Alta Reviews

Great spot where you almost feel like you are in someone's home. We dined on the top floor with Jeremy and Holly - fun and accommodating! Favorites include fried goat cheese, risotto, lamb meatballs, Brussels sprouts and the shrimp! And get the "candy bar" dessert too! Loved!!

Lets suppose there are a million restaurants in Manhattan. What's the point of remembering a name when there are so many more to explore - a general mindset, point of reference. Well maybe one in fifty you really want to remember, because the place is some kind of gem to which you want to bring other places. This is such a place. Hard to find. Walk down as if to a basement in a brownstone, walk into a nice bar area and then open to an expansive two floor place like one would find in a splendid suburb (Saddle River Inn??). Menu was simply great. Food was great. Service was great. Actually could be a romantic setting. I don't think anybody will be disappointed by the effort which the restaurateur puts forth or the end product. Congrats if you discover this place - your lucky!!

Cute house setting with small tables. Tapas style dining. Every dish was phenomenal and tasty. Staff were very welcoming and knowledgeable about GF options and avoiding cross contamination. The caullini was fresh and superbly cooked, not overdone. The meatballs were rich and tasty. Highly recommend.

I love this place. Have been coming for years. Sit at the bar and have a snack or get a table. Nice meeting place for friends or a cozy date.

This place is like a Tapas place, but not really. The portions are smaller and meant to be shared with your party. The place is fairly popular and noisy, but if that does not bother you, the food is very good with a couple of exceptions. We really enjoyed the Paella (could have more rice like a traditional paella), the Hen Wood and the Short Ribs, The mussels were a bit under cooked and it seemed that the sand was not completely washed clean.

Our party of 6 had a very nice dinner at Alta on a Saturday evening in August. Highlights included: lamb meatballs, fried goat cheese with honey, salmon tartare, roasted beets and braised short ribs. A lot of energy when the restaurant is full so a bit noisy. Service was very good.

We enjoyed every aspect of the menu. Had a drink at the bar before dinner. Service was friendly and welcoming. Cheese tray was amazing. Good selection of unique small plates. Great neighborhood. Highly recommend.

Came here for my Bday celebration, waited for the waiter for 20 minutes, the food is very small and consider the price its not worth it. Also our food came at the different time, so when half of my friend finished eating the other half just get the food. Not worth it.

You know that Twilight Zone episode where a couple finds themselves in a picture-perfect neighborhood, but the chirping birds are from a radio, and the food is made of foam, and the grass is fake? (Hint-They are in a giant alien child's dollhouse) The food is very beautiful and sounds delicious in the descriptions. But tastes like air. No seasoning, salt etc. Chef takes no risks.

The problem, when entertaining friends who actually own(ed) a restaurant overseas, is that one runs the huge risk of not meeting a certain higher standard… and we thought we were overcoming that hurdle here. But not quite, apparently, as we thought they esteemed guests were not quite as impressed as we were. Aw, shucks… we tried. Alta is located off 6th Avenue in downtown NYC, in what at first appears to be a residential building. The entrance looks like that of a home, and one steps down about 5 steps from the sidewalk to the basement level, and into this dark-woody, two-level, European style interior with a high balcony-like upper level overlooking the main floor through a central cut-out.. somewhat like a small, Mediterranean street / courtyard in Spain: charming, cozy and yet inviting and comfortable... And the noise level is also reflective of that atmosphere. The place was packed, and we were seated “upstairs”, at a small table near the steps. The staff were very hospitable, and offered to move us to another spot if one opened up soon, but I declined: didn’t want to make the effort after settling down with our guests, though it was busy, dark and noisy at that table with all the stair traffic… So ~ it seems we put down a lot of very good wine: our guests made the selections (he knows something about wines, by the pricetag..) and also good-ish food. Portions tended to be somewhat small for the price and so one racks up the tab fast, which is the problem with tapas: small plates by another name. Basically, all the dishes were smallish, though tasty and well prepared. The short rib is juicy and soft, well marinated and cooked just right, but could have a little more of everything. And the lighting needs an upgrade.

Was part of a group celebrating a friend's achievement and as a group we were willing to overlook the bland and expensive food because we were wanting to be joyful. The room was handsome, yes, but we were continually scolded by management for wanting to alter our table to accommodate our group, and although we agreed to pay a corkage fee we were not allowed to do so. The manager's chastisement came to us in anger and in public. It did much to ruin (but not completely) the evening and we all agreed if this humdrum restaurant could not recognize that people came together in its large space to mark an occasion, then its management lacked the hospitality factor and it did not deserve parties larger than zero.

We were only 2, or we would have liked to order the whole menu! It was just one better than the next. The only item That was good but didn't blow my mind was the burrata cheese Dish. I would certainly Go back for the bacon wrapped olives, goat cheese balls, Philadelphia surprise, foie gras, lamb meatballs, and the tatare. We had a lovely wine from montalcino and ended it with a yummy molten choc cake with a very strong - almost bitter - espresso ice cream! Yum! Thanks Alta for a super night

We went to this restaurant on The 9th of September. All The food was just delicious. The restaurant was a little noisy but the friends who live in NY said that All The restaurants in Ny are noisy. The service was satisfactory. I did not pay , I was invited so I can't make a comment on The price level. But if you like tapas you won't regret this choice.

We had so much fun at this restaurant. The service was great the food amazing and the Sangria was dangerously good. We had a party of 8 people and the restaurant accommodated us beautifully. The food was excellent and the Sangria....well the Sangria snuck up on all of us. The venue is absolutely beautiful. Food has a different flavor than typical spicey food. I love spicy food so I loved everything that was ordered, for anyone with extreme sensitivity to spice you may want to stick with more basic items on the menu. I would definitely come back to this place next time I visit NYC. Thank you to Alta for amazing new memories with friends who had not got together in quite some time.

My husband & I celebrated our 3rd year wedding anniversary here on Tuesday night and it was quite lovely & romantic. I made the rez online which was quick & easy. It neglects to let you know a major point which is that the restaurant only takes cash or Amex. We had Amex, but there's an ATM across the street. We were given a lovely greeting by the hostess and mgr upon going to the host stand which is midway to the back of the restaurant behind the long bar and bar area which takes up the front half upon entering. There is a back main dining area a few steps up which is quite lovely, warm, & cozy. We were seated on the mezzanine level one flight up which overlooked the main dining room. We had a sweet 2 top with a great view below, but quaint as we had no tables beside us, just in front & behind. There is another front section of tables as well. The waiter was prompt, professional, & personable. The staff was on top of everything during the entire dining experience. I had noted it was our anniversary when I made the rez and there was a sweet note at the top of our menu wishing us a "Happy Anniversary" and the waiter gave us a glass of champagne to begin the evening's celebration. That was such a great touch & much appreciated! I ordered a vodka martini, hubby a manhattan, both were great. We ordered 3 apps and 2 entrees to share. Everything came out perfectly presented & absolutely delicious! We also capped it off with a yummy dessert. I would HIGHLY recommend a beautiful & romantic dining experience here!

This place is outstanding, it isn't too often that you can literally enjoy every single item off the menu! I didn't get the chance to try the Whole Shebang the last time I visited, but the time before that I had the entire menu with a group of 7 and I have absolutely no complaints from any dish. I cannot remember my waiter's name from last time, but he was nice and my favorite dishes from the current menu are any of the lamb dishes. The scallops and grilled octopus were also so juicy and delicious! Definitely worth a visit if you want tapas and especially if you have a big party, order the Whole Shebang, it's a lot of fun!

Good bar scene with a short although interesting menu. large variety of mezcal options and other fancy sounding cocktails. Food was very good, small plates , a bit pricey for the size but you get high quality and interesting combinations. Personally I did not like the mezcal and I think the prices are quite high, I’ll stick to premium tequila for the price. The scene is hipster and a younger crowd but my wife and I had a nice dinner date in this place. Small tables, busy atmosphere but overall a good place. Try the cauliflower “al pastor” taco; I’m not a vegetarian but if I can get more non-meat delicacies like this I will not hesitate. Overall good ambience and creative, tasty twist to Mexican influences food.

Really good tapas - each plate was better than the last. Six plates for two of us was a perfect dinner. Enjoyed the balcony seating and upbeat atmosphere. Friendly and helpful waitstaff.

I have been here many times and the atmosphere is nice, menu is tasty, service is good and its in a great neighborhood. The thing with tapas (especially upscale American tapas) is that it adds up and gets expensive. With that being said, dishes are awesome and I will be back yet again...

This restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and the staff is super nice. It's really tucked away and not readily obvious where it is; I walked past it a couple of times before I found it. The food is very good and the portion sizes are just right. I have to admit I made a pig of myself because there were so many good things on the menu. I had the fried goat cheese (a little sweet for my tastes from the honey), scallops, crispy brussels sprouts (REALLY good), and the duck confit rolls (spicey). Each dish comes out when you are finished with the previous one so that the food is at its optimum. I'll definitely return when I'm in the area to try some more of the dishes.

Went for dinner with 6 people, food very good, ambiance great but they make a point to tell it is a sharing menu...unfortunately there wasn't enough to share. The waitress told us 10 dishes would be good to "start" which we did. We had to add 4 more dishes and decided not to spend anymore money because we were all still hungry. We paid our $495.00 bill and went for pizza.

I went early, before a concert, and there were only a few others at the bar. Since I was alone, I sat there and ordered the brussels sprouts and beet salad, with a glass of wine. Enjoyed the food very much, but one bartender just took my order with no effort at friendliness. The other one, who was doing something right in front of me, studiously ignored me and my empty glass for ages. It was annoying if not rude.

The Best Red Sangria !! This is a great small plate restaurant. Only issue was beware they don't take VISA. Had to run out a few blocks to an ATM to get cash.

This is simply a Mediterranean gem on 10th Street in the West Village. Visited for the 2nd time last night. The restaurant is a 15 year old venue (lived in the area for years and never knew it existed - no sign, you need to know about it. Located in a multiple-story, old town house). The "small plate" offerings are creative and perfectly served. The wait staff is cordial, well trained and knowledgable. Just visit their web page to breathe-in the atmosphere. Looking for a romantic table in the corner... this is your place. -kd

The food was fantastic and the staff was friendly. The gnocchi and the prime rib was to die for. I strongly recommend this place.

We enjoyed trying of a wide variety of creative menu items. We each chose two small plates to share and it was just enough. We ordered a few at a time and it was spaced out nicely. Everything was delicious. Don’t skip the desserts. Service was terrific. We ate on the second floor and enjoyed the atmosphere at Alta. It was not cheap, but it was the most enjoyable meal of our trip to NYC

The portion size is small but food is great. The pork empanadas were just okay, every thing else tasted soooo good. We had bacon wrapped olives/dates (3 of each, total 6), seared scallops, fried goat cheese, lamb meatballs, ricotta gnocchi, grilled shrimp and warm choc cake. Will definitely go back to try more food. The ambience is great.

We were 6. Heard it was good. Tapas are small as expected but prices are large for tapas. Food was good, service fair, very noisy had to almost scream to be heard. Very warm too. Wound up costing $300 including wine. 20% tip included. Cash or Am Ex only!

Went to Alta with another couple on a busy Saturday night. Casual atmosphere. The room was a bit noisy but it had a good buzz to it. The food was amazing. We each decided that we would choose two dishes. And we had 8 different plates. My favorite was the goat cheese balls. Least favorite was the meatballs bc they had a weird spice. But I truly loved all of the eats. Want to go back immediately. Maybe next time I’ll ask to sit upstairs for a slightly different experience.

My wife and I met two friends from Germany here. The entrance looks like you are descending to a basement apartment, I don't believe there was even a sign. But once inside the atmosphere is warm and comfortable. We sat on the second floor at the back, where you can be away but still people watch. We ordered from the tapas menu, all of the items were very flavorful and we shared a very good couple bottles of wine that were not totally unreasonably priced. We stayed for hours and were never pressured to leave. Highly recommend them.

We had a fantastic meal here. Every dish we ate was delicious but the calamari was devine; The service is attentive and the prices very reasonable. Didn't have a clue about any of the wines - the waiter solved that for us was an excellent recommendation of one of their most modestly priced wines. It is terribly noisy -- less so upstairs -- but even so I wouldn't hesitate to come back because the food was soooo good.

The title is not an exaggeration. Alta really is one of the best Tapas restaurants I have been to. We were in a large party of 9 so we decided to go for the "Whole Shabang", which was every single item on the menu. Took the decision making away. Every single dish was delicious and the amount was ideal. Great experience!!

You can easily walk right by the restaurant - the below street level entrance looks like a bar rather than a restaurant - but walk to the back and you will be impressed with the layout of the restaurant and the food. Ever dish we had was very good and designed to share. The wine list complements the food. Our service was a bit spotty, but there were some large groups and that could account for it. Would certainly go back again.

Excellent food and great ambience , the drinks and good and the place has a cozy Spanish look. Portions are small so you have to order multiple dishes, and a very nice restaurant, Nd not too expensive.

Often I find tapas restaurants where I land up going just for 1 or 2 things they are good at, while being ok at others. Here is a place that has a rather diverse menu and yet manages to do justice to so many of the traditional tapas favorites and some new ones. I am a meat lover and yet found some of the vegetarian options to be amazing - chickpeas, hen of the woods, brussel sprouts. The octopus and shrimp are great. Paella doesnt disappoint. After this build up you move on to pork belly and meatballs. Ah divine.

We ended up at Alta by mistake, and it turned out as a great surprise. The food was amazing, small plates but all in the spirit of a tapas restaurant. Reasonably priced and good atmosphere overall, considering it was a Sunday night. They only take Amex or cash, so be prepared in case you’re planning a visit.

With 12000 restaurants in the city, it is difficult to get noticed. I am grateful to the legions of TA reviewers out there to guide us to the right place. I had never hear of that place, but I was looking for a good dinning places around the 9th st path station. Reviews was great for Alta just around the corner on 10th st. Cozy place, look small but had seats upstairs. Good ambiance, with patrons enjoying the early evening. Many yummy stuffs on the menu: we settle for four: stuffed dates and olives, the grilled octopus, the pork belly, and the paella. All excelent, but the prize went to seafood paella: much better than most big paellas in the city. Definitely an 11 out of 10. The olive cake dessert was also up to part. Overall, 5 tapas small plates with 1 glass of wine, about $100 for two. It is rare to have all what you order to be delicious. Not I want to go back to taste the rest!

I made a reservation for May 9th at Alta over 3 weeks ago. I called on the 8th to confirm and was told the owner decided last minute just to close the restaurant. This was for my sons birthday and now I am struggling to find another restaurant last minute. Absolutely horrible customer service. The owners should be ashamed. As restaurants are reopening you would think they would be happy to welcome back customers. Obviously, Alta could care less. I just hope this restaurant closes giving, other places that care, a chance to thrive!

Not bad but just lacked something special. Friendly staff and nice settings. Shared several dishes but just didn't hit the high notes. Tapas dishes are larger than average.

I work in the industry so I try not to be too harsh in reviews, but for the caliber of this restaurant I was very disappointed in the service. We sat at the bar because we like a more laid-back vibe and maybe some light conversation, bartender took our drink orders rolled his eyes and walked away. No food recommendations on a large tapas menu, but we managed. When we got the fried goat cheese and exclaimed to him how amazing it was he did not react and just walked away. All of the food was great, the beef carpaccio, the gnocchi, loved it all. Unfortunately, our experience was tainted by bad service. Maybe the guy was having a bad day, maybe they want a sort of snobby vibe, but not the kind of service I expect from such a high-end, West Village restaurant.

I recently had dinner at the Alta with a group of 7 and enjoyed it very much. Food is served tapas sized so we sampled many different things. My favourites were the bacon-wrapped dates & olives, the goat cheese & honey, the brussels sprouts and the lamb meatballs. I also enjoyed the red sangria and I'm not usually a sangria fan. Service was efficient and our waiter was helpful and pleasant. We ate upstairs and actually walked through the kitchen to get to our table. The whole place, kitchen & restaurant is a bustling place with lots of background noise, full of people enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is upbeat and the food, with its Mediterranean flavours, is delicious. Alta is not that easy to find as it does not have a big sign outside so make sure you have the address and know where you're heading when you go there. Highly recommended. I look forward to a return visit.

Alta is a pretty nice tapas place. The atmosphere and decor will not fail to impress. I wanted to try the whole shebang option, but I don't think we had the numbers for that. Either way, we selected pretty good dishes. Was definitely a fan of the paella, roasted pork belly, and salmon tartare. The other items were not bad either, but did not stand out from the pack. I'd say most dishes are worth it, but others are not ($14 for a small flatbread), and I'm surprised that Alta offers only sangria by the glass instead of also by the pitcher.

We had a perfect evening at Alta. It began with a great welcome from the very friendly staff. Some delicious and good value Portuguese sparkling rosé. And then, my oh my, the food! We had the dates wrapped in bacon, the prawn and chorizo skewers, the chicken 'cigars', the Brussels sprouts (can't be missed) and the duck confit wrapped in grape leaves. All delightful. Then for pudding, two delicious finales, the sweet corn creme brûlée and the peach parfait. All enjoyed in a charming spot on the third floor. We're so pleased we chose this restaurant. Believe the hype!

Been wanting to try Alta at the newly opened Highline Hotel in NYC. Summer months, it's very crowded. Had reservations but still waited about 15 minutes to be seated. Food was very good. Service was quick. Entire place is outside so colder months they'll have to close shop. Great drinks too.

Loved all of it. Grilled shrimp, the scallops, the raw fluke, asparagus, chicken on skewers, lamb tangine... “candy bar”, chocolate lava cake with ice cream, and cheesecake.... All perfectly prepared. Excellent service with a calm knowledgeable server. Good range of wines. There was not a weak link, and we ordered 8 plates plus desert. Downstairs is noisy but convivial. Upstairs quiet but felt too warm so we asked to be moved. Didn’t use the bar but it looked lovely. Don’t forget they only take Amex or cash.

Went to Alta last night for an early dinner. It is truly a hidden gem as you wouldn't know it was there but for the discreetly placed place setting on the small table in front. Nice atmosphere and attentive waitstaff, without being too attentive. Our favorite dishes were the lamb meatballs (they were magical, and I don't typically care for lamb), the paella, and the Brussels sprouts. Honestly every dish was delicious and nicely presented. Two thumbs up for the cocktails, too. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.

Tapas type restaurant with an incredible array of dishes. One dish was better than the next. The bread was over the moon. No sign for restaurant. Had to go downstairs into a cave like series of rooms. Interesting ambiance, but the food was the star.

Located in the west village in a gutted townhouse it feels like you've stepped into a old Spanish villa. Open beams with various levels including the U shaped balcony overlooking the main dining room. Couples definitely ask for up here as it is quieter and romantic. Tapas, and we had 10 plates for four of us, was very good. The standout was a very complexly flavored paella. Very rich, almost molé-like sauce; perfectly cooked seafood. It's petit...tapas like, but superb.

Had a group eat here. We all really enjoyed our night. The place has a great vibe and buzzed all night. Our waitstaff were amazing and kept up even though there was such high demand. Food was really good and wine list comprehensive. I found my favourite French red on the menu so I was fairly happy with that!! Definitely worth trying. I’d go back!

We went to Alta on a recommendation and were not disappointed. As you walk past the bar to the seating area you get the sense that this place is somehow older than it should be with exposed beams, diverse staff and a superb tapas (mostly sharing plates) menu for all tastes. The wine choices are also good and range from very expensive through to excellent value house glasses and bottles. The sprouts were an unexpected delight as was the paella. We will return!

Probably we should have changed our Reservation when we were reminded that they only take Cash or Amex, a somewhat unusual situation. A further reminder to you all. And let’s be positive, the food was tasty. But that is where it ended. The first of our 3 different Servers was unable to advise us which dishes had tastes that they would recommend went well together, something we are used to in tapas and small plate restaurants. Also with guests typically coming in even numbers, I cannot understand why some of the plates designed to be shared should have contents served in odd numbers with an unpleasant refusal to even up, even when we said we were prepared to pay extra. So I decided to reflect this lack of assistance in a just under 15% before tax tip, which was thrown back in our faces by the Manager (?). I can understand when a restaurant wishes to have a fixed Service Charge for example for larger numbers of guests. Also if you want to guarantee a minimum starting with lesser numbers of guests, then charge more, and indicate the fact on your menu, with the expectation like parts of Europe, that you will only receive a tip for exceptional service. But if you request a tip, as is current practice, then, in my opinion, it should reflect the quality of service received, as perceived by the guests– in this case poor. Maybe I am wrong but that’s how I believe it should be and that is why I gave this Restaurant with tasty food a poor rating.

Excellent tapas restaurant. Great ambiance. Group of five we ordered numerous dishes. Fried goat cheese, brussells sprouts and grilled calamari were standouts. Only problem! We ordered all items at once and they brought all dishes in rapid succession such that after a few minutes our entire order was on the table even though we hadn't finished first plates. Felt a little rushed and some of the plates cooled by the time we got to them.

Terrific restaurant where I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever had, but I return for the goat cheese - absolutely delicious. An NYC restaurant has to stand out for me to return to it (there are so many to try). I’ve been to Alta 3 times (it is close to where I used to stay), One suggestion - call to make sure it is open particularly if you want to eat earlier in the evening. Posted hours haven’t always been accurate. I was bummed during my last NYC that it was no longer open on Sunday evenings. I understand why, but it was disappointing,

There are not many good dining options in this neighborhood so I was pleased to find Alta. Among the three seating options..at the downstairs bar, downstairs dining room or upstairs balcony...I recommend the third. There are quiet tables for two around the perimeter of the balcony with two tables for four at the far end. This is a tapas-style restaurant with relatively small portions and sharing encouraged. I found the culinary quality quite variable...the flatbread, cauliflower and mushroom options were pretty good but not the gnocchi. Service was rather bland and impersonal. There seemed to be a desire to clear the table a little too quickly.

A hidden gem on 10th street between 5th and 6th avenue! We had a double date here and the food and the service were absolutely amazing!! You definitely need to have the duck, mussel and paella. We were seated at a secretive table (table 90) and it was soooo intriguing. The waitress, Amelia told us where we were sitting used to be a closet. Simply perfect and highly recommended! Do RSVP.

Ok,on a summer week end night this can be the loudest restaurant in the western hemisphere. Yet,it's part of the casual informal atmosphere of the whole neighborood. A beautiful townhouse, tables both at ground level and on the balcony,candle lighting,small portions to share(tapas).don't expect Fancy food,Just simple,decent plates,some of them good (risotto,salmon,shrimps)some other just acceptable( paella).did not try meat stuff. One of the few nyc restaurants with a wine list featuring a few bottles below 50 usd( i recommend Italian Etna rosé 44 bucks good deal).nice staff and manager,affordable prices.

The menu is excellent albeit not as overwhelmingly diverse as some tapas places. Well, maybe that's a good thing because the food is excellent. I wouldn't normally think gnocchi at a Spanish restaurant, but you think about ordering it here...simply amazing, as is the beet salad which is perhaps the best rendition I've ever had. The wine list is focused on old world and is solid. The ambience is definitely warm and inviting as we're the wait staff. Well done!!!

The very first problem with this restaurant is the fact that they only take cash and Amex ! After travelling in so many countries and going to so many fancy restaurants it's the very first time I see this. We are in 2018 and I have to withdraw a lot of cash to go in a supposed high-level restaurant ! Do they know Visa is used everywhere by 2 billion people ? But that's only the beginning. Two dishes were missing. The wine I chose was also missing. I chose another one, the waitress brought the bottle to us but then went away to open it. You should never do that, especially in a restaurant were the prices of wines go to several hundreds dollars. The food is barely correct, the duck and the steak were too salty for instance, and I definitely found better and more inventive cuisine elsewhere. The portions are really small and very expensive. 4 tiny shrimps the size of my little finger for 16 dollars. One of the dish came very late, we had finished the others, I had to wait my friend who was embarrassed to eat alone. On top of that, the day after I received an email from OpenTable saying we didn't show up ! The restaurant apparently failed to acknowledge our attendance.

Alta is a very unassuming restaurant in the west village. The menu is very vegetarian-friendly, with small plates ranging from a delicious goat cheese and lavender honey appetiser, to a great falafel and roasted beets dish. The vegetarian options are vegetable heavy, but are flavourful enough to make them very satisfying dishes. The service was nothing to write home about, and nor was the decor, but Alta is a solid choice for no-nonsense food that hits the spot.

If you've got a group of 6-10, the Whole Shebang is the way to go. You may be skeptical at first and think it may not be enough food. Rest assured, it is more than enough and every bite is delish. All of the raw items are superb. The brussel sprouts, goat cheese balls and the sea bass carpaccio were the most memorable. I'm still thinking about them and would not hesitate to go back. The sangria was also tasty. Eat here stat!

The food is terrific. Small plates. Two people will need at least 5, maybe 6, at average of $15-25 each. Wine list is extensive and expensive. The waiter was very helpful pairing some good Spanish wines that did not break the bank. Sea Bass is very good. The shrimp are tasty. The brussel sprouts are terrific. The candy bar dessert is worth a try. Most of the drink specials do not allow for substitution, because they are batched. The downstairs is loud, but upstairs is less noisy and if you can hear yourself talk. It's dark, but has a great ambiance. ONLY AMEX and CASH. Four people, four drinks, two bottles of wine and 14 tapas was fun, filling and set us back about $500.

Me, the girlfriend and her friend came one evening on his recommendation and boy he did not steer us wrong. Alta is in a Greenwich Village townhouse and occupies 3 floors. The first floor has a dining area and a bar area, the second floor is another dining area with a cut out in the middle so you overlook the first floor dining area and the third floor is another more intimate dining space. We got here for out 7PM reservation and were seated pretty promptly. We got our menus and ordered some drinks - cocktail for my girlfriend and beers for me and her friend. We perused the menu and it's more tapas style. We decided to order in phases so we could enjoy and order different things and not get overstuffed. We ultimately wound up ordering about 9 different things including the Brussels sprouts, the bacon wrapped dates, the fried goat cheese, lamb meatballs, risotto, gnocchi and octopus. We thought the sprouts and goat cheese were especially good. Service was excellent as our waitress checked on us multiple times and the other wait staff checked to make aure our water glasses were full throughtout the night. Including 3 beers, 2 cocktails, dinner, one dessert, tax, tip - for the 3 of us, the bill came out to about 250 bucks. Check it out, Alta is good.

Did a little digging to find a cool place for my wife and I to go and this was the perfect one. A Spanish tapas restaurant that has a good sized menu (a little pricey for the portions, but worth it), definitely delivered. Great atmosphere, perfect for a date or an outing with your friends. I recommend the ricotta gnocchi, black truffle mozzarella and the salmon tartare.

What appears to be a tiny, basement bar/restaurant under a townhouse in the Village is actually a 3 story home to some of the best small-plate dining in the city. We went at 6:30 pm, so it was pretty empty and quiet. I imagine it could be a little loud if it filled up more. But the atmosphere is very European and quaint. We were there for a work dinner, but it seems like a great place for a date or other dinner for 2. The menu is just diverse enough to give you options, but not so big as to be overwhelming. I can personally vouch for the following: - blistered padron pepper (just enough zing to remind you it's a pepper) - bacon wrapped dates and olives (because...bacon) - brussel sprouts with Granny Smith apples, creme fraiche and pistachio (hand down the best thing on the menu - octopus a la plancha (seriously good octopus. No rubber. Soft as butter) - ricotta gnocchi (breakfast pasta for dinner) - braised short rib with beet infused pasta. Who thinks of this stuff? It's not cheap. It's not the most expensive I've seen. But it's highly recommend. I'll be back.

This place is almost unnoticeable, it looks small but it's quite large. Nice deco and atmosphere, suitable for romantic dinners but not only. Not really tapas and some plates could really be more generous (or less expensive) but they serve very good products well prepared in a tasty and interesting manner. Nice place, really worth trying.

First things first. Don’t expect a large sign outside. This is a well hidden spot which expects you to know where you are going. But when you find it, enjoy. Crowded, hopelessly spread over three floors which demonstrates the athletic skills of waiters and the dedication of the kitchen staff who seem to operate in a cabinet-sized area, it could never be described as “accessible” in any sense. But from coat check onwards the experience begins. Table space is restricted as is to be expected, but it is sufficient. The menu is well devised and the waiters are good sources of advice. Do not overlook the tagine unless you are vegetarian. The plates are smallish so order enthusiastically. And the wine list knows where Australia fits (and NZ vodka) Just leave room for dessert. Extremely good.

great choice of vegetarian tapas, the best ravioli and gnoochi have ever eaten, they have their own combinations and flavours which are very fresh and new but super delicious, very often chef's forgo taste to do it different but at Alta they have got it perfect the decor transports you to another world and for the time you are there you forget you are in the heart of Manhattan, the only restaurant i have visited which accepts only Amex and cash definitely would love to go back would be in my top 10 places to eat in around the world

Had a reservation tonight (4/12/17) at 7:15 PM and they just called to cancel without any explanation!!!! Maybe there is another Hepatitis A scare like in 2013! NOT RELIABLE at all! How do you cancel a reservayion 3 hours before I'm supposed to show up? RUDE!

Wonderful tapas that were rich in flavor. Friendly service. Enjoyed the Philly surprise and the lamb meatballs were well done. Don’t miss the short rib.

My friends and I were long overdue for a night out together. We thought it would be fun to try something new so Alta was our unanimous choice. First, I have to thank the hostess who was SO understanding when my husband and I were stuck in horrible traffic and assured me she would not give our table away. That was a refreshing attitude! Our table of 6 was thinking about getting the ambitious "whose shabang" but our waiter actually advised that it would have been too much food as it is 40 different plates. He said they recommend 2-3 plates per person. In the end, I think we ordered 25 or so plates (so more like 4 per head) and it was just the right amount of food -so I'm glad we didn't overdo it. Also, we ordered a double-portion (counted as 2 plates in our count) of a few things that we knew we all wanted to eat and it was a good thing did because some things were not possible to share with 6 people. So, if we had ordered the whole shebang, there would have been a lot of things missed by part of our crew. Won't list a dish by dish review - but our faves were the fried peppers, lamb tagine, Brussels sprouts, short rib, salmon tartare and pork belly. The service was a little absent and charmless, but nothing to put a damper on our night. Oh, and the sangria (red) was out of this world! Lastly, the atmosphere is just pitch perfect, loud and lively enough to feel alive and festive, dim lighting is very romantic and flattering.

We had been to Alta before and we returned, mainly because we remembered the beautiful historic setting tucked away in a lovely downtown neighborhood. We arrived before our reservation time, and we were seated immediately at an upstairs table. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. The restaurant is quite expensive with tapas size selections in the teens and twenties, so we were surprised when we ordered a martini and they only had Tito's vodka, a low-price brand that I do not prefer. We ordered goat cheese balls with honey as a first course with our cocktails and then we split delicious carrots in brown butter, octopus, black bass and duck confit. The food was all really delicious, but the portions were so small that when we finished, we were still hungry, so we went home and finished the left overs from last night's dinner of Chirpin' Chicken take out!! Beware, they only accept cash and American Express, so we emptied our cash supply dining there.

Place and the décor very nice and cozy, the wine list very interesting , the food not that great we ask for some "tapas" to share and the flavor were not at par with the expectation. We ask for a "paella" that it didn't make it close to what a real paella is all about.

Here for a birthday dinner. The menu has numerous choices of tapas for everyone no matter your food preferences/issues. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful with menu selections and quantities. The room was quiet, we did not need to speak with raised voices. We all liked the calm décor. We ordered 8 tapas and each were delicious so I imagine most on the menu are! Keep up the good work!

Family of 5 celebrating a birthday early dinner on a Thursday night. A little tricky to find but very creative tapas. The Brussels sprouts & burrata cheese were excellent. The meat eaters in our group loved the short ribs & quail. The paella & scallops were each outstanding..however, only 3 scallops per plate made this a very expensive dish & not great for sharing. Note: only cash or Amex accepted!

One of my favorite restaurants in NYC, not because it is a Michelin Star, but because it is unique and hidden in a random street in NYC. It's ambiance is mystic and seductive. They have small sharing dishes, but there are so many delicious options to chose from, you may want hang onto the menu for a little longer! The food there is out of this world and it's seasonal. So it's always changing! Great date place, if you can get a seat upstairs!

Started off in the bar for happy hour. Good value with two small plates for $8 (had the fried goats cheese and bacon wrapped dates & olives) and selection of wines for $8 a glass. We had dinner in the top level with excellent service from Jeremy. As one of hour party was vegan we mainly had vegetarian options. We had the salmon tartare, roasted beets, okra, eggplant, fried hen of the woods and Brussel sprouts, the last two were my favorites. To finish off the chocolate fondant, which was very pleasant. Extensive wine list which is all European, the 2010 Vina Real Rioja was good value at $58. This is worthwhile going to and would be happy to return.

Varied & comprehensive tapas menu, beautiful ambience (inside a converted West Village townhouse) with gracious service (& fast turnaround from the kitchen). Certain dishes are so tiny (even by tapas standards) that they should be considered appetizers, however, & the restaurant itself is not marked on the outside, so it’s somewhat tricky to find.

Yep we saw a furry little fellow running around. This is my 4th visit and the food IS amazing but the service is terrible and the mouse is something else :-( won't be going back

Very tasty tapas, great variety on the menu. A beautiful townhouse, the space is exceptionally noisy. We sat upstairs, which I would recommend for any chance of successful conversation, but the tables are close together and the noise was still a factor. Prices are high but not exorbitant. Service was good. The dessert was a highlight: "Alta makes a candy bar". In a lifetime of eating fabulous desserts, this one is memorable. Do not miss it. And it was definitely enough to share.

Wonderful decor, food and service. Excellent sangria and did i mention the service...spot on!!! Do the whole menu for a group its worth it and its fun!

It's this easy: everything is great. The food, the drinks, and especially the service. Kind of surprised to read reviews of lackluster service. Our server was personable, knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including wines, and really added to our enjoyment of the meal. We were upstairs, which may have been more relaxed than the scene downstairs. We tried about half of the menu, and everything was good. Don't skip the goat cheese with lavender honey.

One of the best meals I've had in Manhattan. The focus is on small plates and tapas. Kinda of a Mediterranean-Spanish hybrid but more interesting and eclectic than regular Spanish tapas. We started with the bacon wrapped dates and olives. Very tasty. The wrapped olives were good but the wrapped dates were even better. The fried goat cheese balls in lavender honey were unusual and delicious. The focaccia was wonderful and useful to sop up any leftover sauces. The Brussels sprouts with Granny Smith apples was our least favorite dish and the portion size was quite generous compared to the other small plates. The beet salad had several types of beets and is a must for beet lovers. The scallops in pea purée was also unusual and simply delicious. Finally, the paella topped off the meal and was very good. More seafood and chorizo than rice and just enough for two to share. We tried two desserts. The pear tart was fine but the butterscotch foam was wonderful. Only complaint was that the red sangria was just too strong. The service was friendly and efficient. The space has a great vibe and is quite appealing. There are basically three levels. The first level contains the hopping bar upon entry and leads to the main dining room. The second level, or mezzanine has mostly tables for two which overlook the main dining room. We sat on the mezzanine which was perfect and intimate and had a great view of the lower level and much of the rest of the restaurant. There is a third level which contains several smaller, quieter dining rooms. Everyone was very friendly. Great place for a special night.

I love this place. I try to go every other month or so. The service is usually pretty good and the food is honestly very good. If you like tapas, this place is worth checking out. One thing to note, they only take Amex so either bring your Amex or cash. The Brussels sprouts are to die for. The sliders are also not to be missed as well as the empanadas. I could go on as you can tell. Clearly will be back.

Having dinner at Alta on a Thursday night was a lot of fun. The atmosphere is lively but not too loud, the menu is diverse and interesting, and everything we ate was excellent. Service was friendly but efficient.

This restaurant is hidden in a row house in the West Village. It is beautiful inside. We ordered drinks, tapas and desserts for 4. The food was all very good, although in small tapas portions. You should not come here if you are super hungry. I also wish there were more wine choices by the glass. We ordered at least 10 dishes, 4 desserts, 6 drinks. Bill was $350.00. Then came the surprise. We could only pay cash or by American Express! It is in very small letters at the bottom of the menu. Well, we don't have that credit card so we had to scrape up every cent we had to pay the bill, and the waiter was shorted on his tip. This is a terrible policy for a restaurant. The waiter was just average but did deserve more than a 5 dollar tip. He would be wise to tell every customer up front about the payment policy here. We would have walked out. We did complain to the manager.

Have eaten here previously with family. A nice and diverse tapas menu and we truly enjoyed all dishes. Called ahead to find out about accommodating a vegetarian and a vegan and they said they would be able to leave out and add ingredients to make it work. The vegan in our group didn’t have much protein that wasn’t fried so be forewarned. Our drinks came minus one. It took an additional 15 minutes for that drink to get to our table. Mixed drinks were just so-so. Service was mixed this visit whereas previously it was very good. A lovely space!

I live two blocks away. And, just tonight as I dine at the bar, I see they have an excellent “Happy Hour”, prior to 7 PM. Good wines $8. Excellent appetizers and entree. Cheap! Noisy, of course and crowded on a Friday. But the service is quick and the food is good. The place would do well with a noise-reducing ceiling. Overall: noisy, but nice.

Three of us went to Alta to celebrate a birthday. It was a great choice. For a large place, the atmosphere was laid back, and we very much enjoyed the food and service. We did go early on a Monday, which might be as laid back as it gets. The food was delicious and we liked the variety and alternatives on the menu. There were a good number of choices. While there is a variety of meat and seafood, there are various delicious vegetarian dishes too, enough to satisfy a mixed group in that regard. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp and sausage dish, the brussel sprouts and the beet dish. There was an amazing chocolate cake dessert as well. I really liked the service, beginning with the staff member who walked outside to flag us down when we couldn't find the place. Our server was great, and the manager stopped by to see how we were doing. One note, they really are on 10th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, closer to sixth, south side. Only be aware to be looking down as if to a basement apartment. There is only a small sign on the railing heading east, westward you won't see it! But worth the search!!

Very tucked away location, but one of the most beautiful restaurants i've been to. The food was very good, however it is a tapas restaurant so before you go, just know that the plates are a very small portion. About 20 dollars a plate for the such little food is really pricey, but its perfect for a light dinner. A little odd they only accept cash or AMEX; its 2017....but at least its very well translated to you before you even reserve that you must bring cash. Overall, perfect date location if you're willing to spend about 80-100 bucks.

Alta remains one of my most favorite restaurants in the city. Tucked in a townhouse in the village, it appears as if out of nowhere, filled with a plethora of smells and tastes that compliment one another in a very sophisticated way. My favorite dish is still the Brussel Sprouts, and, of course, no meal at Alta is complete without the paella. But order whatever catches your eye; you can't go wrong.

Great little restaurant which we booked last minute for a cozy dinner for two after an afternoon walking around Greenwich village Our table was indeed cozy - crammed in between two others so that the waiter could barely move around it. Suspect that this contributed to his very frosty approach ... Food was amazing and we had a great meal And then we had to pay the bill ... they ONLY accept American Express or cash ... we didn’t have enough cash ( or Amex..) so had to go to the atm This was at 10pm so was shut inside the bank and had to go back and get my wife’s card to open the bank door Finally managed to get enough cash to pay the bill and got back to the restaurant to find the owner and the waiter had been stood with menacing eyes on my wife as if she was going to do a runner. This, in spite of the fact we had informed our waiter before ordering (after checking the small print about their cash and Amex policy was actually for real!) that we’d need to get cash after. The warm chocolate desert was good but came with banana ice cream, when my wife asked if she could have something else as she hates banana she was told she could have creme fraiche ice cream..she asked if that would be rather bland and the waiter ‘shrugged’!! Clearly asked to substitute it on many occasions the maple syrup ice cream (which was the only other flavour on the menu!) was not an option. Needless to say zero tip for this place.! Great food just bring a lot of cash or Amex and don’t expect smiles ..!!

I specifically asked (2x when making and confirming reservation) for a table with a nice ambience and vantage point as we were hosting friends from overseas who we had not seen for many years . I was told they could not guarantee but would sit us in the mezzanine. However, my request must have been misinterpreted as the worst table in the house ..... Up many flights of stairs in a dark, cornered table. Worst there was a vent directly over us. Some of us ate with our jackets and scarves. When we asked the waiters to turn down the ac we were told they could not and that the owner lives next door and likes it cold. The food was surprisingly sub par and expensive. Again very surprised. Most of the hot dishes were cold, not even luke warm ..... (perhaps from the long walk from the kitchen?) For instance, when the waiter brought the paella he cautioned that the small pan was hot. But the pan and paella were cold! The bread was hard and cold. The presentation was non existent. Many of the dishes like the octopus, eggplant had greens simply thrown over them .. It seemed to try and mask the slight portions .... Careless presentation. Quite frankly some of the dishes looked like they had been dropped and rearranged. Also the food and drinks took a long time. But when we finally got them we were told soon thereafter that the restaurant and bar were closing in the event we wanted to order more. We didn't, but again, bad. Particularly because when we made our trek down the flights of stairs and were in the rooms (one sees on the website), lots of people were clearly still being served food and drink. Really bad and embarrassing experience.

As I was in NY with a friend we met up with my son ,who had moved to NY for work and is a foodie like me He made reservations at one of his new discoveries It’s A Mediterranean restaurant with a choice of small plates to share ,covering the spectrum of all areas of food from around the Mediterranean We ordered ,the grilled octopus,the lamb tagine,the mushroom forest and mushroom flatbread ,ricotta gnocchi each of them delicious in their own way so flavorful and delicate you could taste the layers of flavor We were still a little hungry as non of dishes had any starch ,bread to lap up all the delicious sauces alas don’t serve any we ordered the paella on the suggestion of the served again fantastic but no rice just delicious delicate seafood We asked what dessert he suggested and we took is advise and ordered the watermelon sorbet with cucumber passion fruit and mint and the chocolate cake with banana ice cream Well what he said was a sorbet was more like shaved watermelon ice but was very refreshing,the star was the chocolate dessert I was very tempted to lift up the plate and lick off all the remaining goodness but as you guessed to chicken Highly recommend,would give it 5 stars but the lack of serving bread ,a must to enjoy all the delicious flavors of the sauces and the fact it was so loud hard to carry on a conversation

This is the best Tapas restaurant I have been to in the USA. The lamb meatballs and scallops were very good. Service is attentive and personable. This our second time back and we will be back for sure.

Went for bday dinner. Food is great perfect small plates, drinks are good and service is awesome! Luis was our waiter and made our night great!!!! It's such a laid back atmosphere but employees really take great care of you. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH WE LET LUIS ORDER MOST FOOD FOR US AND HE DID GREAT!

having just returned from barcelona where it is impossible to get a bad meal ...i needed to find barcelona worthy tapas in NYC.....Alta. problem solved...very tasty tapas. paella . pork empanadas. crisp polenta.....goat cheese with a honey base and excellent sangria...whoever made the sangria knows what they are doing. however dare i say the paella dish was better than the really good one i had in barcelona....favorful and moist..... be prepared for the following...though ..noisy atmosphere.....high prices....only cash and american express accepted BUT if you are looking for tapas that make your mouth water and transport you back to barcelona ...this is the place.....just yummy

This is a fun bar and restaurant in the west village. Fun vibe, the staff is friendly and nice. The food, they have a separate section in the menu for vegetables, is great. Small plates since it is a tapas place but that just means you can order more things and hence there's variety in what you eat. The winter vegetable fricasse was the warmest dish and so tasty as was the fried goat cheese and the mushroom flatbread. The sangria is nice too. Thumbs up for the place.

I have been to this restaurant several times and find it to be consistently excellent. We went on the early side (5:45)before a jazz performance and were able to sit right by the fireplace. With 4 people, we tried several small items as well as wonderful grilled shrimp on avocado, lamb tagine and crunchy asperagus.

Had dinner here with a friend and we shared several small plates, all of which were good - especially the brussel sprouts with bits of apple.

Perfect tapas bar well hidden in residential area. Amazing interior. Staff professional and very helpful. Too many delicious items on menu to recommend. Try them all! If you like tapas, and want to feel like you are in Madrid, do not pass this place. We will return next visit to NYC!

We went here for my fiancé's birthday. We absolutely loved this restaurant! They knew in advance that it was his birthday and we had customized menus wishing him a happy birthday. That was a very nice touch! The food was amazing. We love Tapas and this was one of the best, if not the absolute best, Tapas restaurants we've been to thus far. The atmosphere was very nice. We may make Alta a tradition every time we visit New York. Thank you for the wonderful evening.

A group of girlfriends and I came to Alta on a Friday night at around 7 to celebrate one of the girls' birthdays. A few of us arrived early, so we decided to take advantage of their happy hour by the bar ($8 house red/white wine). When we were seated, we started browsing the menu and a lot of things popped out at us. Here are some of the things we ordered: Salmon tartare (truffle, black rice crisp, salmon roe) - this was probably the best one. The salmon tasted fresh and the black rice crisp complemented the fish well. However, none of us were expecting the portion to be so tiny. It was three bite-sized rice crackers with salmon. But it was so good that we ended up ordering seconds PEI mussels (harissa broth, preserved lemon, cilantro) - nothing special. I feel like I can probably make this at home. Seems and tastes simple enough Paella (crispy saffron rice, mussels, clams, shrimp, chorizo) - it didn't have as much flavor as I'd expect a paella to have. Also, the rice was a bit mushy Lamb meatballs (charred red pepper sauce, labne) - this was on the dry side Porcini braised short ribs (spelt pasta, beet puree, horseradish) - didn't try the short ribs but the pappardelle or whatever sheets of pasta it came with was pretty good Foie gras terrine (smoked eel, plum mostarda) - this was my first time trying foie gras. I got it mixed up with pate so my taste buds were definitely surprised upon that first bite. I don't think I like foie gras - too fatty for me Roasted pork belly (charmoula, lollipop kale, garnet yam) - had this weird leftover taste to it. You'd be better off grabbing some from Chinatown - half the price, double the flavor, triple the portion If you're looking to have a full and satisfying meal, Alta is not it. But if you're looking to try a bit of everything (and you're in the mood to splurge, because these dishes add up QUICK) then maybe you'll like this place. Just expect the dishes to be hit or miss. Tip - cash or Amex only

First of all do not expect a name outside the restaurant. Just depend on Google to say 'you have reached' . Second - be ready to be surprised by the amount of space on 3 levels that this restaurant has. Now for the food - I am a vegetarian and was happy that more than half the menu was vegetarian. The quick seared caulini was excellent and so was black truffle burrata. The place can get extremely loud if you get placed inside one of the smaller rooms. The prices are NY prices - no surprise there. Average fare for two people would be around $80 - $100

We ate here on a Saturday night. Small plates-Tapas- were excellent and shared by all at the table. Recommend the sangria as the beverage, but the rye Manhattans also were excellent. Service from Holly B.was the best.

Our family had a fine experience in this hidden eatery on a Sunday night. The “small plate” dinner was prepared well, the service friendly and attentive. The restaurant suggested a fine wine in the same price range when the one requested was unavailable. “Small plates” do not equate to a small, total bill, but this was in our control, wasn’t it? Remember: AmEx or cash only.

I've been to a lot of different tapas places but I found this one expensive for the sort of food it served. A few dishes definitely were very tasty but thats about it. The helpings were really small (even for tapas) and most of the food was just about average! Our server was attentive and very nice (the highlight of the dinner). Wouldn't go back again. Also, they only take cash and Amex and so carry enough cash (lots of it!!)

We loved the food and drinks here, but it was so loud, we literally had to pause in our conversation and find a quieter opportunity to talk.

Can you say roasted brussell sprouts? This is such a fun place to eat because it's all "small plates." I've been here a bunch of times. Sometimes with just my wife, sometimes with a few friends and even once having my company party with 15 people. It's so fun to order and order and order all these different tasting dishes and trying them all. My most favorite? The lamb meatballs. Just divine! Come one, come all. But, the more that come with you, the more different foods you can try! Everything is just delish!

You can actually order ALL of the items on the menu. Great food, as with all the Tapas it can get expensive super fast but the drinks ambiance and food is worth a trip. Lots of veggie options. Their grilled mozzarella with piquillo peppers marinara is amazing

Really fun, good food (mussels were fabulous) but just FYI they only take cash or Amex for a large group booking so be aware!

My husband and I enjoyed a date night at Alta. Our waiter was enthusiastic about the menu and we enjoyed his recommendations and the sangria. Only heads up is that there isn't much signage out front to located it.

We had a great time and enjoyed our drinks and small plates of delicious food. The plates came out as they were ready and it created an element of fun and discovery. Several friends suggested this place and they were right. It is located in a townhouse and the entrance took a little focus for me to locate the door but it is worth the trip and the extra few seconds to find the door.

Pricey but delicious - best paella I have ever had! The server was odd but made sure all questions were answered. Small plates - some are VERY small - others are good for sharing. Wine recommendation was good and fairly priced. Cash or Amex only

This is a GREAT tapas restaurant. Every little dish was a delicious, complex blend of flavors and textures, beautifully presented. The two of us shared six tapas and, with a glass of rioja and dessert, that was perfect. The restaurant is also attractive, with rustic wood and wrought iron. My only quibble is that it was difficult to find because of the lack of a clearly visible sign out front. We walked by the restaurant once without seeing it and would have missed it on the second pass if a staff member hadn't been outside.

We were five friends and were seated in a corner table, which allowed us to catch up and enjoy a corner the near the fireplace. Wonderful design internal with 3 floors and an internal court with balcony around the upper floor. Small plates were delicious and very special. Served in a relaxed and yet ongoing manner with wonderful wiines by the glass. A great place to have small plates for everyone, choices in vegetables, seafood and meat as well as cheeses. We will be back, really enjoyed.

We were happy to have Alta be able to accommodate our party of 8 for a Saturday night so that was a good start. The vibe is cozy and lively. The food was all very good but the timing of getting dishes out was a bit odd. Some things arrived quickly and others took well over 30 minutes. One shrimp dish had to be sent back but otherwise everything else was very good.

Unlike many restaurants where the great ambience is confined to the main dining room Alta preserves this ambience on each floor. When we were shepherded upstairs each level was intimate and lively. The service was outstanding and the food was terrific.

This tapas restaurant has excellent food but it’s pricy. My group of friends ordered ‘the whole shebang’ which is everything on the menu (40 dishes) for $600. I was checking everything off the list (for fun as I like ranking and rating). They forgot to bring us four dishes. After inquiring about them they brought out two of the four, but I had to inquire again for the last two. There was no apology or excuse and they almost made me feel like they were doing me a favor by ‘checking with the kitchen’ when they were the ones who didn’t bring the food. It was annoying and a bad feeling. Everything was great though the mussels were boring. Here’s my ranking sheet attached.

We were very happy with this place! Food was amazing! Building is beautiful & server was great. It was so hard choosing what to order because the menu was pretty decently sized & everything sounded tempting. Everything was delicious! Our favorite was the Brussels sprouts & honestly I’m not even that big a fan of Brussels sprouts. The fried goat cheese in lavender honey was AMAZING. I also got the sunchoke risotto and burrata - both really good. My husband had the shrimp and hen of the woods tempura & enjoyed both immensely. We got the asparagus which was really tasty although the menu said ‘cured egg’ we didn’t notice anything egg-like. Unfortunately we were too full to try dessert. Wine was good. Overall, we spent less than we thought we would although this is definitely a fairly pricey restaurant (cash or Amex only too). We agree it was worth it though!

The atmosphere is very appealing - the townhouse setting is very quaint. The food was good but the service was not. The server disappeared for long gaps and seemed fairly disinterested in being there. Could be much better with a different service experience

Have been to Alta several times & the food is always consistently good. Great to share lots of small plates with a date or friends. The ambience is lovely if you can sit downstairs or in the gallery in the winter as there is a cute little fireplace at the back. The menu changes often enough too.

Is the hip factor of a restaurant inversely proportional to illumination level? Dark wood everywhere and lights nowhere make this place suitable for braille menus for everyone, but fortunately the food on those printed menus is generally very good. You'll think the prices are friendly until you learn that the format here is small-plate, so you'll need to order a fair number of dishes, and the tally adds up quickly.. Some disapointments are to be found; a very small plate of olives may have had pepperoncino chili and fennel pollen on them, but I only tasted green olives. Strangely they only take American Express and cash here; bring lots of it.

The atmosphere at Alta is great - it is a beautiful, rustic space. I have been going here for about 5 years, and I think the food used to be a bit better and more interesting. The drinks are great and the food is still good, though.

This place has a warm & welcoming vibe. We were seated upstairs & it was great to get a view of the whole place. It is quite dark, but adds to the mood. The food was delicious. The beet salad & the empanadas were stand outs. The paella, the meatballs & octopus are also worthy. The mushroom only so so. But my main gripe is the small portions. There's not a lot to share & therefore you need to order many plates & that makes it a pretty pricey night out. We were told 5-6 played for two & it was just enough. But thumbs up for taste & location & vibe. The service was efficient & quick.

We love the ambiance of the restaurant. It is very romantic but a little bit noisy. A little bit pricey too (they serve everything in small plates: Tapas) but so worth it! Favorites: Octopus (Best we’ve ever had!) Black truffle Burrata Scallops Butterscotch (not pretty to look at but so delicious!) We came in on a Friday and it was packed. We suggest to get a reservation beforehand. P.S. The restaurant has no sign outside so it’s hard to find. We had 2 guys tell us where the restaurant is. Lol

10 of us went to dinner at Alta on Saturday night. The table was ready on time, the servers were timely (did not felt rushed), food was interesting in flavors and plenty to eat. The dishes are tapas and ment to be shared, plenty of choices on the menue for a variety of tastes. They take cash or Amex only. The resturant in hard to spot, on 10th St east of 6th Ave , on the south side of the street, street level but stairs to walk down. The enterence is covered with plants , very charming. May look small from the outside but it's 3 levels and plenty of tables. I recommend the soft shelled crab, fried goat cheese, brussel sprouts, dates wrapped in bacon and mussels...Yum!!@

We enjoyed many different items here! The scallops were great as was the paella. We ordered the skirt steak which was almost raw so they just took it back and cooked it more. The brussel sprouts were a bit undercooked but not bad, just not our favorite. The waiter was nice and we heard that the food is brought out promptly so we spread out our orders. It was very loud but also full. The gin drink with fennel and chartreuse was very good yet $15.00 for that is questionable. The female bartender had a nice calm way about her. The maple pear sundae was excellent and the memorable cappuccino had a terrific thick layer of great foam on top. We had a very nice evening here!

I've been to Alta 3 times in the last 4 months. Each dish is so different and delicious that it's very hard to choose, although I am beginning to have favorites. The hanger steak, lamb meatballs, carrots and falafel are out of this world! Last night as my husband and I were trying to figure out the ingredients in the meatballs our server Rebecca, who is so attentive and sweet, chimed in. My adult children, 32 and 28, love the place. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was among the oldest people there. The atmosphere is low lit which is nice, but loud because so many people are having fun.

First two plates started strong especially the octopus but later dishes tasted flat incl. Brussels sprouts and snapper. Delivery also varied greatly. Early ones came soon while the latter were delivered after lengthy wait. Still service friendly and wine selection decent. Other misgivings were uncomfortable chairs and cool upstairs breezes.

Interesting interio with many rooms and places, crowded NY kinda style place with small tapas type food. Dishes are fine and nice, but for NYC it should be better. Nothing was to remember for wow effect.

I wise I could give this place the 5 stars it’s food and service deserves. But our experience on Saturday night could never allow it. The baseline volume of this place made it impossible to enjoy our dinner. We couldn’t hear the waitress, we couldn’t hear the runner when they arrived with each dish, and we could hear the person sitting next to us. Shame because the food was excellent. Maybe take out?

Four of us went to Alta to eat dinner. We were led upstairs and through the kitchen to our table. We had eight courses between us, but these are small plates. All were spectacular, especially the pasta, the lamb meatballs, the lamb tagine, and the Brussels sprouts. We also had short ribs, scallops, eggplant and shrimp with chorizo, which were merely very good. Four of us had different desserts, including an apple crostata, an olive oil cake, a pumpkin sundae and a cranberry tart. These were good to excellent. The service was great; the only problem is that the young set have discovered the downstairs wine bar and tapas and the noise was incredible.

Very attractive bar area with dinner tables spread over three floors. We tried a wide variety of tapas: fried goat cheese with lavender honey, bacon wrapped figs, paella, seared scallops, grilled shrimp with chorizo. Every one was terrific. Also, good cocktails and wine selection. Jeremy, our server, was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend.

Spain with Italy mixed together. Including the length of time that you should spend there. The truffle flat bread, bacon dates, and shrimp chorizo were fantastic. The paella was very good. The empanadas were decent. Very romantic atmosphere.

If you are friendly with your clients, I would highly recommend this tapas restaurant. They make the menu easy with an option called "The Whole Shebang", where you literally can get everything on the menu and that's what we did. The service was great - fast and helpful, explaining every dish. The sangria was delicious. There literally wasn't anything I didn't like at this restaurant. There were 7 of us and we had a hard time finishing everything. A few of my favorites - the bacon wrapped dates, the salmon, the squid ink pasta (at least I think that is what is was)..lol. Everything was fabulous.

There are a lot of places described as Tapas but many are Mexican or Cuban which isn't really tapas. This is true Spanish Tapas with a mix some of the authentic dishes and some unique/fusion ones. The set up is very cool, with two levels where the top is open to the bottom and the decor feels like an old Spanish house. The result is a cool but sometimes loud ambiance also due to the fact that it's usually busy there (a good sign). It's not cheap but many of the tapas dishes are somewhat larger than a typical tapas restaurant. I've been here twice so if it's good enough to go to twice in NYC it's definitely good.

THERE WAS A MOUSE IN THE RESTUARANT!!! I went to this restaurant with my family to celebrate my birthday. after the first set of dishes, we saw a MOUSE!. I understand these things happen, but the restaurant handled this very poorly!! My family did not want to go somewhere else so we stayed. We moved tables, but the staff acted like we were overreacting!! SO IN SUMMARY WE SAW A MOUSE, WE DID NOT SCREAM, WE DID NOT YELL, WE DID NOTHING MORE THAN ASK TO MOVE TABLES. THE MANAGER THEN TREATED US POORLY! I am not sure how that can happen, if the customer sees a mouse shouldn't the manager and staff treat you nicely?! I rarely write bad reviews, i am not high maintenance, i have never sent back a dish!! DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!

A formidable gem, hidden away in a city basement in the west village. Great tapas and exciting selection of wine. Great ambiance and reasonable priced, especially between five and seven, when it's wine a clock at the bar!

This is a difficult review to write. Came in at 9 pm on a Tuesday. The maitre d', who was very friendly and welcoming, The atmosphere and architecture was way above what we expected, with a full room of people obviously enjoying their food. And with good reason: The food was perfect -- worth a five rating. Even standards like the beet salad were elevated by being done perfectly. The goat cheese gnocchi were light and flavorful. The octopus was tender. The complements on the plates were thoughtful and added the right things, from acidity to texture. But.... The service was horrible. The Maitre d' had suggested starting with a sea bass carpaccio, so we ordered that to start. Ten minutes later, the waiter came by and said they were out. OK, that happens. But then he disappeared. Within a minute the beet salad was on our table. A minute later the octopus. Then, 15 minutes after telling us they were out of the sea bass, the waiter reappeared to ask if we knew what we wanted to replace the sea bass. Given that we were going to start with it (as one does with a raw fish appetizer), and they had already given us two other courses, we decided to skip any replacement. That made the service go from bad to horrible, ending with the check being literally thrown on our table from the side by someone we never saw and who never spoke to us. Unlike the food, which was great, and the maitre d' who was friendly, the service was so perfunctory that it was borderline rude. I hope it was just a bad night, because Alta has a great deal going for it.

Went to Alta last Saturday. The entrance was very unassuming, but food and service were very good. Some of our favorites were the brussel sprouts, scallops, and short ribs. I would definitely go back.

My boyfriend and I have eaten here twice now. We very infrequently go to restaurants twice but this place warranted a second visit and many more to come. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is quiet and comforting. We tried about 8 dishes between the two of us and every single one was delicious! The service is great and we will be coming back many more times. Perfect for a fancy date night or a casual dinner.

The food, the wine, the ambiance, and the service have been basically perfect each time I've gone there.

Eager to try this restaurant after visiting 3 years ago (and being optimistic considering it had remained opened) I re-visited with a group of 5 who had not been before. The location, decor and vibe are awesome (take a tour up the stairs through the kitchen and to all the bedrooms/dining rooms). Unfortunately For 5 + people the single dishes are not big enough to share and certainly should be for the prices as marked. The food was nice... as was the wine ($$$). They also only take cash or american express. I would only visit again if I was dining alone as it is not worth the hefty bill at the end of the meal.

Given all the glowing reviews and hype that Atla has received since it opened, we were extremely disappointed by our experience. The small space is uncomfortably crowded, with the round tables so closely placed that it’s impossible for people to get out of their seats without bumping into each other. The staff is neither particular friendly or helpful and so affectedly casual that one would think it’s an inexpensive restaurant, which it is not. The food tastes good but not even close to being worth the prices charged. Atla charges $15 for a single small shrimp taco or $20 for a bean tamal that is about a third the size of a normal sized tamal and only marginally more tasty than what one could find in an average higher end Mexican restaurant in just about any major urban area. There is literally nothing special about the decor, ambience or service to justify the higher price other than the fact that it was created by Enrique Olivera, who created both Pujol and Cosme, both of which are far better restaurants. It’s one thing to pay $250 for a meal for two people, it’s another to pay $250 for a meal and to leave feeling unsatisfied and ripped off. When it comes to the hype surrounding Atla, it’s safe to say that the emperor has no clothes.

My boyfriend and I loved our dinner at Alta! Easily my favorite tapas restaurant in the city. Not only were all the small plates we tried delicious, but the setting was perfectly romantic. Highly recommend!

We went to Alta with 10 friends and the staff accommodated our group graciously —- even as the group kept changing its mind about ordering for the table. Our server Jonathan was the embodiment of hospitality and conscientiousness. Drink orders were perfect and the food marvelous. Some in our group had special food requirements and they were pleased at the variety and flavors of the options. All in all a fun group dinner that actually worked.

We went to Alta last night with a group of friends and we had a fabulous experience. The drinks are great, the food is awesome and the service is exceptional. Cal is the one who looked after us and in spite of this being a Saturday night, he ensured that our food showed up on time and drinks were flowing. If you like 'Tapas' style of food, you have to go !!

Booked a table for 4 from the UK a few weeks ago as we were planning to meet up with old friends. Due to family illness our friend had to cancel and when we rang them as a courtesy Alta cancelled our reservation. No idea if their food is any good but if the attitude is this bad we had a lucky escape!

we had a early dinner on a Thurs. The place was empty. They put a big loud table directly next to us when nobody was there. We couldn't hear each other and kept getting hit by their chairs. The tapas were OK. Expensive for what they were. Taste was nothing special and small portions.

Great Tapas style restaurant with Multiple floors and homey ambiance. The food was phenomenal! The servers were very knowledgeable and attentive. I would say get about 3-4 dishes per person as these are smaller plates. Highly recommend!

This is a great place to go with friends if you enjoy the small plates dining experience. I like it for the same reason I love dim sum -- you get to sample a little bit of a lot of different dishes. We loved the food and the service was prompt and attentive (and the place was full). We lucked into a private and cozy table on the upper floor by the window. The only cautionary note I'd add is that the restaurant only accepts cash or AmEx... something I find pretty unusual for an established place these days.

Nice selection of small plates most of which tasted very good (though a bit on the saucy side). However our waiter was not only very slow but also not knowledgable about the food on the menu and had no clue about the wine list. He said he would grab the sommelier to help us with the wine, after a 15 min wait no one showed up and we had to pick a bottle ourselves. By the time the wine arrived, we were half way through our meal. For a place of this quality, the waiting staff should be more qualified.

We had dinner 2 days after they reopened during Covid. Very positive experience! The outdoor dining area is well-spaced and attractive, the server very attentive and pleasant. The menu is shorter than their "regular" menu but everything we ate was wonderful! We had the Paella, Grilled Shrimp, Bacon wrapped dates and Brussel Sprouts. We'd recommend all of them. Everything had something special to give it a unique flavor.

A group of five came for a birthday dinner. We were very happy with everything. Service was friendly and helpful. Great advice on a few wine selections. Each dish was tasty and well presented. Don't feel like you have to order everything at once. Because service is prompt you can add to your feast as you go along.

Before I have my rant I will say that the ambience was great and the food, what there was of it was excellent. It was our first time here but some of our party of 10 had eaten here before. The entrance is down a few steps in the street and you could miss it. A nice night was beckoning we sat down, ordered some drinks and checked out the menu. 4 of our party were not drinking, 2 of these were teenagers and did not eat much. If you go for the whole shabang the menu say it costs $405, each tapas is at least $12. We decided not to go for that and started ordering! Cocktails are around $14 I think the sangria is $18 not bad for a glass of ice! A couple of hours later not a huge amont of food for 10 and not particularly full and our bill arrived. Nearly a $1000!!!!! Now around $230 was drinks so $700 on food. No deserts no coffee so just over $70 a head on food. I have paid less at a Michelin * restaurant and been full at the end of the meal, thanks but no thanks Alta.

We love this neighborhood tapas bar, tucked away on West 10th Street (no sign so look carefully), The rose selection at the bar is vast and the small plate dishes are extremely delicious! It draws a crowd and can get loud but everyone gets along fine. The restaurant has different areas, on two floors. There is a private room upstairs to rent as well. The bartenders are quick and so is the service, once you are seated.

We live in the Greenwich Village area and Alta is one of our favorite places to go to for a romantic dinner. We love the tables by the 2nd floor balcony and the food is always excellent. Small portions and you can try a bit of everything. Staff there are always friendly.

This is a perfect place for a casual birthday dinner. First of all, they personalized a happy birthday menu/placemat. The server was professional, friendly and helpful. The ambiance is open and spacious. We ordered several small plates (tapas) and each was delicious - mushroom flatbread, Brussel sprouts, asparagus were among our favorites. And of course dessert had a candle in it. I’ll be back.

We live in nyc and are somewhat picky with food, we adore alta. I had never given it a review before but after this last time I had to. Some of the best tapas I have had (yes I have been to madrid and eaten tapas there) in the world. Their food is always so wonderfully prepared and seasoned and the service is top notch.

I loved Alta! It has a really great menu with lots of options for non- meat eaters. We had a very helpful waitress who was able to advise on menu choices as well as wine. The setting is interesting; we had a great spot in the gallery. My only small complaint was that the lighting was really too dark. However this shouldn’t be off putting. I will return and do recommend.

Visited with some college friends and really enjoyed our experience. Good food, delicious cocktails, great atmosphere. I love the table setup and wall cutouts - makes for an intimate experience, without making it claustrophobic. Four stars because of how heavy the food was - a ton of fat and cheese. Delicious, but somewhat overwhelming. Great experience, overall.

Always a wonderful meal here!! We celebrated our anniversary here this weekend. As always, spectacular. The brussels sprouts were AMAZING, as is the shrimp and chorizo. My only complaint is that they removed the Philadelphia Surprise from the menu (BRING IT BACK, PLEASE!!)

I have never paid such an expensive dinner for so little and yet I am Parisian so I am used to “expensive” restaurants. A total of $203 for 2 people. And we impose on you the percentage of tip that you must pay. All the restaurants I have been to in New York let us choose the tip percentage even though it is imposed and already put on the bill. Who knows why, if you pay in cash the bill is cheaper. So if you don't have $200 on you, you pay more to be able to pay by card. Apart from the price, the subdued atmosphere is really too subdued, you have to turn on the flash of your phone to see what you have on the plate. You are served tasting portions for the price of a dish with a “normal” portion. The cheesecake dessert is anything but a cheesecake. Too bad in general the quality is good but I advise you to avoid this restaurant!!!!! They are thieves!

Finding Alta was a bit difficult. There are no signs outside. The food was fantastic. Great tapas. The anchovies and octopus dishes were fantastic. Great wine list with 1990's wines at decent prices.

Came here with a friend for dinner and drinks, spent $260 and where told that they only accept cash or AMEX. I would expect that out of a taco joint selling cheap food on the street, but not from a place with these prices. Food presentation and taste was average. The worse part is that this happens so often to them that instead of accepting credit cards they have memorized where the nearest ATM is and are quick to point at the fine print on the menu. Will not come back.