Spanish Restaurant Tapas - Alcala

This is the spot in town for an authentic Spanish tapas meal. Great atmosphere and attentive servers. The dinner menu has something for everyone.Such a perfect hidden gem for a date night it’s a neighborhood institution, family owned with dishes created from their family recipes.With over 20 tapas to choose from and an assortment of entrees and desserts, this is a fun menu to explore — perfect for a birthday dinner, a date or after work apps and drinks.

Incredible restaurant the staff are extraordinarily friendly you feel almost as if your family. The food is beyond excellent and traditional. This is definitely my favorite restaurant in the entire city

This is the go-to spot for authentic Spanish tapas in NYC! The warm, inviting atmosphere and friendly, attentive staff make it a delight. Jesus, the Spanish owner and chef, was so sweet and made our visit very special. He is an incredibly talented person that crafted each recipe to perfection and we were able to taste the delicious wine he produced.Each dish is very tasty and authentic - our favorites were the caldo gallego, paella de mariscos, pulpo, crepe de setas, and the peras al vino.

Everything was great - good food, good vibes, good service.Arroz negro was excellent.However when getting water make sure to ask for TAP water. We were charged $10 per bottle!

Great evening celebrating our anniversary. My Basque husband thought the food was authentic and we agreed everything was so delicious. Lovely service with the owner Jesus charming as the server Charlene was lovely, too.. Wonderful from the tapas through the main until the delicate desserts.

If you haven’t been to Spain this is the place to go to , and If your been to Spain then you can agree with me and say you feel as though you are there . The exceptional customer service from the owner Jesus who attended and cooked for us,to his son Samuel and their amazing staff Miguel . The food was amazing which is always the plus for me . Thank you will definitely be coming back to Spain in New York

Most of the items look more delicious than they taste. the service is really good though! not all the lamb chops were tender so that was disappointing. and the squid ink dish wasnt tasty.

One of the best restaurants in Midtown. We arrived for a very late dinner but Jesus was still accommodating. If you’re looking for authentic Spanish cuisine I recommend this place. Everything tasted really well!Oh and the tiki lights are Bluetooth speakers too, so you can connect and play 🎶

A fantastic restaurant next to United Nations, a place to have an amazing lunch and better diner, MR. Jesus Chef/ owner is one of the best Chefs in the City,the Staff always take care of you , the Wine list is big and fantástica vintages like The Great Serna Imperial GR. 2004 , unique, food will keep you happy.

This is one of my go to restaurants in NYC. Excellent + friendly staff and high quality food. I love their sangria. All of the tapas are great. The vibe is also great, very clean restaurant. I recently ate in one of the igloos they set up for the winter and it was great. They have a Bluetooth speaker in each igloo and you can connect your own music via Bluetooth. They also have a cute fire pit heater that heated up the igloo well. It was warm and toasty inside. Highly recommend this restaurant!

Food and drinks were great. Quaint atmosphere not too noisy. Did not feel overpriced. Chef talked to us. Service awesome. Great experience.

The food was AMAZING. The chef is very personable and makes you feel more than welcomed. Definitely worth coming and will visit again.

Oh! the Black Paella was spectacular. The wine selection was also outstanding. The place is small and cozy, reminds me of cute little places in Spain. This was a family trip and we were able to talk without having to shout and we didnt feel pressured to leave after finishing eating. It was conveniently walking distance from the UN building. So if you are doing that tour, stop by Alcala for lunch or dinner afterwards. You wont regret it.

Average food at best.The server looked totally confused, didn’t seem to understand English, forget about Spanish (being a Spanish restaurant all the dishes are in Spanish). We waited for 30 minutes and asked for our mains only to be informed that the server forgot to put them in (we clarified verbally more than once when we ordered).The wine tasted like it was opened 2 weeks ago. We came in because of the good reviews and this definitely doesn’t live up to the other ratings. Please skip. Unprofessional and very badly presented servers.

Fantastic, authentic Spanish meal prepared by Chef Jesus. Paella negra was to die for. Meatballs and the clams were amazing. Everything was excellent, including their house bread. Thank you Chef Jesus for your hospitality!

Open for outdoor dining with spaced out seating under a gazebo. Portions were on the smaller side but food was good and service was quick and friendly. Come by for a socially distanced al fresco dining experience!

Id come back to NYC just for this restaurant. Perfect cozy vibe. Every single dish and drink was delicious. The chef/owner, Jesus, came out to see what we thought, and maybe we got lucky that night because he was shaking up a special drink handing out shots on the house (also delicious, obviously). Do yourself a favor and go spend a long evening at Alcala.

This is what I received for my online order , it really surprised me ! I received only one piece of lamb chop, despite paying $21, and the pictures showed a much larger portion. Additionally, I received only 4 pieces of chipirones when the photos depicted a much larger quantity. This feels like a photo scam, as what I received is drastically different from what was advertised.

The food is spectacular and so is the service. The squid Ink paella was especially good. Nevertheless, it is a kind of stuffy resturant and the vibe is quite dead so if you are looking for a fun/lively resturant, this is not that. Still good though.

Both the white and red sangria was delicious and the paella was full of flavor. The atmosphere in the small outdoor igloos was fun!

It was a great spot for a party of 6. The tapas were great. I had a wonderful Paella de carne . A friend had fresh sardines, which looked amazing. The only thing I didnt like was having to use the Cuculi App.

The best Spanish Restaurant in NYC! The food and service are excellent!

I was a bit skeptical when my sister took me here for birthday dinner last week because my goto place has always been the famous Soccarrat. Boy I was wrong. What a hidden gem! This place is family owned for 12+ years and has its own vineyard in Spain. They make their own olive oil! When the food came out, I was even more shocked how flavorful it was. I found my new goto place in NYC. Can’t wait to try again!

Extremely unprofessional staff and customer service. The man who served us was rude and treated us badly. We felt more like an inconvenience being there. One of the strangest and worst customer service I’ve experienced. Do not recommend at all!

I’m from Spain (born and raised) and I went with my wife (American born and raised) and we had a good time. Food really accurate with the flavor and the ambient was great. Almost like back to home. Samuel was top notch as waiter.

We recently took friends to Alcala for a thank you dinner, and it was wonderful. We’ve been going to this restaurant for years, and it never disappoints. The food is delicious, and proof positive that it doesn’t need to be complicated to be great. We stuck to tapas, so we could try more things. My personal favorites were the classic gambas el ajillos and the canelones; others might vote for the lamb chops or the chorizo al vino, and one person said the patatas bravas were the best they’d ever had. The sangria was good too; not too sweet as it often is. Somehow the timing was perfect, there was always just enough room on the table for the plates that kept arriving!The service was impeccable, attentive and friendly without being hovering or intrusive.Five stars all around! (Okay, I actually gave it 4 for ambiance so you would know it was real.)

We grabbed dinner here as it had a lot of the dishes were more familiar with from Spain. It didnt disappoint. We opted for the tapas options and selected about 4 dishes. They were all presented beautifully and had great flavours. It was ideal for a light dinner as we had had a few days of heavy lunches and dinners.The service was excellent and really friendly and helpful. I was even able to get my favourite spanish after dinner liquer Herbias, which was an excellent way to round out the evening.

Jaun service was impeccable and the paella was delicious.

Love the food here! My favorite is the Gambas Al Ajillo and the flan for dessert which I always get everytime. The Spanish restaurant in town!

My rating should be a zero. First, the water was warm on a hot day! We asked for ice which quickly melted as there was no no AC or fans on a hot Saturday! One of the brothers was rude and didnt explain the dish accurately.The dinner was uneventful and finally to crown the uncomfortable experience, we saw a mouse!!!! For these reasons, I do not recommend Alcala. Ugh

Flavor explosions, authentic Spanish food, and tapas. The best of the best. Were so happy we discovered this little place. Owner/chef, Jesus, is genuine and talented.

Chef Jesus Martinez has created a slice of heaven close to Grand Central.We loved the food and how he brings many dishes to you and chats with you. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly- he is a master of his art. My son loved each course of the $28 prix fixe (great value for the amount of food). We loved the tapas and dessert.Bring your friends and enjoy an intimate, leisurely-paced meal.

Exceptional Spanish food. Zucchini cream soup was lovely. Tapas were excellent - get the filet mignon on crusty bread. Tempranillo wine choice was superb. Ambiance and menu is very Basque, which is the best food. What a lovely drop into Spain, right on 44th in New York!

Wonderful little Spanish eatery right by Grand Central. The food was great and the family service was even better. The father and son running the place were truly a treat and the covered patio was just lovely on a warm May evening. Great recommendations from Sam. Will be back again and again.

Best Spanish Restaurant in Manhattan, New York City. Best tapas!

Yes, the food is too salty and the place is dated but that’s the charm. Gazpacho is noteworthy, and the sardines and paella bring me back. To top it off, the flan is very well balanced. This place must be a hidden gem to still be open. I just wish they would put a lot less salt in their dishes, food would be just as good, if not better.

What a surprising gem of a restaurant! Having lived in Spain it was such a joy to find authentic and very delicious tapas, main courses and great wine.Service was good; the atmosphere was very homey like a Spanish tavern. It was surprisingly busy for a rainy Wed. night, and it was a pleasant bustling vibe.We ordered several tapas (recommend the Spanish tortilla and filet mignon on toast) and the seafood paella (mariscos) which was sublime. I also really enjoyed their house Cabernet Sauvignon (from their family vineyards in Spain). Well definitely be back again!

My favorite Spanish restaurants in NY. Excellent food with wonderful staff of brothers. I love them. What I love even more is the best bread I have had: one round perfect warm bread baked to perfection taken straight out of the oven and brought straight to your plate. Warm and inviting ambiance with smiling staff who always make you feel so welcome. I have stuffed my face and tried probably everything on the menu multiple times and I will stuff my face again, again and again...

Delicious food and great service…The chef came over and answered a question! Felt like I was in Barcelona and the wine was pretty good , too. I hope to return with more friends!

Loved the outside dining as the weather was perfect. So was the lamb.

Bad / spoiled runa steak - Visited June 7th for lunch.My friend and I ordered the daily lunch prefix menu which included “Trio de Mar” as the main course. One of the 3 fishes was tuna steak.Although appetizers were good; when we got the main dish, it had a very very strong / sour fishy smell - which at the beginning we thought could be the “normal fish smell.” We started eating it and when we tried the tuna, we got this very very disgusting/bitter taste. Tried one more bite and it was even worst.It was mentioned to the waiter and the another person which seem to be the manager or owner. Both people offered another “piece of tuna steak or another fish”. Having this bad taste on our mouth, my friend and I didn’t want to risk it to try another fish.At the end; the place didn’t even offer an honest apology. They said that the fish was ”fresh” - which clearly was very far from that.

Excellent Excellent Tapas! Nice dining on the street or inside. Kind service that is a little bit European (AKA slow) but friendly, always smiling, no need to be in a rush, right? Still give them 5 stars for the delicious food and kind people. Ive visited a lot of Spanish restaurants, the food here is as good as anywhere!

The food is good, very friendly staffs. I love the bubble dome that they put on, so magical ☺️. We had such a great time there. The only thing that not very happy about it tho. My husband ordered double shots drink with soda, so simple, it cost 32$ each glass. That’s kinda ruing the perfect experience. Pretty much over priced. He always ordered this drink and the price everywhere in the world as we experienced 😂 are never over 25$ per glass and that’s already 5 stars restaurant.

Food was excellent! Paella mariscos was delicious. My wife & I were there for lunch. The only reason, I didnt give all 5 stars, is because our server wasnt realy friendy and welcoming. Never had a smile on her face. Looks like she had a bad day. But, will return (for dinner), and recommend this place. 👍👍

Alcala is a hidden gem. I LOVED this restaurant. The waiters were awesome, its a very nice setting and the food was perfect. We had Iberico ham, shrimp in garlic , the pork dish and it was all delicious. I will definitely eat there again.

The only thing authentic about this place was the blase attitude of the waiter. Paella was undercooked, the cheese plate included Edam, the calamares en su tinto were so small and sad and few, the chorizo was actually a poor Portuguese substitute, the ham was cut too thick and was not the greatest quality, and finally the tortilla was dry. The salad was good though and the bravas were excellent. Still didnt make up for all bad food and the sad atmosphere. Highly not recommended.

Be careful at night you have 20% service charge (even if you are 4 people) and it’s not written on the menu (it’s written for 6 people or more) + you have to add 3% if you pay by card. The owner is not honest and not friendly. I don’t recommend

I had the most amazing dining experience at Alcala! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️El pulpo, las gambas & the deserts were hands down the most tender and flavorful I have ever eaten.It was cooked to absolute perfection, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that left me craving more. The variety of tapas was exceptional, each dish bursting with authentic Spanish flavors.The ambiance was cozy and inviting, and the staff were really from SPAIN attentive and knowledgeable.If youre looking for a true taste of Spain, this is the place to go. I cant recommend it enough!And OLE! 💃

Alcala is an absolute gem!The variety of tapas is truly impressive, with each dish showcasing the rich and genuine flavors of Spain. The octopus was the most tender I’ve ever had, perfectly cooked and seasoned.The peras al vino tinto was a delightful surprise, with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.You can tell the owners put so much care into every detail, from the food to the cozy, cute ambiance.This place feels like a little slice of Spain, and I can’t wait to return.Highly recommend!

Is perfect the food is sensational thank very munch

Fantastic food and great service. If you are looking for a delicious meal, this is the spot.

Tapas were amazing, especially the Pulpo a la Gallega (the most tender octopus Ive ever had). The flan was good, but the red wine pear desert was outstanding.

We ordered a bunch of tapas and shared as a big table, which was fun. Their meatballs and sangria were phenomenal. Id also recommend the clams. Its a small and intimate setting, and you can feel comfortable there in casual or dessy attire. Very authentic, and most of the staff seemed to speak Spanish. I switched back and forth throughout the night.

The best Spanish restaurant in town. Best meet you ever had. Perfect ambiance you’ll feel like home. Amazing Spanish wine selection. Live flamenco music once a month.

My neighbor Philips from this restaurant brings a bottle of wine to me.Really appreciate .Haven’t try the food yet but I searched the menu must be deliciousThe way they treat the people is amazingThanks for the wine

Excellent authentic Spanish and Gallician cuisine with interesting wine options. Modest appearance reminiscent of any number of genuine family owned cafeteria in San Sébastien. Its next to impossible to find real Spanish cuisine of any region in NYC, so Alcala is an absolute gem for anyone looking for the flavor of Iberia.

Lovely spanish restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, food was so delicious we devored it so only could take pic of desert. Totally recommend. Friendly staff and good prices.

Our recent culinary discovery, Alcala, offered an enchanting Spanish escape in the heart of New York. Stepping inside felt like entering a lively Spanish taverna, with an authentic interior that immediately set the stage for an intimate dining experience.The warm greetings and calm escort by the staff made us feel like regulars on our first visit, echoing the connection and engagement I aim for in leadership training. The proximity to the UN added a unique flair, attracting a diverse crowd and creating an intriguing backdrop to our evening.Starting with the red sangria, a delightful introduction to Alcalas flavors, we embarked on a culinary journey. The Patatas Bravas and Conquetas, especially the codfish variety, were delightful appetizers. The Special Lentil Soup was a warm embrace, showcasing the chefs dedication and love for their craft.For the main course, my wife savored the Paella Negra, while I enjoyed the spectacular Paella Carne, both a testament to the chefs mastery. The Salmon in Salad and Chuleton Cabrales added another layer of excellence to our culinary adventure.With delightful secrets for dessert, Alcala proved to be more than a dining experience; it was an immersive journey through the vibrant streets of Spain.If leadership were a restaurant, Alcala would undoubtedly be the model for making everyone feel not just satisfied but truly valued.

My colleague and I came to Alcala late one night after a long day of UN meetings. The next day, I began vomiting uncontrollably, and shortly after, so did she. Separate visits to urgent care confirmed we both had terrible food poisoning. The only thing we’d eaten in common in the last several days? The zucchini soup here. Do yourself a favor and avoid.

If I could give the service and food a 6, I would! This is the best Spanish food I’ve ever had and the service is impeccable!

The food was way too salty and did not taste fresh. The service was very slow even though there were no people in the restaurant and the water would repeatedly not make eye contact. The food is way too overpriced and everything has garlic in it.

Excellent food. Lots of seafood choices. We inhaled the shiitake mushroom appetizer, so good. Their wine was very good as well.

Made a quick pit stop here on our way to Valentines day rock climbing. Came here at 4 so there was nobody else in the restaurant, which allowed for a relatively romantic ambiance. We had tapas since we didnt want to load up before our Boulder adventures, but being hungry and overzealous, we ordered four plates: the chorizo, the lamb chops, the croquettes, and sauteed veggies to share. I also ordered the crab filled crepes in crab bisque appetizer because it sounded very appealing. I havent had tapas in a while, but I felt the tapas seemed quite expensive, averaging $15 a plate. I also felt that way because the food was average. The chorizo was very simple, and somewhat reminisicent of small pepperoni slices, but without the kick you usually get from chorizo. The croquettes were ok, good flavor but nothing to write home about. The sauteed veggies were fair, but had a strange taste to them that neither my boyfriend nor I could pinpoint; not too off-putting, but not too contributive to the dish either. The lamb chops were the best of the bunch by far, well cooked and super flavorful. Then came the crepes. The crepes took the longest to cook, but disappointed as the final dish I partook in. The crepes were soggy and so felt spongy and disintegrated in your mouth, and not in the good way. The crab filling inside the crepes was quite pungent and didnt taste really fresh. And finally, the crab bisque that engulfed the crepes was just very salty and honestly kind of tasted like it came out of a can. I really wished I could go back to the lamb chops after tasting this dish, but I settled for the weird sauteed veggies.Overall, not a bad experience, but not a great one either.

Great Food & Amazing atmosphere! Feels like real Europe inside the restaurant. Filet mignon with the fried potatoes was the best. Food and service was delicious, don’t forget to try the dessert sampler!

Excellent and delicious food!! Coming back really soon!!

Alcala is our favorite restaurant in NYC. Jesus, the owner, has created the most authentic Spanish experience in the heart of the city. During COVID, he built a beautiful socially-distant outdoor space that feels like an oasis filled with lots of great sangria, delicious tapas, and 5-star cuisine. Alcala is the best kept-secret in New York.

Our favorite place for tapas in Midtown east.Nice quiet crowd both and lunch and dinner.The staff is really nice and will make you feel like in Spain.

Great dinner

Ive dined at this restaurant a few times. The food is always good. However... the service is pretty bad. They bring a couple pieces of stale bread to tide you over waiting for a paella dish they claim will take 25 minutes but really takes closer to 45. No apology or explanation. No checking in on you to see if you need anything else while you wait or after you finish. Its bizarre. Stick to takeout, if anything.

This is the best restaurant in NYC. The owner is a great guy too. Ask for his white wine that he makes back in Spain. Thank me later!

Getting my coffee here and occasionally food. The people are friendly and the prices are even friendlier. The food is good but not outstanding.

I was craving some Iberico jamon so I came here. The squid ink squid was surprisingly good. I did feel somewhat neglected though.

Sardines salad and tapas with salmon were good. We also tried paella and it wasn’t satisfied, I wouldn’t have paella again at this place.

New favorite place in the city. The food was to die for, everyone was so kind and attentive, I really felt like they went above and beyond to give me and my friends the best experience. We ordered maybe 9 different meals and the entire dessert menu and EVERY SINGLE THING was incredible. I would give this restaurant 10 stars if I could. Thank you to everyone for the perfect night.

I love this restaurant! Great service and wonderful food. But the real treat is the owner. One of the most wonderful people Ive meet. I will be back!

Super nice food . Super nice people!!! Super !!! Best taste

New yorkers obviously dont know about tapas. The stuff we got was out of tins. And £42 for a bottle of riocha thats just averagage is overpriced. They need to improve alot to make it worth it. They were spanish but not very friendly.

Service, food, wine are very good. Prices are not bad either. We are planning on going back any time soon.

Amazing food and prompt service, a genuine Spanish cuisine experience

Tapas portions small and service slow. Meatballs was just 5 sub teaspoon sized meat balls . A joke?

Good place, real spanish food, as a Spanish being out of spain for 5 years always is good to eat food from my country, i loved the albondigas and the canelones, good service but a little overpriced, definetly coming back.

Good food. Very nice, varied Spanish menu with tapas and full entrees. Lots of meat, poultry, veggie, and seafood options. We met some very fun and interesting people there and had a great evening.One weird experience though...they brought us salads by mistake (they didnt come with our dinners) which we started to eat. When we/they realized the error they took them away and brought them to another table even though they had been started!!

Amazing tapas and drinks and a really nice relaxed atmosphere.

Loved this family owned and run business... Not a luxurious place but Tapas were great.. Paella were delish a bit on the small side, but if youre doing tapas it will be good and enough for 2. Will come back. Didnt take pictures.

Must come and try every dish in this restaurant. It’s amazing and you will be always content and satisfied.

Best Spanish Restaurant in NYC! The food it’s amazing, good athmosphere, the best warm treatment from the chef and the staff, the music, the wine… An amazing place for a romantic date or to go with friends, the food wont disappoint you

My husband and I had a great meal at this restaurant last Friday night. The food was amazingly good and we had dishes that we do not normally find at a tapas restaurant. We learned from the waiting that the influence of the food comes from Northern Spain so maybe this explains it. First time at the restaurant and we will definitely come back! Staff was extremely kind.

The food is sublime. The atmosphere is not why you go. You go for the food, which is transportive. Like being back in Spain. A wonderful restaurant and kitchen. A new favorite.

Great service great food the bread and oils was fresh the server was very friendly very nice authentic Spanish food.

Im originally from Spain and was looking for authentic home cooking and got exactly what I was looking for. Everything we had was perfect.

Foods mostly delicious, but some items tend to be too salty and some were not very fresh.

Everything we ordered was great and the service was perfect. Cozy atmosphere.

Great and tasty food. A little bit slow service, but extremely friendly.

Their paella de carne is the tastiest thing I have ever had. I loved every single bite of it. Very friendly staff. I will definitely come back.

I took my Dad for dinner. The restaurateur was friendly and the atmosphere convivial. The lamb shank was very good quality but I felt the sauce was too much and not particularly good. The paella unfortunately had a bit too much salt.

The service was a bit hit or miss but the asparagus soup, fish trio and sangria were delicious.

My second time being there and will return again and again. I appreciate how the ownership are involved with both front of the house and the back of the house operation. This brings the old world charm alive in a city where most waiters and culinary staff do not have a vested interest in the business. There is pride in the service and care for the clients. Truly feel that they anticipate my needs before it’s even asked. Besides the food is authentic with the right balance of flavor.

Great tapas, just like in Spain. Also nice ambience

This tapas place made me feel like i was in Barcelona. Great food.

Delightful tappas dishes loaded with flavor and delicious Sangria

Food was fine, but a bad experience reported here as cautionary tale that left a bad taste that had nothing to do with food. Bottles of tap water on display as you come in. Waiter asked still or sparkling. I said still. He brought bottled water. I told him I did not drink it and I didnt need bottled water. The bill came with $10 for a bottle of water. I paid, but raised the issue when I left saying that I thought the waiter should have asked sparkling, still or tap if that was how they were going to play it, did not drink the bottled water and respectfully, disliked being charged. The response was that the waiter must have misunderstood. There was no offer to correct the matter. Since that bothered me, I called some days later and asked for a manager, politely repeated the events and said I wanted to convey that for his benefit in case he felt the servers should perhaps give the option of tap if still will be $10 to avoid bad feelings in other cases. He said I was correct and should not have been charged if I did not drink it. Again, no offer of any customer courtesy. Something at least offered by any of the three people to whom I raised this might have been good business and avoided leaving the bad taste.

Service poor. Food mediocre. Ambience dated. Some of these photos not this restaurant.

Alcala is a respected restaurant gem located in East Midtown Manhattan. Consistently delicious Spanish cuisine in a cozy neighborhood setting. Attentive service always. I highly recommend this dining experience !

Great food and ambiance with friendly service.

The music was a little loud, but everything else was good.

Good food.v

A helpful waitress was tossed aside by a grumpy looking man who asked what I wanted for lunch and grabbed the menus. I had not decided because I have many food allergies I have to think about when ordering. My husband was able to order and I quickly ordered a salad. I am already disappointed before I even tasted anything.

The food was good and the chef/owner was cordial

Alcalás food is... one of the best Spanish restaurants I have tried in the US so far. Their fish soup had the perfect balance of different flavors, their tapas were fantastic and the pork tenderloin was tender, juicy and flavourful.

Overpriced and paella is too salty. Salty enough I couldn’t finish 1/3 of it. Shrimps aren’t fresh. Worst than frozen shrimps. 2 paella, 2 side orders is $107. Restaurant charges 3% on credit card. Unacceptable.

Authentic Spanish food. Very recommended. Very delicious.

The best Spanish food weve had in NYC so far. We had 6 different tapas and all were delicious: definitely cant go wrong with the tapas. Everyone was very friendly. We will definitely be back!

Found this place randomly on a walk and happy it happened. They make their own wine that Id buy at home if I could. Really kind and welcoming staff, cozy environment. I wasnt able to try as many dishes as I wanted (my fault) but what I had was solid.

Just so you know, the service was so bad, we left. Who serves customers with a ski cap and ski jacket. I’m sorry did we interrupt you? Absolutely ridiculous.

Wine, food and service couldnt be better. Ambient very warm 🍷🍷

5/5 Service5/5 Food4/5 Price5/5 WineOverall it was amazing!

Great spot for tapas. The seafood is amazing and flavorful. MUST try the gambas al ajillo!

Great food and friendly service. 👌

Enjoyed the tapas. Especially meatballs, lamb chops and canneloni. Espresso just outstanding. Iberico ham just not the same as Spain.

Love this place found it by accident but loved it

Went here for a weekday dinner. Food was reasonably good but nowhere worth the cost. Mid-rare steak I had was not the most tender nor flavorful, sides were good but nothing out of ordinary, and much of the appetizers were also in the same boat. There may have been a couple of good items here/there such as paella nonetheless.Staff was generally nice, but again nothing stellar.

Our local favorite spot! Perfect in any season. Food is delicious and is perfectly shareable as it’s tapas. Get the red sangria (a pitcher preferably) you won’t regret it!

Outdoor seating with partitionsGreat food.ambience

Found this on a quick search for Spanish Tapas not far from our hotel in midtown and was beyond impressed! What a pleasant surprise and end to our evening! Had 3 tapas and one appetizer and ALL 4 were exceptional!

Great food. Delicious sangria. Very personable service. One of my favourite restaurants in NYC.

Food is excellent, and although the restaurant decor is a bit dated, it makes you feel like you are in Spain at a small tavern. So why not 5 stars? Well, the service is not very friendly or helpful, although it is fast. The waiters for the most part appear to be in a hurry and uninterested in making you feel welcome or making your time there enjoyable. I think the whole staff needs to be retrained, because they are oblivious to the problem. Now granted, you many times get this same type of service in Spain, so it is authentic in that respect, but a more friendly and welcoming environment would earn them 5 stars.

Food & service are great!

Authentic Spanish cuisine, great food, attentive service. Chef-owner Jesus tended to me. I had a great house red (Rioja) but the highlight of the evening was an off menu octopus appetizer....ask for it. Best octopus I ever had. Even after three trips to Spain. Enjoy.

Outstanding food and excellent service-very kind people. Love their Tres leche dessert

Im traveling alone, and went to this restaurant just before 8:00 on Friday night. There were a number of open tables for two. They sat me at one in the back that was blocked off from most of the rest of the dining room by a large trifold screen. I waited nearly ten minutes. No one came to my table. I left.

Service excellent !!! All great waiters .attention and friendliness. delicious food great flavor.restaurant looks great definitely recommended. Had a great time with family.thank you guys to make it extra special!!

My boyfriend and I went to Alcala for lunch after spending a day in the city, I found the restaurant online, it seemed like good food and my boyfriend and I are big foodies so why not try something new. As we entered the restaurant the gentleman that I suppose is the host wasnt pleasant at all. He rushed us to table #4 (as it reads on my receipt) and referred to us as Friend as oppose to sir or maam. The waiter was not attentive and we literally had to call him to finally come take our order. I never play the racist card but it was very hard to ignore. I am Hispanic and my boyfriend is Black American. My boyfriend is also a NYPD Detective and the fact that he serves the community and we were treated so unwelcoming was a disgrace. I felt we were not wanted at all and I am so displeased with the service and mannerism of this restaurant. Only upside is my Garlic chicken was good, Nonetheless very overpriced for the tiny portion of food. I will never dine at Alcala again. Dont waste your money.

Food and selection were outstanding- as it always is as well as the service

$18 for a vodka and soda and $9 for a beer? Thats the main reason for a 1 star rating. The food was very good although the paella was a bit greasy. The menu prices were reasonable for the food but they dont show their prices for liquor or beer. And thats the problem.........they can and do overcharge because no one ever would think to ask the price of a vodka and soda before ordering. Shame on Alcala!

It was nice. They have an outdoor patio that sat 7 of us comfortably.

Went here for a special occasion and it was amazing! Everything we ordered was delicious (croquetas, Plato de queso, gambos al ajillo, sangria, lamb, cannelloni, paella, dessert sampler). Service was lovely. The ambience is very cozy and nicely decorated. Left feeling full and satisfied. Will definitely go again soon!

Food was great. Restaurant is beautifully decorated and very cozy. Service was a little slow but staff were very nice.

First dinner with my Godson and we had a great time.

The food here is amazing. The chef is one great cook very friendly and very helpful I recommend to all .

Great good, fast service, a bit overpriced.

Really cute place, delicious tapas, nice wine list. The owner is great!

Had the lamb chop with scalloped potatoes and veggies, wife had the black rice paella. We were not disappointed Good food, wine service, and company made this place a winner.

Very nice place. Good food. Quiet atmosphere and good service.

Excellent

Excellent tapas. Good service.

Great paella! Friendly service.

Nice location... food very authentic...we may arrived a little late.

Great service and delicious food!

Great place. Great food. Great service

Had a great experience here. The food was great, the sangria was great and the staff was very attentive. They have an extensive Tapas menu as well as main dishes. The menu on the outside does not show everything that is on the menu on the inside, but they will volunteer the larger menu if they see you by the door.

Loved it! Good vegetarian option

Superb food. Really authentic spanish food! I went during a trip to nyc and found the food so good we went back a few days later because it tasted like home cooked meals.

Nice place w great service and good food!

Great Spanish foodHad the gazpacho and meat paella as I am alergic to shellfish. And a glass of Rioja.I enjoyed every spoon and bite.You won’t regret coming here

Service is excellent and the food is good!!!!❤️ 💚 💜 💙 ❤

Amazing selection of delicious tapas! Good outdoor dining space for Covid, but Id definitiely enjoy going back under any circumstance!

Authentic cuisine. Personalized and super friendly service

The Alcalá is great, the owner us always checking that you feel confortable. Quality price is excellent. Try the tapas.

Good place, good services and delicious food. 😀👍

I ordered sangria its continue too much ice. But paella was delicious.

Nice place and great food. Services was excellent ,I am going to come back

Great service, good food.

Lovely experience at Alcala!!

Delicious Paella!!! Staff is very friendly and efficient... warm crunchy bread and butter - Awesome!

The shrimp with sizzling garlic sauce is excellent as was the seafood paella

I had the best paella in Spain and was craving it in NYC. So I ordered the paella de mariscos 15 mins before closing on Uber eats. The food arrived fairly quick but I was very disappointed with the paella. It didnt have the carmelly rich flavor that the one I had in Spain had. Not sure if I just had a really really good one in Spain now

Omg excellent all around

Everything was great.Service, food and sangria.

Food is fantastic! Their homemade bread with the Ibierco ham appetizer is the best ham biscuit going.

We had the best experience. We came at 6 and were the only patrons, but it steadily filled and by 8, it was standing room only. We had shrimp in sizzling garlic sauce, littleneck clams in garlic and parsley, red peppers stuffed with mink fish and cannelloni with spinach, tomato and bechrmel sauce. We drank a toast of dry Cava to start, switched to the white wine Casa Vega and ended the night with a beautiful port and poached pears. Food heavenly. Service was attentive but not obsequious. Lively and lovely!

Great dining of Spanish Galician seafoods. Small and quaint. A family type atmosphere. Great Spanish BGM playing while dining which contributes to the nice atmosphere.

Great spot for authentic Spanish cuisine. The paella was spot on. Really enjoyed it.

Busy place, decent enough menu

Excellent food. Excellent atmosphere.

Delicious, hot and tasty cuisine near The United Nations.

Great place for lunch - offering best fish menu in the midtown east Manhattan.

Seafood Paella, assorted tapas, sangria, and gelato. Whats not to like? Friendly service and very understanding of a long dinner of just chatting and relaxing. I spent close to 1.5 hours there just chatting and having a single malt scotch neat. I had an overwhelming feeling of baller that night. It will forever be remembered. Thank you, Alcala, for making me feel baller.

A hidden gem with a ton of palatable dishes that deserves more traffic. Must visit if you are a New Yorker.

The food had the authentic Spanish flavors I remembered from my trips to Spain. The lamb cutlets are sooo good as were the rest of the tapas we had - gambas, chipirones, then the paella!!!

Food was delicious and they had a lunc menu that was good but not overpriced for a restaurent in that area

Food is fantastic! I recomend this place 100%.... Great wine!

Authentic Spanish cuisine. Service a tad slow, but reminiscent of a no-rush, spend hours on your dining experience in Spain.We enjoyed the...* Paella de Mariscos (Paella with squid, shrimp, prawn, clams, monkfish and, and mussels)While all of the restaurants paellas are made to order in your individual pan, the seafood paella is especially delectable. The rice is nutty and firm, perfectly absorbing the flavors of olive oil, seafood, and spices. The seafood was flavorful and perfectly cooked.* Arroz Confitado (Confit of rice with chorizo sausage, chicken, shrimp, squid, mushrooms and caramelized sofrito)The chorizo paella is amazing. Spicy chorizo seasoned the rice and the caramelization was so good, we scraped the pan clean. Yum!Will definitely return to Alcala but will allow enough time to enjoy the relaxed pace to better enjoy our food and Alcalas vibe.

I loved it. Would go back in a flesh!

Ok..but would not go back.Average food and bit pricey

As a Spanish myself coming from a family that has owned a medium-high range restaurant from 12 years, I must say that Alcalá Restaurant offers VERY high quality, real Spanish food.My family and I used to visit other restaurants and learn/copy ideas. I have a very open palate and Id say I have good criteria. Considering prices in NYC, Alcalá Restaurant offers a wonderful value for money. Dishes are big enough and the taste respects the roots of the Spanish cuisine.My favorite dishes were gambas al ajillo and arroz confitado.Waiters were Spanish, which made me feel like home. They are friendly and professional.I definitely recommend to visit this restaurant.

Tapas are a good way to eat because it encourages everyone to try different dishes. The Spanish tapas restaurant itself is not extremely fancy but has obvious deep Spanish roots. There isnt any loud music, the decor is charming but slightly dated as a typical family-owned European restaurant serving delicate traditional cuisine. Gambas Al Ajillo can be an excellent starter. Pepito De Solomillo is must-have tapa there if you are hungry. Pimientos De Piquillo Con Bacalao is a beautiful and delicious entree. A trio of desserts (tarta de Arrese, Leche Frita and chocolate mousse) can be a good fit for people who usually get lost in reading dessert menus. A cup of coffee is recommended to match leche frita. Tarta de Arrese is simply addictive. Last but not least, the service is flawless.

Do NOT GO - Horrible and Too Expensive

The first real food I had in NY! Excellent taste and friendly staff.

Not sure if people are only rating dinner but this is not a 4 star lunch place

Get the patatas bravas. Youll thank me later.

The stuffed peppers were very good. Its like being in Spain.

Great food, service seemed overwhelmed with the crowd

Service was slow, good food but overpriced

Good food, really pricy

Food was very good, nice quiet atmosphere

It was jusk ok. Also quite expensive.

Excellent Tapas and great service

Excellent. Everything was delicious!!

Great food. Spotty service