postscript to Mercat

A friend asked me to meet her for a drink last week at El Quinto Pino. It’s near my apartment and though it has received rapturous reviews, I’ve not had a chance to visit. It’s owned by the same group that owns Tia Pol just around the corner and is a smaller version of Tia Pol, if you can imagine anything smaller than the postage sized Tia Pol. The menu is smaller too but still focused on tapas. The food is sensational and the room does not feel cramped. These are the best tapas I’ve had in NY, not because of the ingredients per se but because of the creativity and quality of each dish.

The wine list is microscopic but the choices are well edited. It’s the kind of place I want to go accompanied by one of my really great Spanish wines and relax and enjoy the lovely food.


The uni panini is insane, the pringa braised meat panini is a close second, and the salt cod croquettes are perfect. There are many more things for me to try which I will very soon, but meanwhile its nice to know that El Quinto Pino is there waiting for me to pop around the corner for something far better than a bite to eat.

El Quinto Pino
401 West 24th street
New York City, NY 10011
212.206.6900
www.elquintopinonyc.com