Cafe Riazor

The squid paella and pulpo!!! My family has been coming here for years and I’ve even brought high school and college friends here.

Maybe it’s unfair to write this review being that it’s Christmas Eve but boy did everything take so long! Maybe they were just understaffed, idk. The veal stuffed ham and cheese wasn’t flavorful and the veal was extremely raw in some parts, the yellow rice was very bland, and the only good thing at my table was the filet mignon which was super delicious along with the broiled potato.
If you’re already in Chelsea and you’re just dying to eat filet mignon, I’d go here.
I suggest maybe trying the tapas only.

With rave reviews on its walls from the mid-​90s, this traditional tapas place is now sadly disappointing. Despite friendly and pretty service, most of the dishes are not done decently. The black (squid ink) paella is of course interesting, but pretty uneven (delicious in some bites, too salty in others). I love seeing NYC venues that manage to survive decades — but if this place wants to stay relevant/​afloat, they need a major kitchen overhaul.

I love this restaurant! I returned last evening for the first time in many years and was thrilled to find that Café Riazor is still going strong! This family owned and run establishment really delivers a taste or Spain and Old New York in one shot! Fantastic food and service at a great price!

I was skeptical when I walked in, but the food was awesome. I had the chorizo as well as the garlic mushrooms, and my boyfriend had the Arroz con Pollo. They were delicious and reasonably priced, especially for NYC. The ambiance could use a bit of work, but it’s not bad overall. I’d definitely go again.

What a lovely selection of tapas! Dinner here was enticing; we had the calamares al ajo (which was delicious, had a fiesty flavor), the croquetas de pollo (they were too mushy), the patatas bravas (which paired lovely with everything), and chorizo (didn’t really taste them haha, but they we’re vibrant!)
As for entrees, the camarones en salsa verde was way too thick… felt more like an Italian dish than Latin. The pollo riazor was delicious! It had a tangy kick to it, worked well with the yellow rice. I should also state that while the tapas were pretty small, the entrees had very large servings, go figure lol.
It’s a nice restaurant with a semi intimate feel (it’s more casual towards the back of the restaurant), and it felt like I wasn’t in Manhattan anymore; sort of like a minor retreat into another country.
Staff was extremely accommodating and checked in on us periodically. Overall a lovely experience :). Definitely worth going to again!

Ran into this place while walking around Chelsea w my family (who happen to be from the Basque region of Spain). The food was bland and overcooked.
The service was fine, but they tried to add a 24% tip to our bill. There were only four of us, and there were no signs that mentioned tips.
I would not recommend this restaurant.

Excellent spot for a dinner date as the place is cozy and romantically decorated in red. Although the place lost one star because they took about 20 – 30 minutes to bring out the seafood paella, the ambiance was excellent and the wait left a fair amount of time for me and the boyfriend to talk. When the food arrived, I couldn’t even be mad because it was just delicious! Even after the 2 hour meal, service was excellent as we were never rushed. There are a bunch of different sized tables so this place is really ideal for any intimate occasion, such as a date, family time, or catch up time with friends.

I feel so guilty for never reviewing this restaurant until now! I’ve been a patron here for over 20 years and I can’t say enough about Café Riazor.
The food is delicious, the sangria is superb (red), the service is so wonderful and the space itself is like a little hidden grotto.
I’ve brought/​sent family and friends here over the years and they continue that tradition. Can’t give a much better recommendation than that.
Bring family, go on a date, slip in and dine solo at the bar, whatever works.

Terrible food and terribly slow service…
The food had terrible presentation– which wouldn’t matter if the food was good, but it was tasteless and look unappetizing. I’ve been to many Spanish restaurants in the city and this one was as far from authentic as you could get. The put tostitos and stale bread on the table… And they advertise as an ‘authentic’ Spanish restaurant…

I have been to this restaurant many times the food and service are always excellent and they’re very excited every time you come back. The food is very traditional Spanish/​Mediterranean flavor. This is a staple I love the octopus salad they have as an appetizer and they arroz con pollo is always really good!
If you love good red wine their house wine is fantastic and if you going to have a big party the paella is a must!
And don’t forget to have your port wine at the end of dinner

The food here at Riazor is awesome please order the grilled octopus and squid ink paella is Delicious, great sangria.

Mom and pop Spanish tapa restaurant in Chelsea had amazing food. I tried 5 – 6 of their tapas and they were all seasoned very well and had great flavor. I also had a bowl of their chicken soup and that was also very good as well. Dishes to try: mushroom tapas, scallops, octopus, and the garlic bread with the tomato on top.
Service was attentive and got to is as soon as we needed anything.
Overall a great restaurant if you like Traditional Spanish tapas.

Attentive service. The octopus and chorizo with special sauce are to die for. Good wine choices. Calm place, good for conversation and friends/​family get togethers. Décor slightly outdated but who cares so long as the food and service are top notch.

I love this place. Fantastic service, delicious food and drinks. My favorite place in the City — I wish I could go more often.

The service was very friendly and attentive. The food, however, took a while especially the paella. The flavors are a little muted; nothing really stood out.
Might be slightly overpriced.

It’s a family affair… and it’s been working since they first opened their doors in 1974. Four steps down from an otherwise residential block with dim lights, old travel posters and the stucco walls are meant to harken back to the Galician coast in the northwest corner of Spain — the place where Riazor gets its name from.
The menu is pretty much unchanged in the near 40 years of its existence. To say that Café Riazor is a venerable institution would be stating the obvious. The food is homestyle, generously portioned and authentic «detox-​friendly» Mediterranean.
Tapas and seafood shine here. Definitely worth a visit!
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TAPAS/​APPETIZERS
Aceitunas adobadas $ 5.00
pickled spanish olives
Champinones al ajillo $ 7.75
mushrooms sauteed in garlic
Pulpo a la gallega $ 10.75
warm octopus seasoned with spanish paprika & olive oil
Pulpo $ 10.75
cold octopus salad marinated with olive oil, paprika, onions, & red pepper
Boquerones en vinagre $ 8.75
fresh anchovies and onions seasoned with a vinagrette dressing
Tortilla espanola $ 7.00
thick potato, egg, & onion omelette
SOUPS
small $ 4.75
large $ 5.75
Sopa de pollo
chicken soup
chicken, vegetables, and rice in a tomato based broth
Sopa de pescado
fish soup
fish, vegetables, and rice in a tomato based broth

SALADS
(salads are served with oil & vinegar dressing)
Ensalada mixta $ 4.50
mixed green
Lechuga y tomate $ 4.00
lettuce & tomato
Tomate y cebolla en rebanadas $ 4.75
sliced tomatoes & onions
ENTREES
(ask about daily specials)
all entrees are served with house salad and one side dish except for the following
all entrees except mariscada, paella, arroz con pollo, bacalao, vegetarian rice, and costilleta de ternera riazor are served with your choice of:
boiled potatoes, white rice, yellow rice, or steamed vegetables
Seafood
calamares a la cazuela $ 18.50
squid sauteed in a tangy tomato, garlic, olive oil, and wine sauce
Pargo a la parilla $ 18.75
whole red snapper broiled with lemon wedges in a garlic & wine sauce
Bacalao $ 18.00
cod stewed with potatoes, paprika, garlic & olive oil
Lubina a la parilla $ 18.50
whole striped bass broiled with lemon wedges in a garlic & wine sauce
Pescado en salsa verde (merluza o salmon)
hake or salmon steaks poached in a thick parsley sauce 18.00

Meats and Poultry
Pollo asado 18.00
half chicken broiled with mild spices

VEGETARIAN
Arroz vegetariano $ 13.75
vegetarian paella with assorted vegetables
Side dishes
Arroz blanco $ 3.00
white rice
Arroz amarillo $ 3.00
yellow rice
Patatas hervidas $ 3.50
boiled potatoes
Vegetales $ 4.00
steamed vegetables
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*DETOX APPROVED = NO processed sugar, dairy, wheat, wheat-​gluten, non-​organic, non-​fermented soy products, deep fried foods, red meat, shell-​fish
As always, give me shout if this worked out for you… or if for some reason it didn’t.

Sadly– this is off the list. I wanted it to be good because I live on the block– but no such luck. My girlfriend and I ordered 7 – 8 tapas to try the dishes.
The waitress kept speaking to us in Spanish– we don’t speak Spanish and her English was fine once she spoke. The calamari was the chewiest thing ever– we couldn’t eat it– the other dishes were just an ok at best, mussles, shrimp and garlic, rice, octopus– they forgot to bring two things we ordered (they weren’t busy– only 1 other table). The black beans with cheese were actually good– but it’s not a saving grace.
Sadly– skip it.

The food is amazing, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is quaint, and the staff is exactly what you want. Family owned and you can tell every dish is made with love. I crave the dishes and I can’t wait till the next time I dine here. Also, I’m definitely bringing the next set of out-​of-​towners to dine here.
The chef came out and visited with every table to see how the food was. I love it!
The dishes to eat are:
Mariscada En Salsa Verde seafood platter of mussels, clams, shrimp, and lobster piece in a thick parsley sauce $ 19
Filet Mignon filet mignon broiled with red wine, olive oil, and garlic $ 26

There was flashes of expertise here. Like the texture of the Spanish omelet (tortilla Española) and the Octopus. As well as the Tripe on the stew (Callos). The menu displays the prototypical Spanish cuisine and I liked that some of the tapas were served in a terracotta plate. How Spanish is that. But when it comes to the flavor it was just non-​right
And I don’t know what to think about the ambiance. There is something about descending underground and enter in a space embedded in red light accentuated by other red elements that I just don’t find appealing at all. But truth is, once you get use to it, it is actually quite intimate… yes, candles light, you know it. Such and effect for those tiny, dancing drops of light. And it feels good also because of the service. Besides of the one who rush us at the end with a non that welcoming face, everybody else was wonderful, specially the host. However, even when the name Riazor stands for a region in Galicia that once became very popular because their soccer team made tremble the giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona for many years, the reality is that Café Riazor looks more like an Andalusia country-​house, in fact, more like the patio that would be outside, with those white walls and the balconies, which is fine with me you know? but just saying. In addition to this, it looks also to be design to satisfy Spanish immigrants of the 50’s to calm down their yearning. Nothing wrong either, other than a little bit too much. And so you can see posters with images of what you have surely see in those souvenirs like fans, foulard, and T-​shirts that claim loud, Made in Spain … The Spanish version of our «I love NY»
Anyways, the first bite to the Tortilla (Spanish omelette) was as pleasant as a homey dinner. Home expertise (i.e. grandma) looks to be behind only for the way it is made. But it was on the salty side and it had an strange flavor that I can hypothesize where is coming from, but what would be the point of that. It also looked to me it was reheated for way too long. The pulpo a la Gallega (octopus in olive oil and paprika) was right in texture, which is quite an accomplishment by itself. I tried to overlook that is was dancing on oil and that it had a trace of tangy flavor that shouldn’t be there while the smokey paprika taste, signature of this dish, was barely noticeable. I tried, but after a few bites I decided that I didn’t like it any more. I’ll just mention as a side note that the slices were also too tiny. The next two tapas were an exhibition of the same tomato sauce, surrounding and overpowering everything else that was on the plate: Vieiras (Scallops) al estilo Vigo, which at Café Riazor are described as scallops lightly baked with cheese and tomato sauce. Why cheese on this scallops? that I don’t know and there was much more free interpretation of the recipe. Overall the tomato sauce was the only distinctive flavor. The patatas bravas (chunky fried potatoes in tangy tomato sauce) were non spicy at all. Nothing Brava about it, because it is all about the sauce and once again this was not right, but just plain tomato sauce like the one you use for pasta. And I don’t want to enter into the question if it was homemade. We also order Callos a la Gallega, which are Tripe, sausage and chickpea stew. That was the best one, although the chickpeas were undercook. To end we also order Pan con Tomate y Ajo (Bread with tomato). When in a Spanish restaurant you expect this to be the popular Pa amb tomàquet or Pan Tumaca originally from Catalonia and consisting in bread slices optionally toasted (and better if you use payes or chapatti bread) rubbed with tomato and garlic (if you decide to use it) and finished with olive oil and salt. Riazor’s version … really … the bread was crispy and way too greasy, soaked on oil, and there was slices of crudo tomato and chopped garlic on the top in addition to powder garlic ending up being just too much garlic. Even so, I have to say I liked it.
The truth is that it was reasonably priced, the service was very nice and friendly, the experience was pleasant and there is a menu full of many other dishes to try. I would low my expectations for authenticity and food taste. If that is enough, I would say go ahead.