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Home > Restaurants > La Zarza Resto-Lounge

La Zarza Resto-Lounge

Critic's Pick Critics' Pick

166 First Ave., New York, NY 10003
nr. 10th St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-477-1111 Send to Phone

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    9.0 out of 10

      |  

    25 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Latin American, South American, Spanish/Tapas

Official Website

lazarzanyc.com

Hours

Mon and Fri-Sat, 6pm-4am; Tue-Thu and Sun, 6pm-12:30am

Nearby Subway Stops

L at First Ave.

Prices

$16-$25

Payment Methods

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Bar Scene
  • Dine at the Bar
  • Good for Groups
  • Hot Spot

Alcohol

  • Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

Buenos Aires meets Barcelona at this ambient restaurant that attracts a model-y, cocktail-swilling crowd with groove-spinning DJs and a lively bar scene. Recessed lights cast a soft glow onto chocolate-hued banquettes, flickering candles sit on shelves built into brick walls, and heavy brown curtains muffle the beer-fueled antics outside on First Avenue. Dark-wood panels are carved with the leafy branches of the zarzamora, or blackberry bush, after which the place is named. As for the food, “the meats are from Argentina, and the tapas from Spain,” says Spaniard Mario Larrea, one of two co-owners, all with roots in the club industry. The fusion fare manages to upstage its sexy surroundings. Citrusy ceviches, including sweet lobster are studded with diced mango. The juicy Patagonian rib eye satisfies, as do the crocantitos, crispy calamari drizzled in honey. The make-your-own sangrias, spiked with coconut rum and peach puree, ensure sauced merriment well into the night.

Kitchen Hours

The kitchen closes nightly at 11 p.m.

Recommended Dishes

Langosta ceviche, $12; crocantitos, $9; ojo de bife Patagonia, $25

9.0 "Highly Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10
Write Your Own Review
88% Would you go back?
76% Would you take a date?
12% Would you take kids?
76% Would you go on business?
84% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 9.3
Service: 9.0
Décor: 9.0
Value: 9.0

No taste, no dice

glimmer19 from 10011 | Posted on 11/12/09

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Food: 4
Service: 8
Décor: 4
Value: 4

The hallmark of Spanish food clear, bold flavors are nowhere to be found in the dull, conventional restaurant. The housing on the empanadas are like shell casings, the gambas bland, and the short ribs feeble. Worst of all, what is billed on the menu as paella is nothing of the sort. Filled with vegetables, soupy, bland, the shellfish tasteless, it lacks any form of socca (the delicious crust that forms on the bottom of the pan), the signature feature of traditional paella. This is Americanized Spanish food for people who don't like Spanish food because they've never tasted the real thing. (I can't comment on the steaks as we didn't sample them.)

Great food!!!

sofia48 from 10014 | Posted on 10/15/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 10
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 10

I love this place. Its new for me, and i am sure that is going to be my new argentinean restaurant. What I love from la zarza is that they also have spanish food. So is a good combination of flavors. The skirt,the paella, the milanesa are one of the best entrees. And the snails, the corn, the empanadas, the ribs, the calamaris are the best i think of the apps.

Read All 25 Reviews >>

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