Bar Jamon

"Most restaurants have a bar area where people can hang, drink, and wait for a table. In Casa Mono’s case, that’s its sister spot, Bar Jamón. It’s a tiny, crowded little room with a few communal tables and some ledges near which you can sit or stand, plus a small handful of tables outside. It’s definitely a great place to drink and snack before a full meal at Casa Mono, but it’s even better as a middle ground between just drinks, and drinks with some food. The Spanish small plates are all excellent, and the wine list is about as good as one gets. The downside? It's pricey, and twenty people in there means it’s a full house. Food Rundown Pan Con Tomate Simple, but delicious. There’s a lot more flavor here than you might expect from garlic bread that's been rubbed with a tomato. Chorizo with Pickled Peppers Some ridiculously good chorizo, sliced and topped with thin, crunchy pickled peppers for acid and sweetness. This might be our favorite thing at Bar Jamón. Pulpo with Spicy Garbanzos We love our octopus. This one comes served with some spicy chick peas, and it's tender and delicious. Jamón Serrano Good Spanish ham, served with baguette. If you really feel like splurging, you can spend fifty bucks on the Jamón Iberico, but we opted for this and a few more glasses of wine instead. You should probably stop being a showoff and do the same." - Chris Stang

"Tucked into a tiny (very tiny) space next door to Casa Mono, this U-shaped tapas bar by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich has been around for more than a decade. The crowd is typically neighborhood types grabbing quick drinks, lots of (stylish) first dates, or those swinging by for a nightcap post dinner next door. The pared-down menu, which is scrawled on the mirror behind the bar, includes pan con tomate, tortila, and jamon iberico—in addition to, obviously, great reds. Food Photos: Kate Previte; Exterior Photo: Kelly Campbell"

"This is a Batali-Bastianich collaboration, so expect nothing less than delicious tapas—excellent meats, manchego cheese, boquerones—all served up as authentically as if you were in Madrid. If you come just for drinks, you won't be disappointed by the list, and you can pretty much make a meal out of a few of their authentic offerings. (If you're still hungry, head next door to Casa Mono.)"