, but jamon Iberico is just that girl. It's equal parts salty, fatty, soft, chewy, it brings everything you need from a charcuterie meat. There are no notes, the only thing that would have made this better is if my future husband (where the hell is he?) had hand fed it to me.

Croquetas de Jamón: 5/5 - There are croquettes and then there's these. They were almost arancini like in their consistency and crispiness, but had all the warm, gooey, cheesy deliciousness you want when you slice it open. Again, Spanish style ham really upping the flavor on these to cut through the rich filling.

Anchoa y Mantequilla: 5/5 - If you've had an anchovy, no you haven't. This dish was possibly the simplest appetizer I've ever had and also one of the tastiest. The pan de cristal provides a light, crispy, crunchy base while the layer of unsalted butter brings a soft, velvety coating and the anchovy backs the briny, salty, umami (yes I'm using THAT word) notes that round this out. Each bite is full of textural contrast, and flavor that ranges from sharply oceanic to mellow and rich. It's the simple things, really.

Huevos Fritos con Patatas y Gambas: 4.5/5 - A dish so deliciously simple, it's only fault is that it is quite heavy. What is basically a shrimp skillet happily swimming in garlic and parsley, this dish brings a lot of flavor. Once you get the eggs mixed in, the yolks emulsify and you're left with what feels like a rustic aioli that gently coats everything in a velvety robe. The shrimp end up being the stars here, having absorbed the flavor of the garlic and parsley. If you're ordering this, definitely be aware that it's going to feel like a lot in your stomach. Plan accordingly.

Ensaladilla de la Casa: 5/5 - Russian salad like I've never had it before. Elevated with some uni and crab (YES please) and then finished off with pickled peppers. Possibly one of my favorites for the evening, it had everything I love. From soft and tender crisp bits in the texture, to a flavor profile that was both rich and sharp. I'd like to have this as often as possible.

Lamb Saddle: 5/5 - This was one of the specials for the evening and I still have no words for it. All the best things about lamb combined into this GIANT saddle. Served with the bones, the meat falls right off, a gloriously slow cooked slab of meat designed to put all other lamb dishes to shame. Savory, smoky, soft, tender, the herbs are used sparingly and the flavor of the lamb is really put front and center. Lamb lovers rejoice, this is it! Lamb non-lovers, this is not for you.

White Asparagus: 4.5/5 - A seasonal dish not currently on the menu any more, this was a preparation of asparagus I've never tried before. Crisp white asparagus spears in a gentle, creamy sauce packed with herbs and flavor. This brought a lot of elements to the table, from texture to flavor intensity. It's not a perfect score because the sauce can overpower the asparagus, which detracts from the focal point.

Cocido de Invierno: 5/5 - Grabanzos slowly braised in tomato based broth with morcilla and Spanish chorizo... need I say more??? This packed SO much flavor in every bite it instantly became one of my top two dishes of the evening. This had it all, the lightness of the broth, infused with the flavors of the morcilla and chorizo, giving it that subtle spice kick. The texture of the garbanzos was absolutely perfect. Just firm enough to not turn into mush immediately upon hitting your tongue, but soft and creamy on first bite, adding the velvety texture that really brough the dish together. Every other garbanzo dish can take a seat.

Manchego Basque Cheesecake: 5/5 - This dessert immediately cemented itself into my top 3 desserts of all time. Served with shaved Manchego on top, and a generous dollop of caviar (for an additional cost, which was SO worth it), this dessert was truly in a league of its own. Rich, velvety, custard texture with the subtle but definitive flavor of Manchego lingering in each bite, the caviar was the perfect contrast to balance this out so that each bite was absolutely perfect. I could keep going about this because it was that good. When discussing final meals on earth, I need this on the table.

Espresso Martini: 3.5/5 - We ordered them so of course I have to review them. Friends... this was sadly, not it. This espresso martini was not the moment. Made with cold brew, this drink lacked the body and texture of a true espresso martini. Flavor wise it was a decent attempt, though it paled in comparison to the original. Skip this if, like me, you prefer yours made with espresso for that luxurious mouth feel and flavor.