Casa Mono is a small Spanish restaurant on Irving Place – part of the Mario Batali empire, though probably not as well known as Babbo or Del Posto. This review is a simple one … come here with people that love food and will try anything. This is one of those rare places that, if you sample a lot of things, enjoy a bottle of wine or three, and listen to what your waiter suggests … you will have a complete and satisfying dining experience. A note to keep in mind – this is not a place for a quick drink and an appetizer. For that, there is Bar Jamon, adjacent to Casa Mono, and it’s always packed. Now you know.
Paella is the new ramen noodle and I’m officially obsessed with this place. No bigger than a subway car, Socarrat packs the majority of their patrons on bar stools around a communal table. The idea here is that they do paella the way it’s done in Spain, as one big family. In such a small space, keeping the drool inside your mouth while you wait for your food is no easy task. People are devouring sweet smelling goodness right next to you and all you can do is sit and watch. The smart move is to get a small plate or two to start and get those taste buds warmed up for the main attraction. The paella dishes are served in a huge pan for your party to split. It looks like an intimidating amount of food but the second you start getting in there, it goes fast. Make sure you scrape off the crunchy rice (socarrat) at the bottom, that’s the real good stuff.
You’re most likely going to have to wait a little for your table, but they’ll take your number and call your cell when your time comes. While you wait, we highly recommend Peter McManus, a solid Irish pub on the corner of 19th and 7th that always seems to be playing either Oasis or Rage Against the Machine. Also, keep in mind that this isn’t a cheap meal. Each paella is in the $20-25 range per person, not per paella. Lastly, don’t be surprised if you’re tastefully pushed along during prime time. On one occasion, we were gracefully asked if we wouldn’t mind finishing our cocktails on their private back patio. They even offered up a round of after dinner drinks on the house, not a bad way to end a meal.
Mercat was one of the first to pounce on NoHo’s recent transformation to another one of Manhattan’s “it” neighborhoods. It’s an intriguing situation for reasons including their prime real estate, bustling bar scene, and festive atmosphere. Their selection of exclusively Spanish wines is just as attractive as the pretty people drinking them. Shocker special – the food is good too. With so much focus on the space, you might assume the food would get overlooked. Thankfully, that’s not the case. These relatively pricey “small” plates are worth every penny. Their tapas are nicely sized, so be careful not to over-order. We prefer Mercat for drinks and small plates (either at the bar or in the downstairs tapas lounge) as opposed to a full sit down dinner.
Youthful, Catalan-born owner Jamie Reixach killed it with the decor. The twenty grand he dropped on old Spanish newspapers to line the walls was a damn good spend. There’s a nice contrast between the exposed brick and white subway tiles. The open kitchen, high ceilings, well laid out tables and spacious bar all contribute to a nicely flowing restaurant. Mercat’s balance between SoHo chic and Meatpacking euro make for some seriously entertaining people watching. You won’t catch the Infatuation hanging out here on a regular basis, but every once in a while it’s fun to kick back, drink in hand, and watch the ridiculous action unfold around you.
Tia Pol is an ultimate Infatuation “Early In The Game” date spot. Take the edge off, have a couple glasses of wine, and maybe some sangria while you’re at it too. Conversation will be flowing freely, you’ll be sharing quality small plates and before you know it, you’ll wind up back in her apartment listening to Lady GaGa while you play grab-ass on the couch. Just beware, there’s pretty much standard half hour wait at Tia Pol; a good thing in case you realize the person next to you is a disease and you need to bail after one drink.
If dating is not your game, come here with a large group and share everything on the menu. The small dishes are a good excuse to sample the entire menu and not feel like a fat-ass. Note: don’t even attempt coming in with a group larger that 3 without a reservation.
After a great recent meal at Bar Carrera, it occurred to me that this review should somehow incorporate the idea that the little things in life usually end up being the most important … I just wasn’t sure if I should reference Malcolm Gladwell or Good Charlotte. References aside, Bar Carrera is an example of little things done right. The diminutive Spanish restaurant and wine bar turns out excellent small plates from a tiny kitchen at the back of the room. The menu is relatively brief, yet well thought out, especially considering the limitations of the kitchen in back – not unlike one you would see set temporarily set up on 5th Avenue for a Good Morning America cooking segment. Despite the constraints, Bar Carrera is proof that doing a few things well is enough to keep people coming back … even if it’s just a handful of killer small plates. We’ll give Bar Carrera points for excellent food, a great wine list, and for reminding us of Muggsy Bogues, and we deducted a few for the douchey bar tender and lack of decent tunes.
