Taberna

I just went to Taberna for the first time.  I have been meaning to go forever.  It is a block from my house and why I have put off going I'm not sure.  The food was fantastic, the atmosphere cozy and inviting and the drinks sublime.  Taberna is all Spanish and mostly tapas (which is traditional in Spain) though there are a few entrees.  The chef, Jennifer Cole, spent a dozen years cooking in Spain and has brought her experience to this fantastic upper west side spot.

The first thing we ordered was a glass of wine and the Rose Cava Sangria.  My friend ordered the Rose Cava Sangria and I wished I had ordered it!  It was the most fantastic sangria I have ever had.  It was a mixture of Rose Cava (obviously) triple sec, brandy and fresh fruit.  Wow!  It was delicious.  It is going to be my new favorite spot this summer.  They have happy hour pitchers of sangria for $13 and seating outside.  Give me one reason not to be a regular there this summer.

For food we started with the croquettes served with hummus for dipping that were great.  I had the seared Angus Steak and the garlic shrimp that were amazing.

Next we had the Baked Goat Cheese with rosemary and honey.  I couldn't help myself.  I ate every last bite.  We ended the evening with the Mackerel with tomato.

It was almost a cerviche; really delicious.   One of my favorite things about eating in Spain was the size of the dish.  Everything is small plates, they bring them out one at a time (like they do at Taberna) and you don't over eat but instead get to taste a lot of different things.  This is the experience you will get at Taberna.  Small and cozy but a real gem.

Taberna
429 Amsterdam between 80th and 81st
917-388-3500

Happy Hour in NYC

Happy Hour is a fantastic invention.  I personally love it even more when I can get it at a cute little wine bar right on my corner.  The Tangled Vine on 81^st and Amsterdam offers Happy Hour daily from 5-7 pm.  They offer wines for $7 a glass and the selection is constantly changing.  With your wine is served homemade potato chips with paprika and sea salt that are not only too good not to eat, but also very addictive.  You may just find yourself ordering more once the happy hour ends like I did. 

The Tangle Vine

 The Tangled Vine is a cozy little wine bar on the upper west side that serves a great selection of old world wines.  Most of their wines are moderately priced, but if you feel like having a treat you can order something off the reserve list.  (Yes they have reserves by the glass)  It is a casual, relaxed atmosphere with great, friendly service.  They also have a lovely small menu with everything from apps like pork belly sliders and mussels, to risotto and veal meatballs and of course no wine bar would be complete without a selection of meats and cheeses.  My friend had the endive salad with feta and pear that was superb.  

Endive and pear salad

I opted for the Beet Salad with goat cheese and crushed almonds.  It was not only a substantial portion but also one of the best beet salads I have ever had.  

Beet and goat cheese salad - look at the size of that!

I also had the steamed mussels with saffron, Pernod and fennel.  They were delicious!  The sauce was almost a dish in and of itself.  

Mussels with Saffron and Pernod

They try and use local and sustainable food whenever possible and in my opinion, you can really taste the difference.   The Tangled Vine is a great wine bar to have in any neighborhood, but I’m sure glad it’s in mine.  

Great Italian for an unbeatable price

Sometimes you just want a great dish of pasta.  You want to go all out, screw the low-carb diet and indulge.  But you want it to be good and fresh and worth it.  When I get that urge and I want to stay local, I go to Celeste, on 84^th and Amsterdam.  They don’t take reservations and there is always a line out the door, but eat there once and you will know why.  Chef Giancarlo Quadalti hails from Italy and the food is so authentic it makes you feel as if you were in Italy and not the upper west side of Manhattan.  The pastas are made fresh daily and you can taste the difference in every mouthful.   Each dish is full of flavor and cooked to perfection.  Two of my favorites are the Linguini Vongole:

and the Arrabiata:

I ventured out and had Salmon when I was there last week and it was fantastic.  And if you like pizza you can’t go wrong with the thin crust pizza from their wood burning oven and what Italian meal would be complete without a little homemade gelato?  (Yes I went all out and had the dessert too – but real gelato?  So good!!)  We also had the Lemon Pie.  It was fantastic!

The wine list is very good and the prices are more than reasonable, as are all the prices on the menu.  It is probably one of the best values you will find in Manhattan.  The portions are huge and the prices are small.  They are no longer a secret (at least among the upper west siders) so be prepared to wait a bit, but if you call ahead they will let you know how long the wait is.    Also it is cash only.   It is small, but cozy and the service is warm and friendly.  They pack them in every night, but boy do they get it right.  Every night.   Now that’s amore!

502 Amsterdam (Between 84th & 85th)

212-874-4559

Italian tapas in an upper west side gem

I think one of things that I enjoyed most about going to Barcelona was the tapas bars.  It is really nice to go with a friend or 2 and taste a bunch of things and still not feel overly full like we so often do here in the states.  At Salumeria Rosi that is what you will get; the Italian style tapas.  They have an AMAZING selection of Italian wine and cheeses that will knock your socks off.  It is small and cozy, yet sophisticated.    

We started with a sette fagioli (a 7 bean salad in a light dressing).  All the portions are small so we each got just enough that we didn’t feel to full.  We then had a chickpea crostini with 

broccoli rabe and a Torta di porri (A leek torte with pancetta and parmegano reggiano).  Both were exquisite.  Next we had a farrottto del risotto ( a risotto that is made with faro instead of the traditional risotto rice with pumpkin and sunflower seeds) that was to die for.

And unlike getting a risotto for yourself, it didn’t make you feel like you needed to walk 7 miles home before you could lie down because it was small and you split it!  We then finished with a selection of meats and cheeses.  

Salumeria Rosi is small, but they do take reservations.  I suggest making one, especially if you are planning on making a trip on the busier Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings.  The atmosphere is delightful and the servers very knowledgeable and friendly.  It is a slice out of an Italy (plus you won’t have to deal with the weekend crowds of Eataly to get some authentic Italian food).  If you are looking to see where the Upper West Siders eat, then hit Salumeria Rosi.  You will get to taste a lot, not spend a fortune and have a great meal!