As part of New York City’s  Restaurant week, I visited Socarrat Paella Bar located in the neighborhood of Nolita. Socarrat Paella Bar is named after the delicious caramelized crust that forms on the bottom of a paella called “Socarrat”.  The name shows their dedication to providing an authentic and flavorful paella experience. However the menu also offers a diverse array of dishes from different regions in Spain in addition to their popular menu items Tapas and Paella. 

The atmosphere of the restaurant was vibrant and welcoming with a combination of rustic and contemporary decor that reflect the Spanish roots of each dish. There is also a bar that serves a variety of Spanish wines, sangrias, and cocktails that complement your meal. For my three courses, I choose Gambas Al Ajillo, Paella Arroz Negro, amd Flan. Gambas Al Ajillo consisted of sizzling shrimp, olive oil, garlic, and guindilla peppers. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed dipping bread in the leftover olive oil. Moving on to the main course, Paella Arroz Negro was a seafood dish with shrimp, calamari, white fish, scallops, piquillo peppers, fava beans, and squid ink sofrito. The dish was seasoned well and the flavors of the seafood and rice paired deliciously together. Lastly, the class Spanish flan was a perfect way to end the meal as it wasn’t too sweet and was just right. The strawberries added a tart balance to the custard dessert. 

While enjoying my meal, I was able to experience a Spanish Flamenco show from the comfort of my seat. The show consisted of flamenco dance and flamenco guitar which provided a lively and fun ambiance. Although there are three locations of Socarrat in New York City, this flamenco experience is exclusive to the Nolita restaurant and only occurs every Tuesday at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. 

Overall, Socarrat Paella Bar is known for its dedication to the art of paella-making, providing a hearty and enjoyable dining experience that captures the essence of Spanish culinary tradition.