Chelsea is another one of those NYC neighborhoods that has about a bijillion restaurants so the competition is stiff. A few weeks ago, my friend Paige and I made plans to hang out after work and she took me to El Quinto Pino, a tapas place in Chelsea. Paige enticed me with “this awesome frozen lemonade gin thing they have” and who am I to refuse such a treat?
Paige described the place as a tiny low-key tapas bar but when we got there, we learned - much to her delight - that the restaurant has expanded into the space next door and now easily fits a decent sized crowd. The restaurant is dimly lit and minimally decorated, but the vintage-looking mismatched chairs give it a cozy feeling, as if it is someone’s den.
We both started with the afore-mentioned frozen lemonade gin thing, which was as awesome as promised. It’s basically a lemon and basil flavored slushie for grown-ups.
As for solid food, we split a few tapas plates. First, the tortilla espanola, a fried potato frittata, a classic Spanish dish.
As well as pan amb tomaca - garlic and tomato rubbed bread with sea salt and olive oil, another Spanish classic. I will eat anything as long as it’s on bread (especially with garlic) and this was no different. I love the simplicity and the rustic nature of this dish. However, I would’ve liked it better if the bread was toasted and crackly.
Lastly, the Cuban sandwich, because I can never say no to a Cuban if I see it on a menu (my love for pork is strong). This one featured house-made sausage, ham, roasted hot peppers, cheese and pickles. Between the different preparations of pork, the cheese and the pickes, the sandwich definitely did not cut corners on the indulgence factor.
Overall, I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant and the food was well-executed. My only negative comment is that the tables are too close together. When we first got to the place around six o’clock, it was pretty empty and we didn’t mind. But when it got closer to eight, people started piling in and there not an empty floral-upholstered seat in sight. By then we ended up crashing the date of the couple sitting next to us… Or did they crash ours?
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