Gets good reviews
Had to take out some of the really old ones though (they were all more or less raves)
Alcala Restaurant
246 E 44th St
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 370-1866
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 370-1866
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)Grand Central - 42 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)Grand Central - 42 St. (S)
- Hours:
- Sat-Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Price Range:
- $$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
48 reviews for Alcala Restaurant
Review Highlights What's this?
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"Get the filet mignon and chorizo tapas." In 28 reviews -
"...tinto (poached pear with red wine saurce and rice pudding ice cream." In 3 reviews -
"Seafood Paella, assorted tapas, sangria, and gelato." In 4 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
48 reviews in English
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Review from Rolf R.
Los Angeles, CA5/6/2013
Pretty pricey, but that's New York for ya.
The decor is authentic, romantic, and very Spanish
The sangria's fruits were diced very small. I think that infuses the fruits better.
Started off with the Kinda salty scampi style shrimps in and mixture of butter olive oil and garlic. The sauce was good with their fresh dinner rolls
Rack of lamb was cooked to perfectness - medium, juicy, and lightly seasoned.
Arroz negro/black paella included an assortment of seafood(mussels, squid, shrimp), a lot of tinta, and red peppers. Loved it! A little crispy on the side of the pan, and just enough sauciness.
Tapas assortment came with Serrano ham, chorizo, and...lomo?
Bacalao stuffed peppers formed a nice presentation. Shaped like a starfish surrounded in a tomato based sauce.
Dessert was their sampler which included
a chocolate mousse which was rich and tasted like dark chocolate truffles
a gelatinous leche rice flan type of cake that had so many textures it did not excite me
and a flan like slice of pie -
Review from Lincoln D.
Jersey City, NJ8/22/2013
Wanted sardines. They did not have them. Waiter suggested anchovies. Anchovies had too much vinegar. Zucchini soup was excellent. I always wanted to test Bacalao. Bacalao presentation was excellent. Looked like a red starfish. Taste wasn't bad either.-
Bacalao
Comment from Jesus M. of Alcala Restaurant 9/7/2013
We're glad you came by to give us a try, Lincoln. It's great… More » -
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Review from Jennifer B.
Quakertown, PA8/7/2013
Lovely little Spanish place tucked away near the UN. Paella, boquerones, fantastic chilled asparagus, smooth as silk Andalusian gazpacho and very satisfying tour of all of Spain via cheese & charcuterie. Small kitchen and harried staff, so plan to linger.Comment from Jesus M. of Alcala Restaurant 8/9/2013
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jennifer. Your… More » -
Review from Mimi M.
Manhattan, NY2/25/2013
In a city like New York i do not even know why you would want to go there...unless you were invited and told that the place was excellent.
Needless to say that apparently my friend and I do not have the same standards when it comes to food and/or service.
Food is beyond being blend and boring, service is old school but in a bad way. Like, close your eyes and picture those waiters from the 80's who think they know it all.....
AVOID. -
Review from April Q.
6/2/2012
We had a very enjoyable dining experience here while in NYC. The location is a bit off the main streets but we were happy to see that even on a quiet Sunday at 8pm (9pm closing), a peek through their front door revealed a busy staff and plenty of dinner patrons.
Our server was a Spanish gentleman who immediately struck up conversation with us.. very friendly and a very hospitable attitude. I first ordered their Rioja and found it delicious.. hubby had a Spanish beer. For appetizers, I got the crab stuffed crepes in lobster bisque and he got a platter of the Jamon Iberico. It was just like we remembered in Spain.. thin cut, melt in your mouth deliciousness of cured piggy... mine was interesting, but not fall-in-love nor crave-able flavor for me.
For main courses, I had the small cazuela (tapa) of chorizo (more piggy!) and he got the solomillo (pork loin). I am not a pork loin fan, so I didn't love his dish but he absolutely did.. he said the red peppers were also very flavorful. My chorizo was delicious and I enjoyed every greasy bite of it.
The desserts were outstanding - fried milk and a tart that was pure buttery sugarness and guilty pleasure!
Some patrons behind us (obviously Spaniards) were having a great time socializing amongst themselves and with the servers.. it was really a treat to watch and hear their interactions (we speak Espanol) and soon enough, we were invited to join them in an after-dinner shot of Orujo (a N Spain liqueur) of which they were all partaking... dear Lord, I have never smelled a more vomit-inducing alcohol in my life (besides my sophomore yr of college.. after I seriously overdid Jose Cuervo.. I have forever found Cuervo a vomit-inducing aroma)... YET, April (bright, right??), trying to keep up with her husband and those other wild Spaniards, takes 2 shots of it... oh jeeze.. I burped it up all night.. a constant reminder of the horrid smell was always just a burp away.
Short story: .. the staff is friendly and engaging.. but if they offer you Orujo, avoid it! ;) or maybe I'm just a wimp..
Overall, a great choice for dinner.. you can't beat tasty food and a great staff that is hospitable, inviting, and provides great service.-
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Review from Maria M.
10/7/2008
I actually found out about Alcalá by perusing the daily calendar of one of the Directors I used to work for. Months later, I found myself there with some co-workers for a farewell luncheon. The place is small, and since I only ever see UN bigwigs, their cohorts, and the odd tourists there, I have to wonder how well they do. I do hope Alcalá makes it, because it is a warm spot in an otherwise cold and somber neighborhood.
The food is not so impressive, but it is good and very well-presented. Try the gazpacho or plato campero (rubbed tomato bread with Spanish charcuterie) as an appetizer, and for dessert, the natillas with raspberry sauce. Delicious! Very nice wine selection. Prices are quite reasonable, especially for lunch, which is great, considering that most "civilians" might think this place would be out of their league because of its proximity to the UN, and because it seems a little like an exclusive club. Of course, that may be because of the way I was introduced to the place......
Alcalá's decor makes diners feel they really are in someone's small, family kitchen in the north of Spain, and that certainly enriches the experience. I have to admit, I'll probably decorate my own kitchen (when I finally buy) to look like Alcalá. I would definitely come here again.
You can have parties in their beautiful back garden. Invite up to 60 people for a cocktail party, or 50 for a sit-down dinner. You can also sample Alcala's offerings at Spanish cooking courses offered at the nearby Instituto Cervantes.
*If anyone reading this review works at the UN, please do feel free to partake of the very fine selection of Spanish wines. Liquid lunches are acceptable, with one caveat: control thyselves.
3.5 stars -
Review from Olivia V.
New York, NY10/3/2010
Excellent sangria.
Excellent tapas.
All around wonderful small place to have a nice dinner and some excellent food.
Canelones de espinaca - I was somewhat looking forward to this, but wasnt not impressed.
Croquettes - nice texture, packed with flavor. delightful
Shrimp with Garlic - very buttery, nice flavor, a bit greasy for me.
Lamb chops - perfect size, wonderful flavor and texture
Filet mignon - an absolute must try when you come here.
I would absolutely make it a point to come back and have more tapas! -
Review from Dana F.
9/7/2009
Alcala is a little bit off the beaten path, with its proximity to the UN and the highway. I liked that I was away from all of the congestion and commotion. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by a very friendly (and good-looking!) maitre'd who seated me. The weather was a little too overcast to sit in the outdoor garden, but I would consider this in the future. The restaurant is small, with brick walls, and some decorations along the walls - it felt almost like someone's kitchen. Because it wasn't very crowded, I was able to carry on a conversation at a normal tone, which I appreciated.
The three of us decided to order some tapas, wine, and a paella to share. We selected the jamon Serrano, the selection of eight cheeses, the chipirones en su tinta, pan con tomate, and a tortilla espanola. The gorgeous maitre'd took our order and suggested that we pair the jamon with the pan con tomate. He couldn't have been more right! The two together were amazing. The portions were very generous too; there was plenty of jamon for the three of us to enjoy. The pan con tomate was delicious - it wasn't swimming in an overabundance of oil and the bread was nice and crisp.
The cheeses were fantastic and went very well with the Crianza we were drinking. We divided each cheese up so everyone could have a taste. There was a little bit of everything: cana de cabra, mahon, cabrales, roncal, etc. As a cheese fanatic, I was in heaven.
The chipirones were delicious and not rubbery like the way a lot of squid can be - just be careful not to get the ink all over the place. Once again, the portion was very generous for the three of us.
The tortilla espanola was great - not too bland, and not too salty. There was plenty of potato in it too. Tortilla has always been one of my favorite tapas, and this did not disappoint. The serving size was just right as not to get too full.
At this point, we were ready for the paella de mariscos. Over time, I have learned to have zero expectations for paella in New York so I don't end up disappointed. Up until I dined at Alcala, I had never had good, let alone decent paella in New York. I was presently surprised actually: the texture, the consistency, the flavors - everything about it was very good! (The really hot waiter must have thought I was such a fatty when I was trying to scrape the pan with my spoon to get all of the socarrat.)
I'm not sure how I managed to fit dessert into my stomach at this point, but I did. The three of us shared the (really creamy!) rice pudding, the dessert sampler, and pera al vino tinto. The sampler had the leche frita, natilla, and the chocolate mousse. The leche frita was the best of the three - it was SO good. The pear was a close second, but all of the desserts were outstanding. I'm almost certain that the gorgeous waiter was repulsed by the amount of food I consumed.
I finished off the meal with an espresso. It reminded me more of Cuban espresso, which was a pleasant surprise (and kept me awake for hours to come). I will definitely be back to try the bacalao and the other Basque plates. -
Review from Hari B.
San Carlos, CA3/4/2011
3.5 stars.
A cozy restaurant with very attentive staff and decent menu. Great choices of Rioja's as mentioned by other reviewers. They also have a small bar but whipped up a pretty good vodka martini.
The food is good, however, I found the choices limited. Their tapas menu only has a dozen things. The entrees were also not fascinating, I ended up ordering fillet Mignon ( I would have liked to order something more Spanish but couldn't find anything) The steak was cooked nicely but nothing special, nothing Spanish about it. The steak houses do a much better job.
I am not sure I want to try it again. I have been to Barcelona and couldn't stop ordering or eating, so, I know they can do better. God luck guys. -
Review from ryan c.
Long Island City, NY2/5/2009
Loved the place. It's in a brown stone and when you first walk in it feels as if you're in someone's house. I went here on a Wednesday night and the place was empty. I'm not sure if they do this with everyone or not but their is a tapas menu that I had to ask for to get. I got:
Ensalada de atun fresco (Marinated Tuna. nothing special)
Salpicon de mariscos (Seafood salad serverd in a seashell which is a nice presentation but it needed a little more acid)
Variedad de Quesos espanoles (8 cheeses from Spain. I would recommend this as your last dish)
Gambas al Ajillo (hot garlic shrimp. Pretty good, I'd get it again)
I also had the house Rioja which was nice. -
Review from Akira O.
9/14/2009
Overall it is a fine Spanish restaurant. It is located on the ground floor or an old tenement building on a quiet street. We had a dinner there on Sep 12 and ordered Spanish omelet (tortilla), squid in ink (chipirones), grilled sardines, shrimp (gamba al ajillo), stuffed pepper, and croquetas. Tortillas were fine, although I'd like it more fluffy with onions. Squid was very tender and the ink tasted very delicious. Grilled sardines tasted very fresh and were one of the best I have had so far. Croquetas were fine, but nothing special. The bread they served was like a regular dry roll from a deli which seemed very odd. I had expected simple baguette. For desert we had "form" of crema catalana. It was just form from like a can. I didn't get it.
I think it is a good restaurant overall, but I am still looking for a very good Spanish restaurant in the City. Maybe it doesn't exist. -
Review from Ian C.
12/11/2009
Was here for a holiday party recently. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful to everybody. They alone get 5-stars.
The food was great, too. They served many different tapas, most of which I liked. My favorite was actually the sardine on top of a piece of toasted bread. I also liked the croquettes and the shrimp in the garlic sauce. I'd like to come back here to have dinner and to try some of the other tapas on the menu.
As for drinks, Alcala has a pretty extensive beverage selection. A lot of wine on hand and freshly made sangria. My friends really liked the sangria. I preferred the house white wine, even if I didn't know what it was. I was like "yeah, pour me a glass!" And for the rest of the night, they kept filling it up. Great job!
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