Casa Mono

"Casa Mono is a reliable classic that will impress anyone in the market for small plates of seafood, meat, and vegetables. Just know that a tapas dinner here can get expensive quickly, and you usually can’t just walk in. (Even the bar next door, Bar Jamón, is often too busy for you to find a seat.) Make a reservation and come here on a double date with people who won’t mind sharing things like bacalao croquetas, albondigas, and crispy pig ears." - willa moore, bryan kim, matt tervooren

"This longtime Gramercy Spanish favorite continues with its one star a la carte menu." - Eater Staff

"Casa Mono, the Bastianich-owned Spanish wine bar on Irving Place, is known for its innovative food. Despite Carrie feeling too sick to attend, she chose to go to avoid the $25 per person cancellation fee. Upon arrival, she noticed the venue was in high demand, with people being turned away at the door. Carrie expressed that although she wants to support the innovative food at Casa Mono, the cancellation policy felt like a money grab and lacked understanding." - Andrea Strong

"You can make a reservation to sit outdoors at Casa Mono, but don’t do that. Instead, walk in, put your name down and go drink some vermouth with a twist at neighboring Bar Jamón while you wait for a table. Half the fun of eating at this spot, open since 2003, is watching the chefs work the plancha in the open kitchen, while getting a lecture on Spanish wine from the servers and bartenders. This is definitely a wine-first spot—their list is so thick, it should be renamed the Encyclopedia Iberica. Ask for pairings with their creative tapas, which tend to be on the heavier and expensive side. Not everything works, but we do like their creamy eggs with uni, aged anchovy oil, and walnuts, as well as the pressed confit goat with pistachios and grilled avocado." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim

"Casa Mono is over a decade old, but it still gets busy. And there are two reasons for that: 1) the food is still great, and 2) the space is pretty small. That’s why, even on a weeknight, it can be tough to get a seat here. But it’s pretty easy to book in advance, so go ahead and do that for date night or any other occasion when you want some wine and tapas. Which is always, probably." - bryan kim, hillary reinsberg