1492

I’ve been here several times now and tried a variety of the tapas, and all of them have been excellent. I’ve had the same waiter (maybe he is the owner/​manager?) every time, and asking him for recommendations was a great move.
My one complaint is that if you’re hungry and want a full meals worth, you’re going to have to order a few tapas per person, and it adds up. Never have had a cheap meal here, but there’s never a wait and it’s always very tasty.

The Chorizo Lollipops, the octopus tapas, the steak n’ mash potatoes and dessert sampler were all amazing! Excellent sangria and specialty cocktails too. Service was also A+!

I really wanted to give this place a blazing 5-​star review the minute I walked into the restaurant, but I have to hold myself back because this place has some flaws that I couldn’t overlook.
I’ll start with the positives: 1) the garden out back was really sweet. The vines cascading down the graffiti wall was a nice touch and really added to the ambiance. 2) our waitress was really sweet and the service was great as well. Wait, let me rephrase that — the service was great because my boyfriend and I were the ONLY ONES THERE! Which, I didn’t mind because we had a nice romantic AND very private dinner. We had the garden all to ourselves!
Now, the critique: we all know that ambiance and service are critical aspects of the restaurant business and its survival in the cruel and overpopulated NYC world. But what’s even more important is the FOOD!!! This is where 1492 should step up its game. We started off with the Ensalada del Dia and got ceviche over a bed of frisee lettuce. I really like it! It was very tasty with the right amount of acidity and flavor. Kudos to that but unfortunately that’s where it ended.
Following the salad, we got a few tapas to share including the Patatas Raras (Crispy potato and jalapeño croquettes over spicy mayo), Mushroom Croquettes (special tapa of the day) and the Seafood Paella. I personally enjoyed the Patatas Raras whereas my bf couldn’t even finish the tiny little fritter. And although I liked it, I couldn’t stop wishing that I wished it was hotter (it felt a bit undercooked too). WE BOTH DISLIKED the Mushroom Croquettes. I couldn’t eat them — too mushy and overpowering with the mushroom flavor. Oh, and mine was freaking cold in the middle! Gross. As for the Seafood Paella — bf gave up after the potato croquettes and had a forkful of the dish only to shake his head in disappointment. I kind of liked it but not really. OK, I really wanted to like it but i must admit that it was too fishy and really salty. I don’t think it was very fresh either.
We left disappointed and couldn’t stop thinking about the other really awesome Tapas place we went to all the time, Agozar where the food is consistently banging.

The food is fine, the sangria is really good. Nothing stood out either great or terrible.
The garden out back is a small space with ivy and two rows of tables. We really enjoyed sitting back there (until the mosquitoes joined us). While there the restaurant was fairly empty so we had a quiet and relatively private meal.
The sangria was quite good.
Cheese & chorizo lollipops aren’t worth it — great idea but too doughy and basically tastes like pizza in a dough pocket.
Gambas al ajillo is very good, I’d recommend that.
Dates wrapped in bacon were easily the highlight of the meal.
Chorizo pizza was pretty good as well.
Patatas Ravas (we wanted to try something other than Patatas Bravas, FAIL) are tater tots. No «like» tater tots, not «tater tot-​ish.» They ARE tater tots. Four of them. For $ 11. (Update: Management contacted me upset that I mis-​quoted their price. Sorry this wasn’t meant to be literal. Sorry, $ 9 for 4 tater tots, not $ 11. Same difference, IMHO.)
The price was a bit high, as the 5 plates and 3 glasses of sangria were almost $ 80 + tip. Normally I wouldn’t think $ 80 high for 5 tapas + 3 drinks, but for the fact that several tapas plates (except the gambas & dates) were quite small in portion… smaller than typical tapas, I think. That being said the service was slightly above par because the waiter/​bartender was very friendly.
Everything about 1492 was pretty middle of the road, nothing bad nothing superb.

The first time I came here was a few years back and I thought it was good then. A friend of a friend used to bartend here but not sure if the same guy was still there when I went back few weeks ago.
Come to think of it, I’ve actually been here three times. I remember inviting other friends here after my first time here because I was intrigued by the lollipops LOL. Teenagers …
But anyway, when I came here last, I’d forgotten where this was and I was surprised to end up so far away … (I know right, far away from where?)
The sangria was really good. Try the mixed dessert sampler.

Since the hookah bar next door can’t be bothered to open on time, we ended up at 1492. The «garden» out back is a small alley with a fence up against a tennis court or something– some kind of ball kept hitting the fence about 6″ from my ear, which was annoying.
On a hot day, 1492 has the sangria that you want– not heavy and syrupy, but with plenty of flavor and nuance. Some of the best sangria I’ve had, in fact– really refreshing, but not watery.
The tapas was a mixed bag. We ordered 5 plates for 4 people, and there was nothing that really stood out. The serrano ham was tasty, but is ultimately overpriced cold cuts. The cheese plate was an uninteresting selection, and they didn’t even try to tell us what kinds of cheese we were eating. They were boring enough that it didn’t particularly matter, I suppose. Everything else was kind of middle-​of-​the-​road.
For the aforementioned 5 plates and 2 pitchers of sangria, we ended up around $ 150 (including tip). Everything about 1492 was pretty middle of the road, except for that sangria, which I just can’t argue with.

Inside at the bar or outside in the garden, 1492 is calm and friendly. It’s the place I want to go when I want a glass of red wine and some lovely morsels – yesterday white anchovies on a bed of tomato remoulade and a plate of serrano ham, thinly sliced, almost crispy.
Reviewers who complain that the dishes are too small, hey, it’s tapas. They’re supposed to be small. Go to 1492 for tapas when you want a tasty little something and a drink and conversation.

I am obsessed with their cocktails. The menu is a lot of fun — written to fit the theme of European explorers of the 15^th century, and organized around the various regions of the world’s flavor profiles.
The clever cocktails and their equally enticing names can be an overwhelming list to choose from, but worry not — the staff are a group of mixology wizards who can all talk you through what will fit your tastes.
Didn’t eat at all because we were so busy obsessing over the cocktails, and the good looking crowd around us in a sexy underground (literally) atmosphere.
Go here next time you are looking for a nice place to grab drinks!

I had a dinner with my gf in this place. very enjoyed it. Nice, romantic atmosphere. Soft music. Food was good! I got my chicken soup. But it wasn’t just a regular chicken noodle (chicken meat with some noodles as in most places), it was much more tasty stuff inside:)
Best Patatas I ever had! Nice Rib steak, very soft meat and tasty.
Great Place. A+ Recommended!

One thing I really love is being surprised by a truly new change up in a sangra recipe that is a home run… this place did just that. I won’t tell you what the unique ingredient is but it is worth trying for sure– it’s in the white sangria.
we came on a quite night so we were able to have the feeling our server had only us to care for.
there were three of us and talked a lot before ordering, and happily we never felt rushed. When we eventually ordered I swear we had just about one of everything. the only item that was just meh in my opinion were the anchovies. by the time the paella came I was too full to eat much of it but was told by my dinner guests it was just right.
I really liked the beef with chimmichuri sauce even though my gal pal made fun of me for ordering a boring item with so many fun dishes to choose from… turnes out she loved it too!

Went here for dinner with 3 others last night… 1492 has a pleasant ambience, with outdoor seating that offered cool breezes on an otherwise humid day.
The white wine sangria was very nice as was the tapas of chicken rolls, prawns, and anchovies/​tomatoes… everything was good. Recommended.

Great service, good food, nice atmosphere.
But where were all of the other diners? I went here Saturday night and made a reservation thinking this restaurant would be packed… but when I showed up 830 most of the restaurant was empty.
All of the dishes we ordered were great — but I would pass on the Calamares A La Romana. It was just fried Calamari — nothing special.

If you’re looking for a quiet oasis to wash away the stress of your day, sail into the shadowy comfort of this Spanish wine and tapas joint.
We got lost in a sea of $ 5 sangria (potent, with chunks of apple and orange and a hint of cinnamon) and $ 7 house wine at the bar-​only all-​night happy hour. After a couple of those, it’s easy to lose your worries in the sexy wood interior lit with dim candlelight while the mellow Spanish-​infused jazz music envelopes you.
We moved to a table in the completely empty dining room for our dinner. The bread basket was the star of our meal, and everything else was just all right. I couldn’t help but feel like I could make any of the veg tapas at home and skip the $ 12 price tags for each plate.
I doubt I’d eat here again, but the lure of the chill atmosphere, the outdoor patio and sangria will likely bring me back.

It’s not that I hated my experience here. It’s just that «meh» really explains my overall feeling.
The Barcelona Sunrise was probably the most exciting thing on the menu, and it was a sweet, sweet cocktail.
The potato croquets, mushrooms in garlic, and bread with cow’s cheese were all things I could have made myself. The Tortilla Espanola was dry and small. I have definitely had many other better ones.
Service was consistent and attentive. But that’s not enough to make it want to come back.

The Good.
–Pleasant service.
–Tasty sangria (although it was a bit weak).
–The chupacabras were decent, cheesy lollipops.
–Beautiful room, with dark, romantic lighting that will hide your unattractiveness from your date.
The Bad.
–Overcooked, disappointingly bland steak.
–Mushroom croquettes are gummy, and coat your mouth unpleasantly.
–The paella with noodles instead of rice, while novel, was really just not very tasty.
The Ugly.
–Dropping a bill on dinner is so much more maddening when you walk away unsatisfied.

This has become one of my favorite restaurants in Manhattan. Everything (vegetarian) that I have had has been spectacular, especially the patatas raras which I always need multiple orders of because they are so darn delicious. The red sangria is the best sangria I have ever had. I always find the service to be awesome and I love eating out in the backyard on warm nights. Whenever people are visiting from out of town I take them here and everyone always loves it.
If I had to say anything negative about 1492, I’d say that the vegetable paella is not worth ordering and either are the desserts. Also, I wish they had more than one bathroom for the entire restaurant. But even with these negs, the restaurant still deserves 5 starts and I can’t wait for my next meal there.

One of my friends recently suggested a tapas dinner at 1492. Though there were other Spanish small plate destinations that I was more aware of and eager to try, he seemed confident that this was a top spot. So, I willingly agreed to meet him there one Thursday evening. As I approached the entrance, I noticed that he was the sole patron in the restaurant, which was quite odd given the day of the week, 7:30 pm prime dinner time, and glowing recommendation he had provided… It turned out that he had actually never been there before. The empty room was certainly disconcerting, but we decided to give it a try regardless.
The cute spot was decorated with Spanish tapestries that transported us to another culture. Rhythmic Spanish melodies created a fun and intimate atmosphere.
Even though 1492 had a terrific cocktail and wine list, one great thing to note was that they allowed BYOB every Sunday through Thursday. We had not had a chance to pick up a bottle on the way, so I had enjoyed an affordable glass of the Marques De Vizhoja Albarino, instead. Its flavor was crisp, light, and sweet. We munched on crispy Spanish bread, while we awaited our sampling platters. The perfect crust and warm, doughy white interior were fabulous.
We also found the service to be friendly and efficient, so we felt badly about the empty tables. However, we eagerly plunged into our tapas options as soon as they arrived.
The Bacalao (codfish) croquettes were crispy balls composed of tender cod and seasoned mashed potato. The large rounds lay over a mixed greens salad, and a small amount of spiced mayonnaise acted as a tangy dipping sauce. A large platter of grilled, herbed mushrooms were doused with an aromatic blend of garlic, lemon, and parsley. The fungi marinade was also supposed to contain chili, but lacked spiced. Regardless, they tasted perfect as they were. Fresh, whole grilled prawns were deliciously tickled with sea salt. The Tuna Empanadas were substantially-​sized turnovers stuffed with Italian-​style tuna and cooked egg. The crisp shell was less greasy than most and resembled a tender phyllo dough. Each bite released a fresh, Mediterranean flavor. The only disappointing component of this plate was the watered down salsa topping. Lastly, a side a bitter sauteed spinach was sweetened by large, plump raisins and crunchy pine nuts. The dish was a slightly oily in comparison to the other tapas that we sampled, but it was still delicious.
1492 provided an authentic and flavorful Spanish experience. I can only hope that more people start to visit this hot spot before it becomes endangered.

Good tapas restaurant. First paella I’ve had since a trip to Barcelona, and I thought it was pretty good. We loved the bacon wrapped dates and jambon croquesttes but I didn’t like the mussels too much. And the cava was great too.
We went at around 10pm on a Sat night and the place was full and everyone was loud and having fun, so I enjoyed the atmosphere. Did not enjoy how dark it was though. I get it, but a tad more light or candles would have made the menu a bit easier to read and prevent me from biting into a bad mussel (yeah, f’ing disgusting).
Overall, I’d go again and bring guests to this place.

I didn’t eat here, so I’m not sure about the food… but walking down Clinton street I saw the sign out front about the backyard garden. Actually most of the place in the back is outdoors, and there’s lots of seating!
I had a caipirinia which wasn’t bad. Dunno if it was worth $ 10, but the french waitress was cute — though not so friendly. The graphiti art on the back wall was kinda cool too, gave it that old LES feel, maybe it’s been there that long, who knows…
This place is worth a stop for sure. Cozy, and dark, with plenty of cute corners for a good date.

This is a nice place with good ambiance. We could not eat in the garden due to the heat and impending rain, but inside was nice. Some tables have a bench on one side and chairs on the other. A party of 5 was no problem in 1492 and the food and the service was very good, as well as the drinks.
The best food of the night was: Datiles Con Bacon (dates, bacon and almonds), Croquetas De Jamon (serrano ham croquettes) and something super tasty fried and served in a lollipop format, I think there was some ham inside, it was the best dish. Also got the seafood paella, as well as the black paella which were both good.
They had excellent caipirinhas (best I have had) and bottled Sol and Estrella, in addition to many other drinks. The service was nice. The place was pretty empty on a Tuesday night at 8 p.m. I would definitely go here again and I thought the final bill, food plus alcohol, was reasonable for what we got.