NY - Tapas/Wine bar in theater district
 

Heading up to NY next month just a month off of knee surgery. Will be heading from Grand Central to Theater district (44th & 7th). I know taxis are scarce weekends in December and thought I'd plan for a break midway on the walk over or back. Any recommendations for a tapas/wine bar to stop for appetizers before or after a show?

Thank you

We have not eaten in tapas bars in that area, if you are interested in other areas you can look at:

Tia Pol
La Boqueria
Nai

Tia Pol and La Boqueria are easy subway or cab rides to the theater district.

There are quite a few tapas places west of the theaters in Hells Kitchen, but not much east of it except in hotel bars. On 44 st between 5th & 6th ave.are about 7 hotels..each of which has a bar/ restaurant that will serve apps or small plates..DB Bistro Moderne in theC ity Club hotel, the lobby lounge of the Algonquin Hotel is a classic, the Sofitel, the Mansfield Hotel, the Royalton..they will all have food and drink. Koi at the trendy Bryant Park hotel and the Bryant Park Grill bar are also in that area.

Simply because they serve small plates, does not make it tapas. It is actually a form of serving that is unqiue to Spain for which we do not have an equivalency. The Spanish usually have a large lunch and then do not have dinner until 10 or 11 PM, so they have some tapas between 5 to 7 PM to tide them over with a glass of wine. In many towns and cities, it is a family event where different generations gather including children. And in larger cities people go tasca hopping, where they will have one dish, usually the house specialty and then go the to the next tasca, or tapas bar, for that place's specialty. It is almost always done standing and another tradition is to throw the paper napkins on the floor and the Spanish never make a meal of it as we do.

True, but I don't think the OP is talking about actually doing this IN Spain. In the US, tapas has been "redefined" to mean small snacks or servings, whether everyone wants to accept that or not. Most places would be furious if you kept throwing your napkins on the floor. When in Rome. . .

McLaurie's mention of the Algonquin, reminded me of the rather newly redone Blue Bar there, which is quite cool, has nice wines by the glass as well as really good cocktails, and small plates.

http://www.algonquinhotel.com/blue-bar

The menu for drinks, wine, and snacks is the same in the Blue Bar as in the lounge -- you can click on "lounge" and get the menu.

There are those who are interested in tapas and those interested in appetizers and anything that is a served on a small plate. The same holds true to know the difference between Italian-American cooking and the cuisine available in Italy.

Some care, others do not.

Read the OP's post!!! This is not about authentic tapas. This is about a place to sit and rest and have some light food and drink after knee surgery. Get off your high horse.

I guess I am under the wrong assumption that one reason people travel is to learn things.

I am sure if someone wrote I want to see a Broadway show but if I can't get tcikets I'll go to Mercury Lounge, music is music, you would say something.

Why are people so defensive and insecure about knowledge?

I'm not defensive, just being PRACTICAL and answering the original question. You are merely trying to appear superior. We are not rubes here despite what you might wish to think.

My reponse was factual, yours was emotional, there was not one word that you or anyone else was a a rube or anything derogatory. That is meant by defensive and insecure.

99% of Americans do not know of the true tapas tradition. What is wrong with facts?

Clearly, ImDonehere, you've chosen the wrong tag. You have one point of view. Others have others. Yours is not necessarily superior to that of people who have lived and dined in NYC for many years.

What your reference to Italy has to do with tapas in NYC is anyone's guess.

Possibly a reflection of your knowledge of contemporary interpretation of tapas in NYC.

It never hurts to read the OP's question & respond in the light of what they want.

Thank you so much for your helpful information on the issues around consuming tapas in Spain. It will come in handy when we are next there. In the meantime, the OP will probably have no interest in doing so at the moment and simply would be satisfied to sit somewhere and have lets call them nibbles or tastings together with a glass of wine on the way back from treatment.

Thank you IMDonehere. Sometimes people here tell me I "won't let go". You've shown that you are indeed a master at that!

Your example of "music is music" is weak. A better comparison would be someone says he wants to see a Broadway musical, perhaps Phantom of the Opera, and someone like you comes along with a lecture about how Phantom of the Opera is NOT a Broadway musical, but originated in London instead, blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile everyone else KNEW what was being asked about a Broadway musical -- except you! Same with tapas.

Sometimes a little common sense is better than pedantic responses.

But it IS true that most of the NYC places that call themselves "tapas bars" are nothing of the sort….small plates, or tiny portions for a big price, would be more like it. Understand that this has nothing to do with the OP.

Thank you all for examples of how not to be pedantic. Is there a forum reserved for irony?

Thanks for "getting" it, IMDonehere.

No problem and no more responses on this matter. It was not my intention to create tectonic plates from small plates.

Or make a tapas in a teapot.

Hey Patrick, a good one!

Everyone knows you cannot make tapas in a teapot. Sorry, I broke my promise and my premise.