Socarrat Paella Bar - Chelsea Reviews Summary

Category: Spanish restaurant New York

Address: 259 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011, USA

Phone: +12124621000

Rating: 4.3
based on 202 reviews.

Paella

Pros:

  • "I haven't had a traditional paella in years and this one did not disappoint."
  • "Not exactly a steal at at least $25/pp, but the paella is delicious."
  • "The Paella as seasoned well and the service as attentive, polite and quite wonderful."
  • "Absolutely excellent paella."
  • "The paella was a masterful orchestration of flavors and textures."
  • "The paella is probably one of the best I've tasted in NYC."
  • "The paella? Mind-blowing. Every bite felt like a burst of flavors dancing on my taste buds."

Cons:

  • "Service was adequate, as they were quick to fill the bowls, but the bottom of the paella pans weren't just crispy, they were straight up burnt."
  • "We could have skipped the paella, $72 for 2, was excessive for what it was."
  • "Wish there were a bit more rice, not enough for two guys. Still hungry after the meal."
  • "Paella was undercooked and very soggy."
  • "The lobster paella was underwhelming. There was a thin rice layer that was burnt on the pan which gave a weird crunchy taste."
  • "I ordered the Socarrat, but only the outside half inch of the paella was crispy on the bottom."
  • "Shrimp in paella was completely rotten."

Service

Pros:

  • "The service was very good."
  • "The service was impeccable, attending to our needs with the grace and efficiency of a seasoned conductor, ensuring our evening was nothing short of magical."
  • "Service was great."
  • "Absolutely amazing service, the staff was so thoughtful and cared about your overall dining experience."
  • "Service was faultless, very friendly and helpful."
  • "The service on the other hand is super, our waiter kept our water filled, plates cleaned and make sure our table is clean without crumbs."
  • "Fantastic service! Seriously. This was hands down the best most welcoming service staff I’ve experienced in NYC."

Cons:

  • "A little disturbed by the service, a little odd on keep asking if we need more and forcing on happy hour."
  • "The bartender wasn't a very pleasant lady."
  • "We were dining with friends from Spain and apparently this is not what you do." (Referring to scraping the bottom of the paella pan)
  • "The server didn't ask how everything was doing."
  • "However, the waitress took away the cocktail of my wife that she did not finish."
  • "The server was a bit rude."
  • "The waiter also wasn’t the friendliest person."

Ambiance

Pros:

  • "We had one of the best dining experiences of our lives."
  • "Nice ambiance too."
  • "The ambiance—with its soft lighting and gentle music—created a backdrop that was both intimate and celebratory, perfectly echoing the joy of my special day."
  • "The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a casual dinner or a special occasion."
  • "The painted images of Spain added a nice touch to the ambience."
  • "Had our niece's graduation celebration here yesterday and it was perfection!"
  • "It was a chilly evening, and stepping into the cozy ambiance was like getting a big hug."

Cons:

  • "The food was just OK, but the table arrangement was peculiar."
  • "You need to understand difference between regular table for 3 and communal table for 20 people."
  • "Seating in the back (technically side) room is limited to high tabled with stools, so not only is it uncomfortable, it's a cramped table when you're sharing dishes and it's hard to interact with people around the table."
  • "It's so cramped that diners and servers have to brush/squeeze by your seat, and it takes away from the meal a bit."
  • "The place like many others in the area is very noisy and crowded."
  • "The inside was very narrow and long, and have window at the front entrance and all the way back."
  • "The place is more on the cozy side with not that much space to mingle."

Value

Pros:

  • "For 3 courses meal only $29 which is very decent for NYC."
  • "All super good! Staff was friendly. Priced reasonable."
  • "Restaurant week lunch is well worth it!"
  • "Happy hour half priced sangria and wine!"
  • "The food was delicious! Love the back courtyard & the service was above & beyond."
  • "Super yummy and great service."
  • "Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor, but the paellas are particularly spectacular."

Cons:

  • "Giant platter of terribly prepared vegetables which I could have made in a basement, 75 dollars."
  • "The portions are very confusing and the prices are sky high."
  • "I have to say I felt everything was a bit overpriced."
  • "We were very disappointed with the small portion, and the rice was too greasy to eat."
  • "This was the worst dinner I had in a long time in a restaurant. And very expensive."
  • "Thought the food was good, but a bit on the pricier end."
  • "For me not worth the money!"

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