Tomiño Taberna Gallega

"What It Is: A Spanish restaurant and tapas bar in Soho Perfect For: Drinks And A Light Bite, Small Plates We recently dropped by Tomino, a new Spanish restaurant in Little Italy with a big bar area that works for casual drinks and snacks. They also have a big dining room at the back of the space where you can get large format dishes like lobster paella, but after trying this place, we recommend sitting at the bar or the tables on the street out front and just having some Spanish wine and tapas, like the octopus and the eggs with pork spiced pork. Nothing here will blow your mind, but it’s a decent option for some affordable wine and a small bite. The Verdict: We wouldn’t recommend coming for a full meal, but the bar and outdoor tables work for drinks and a light bite." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren

"For classic tapas and a glass of fiery Galician red, head directly to Tomiño Taberna Gallega in Soho, which was founded in 2017 by a trio of brothers from Spain’s northwestern region. The spacious restaurant has plenty of room for groups, but also works well for a date—with worn wooden rafter that recall an old wooden ship, sailing to faraway lands where prawns swim freely in ajillo, slicks of sherry vinegar shine in a gazpacho lagoon, and casks of tinto float on by. Don’t skip the arroz negro here. It smells like a piece of burnt, ocean-soaked driftwood in the best way possible, with crunchy, charred squid. If you regularly stain your clothes, watch out: the squid ink is tougher than the mightiest Tide pen." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim

"We’d like to meet Tomiño Taberna Gallega’s tomato guy. The Spanish restaurant in Little Italy has two of the most simple, memorable tomato dishes we’ve tasted, maybe ever: a bright pan con tomate and ice cold gazpacho—and we’d like to know what blood magic their farmer is using to create such juiciness. We could get as dewy-eyed about a lot of the produce and seafood at Tomiño Taberna—not to mention the legs of jamón Iberico strung up behind the bar. The Galician food alone makes this the kind of restaurant where you’ll want to become a regular. photo credit: Juan Ude It's atmospheric too, with a few worn wooden rafters on the ceiling recalling the inside of an old ship, transporting you and your friends to a land of tinto casks and bouncy prawns. There are plenty of large tables for big groups, and a long menu full of tapas that are ripe for the picking. It works equally well for a date with several glasses of wine. Get some seafood, get some meat, and definitely get something with raw tomatoes. And if you know anything about who their purveyor is, please let us know. They can’t keep all the good tomatoes for themselves. Food Rundown photo credit: Will Hartman Pan Con Tomate Welcome to the pan con tomate of our dreams. Hard grilled bread that’s been softened by a fat pile of tomato guts, with the faintest hint of garlic and enough olive oil to bring it all together. There’s just enough salt in every bite to make the whole dish pop. Get an order for every two people at your table. photo credit: Will Hartman Arroz Negro Ever had a late night bonfire on a particularly breezy beach? Imagine that, but you’re standing in the cleanest ocean water you’ve ever been in. That’s the first whiff of the arroz negro, which comes with charred squid legs and rice that might stain your teeth black with squid ink. photo credit: Will Hartman Gazpacho The gazpacho is just as memorable as the pan con tomate. With the right amount tomato pulp and graininess to signal that it’s being made fresh, this gazpacho tastes like summer in a Spanish farmhouse, plussed up with a little bite of sherry vinegar. Churrasco If you like to gnaw on a rib bone for just a few bites of porky goodness, this dish is for you. If not, it doesn’t need to be on your table." - Will Hartman

"Tomiño Taberna Gallega is a treasure trove of delicious tapas from Northwestern Spain, located here on the border of Little Italy and Chinatown. To call it a tavern may be a misnomer, as the dining room is attractively decorated with handsome wood tables, ocean-blue banquettes and a skylight overhead. Head to the roomy bar for a more typical perch from which to enjoy the great Spanish art of small-plate dining. The kitchen may offer some of the usual favorites, but the real emphasis is on Galician regional specialties. Start with croquetas, their golden shells rough and crumbly over a creamy béchamel filling studded with jamón or shellfish. Then move on to caldo Gallego—intensely flavored pork stew with collard greens and white beans." - Michelin Inspector

"Tomiño is a great spot to meet someone for drinks and snacks when you don’t want another charcuterie board at a wine bar. You can sit or stand by the long bar at this affordable tapas spot in Little Italy, or get one of the sidewalk tables out front. Come here after work and order the octopus and the puff pastry filled with chorizo." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren