Ventanas

VENTANAS!!! (Or Flor De Sol?) How I wish you weren’t so damn far. That said, I’d re-​walk every mile to get here simply for the oxtail empanadas.
My first time coming here I really had no clue what I was looking for, or that I would find this little gem among the 100s of restaurant/​lounge/​bars in the area. I had just come from a walk on the Highline, and I was starving. I saw the happy hour sign and couldn’t resist $ 6 sangrias and tapas.
Once inside I marched right up to the bar determined to order one of everything on that happy hour menu. I quickly recoiled once I realized I had no clue what to order because most of the menu was in Spanish. Strange? Yes! Not sure if that was intentional or what, but the sweetie pie (and might I add very handsome) bar tender must have seen my confusion because he came right over and walked me through the entire menu.
I ended up ordering the oxtail empanadas, something else I can’t remember because it didn’t compare to the empanadas, a mojito, and some sort of martini.
I took away one star because I haven’t had the full Ventanas/​Flor De Sol experience. I.e. this lounge that everyone’s talking about. However, I’d definitely go back for it.
I walked in hungry and confused and left drunk and happy. I’d say that’s a win!

Never tried the food here, just came here for the lounge/​club night. Place is pretty small and tight, not much places you can move around or go too. My ladies and I wanted to have us a night of non stop dancing since its been a while since we had ourselves a ladies night especially in the city.
The DJ wasn’t bad that night but the VIP/​bottle service tables weren’t that great, they were like very small and just like in the middle or sides of the main dining area which people were around and like sardines and you def. couldn’t even dance and that sucked. People pretty much just stand around and watch people walk by. I don’t even know how the bottle girls could get by to tables cause it was just so packed out.
The drinks were pretty expensive, a basic cranberry vodka could run you like $ 16 which is crazy but then again were in the city so prices are the limit.
I felt they should of removed the dining tables from the dance floor area cause it took up too much room in the place not that there was much of a dance floor.
I don’t think I would go back to this place again for the lounge part but it was good to experience a new place, but I would try it for dinner and see how it goes.

My brother in law celebrated his birthday here. So i went to party only, didnt eat.
Place is really nice, its in the meatpacking district. Romantic ambience, colorful drapes around the huge windows, fabulous embroidered pillows and velvety benches and booths, huge bar area, seperate from the dance floor dj space.
nice staff. I got there around 11:30ish (on a saturday), so the party crowd was already starting to form. parking is not good around this area, so give yourself time or park in a garage. place is not so big, dj is good so it seemed to get really crowed.
Drinks are good, think they are 15 bucks a pop for a skinny glass… lol. its the city, i’m willing to accept it already… lol.
coat check. cover charge after 11 on saturday. dress is trendy dressy. crowd is mid 20’s — mid 30’s ish?
I would really like to go back and eat at this spot, i’ve heard the food is really good.

Leaving the parking lot on a windy cold Saturday night, we were freezing our bums off. We decided to find the nearest place to grab dinner, and lo and behold there was Ventanas. When we walked in and mentioned to the hostess that we’re looking for a table for 3 people, they were able to accommodate us on the condition that we leave after 90 minutes because of some large party that made a reservation. We were fine with that.
The restaurant was pretty dim, but it added a nice cozy yet romantic ambiance to the restaurant. I never heard of this place, but the tapas in the menu sounded AMAZING.
The place gives you complimentary bread with olive oil. It was okay, the olive oil tasted decent, but it wasn’t mind blowing.
I was asked to order whatever I want because supposedly i have good taste in food –_​– Anyway, i started off ordering 4 tapas:
Camarones Al Ajillo shrimp in garlic. This was yummy, but small. There were too many pieces of shirmp. The garlic was very strong in the dish, but it was also a bit salty. Luckily, i like salt, so i didn’t mind the over seasoned dish. It was a bit oily.
I also ordered the Empanadas Espinaca spinach and manchego empanadas. This is VERY VERY HOT! If you order an empanada here, don’t put it in your mouth right away. Cut a piece, so the hot air vents out. The empanda crust was a bit oily again, and i tasted very little spinach.
The 3^rd dish: Albondigas lamb meatballs was ehhh forgettable. It had a little lamb flavor to it, and it was pretty much just tasted like oil and salt.
The 4^th dish was the best dish of the night: Pulpo A La Gallega grilled octopus. After a spritz of lemon juice, the octopus can be cut to perfection because it is so tender. Seriously, you didn’t even need a knife to cut this; you can use your fork. It was that tender. I think the texture was great, but flavor wise, i’ve had better octopus (like at MP Taverna and Kefi).
When the 3^rd person arrived, we ordered the octopus again as well as Calamares A La Parilla grilled squid. Ehh it was okay. It was pretty much like the octopus but chewier.
A weird moment was when the lights brightened and the manager had to come by and apologize for the accident. So odd…
Overall, the food looked better than it tasted, but it wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t great either, but I’m glad they were able to accommodate us without any reservations.

Good location, if you’re walking the highline you can easily come here for a bite to eat.
Love the ambiance. Great for a date night or just catching up with girlfriends. I’m a sucker for tapas, I love to be greedy and sample everything. The place is decently sized but I rarely ever see it packed. or semi packed. whatever, better for me!
My favorites are:
Short Ribs — tender, flavorful
Guacamole — comes with plantain chips.
Octopus — tender, not too chewy
Umm, the sweet plantain dish that’s stuffed with good stuff. sorry I can’t remember!
Can’t forget a pitcher. or two. of sangria! Don’t judge me ha.

Said i was going back and i did.
Went for a late lunch and the service was 100 times better.
Serving size seems to have gotten bigger too.(yes i know it’s Tapas)
so check it out… it’s never crowded and there’s no DJ as far as i know

Exotic, vibrant and spacious — that’s how I would describe Ventanas. Maybe because I’m from Boston where restaurants lack interior design, but I was definitely ooh-​ing and ahh-​ing at the stunning décor. The style set the tone for celebrating a special occasion; it was my friend’s bachelorette dinner party.
Fortunately, the tapas also impressed us:
— oxtail empanadas — tender meat tucked inside deep fried pastry shells. I like to call them Spanish hot pockets.
— patatas bravas — I always order this at any tapas place and loved it here too, esp. with the aioli sauce. It did not come with the standard spicy tomato sauce.
— short rib shish kebabs — the meat was juicy, tender, with perfect grilled flavor
— shrimps & (bay) scallops in white wine/​garlic sauce — cooked perfectly and not oily
— mussels in coconut curry broth — great flavor, but did the mussels go through a shrink machine beforehand? The pieces were legit the size of dimes and pennies, but cost much more than that (not worth it IMO).
We also ordered the seafood paella, which was saucy the way I like it, and chock full of shellfish, Spanish sausage, and chicken. The only problem was the miniature size of the mussels and clams.
Service started out good and then they kind of forgot about us. I would’ve ordered a second strawberry mojito but the staff were MIA after we received all our food. Our water glasses were also empty for a while.
Ventanas was definitely on the pricey side for tapas and not ideal for regular dining, but if you’ve got $$$ and guests to impress, feel free to take them here.

Unter der High Line im Meatpackaging District liegt das Ventanas, eines von mehreren spanisch und kubanisch inspirierten Restaurants derselben Gruppe, die auf Manhattan oder in New Jersey aktiv ist. Und wenn man von dem Bummeln auf der friedlichen High Line Hunger bekam, viel Hunger wohlgemerkt, dann gibt es das spanische Ventanas nur schnell runter von der High Line auf der Höhe 16^th, dann sitzt man im Ventanas.
Das Interieur reklamiert für sich laut www spanisch-​andalusischen Stil, ich sehe fast schon eher maurischen als wäre Spanien tatsächlich noch immer mohammedanisch. Aber das kann man ja interpretieren. Man sitzt auf harten Holzstühlen, aber der gemeine vorbeicruisende Japaner kann seinen nächsten Europaurlaub abkürzen, denn Spanien hat er hiernach ja schon. (Natürlich nicht, war ein Joke).
So, dann mal zur Tapasauswahl:
+ Patatas Bravas etwas anders interpretiert, eher amerikanisch als Potato Wedges mit einem Spritzer Sauce, die eine Mojo darstellen soll damit aber qualitativ und quantitativ hoffnungslos überfordert ist.
+ Albondigas Lammhackbällchen, die wirklich nach Lamm schmeckten in würziger Tomatensauce, ja, gerne.
+ Chorizo Espanola darf nicht fehlen, ist aber dünn aufgeschnitten wie ich es noch nie gesehen hatte. Schmeckt aber wie eine Chorizo.
+ Pan Tumaca Baguetteschnittchen mit leckerer Tomatencreme und darauf Serranoschinken, total lecker und ganz einfach. Nicht fragen, bestellen.
+ Pinchos de Res Verflixt, das hatte nicht ich mir bestellt, aber es blieb etwas über. Traumhaft. In einer zimtaromatisierten kräftigen Sauce ist ein Stück Short Rib so lange gebacken, bis es traumhaft zart, so wie ein guter Tafelspitz ist aber kräftig. Hammer, selten ein besseres Stück Fleisch gegessen hierfür ein ganzer Stern. Fabelhaft.
+ Calamare Parilla faire Tintenfischersatzteile, die gut gegrillt in Olivenöl eine hervorragende spanische Ergänzung gaben.
Die Portionen sind reichlich, mit sechs Tapas werden zwei Erwachsene wirklich satt. Zu trinken gab es neben Wasser What beer is on tap? Only bottles and spanish domestic beers a Corona? Achso. Die sind jetzt von Mexiko weggezogen. Naja, aber nette Idee die aber 8US$ pro Ausschank kostet. Soll ja keiner behaupten, dass das hier eine billige Absteige sei. Am Ende bezahlen wir für wirklich gute Qualität und die oben genannten Speisen mit Tipp, Steuer, Versicherung, Kraftstoffzuschlag, Gutewettersurcharge und watt weiss ich etwa 120, US$ aber wenn es gut schmeckt, warum denn nicht?

Been here a few times for my birthday party and then again for my wife birthday. She been there before with her friends for drinks and Tapas and she said the food was good so I decided to take her back and have dinner.
My opinion of the place:
GOOD:
–nice place
–looks good outside and inside
–really good music, on saturday night when is lounge time after 11:30pm the place gets really good
–grown and sexy people
–Great service by the staff
–food was very good and good flavors
–great coconut mojitos
CONS:
–If you go for dinner the place is dark can’t see what it is that your eating.
–difficult to find parking
–over price menu (overall)
–had an appetizer, 2 drinks and 2 main course meal and the bill was $ 96 (2 people)
–of course can’t forget the NYC expensive drinks in little slim cups full of ice.
After all my wife and I said to each other the same thing, the food is over priced, the place is dark and kind of wish we went to eat some where else. For the amount of money I paid that night and the food I ate i could of gone some where else and paid way less.
PS: you want delicous and WAY cheaper spanish food go to BOCA CHICA.