Overcast 50°
You are not logged in

New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > El Quijote

All Reader Reviews of...

El Quijote

226 W. 23rd St., New York, NY, 10011
nr. Seventh Ave.
212-929-1855

7.0 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
83% Would you go back?
50% Would you take a date?
50% Would you take kids?
33% Would you go on business?
66% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 7.0
Service: 6.5
Décor: 5.7
Value: 6.8
  • Write a Review
  • Showing reviews 1 through 6 of 6

Tasty AND Plenty!

GirlPlease from 11205 | Posted on 11/9/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 5
Value: 8

I've known THIS place for over 25 years and will return AGAIN tomorrow Tues. 11/10 for lunch. Many a XMAS/New Year Eves have been spent here. The Lobster in Garlic Sauce is MY favorite-So Plentyiful and Absolutely Delicious. And of course, EVERYONE has a slightly Off day, even in MY Own kitchen-just tell your waiter and it WILL be corrected promptly and Without question. Yes, the Decor is 'Old World' Cheesy, YES it is Charmingly Tacky but that can be overlooked-the FOOD and SERVICE more then Compensates for 'The Look'. Lobster, Clams and Sangria-Here I come, AGAIN!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's all about the lobster...

sweetclafoutis from 10128 | Posted on 8/28/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 7
Value: 8

I disagree with the reviewer who said the crowd was all tourists. I'm a native New Yorker and I love El Quijote. My whole family loves it. Sure, the decor is cheesy and old; that's part of its charm. It's like taking a step back in time. Service is friendly and efficient. I've been going with my parents, and now my husband, for years. When my sisters visit from California, a family dinner at El Quijote is a must. Here's the trick: Forget paella. Order a 3-pound lobster, broiled: split in half, topped with breadcrumbs and butter. Make sure you eat the delicious green stuff (tomalley). Begin with the white bean and ham soup instead of salad (it's a bit salty, but delicious), then housemade potato chips on the side and an order of steamed broccoli. They have lobsters in many sizes, so you can go smaller or larger, but to me 3 pounds is perfect (I bring the claws home to make lobster salad the next day). You can also have your lobster boiled if that's your preference. Give me the buttery breadcrumbs every time...

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Could be anywhere, USA

ellen5181 from 10024 | Posted on 8/10/08

Overall Rating: 6 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 7
Service: 7
Décor: 3
Value: 6

Sangria was very good (we had the red). Plenty of food and almost worth considering the sharing charge for 1 main course to be split. I had the paella with lobster and have enough food for another full meal. My friend had the 2 lobsters and it was just that. Had the white bean soup to start that was tasty but a little salty. The homemade potato chips are pretty good. Then again, the paella was salty, and I found myself thirsty most of the night. If you are looking for some place that has a NY feel to it, this isn't it. You could be in any Spanish themed restaurant anywhere. Even looking at the clientele, these weren't New Yorkers but rather tourists or suburbanites making their once a year trip into NYC. I think it is about time they updated the decor to something more modern.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Unbelievable portion size and good quality

littleprince1977 from 95818 | Posted on 5/23/07

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 9
Décor: 7
Value: 9

Everything tasted wonderful. Paella? One order is enough for two-three people. My grilled veal chops (normal, not thick ones) were 3/4 in. THICK. I wish the waiter had told us how much food we were actually ordering. Environment was Full of energy and people...NOT a "quiet, low-light, intimate" place for lovers...GREAT for groups. Order 1/2 of what you think you want and you'll have enough food for two meals. Great place to spend a long time for an extended dinner....Go EARLY (5-6pm) on Saturday or else you won't be able to get a table without an extended wait.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

182 out of 375 people found this review helpful.

Very dissapointed in El Quijote

Roxxybfh | Posted on 10/13/05

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 2
Service: 1
Décor: 3
Value: 2

First of all, after all the hype of the amazing Paella I was extremely dissapointed. It swims in this tasteless water and the sea food was as rubbery as plastic. I could tell immediately from the flashy orange color of the lobster. The service was one of the worst i have ever experienced in this city. Rude and disrespectful servers treated us very badly. I would never go back and I hope you dont either. Oh, the sangria was ok!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

249 out of 485 people found this review helpful.

Make a reservation - but go!

msNico from 10011 | Posted on 1/28/03

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 6
Décor: 9
Value: 8

I have always loved this place... It's not the cheapest place, but four people ate well, drank hearty for under $200 - which included a couple of Pitchers of Sangria (famous) and lobster for all! We split two Paella and had tons left over. It was crowded... We had to wait... But the food came relatively quickly and the characters are perfect for people watchers and making merry!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Request Removal

215 out of 421 people found this review helpful.

  • 1
Advertising

Latest News Near

Advertising
Advertising