Socarrat Paella Bar - Chelsea Reviews

I've been to this bar a couple of times and their paella is awesome! Best I've had. Their paella is a little bit pricy but it's all worth it.

Wonderful food - terrifically attentive wait service - lots of dinner options as well as small plates

The food is very good but expensive and the tables are very small or you sit at a communal table with 20-30 other people. They had a sign outside the restaurant stating that they were participating in NYC Restaurant Week except on Saturday. We went on Sunday and when we went to order the Restaurant Week special were told it was not available on Sunday. When we pointed to the sign outside stating that only Saturday was not available we were told that no matter what the sign stated they would not honor the special. This is a clear case of "Bait and Switch" These people are not very honest and customers should be aware!!!!!!

I was invited to Socarrat by a friend who raved about their paella. (She knew what she was talking about...). The food here is delicious...and the sangria is some of the best I've ever had in NYC. If you're looking to really treat yourself (or someone else) grab dinner here and you won't be disappointed. Nice ambiance, friendly staff, and above all a DELICIOUS meal.

Really enjoyed the tapas, especially the croquettes and the octopus dishes. Highly recommend the Sangria as well. We may have had a few too many glassed of the Sangria. The only downside was while we were 4 people and waiting for the rest of our party to arrive we couldn't sit at our table because they needed a "minimum of 5" to seat us. Not a bit fan of front of house staff when they're not accommodating, sets a bit of a negative tone before the meal has even started.

We visited here for dinner during restaurant week. The croquettes appetizer was good, but a little heavy. The carne paella was good, but we were disappointed they did not advertise it was one paella selection per couple. The red sangria however was overpriced and needed more flavor. I might return here for the paella, but that is it.

Great ambiance! The style of the restaurant is really impressive, nice back yard seating Amazing food Service was really nice

Wow what a dinner ! We took the combined poultry and seafood paella and started with some appetizers: iberico jamon, spinach croquettes , garlic shrimps, 2 color beets with goat cheese. Every bite was amazing. The deserts were excellent as well

My husband and I have eaten here so many times and it is always ecellent food, service and crowded but pretty inside!

Visited Socarrat during NY restaurant week and we were not disappointed. Fantastic gambas starter, beautiful arroz negro paella and crispy churros. The cocktails were very good as well.

Meet with friends, had a great time. service very good and attentive... can't put a finger on anything, would defiantly come back.

I'm a big fan of paella and had high hopes for Socarrat, but they started off on the wrong foot when the hostess tried seating us on a very large (and loud) communal table when there were several smaller tables available. She made it worse by telling us that we could sit at a small table but we had to vacate by 8p for other reservations (BTW, we also had a 6:30 res. and arrived on time on a terrible rainy night). When we left (around 8:15p), there still were at least 4 empty small tables around our table. On the plus side, the waiter was very good and very accommodating. As for the paella...average, at best. Nothing special, they skimped on the seafood and 1/3 of the rice was burnt to the large pan. I'll get my paella elsewhere next time...

This is an elegant, well located restaurant. We sat at the comfortable bar and were served by a gracious woman who brought us her recommendations for wine and tapas, all of which we loved. The is the first time I've ever had razor clams - I always see the shells on the beach but oh what an intense flavor! Not inexpensive - you know those choices pile up and none of them were cheap - but I would go back again and again just for the taste, ambiance, and fine service.

Socarrat is a paella palace. We ate from the limited Restaurant Week menu, but it served its purpose to introduce us to a charming little place with one big almost unforgivable drawback...ONLY high stool and bar seating. When I called to reserve I specifically asked if there were any regular seats (companion being disabled) and was told yes (the reviews had warned of no regular seating); and contrary to the hostess, I know called the correct branch (Chelsea) because this was the one blocks from where I had to go afterwards. Oh, the food was very good. Crabmeat croquettes (6) and garlic shrimps (8) were tasty (tho shrimps bit overcooked). Paella of the day was chicken with artichoke; it was very good but had only 2 little chunks of chicken meat and 3 boned chicken parts with little meat. It was served in the pan it was cooked in and so the crust was there to scrape off. Very enjoyable, but even more so was the waitress who offered to scrape the rest off for us. Now, that’s service! My zarzuela was like Spanish cioppino; a broth with a variety of seafood (clams, mussels, shrimps, scallops, fish)—no bread for soup provided, but crisp bread was (3 tiny pieces in general) was given at beginning of meal. The seafood was tad skimpy but everything was properly salted, flavorful and not too briny amazingly. Mussels themselves were among largest I’ve ever eaten. Flan and churros were terrific; not overly sweet, decent sized portion and topped off meal perfectly. Glass of wine was $9 (least expensive). Service was attentive (plates cleared and water refilled timely). Courses were well-timed. Clean unisex restroom on ground floor (only 2) Excellent adventure overall.

If you go to this restaurant you need to know that you are going to be treat like a sheep. They change your seats in the middle of the dinner because they don’t calculate how many reserves they have it and if you are not a friend they talk with you vet unpolite. The food is bad quality. The potatoes are freeze and fried. And the rice is too coocked. The good things are the waiters inside the restaurant are very friendly and polite and very helpful. Bad experience

We had a great time. The place is tight but the service and food compensated very well. We enjoyed several of their tapas, specially enjoyed the croquetas and the gambas(shrimp). The red sangria was very good, not to sweet and reasonable strong. The two types of paellas we selected were enough for the seven of us even thou they were for five people. We had the fish and seafood and the meat one. Everybody preffered the seafood one but they were both great. Noise was a little high but still enabled us to maintain the conversations. The waitresses were very attentive and on the look for everything we needed. For desserts we had the churros with chocolate which the closest to the ones in Spain that I have tasted in the USA.

My friends were visiting from Japan so I took them to my favorite restaurant, Socarrat. We had octopus, sausage, salad for appetizer, and the ink squid paella and meat paella. They all loved it. My favorite is the ink squid paella and there's no other place that makes it as well as Socarrat. Hats off to the chef. Please keep that dish on the menu.

Seriously the best Spanish food I have had since Barcelona - and the best paella regardless. Please get the Arroz Negro Paella - it is fabulous! Great sangria and the bacon wrapped dates tapas are wonderful! It's crowded and seating is tightly European style -- so worth it!

If looking for a great Paella, this is the place to go to. The Paella is excellent and generous, and the atmosphere is lively.

Pincho de pollo tapas had a tasty mushroom and veggies and tender, nicely cooked chicken. Pescado y marisco paella was a perfect portion for two and tasted natural and fresh, delicious. Good drinks. Excellent, very attentive customer service. Reasonable wait and spacious outdoor seating.

Stopped in here to get a glass of wine and a few tapas and we were very pleased. The grilled octopus was perfectly done, but my favorite was the house salad with very very fresh tomatoes and a nice salty vinaigrette. Did not try the paella, but there were some really good looking options.

Unexpected good Tapas, the filled Dates wrapped with bacon excellent, chicken & veggie paella also very good. For dessert go elsewhere. Waiter service: good.

This restaurant offers communal tables if you have a large party but also individual tables in main dining room We were a party of 11 with only 1 waiter but the service was very good. Our party had folks allergic to nuts other to peppers and vegan and all were handled accordingly. So we tried the vegan the black mare paella’s and all were good but the mare was definitely superior A good choice but a bit pricey at 26$ pp min for a min of 2

Friday night in New York and with an essential reservation in hand we visited Socarrat based on prior TA ratings. The service was excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was a little bland and the paella took a long time to arrive, even though the restaurant wasn't full and the waiters promising it was minutes away (20 mins later). There must be better in this city.

This place get better every time I eat here. They had a duck paella special when I was there last week that was TO DIE FOR. The waiter explained to us that the more fat in the meat creates an even crunchier socarrat (the part of the paella which the restaurant is named for).

Had the chorizo and paella - Totally not what I expected. Very disappointing. Chorizo was undercooked and the paella was dry. The waitress seemed "bored" as she yawned throughout the meal.......We sat at the bar with an upclose view of this. Finished our wine but never asked if we wanted a refill. After having paella and tapas in Spain, nothing I had there compares.

Socarrat is an experience and a place to visit. We entrusted ourselves in the knowing hands of our server, who was not only very knowledgeable, extremely pleasant, who did not stir us wrong. We had recommended octopus, dates wrapped in bacon which was an experience for all six senses. We drank cava along with our phenomenal ink seafood paella. The best for last dessert. Agin an orgasmic experience. Again the recommendation was almond ice cream and chocolate binneas. The greeting and the good byes makes it a must do all over again.

Nice bar scene, good sangria and great paella. My only criticism would be the uncomfortable bar stools without backs. When you're there for a couple hours, you really need a back to your chair. Also it's a little dark. Fine for a bar, but not great for a restaurant.

We made reservations here for lunch during restaurant week in August 2017. We were a party of five and the only thing we were told beforehand was that the paella Restaurant Week special was for two people. Upon our arrival, we were seated and then ignored. After about 15 minutes, mind you, the restaurant was empty, someone came to take our drink order and again, we waited. After another 15 minutes, our drinks arrived and they "explained" the Restaurant Week menu. It was explained that if you ordered the paella, it was for two. The fish was for one. We were left alone again and waited, and waited, and waited. Another server came up and asked for our orders. Three wanted paella and one person gave in and became the second for the "two person" paella. The last person tried to order off the regular menu. The server said, "You can't do that," and left. Confused, we sat there another 10 minutes until another server came up to take our order. We tried to place the same order and was told, "No, the one person has to have the fish or order the paella for two. If one person at the table orders from the Restaurant Week menu, everyone at the table does." What? Did someone want to explain this to us almost an hour ago? We asked why that wasn't told to us earlier and there was no reply. We told her we'd pay for the drinks and were going to leave. Still wanting paella, we called Cafe Espanol in The Village and got reservations right away. We paid for our drinks and started to get up. The manager then decided to come running over and ask if there was any way we would stay. Nope. Not when you let people sit, ignored, for way too long, don't fully explain the restrictions on your menu choices when first seated, have such an amazingly restricted menu, and having a staff that doesn't seem to care if they make a food sale or not. We will never return. Cafe Espanol will be our restaurant of choice when we next feel the need for paella.

The bar specialises in various tapas and several variations of paella, from the traditional to a vegetarian or a version made entirely of seafood. We chose the Arroz Negro, where the rice is coloured black with squid ink. On top of that was a lobster, numerous prawns, fish and scallops. Before that we had some tapas, but one small criticism cannot be avoided. The Pulpo a Galega was prepared without any salt at all and for some unknown reason the dates wrapped in bacon had Gorgonzola cheese in them, which is neither tasty nor in keeping with the original recipe. The restaurant is always busy, reservations are highly recommended. When we visited, all the seats were taken by guests celebrating happily, the noise level is appropriate, but the mood and atmosphere are characterised by Iberian cheerfulness. Service and quality impeccable, highly recommended.

Great restaurant, great friendly service and amazing paella. the tapas appetizers were excellent. the only reason I gave 4 stars is because the tables are high and you have to sit on stools .make sure you gget a table on the side that has regular tables.

While Socarrat is labelled a paella restaurant, we opted for tapas at the bar,and had a really good selection including the shrimp and whitebait special (one of the best I have had outside Spain), fried green tomatoes and goat's cheese, and pork belly with watermelon! Good range of Spanish wines by the glass, and a short but quality range of sherries. We received good service, and it was busy without being frantic on a Saturday night. Casual and fun, the people either side at the bar were raving about their crunchy-bottomed paella, especially the one with lobster.

Paella for two, two tapas, two glasses wine + tip= $150. The food was good the portions minuscule. Hemmed in a tiny family table. Very noisy indeed. Wait staff are clueless. Kept trying to remove plates before we were done.

During a recent month long trip to Spain the best paella I had was in Valencia. Well this bar was able to match that quality no problem. Had a seafood paella complete with crispy base and accompanied by a great wine list which did not disappoint. Would happily return for a second visit.

The title says it all - the lobster paella was heavenly. I did not expect them to bring out actual lobster tails in the paella. It was a delicious and hearty. The tapas were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the almond ice cream was superb. My only complaint is that the space is on the cramped side. They tried to seat my husband and I at a shared table with 4 strangers. I knew I wouldn't enjoy my food in a tight space, so we opted to sit at the bar alone.

Went for a business lunch, 2 people. Service was great and the tapas and paella were tops. The Paella was cooked to order and to perfection. I'm not a New Yorker and found the place on a random Google search and decided to take a chance. Glad I did.

I first found the first Socarrat in Chelsea last year and this year tried the newer uptown on Second Avenue and 51st Street. These charming small restaurants make fresh paella with several to choose from [each serves two] and while you wait you can enjoy great tapas and lovely Spanish wine. I love it, although a bit pricey, and the paella is substantial so don't order too many tapas. Great bar and cozy tables uptown, communal table downtown, both great.

Soccarat is near the Joyce dance venue and was convenient for a meal with friends. We started with tapas, which was uniformly delicious and well presented. The suckling pig special was great, as was the anchovy and pepper special. The calamares was also succulent and very tasty, slightly charrred. For our paella we had the arroz negro (squid ink) that was perfectly prepared, with a nice assortment of seafood layered on top. Our waiter was very nice and provided good wine recommendations by the glass--both red and white. Service was prompt and efficient and the meal was served at a nice pace, leaving us time for post dinner coffee. We ate early--5:30, to make a 7:30 performance.

Great place to meet with friends to chat on a breezy night. We were seated by the open patio windows which was awesome! The tapas were good but the star of the evening was the paella! We had the paella named after the house and it was covered with seafood. The tapas we had before were decent but a bit pricey for what came to the table. We ended with the chocolate doughnuts, which were more like deep fried truffles! Overall definitely a great evening and place to catch up with old friends.

It's a paella bar. Three of us all enjoyed the arroz negro paella...very much! One of us had dietary restrictions and hostess was very accommodating by suggesting what food would be best. love this place.

We had a reservation on Open Table for 8:45 PM. When we arrived we were told we had to wait for our table. Not a problem- we waited by the bar but didn’t want to drink. We ended up waiting until 9:10 to be seated. We were expecting some type of acknowledgment for waiting— other restaurants would send over a free appetizer or at least apologize for having to wait. This place had a good date night feel- great lighting. We were at a shared table with four other people, which felt a bit strange. We ordered two tapas (Brussels sprouts and coquettes- both incredible). We also ordered the squid ink paella. It was very good and the right amount of food. We did have to order two servings, minimum, which was $28 per serving. We found this to be an expensive meal for not having gotten alcohol (wine was $15 per glass) but enjoyed the experience nonetheless. It is in an expensive area, so we were not surprised.

Five of us dined there on the 13th of November for a birthday celebration. Having just been in Spain in September, we were looking for a truly Spanish dining experience. We found this quaint little restaurant and tried it out. First, we were able to get a table just for us. They have seating limitations so a long table is typically shared. You can get private seating for smaller parties. In any event, the tapas like patatas bravas, tortilla espana, gambas, and the vegetarian plate were delicious. We can say with authority that they were as good as we remembered from Sevilla and Madrid. The wine recommendation was perfect, a bit pricey but perfect otherwise. We ordered the seafood paella, which they suggest you order early on due to the 30 minute preparation and cooking time. The other couple ordered the lobster paella. Obviously there is an art to making a fantastic paella. These folks have it. If you're going here, you really have to get one of their paellas. These orders are for two persons and are reasonably priced compared to some other items on the menu. Crisp, browned to perfection with fresh seafood, plenty of saffron, it was a treat to have their paella. I tried some of the lobster one also. Delicious. Service was very attentive by native Spaniards. I can't wait until we visit Socarrat again. For authentic Spanish food, similar to a Andalucian experience, this is your place. Muy, muy bien.

We went there mainly for the paella because I had yet to find a decent one in any coast of the U.S and we were not disappointed. . The atmosphere of restaurant and bar are actually quiet good. This is a great date place. We ate at the bar and we ordered the seafood paella and some side dishes, which were good but we were really blown away by the paella. True to the name of the restaurant, the socarrat (which is the quasi burnt caramelized rice at the bottom) was unbelievably tasty. They don't go cheap on ingredients, the fish was super high quality and they were generous with the seafood. I can't wait to go back to NYC and have it again!! Highly recommend it.

First and last time I will ever have a meal at this restaurant known for Paella cuisine?!! I grew up eating Paellas cooked at home. I have prepared Paella dishes in the last 35 years. I have few gifts one being a good cook, and I do not need recipes. I have travelled and appreciate cooking styles around the world. The Paellas served to us as a group were probably one of the worst meals I/we have had ever. The rice was a disaster, undercooked, rubbery, salty taste, the choice and amount of seafood was awful and overcooked, hardly any vegetables, actually legumes mostly served in one and overcooked! Both tasted extremely salty and rubbery and not a pleasantly looking dishes. Requested a salad, limited menu, and I received what could have been picked up in a supermarket. The red Sangria was an average Sangria with hardly any fruit, how disappointing. The wait staff never introduced themselves by name and instead of allowing us to order Tapas, within 5-10 minutes of sitting, the waitress stated your Paellas are ready and will be served! So much for an opportunity to try a variety of Tapas. The burros for dessert not worth even to talk about. The upstairs sitting was very noisy and tight sitting arrangement. Very difficult to keep up the conversation on a group and very tight sitting! The background music was too loud. The best part was being with my friends, sadly picked by one who did not know about this cuisine. We ate the meals out of courtesy, overpriced for what was offered.

We visited this Paella bar on spec at lunchtime. I can't say I felt my paella with ink squid to be particularly authentic - the rice was too dry and far too economical with the seafood, however, the ambience and beer was enjoyable and the service was good.

This place has a communal long table so it's easy to ask 'what are you having?" I loved the green grilled peppers. We had carne paella and it was sensational. A glass of Spanish rose was the added touch.

Socarrat is a decent place if you're willing to drop some mulah to satisfy certain cravings (namely Paella). I have mixed feelings about Socarrat. The tapas was not good. Some were bland, while others weren't entirely cooked right. However, the paella is actually quite delicious. The only issue is that the price point for the paella and drinks make them not very worth it. That being said, the service here is impeccable.

We had below average appetizers,good arroz negro paella,unapealing deserts, and not very bad sangria (bad red wine, little fruit, lots of ice). Service was correct but indiferent. Did I mention that the seats were not comfortable? Not coming back!

Served family style .. it is a fun way to enjoy dinner! The seafood one with black squid ink is superb... for the less adventurous the one with short ribs is an excellent choice.. go hungry!

The food and atmosphere was great.We started with: olives and roasted almonds, then toast with tomato paste. Next paella, chicken and vegetable, yum.

There are so many tapas places now in NY that it's hard to choose...but we landed on this one, and we're so glad we found it. We have Catalan roots -- and the food here was on a par, if not better, than many in Barcelona. The Chelsea location is long and thin--- mostly bar seating but this just makes the service all the better! We just had several traditional tapas, but all were wonderfully executed. Try it, you'll like it!

I went with my boyfriend who is a newbie to Spanish cuisine. We split the sizzling shrimp, paella marisco & a bottle of temperanillo from the rioja region. We could have licked the pan clean, but the bartender scraped the socarrat for us! We went in w/o reservations on a Saturday night so we were lucky to be sat at the bar. Small dining space, loud b/c you are right on top of each other. Great wine selection & cocktails. Would go back and definitely recommend!

Went here before a show at the Joyce Theater which could not be more convenient! The décor is sexy in a railroad style. Amazing what they did with the space from storage to the lighting and the communal table. The stuffed dates wrapped with bacon were to die for, the grilled cuttlefish masquerading as calamari also spectacular as was the beet salad. However the star of the show -- the fried green tomatoes like they DON'T MAKE IN OHIO (sorry mom). Just over the top flavors and textures of sweet and savory, crunchy and creamy. OMG! The minus one star was for the service. The communal table waiter was more passionate about Catalonia seceding from Spain rather than how to get his customers orders in without disappearing for 15 minutes at a time and gossiping with every staff member that walked by. He left a lot of money on the table with us because we would all have had at least another round or two of drinks if it hadn't taken so long to take our drink orders. Too bad!

Very nice place. We tried many tapas and paella. Food is OK but quite far from Spanish restaurant taste. Price is too expensive for what it is.

The starters were much better than the paella, which was very overcooked and dried out and burnt at the bottom. The seafood was chewy as it was very overcooked. The starters, however, were quite good--which is why I gave 3 stars instead of just 1 or 2. The best starters were the grilled squid and the tortilla as well as the patron peppers. Staff was nice and service good.

What a wonderful place tucked away in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. The atmosphere is comfortable and you better get comfortable because the food keeps on coming and coming. We booked our 20 year college women's reunion here on a Saturday night and were not disappointed at all. They have a fare where you pay $50 - $75 per person for (6) tapas selections, and (3) paella selections, dessert and pitchers of sangria! We all lived in Sevilla Spain for a semester and this restaurant took us right back to Sevilla with delicious food! The shrimp in garlic sauce and bacon wrapped figs are delicious. Great place, great service, divine food - you will not be disappointed!

I dined at this cute little Chelsea restaurant and was pleasantly pleased regarding the tapas and paellas. For starters , their figs wrapped was a great little bite, the cheese tapas was the right amount of salty, and shrimp in garlic sauce. We had both the meat paella with Spanish rice and the seafood with noodles. The seafood was amazing and fresh. For deserts , order the flan or mini donuts filled with warm chocolates Overall a cute place for tapas and laughs

Tiny place, very intimate. Terrific sangria (not that horrible super sweet swill). We were 6 people- got 3 paella so (traditional, lobster and meat). All were good. Nice to eat something a little different in a nice place. Excellent price point.

We liked the atmosphere and the service was very good. We had Arroz Negro, which was pretty good and abundant. As starter, we had fried artichokes, which were also very good, and for dessert we had crema catalana, very good too. If we had only ordered this, my rating would have been 4 stars. However, we also ordered navajas, which were the worst navajas I have ever tried: completely flavourless, cold, with the texture of a chewing gum (hard to chew and swallow, actually) and very expensive ($16 for 4 navajas). I really don´t understand how can a restaurant like this one (and with it´s prices) offer such a terrible dish. If those are the navajas you can offer, please just remove them from the menú.

Sullen service, tasteless tapas, and filthy environs make this the worst Spanish restaurant in NYC. The staff was utterly unable to explain anything on the menu, especially the desserts since "they are prepared next door" (at sister establishment Churreria). They also took the liberty of leaving our booth unclean until asked to clear a few times, table uncleared before dessert, and the floor was no less filthy than that of a truckstop's bathroom. Thanks you amigos for making this a Mother's Day to remember. Btw I'd give this place a zero rating if I could.

Ambience is very cosy, staff is friendly, service above average, and the food was delicious. We had the lobster paella, lobster melted in our mouth. Definately worth a return visit!

Nice dinner in the middle of the week, restaurant not as crowded as on weekend, our waitress was attentive and fast in responding to our requests. The food service was paced to our liking, we did not feel rushed. We sat at a high table that was shared with another couple and enjoyed an order of artichoke appetizer followed by the Socarrat paella for 2 that was very well cooked with a nicely balanced mix of meats, rice and fava beans. The best part was scrapping the bottom of the pan for a crispy finish.

My adult son and I ordered the arroz negro paella, which was very good and the portions were appropriate to share between two people. My problem was with the seating arrangements. We were seated at a long bar table , with dinner companions placed across from each other. Unfortunately you are literally rubbing elbows with the people next to you. The guy on my right continually snorted back into his head what ever was in his nasal passages, then took the t-shirt that he was wearing and wiped his whole face with it. I realize that dining establishments are not responsible for the personal hygiene practices of their patrons, but this was just gross, especially at such close proximity.

Absolutely delightful meal, wonderful flavours and beautifully presented. My partner and I had Theater plans at 8pm and Dinner plans at 640pm at Soccarat in Chelsea. We had the Pulpo a la Gallegos and Boquerones en Vinagre as appetizers. Both nicely seasoned, medium sized portions. Main course was the Arroz Negro which brought back memories when we were in Malaga,Spain. Portion was good, well presented, good amount of seafood but needed a bit more garlic for our taste buds. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. PS: we loved the 80s music!

We went here for a new years eve meal and ordered off their special menu. We had a choice of starters and then shared a paella with a choice of desserts. The starters were very tasty. The paella was one of the best I have ever tasted and was as authentic as you could get. The staff were very friendly and the whole place had a nice relaxed atmosphere

I was invited to this lovely restaurant by a for end whose favourite it is. I was amazed at how busy it was. We waited a little while but the staff were very friendly . The wait was well worth it ! The paella , seafood , was simply delicious ! Nothing like the yellow wet stuff you get in the markets but the proper paella , the taste of the seafood juices was tantalising ! Well worth a visit.

The seafood paella was amazing and any of the apps are really good. If you are on an intimate evening or with family, forget it. Too tight and very loud. Service is good.

Adore this place. From the ambiance, to the food, to the service - it's all excellent. The sangria is sweet and strong and you can't go wrong with any of the paella selections. Totally worth the wait. In regards to their tapas, I highly recommend getting ones that aren't your standard garlic shrimp, croquettes and bacon wrapped dates (which we've had here, and yes, they are good). Try instead the creamy hand rolled meat stuffed pasta, grilled pork belly and the Moroccan beef skewers. All of these are excellent and different from what you would typically find in other tapas joints. Size wise, I was actually pleased with the portion amount. Items didn't come in threes (which can be frustrating when there are 4 in a group) and everyone was able to have a healthy tasting amount. A+ all around.

Admittedly I'm a bit of an amateur paella expert and even have a couple paella pans at home and use them a few times a year when inspired to make a dinner party. The rice at Socarrat was waaay over-salty to our tastes. Please cooks, err on the side of under-salted and let people add their own if necessary! Do not impose your salt-hungry tastes on others. Its also not healthy, some people are on restricted diets. Bad. Plus it had way too much oil poured all over it. The lobsters were stored too long during shipping so the meat was depleted in volume. The scallops in short supply. The strips were good. The burnt rice stuck to the pan bottom was excellent. Our waitress vanished and didn't return so we had to flag down another waiter for more wine. The tipping calculations start at 18% which I consider rude. Gimme a break with the entitlement squeeze the client 'tude. The male waiter who ended up looking after us was very nice once we got his attention. Its cozy and over-packed but that's not a big problem. It was a good paella but certainly not a great one. Over-all not a destination restaurant for us. We will not be back, for sure. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

if you don't want to spend much at dinner time, it would be a best option to try the lunch menu during the lunch time. Tapas are wonderful try. Rice are bit salty but taste good.

Made an online reservation for 12:00, when atrived there turns out they open at 12:30. When we came back later, The restaurant was almost empty, the host was very unwelcoming, put us in the worst possible table next to the service area. Then the waitress acted extremely rude when I asked if they had a vegetarian option for the croquetas. We stood up and left. Not worth spending money there!

The restaurant has backless bar stools at a few small tables or a communal table. Barely air conditioned. They are unaccommodating and have an attitude. Don't ask for suggestions because you should know what you want. Food was good not great and expensive. There are a million restaurants in the city and many tapas and paella places so pick any where else and you will do much better.

Soccarat means the crunchy caramelized layer of rice at the bottom of the paella pan. Soccarat does soccarat. At Soccarat we had the Arroz negro (blackened with squid ink) and it was quite tasty. However all the rice was crunchy, not much rice above that soccarat level. We could have used a bit more seafood on top of the rice as well. Now it seems that this may be the authentic way to make paella in Spain, according to some on the Internet, which says it is the rice which is the star, not the seafood or other ingredients. We are not an expert on the correct way to make paella. But here in the US we might expect a bit more of the rice and seafood. The tapas were excellent, the wrapped dates and shrimp with garlic and peppers. The drinks were interesting. The service was excellent. Everyone sits on high stools, so your back may feel a bit stretched at the end of dinner. If the restaurant is crowded, you may share a long table with other dinners.

Really excellent spanish food on offer here. The menu has a combination of tapas and paella and we used the tapas as apps and then moved onto Paella, of which there are several varied examples listed with imaginative ingredients so this is not all seafood. This is good for me personally, since I am not really a fan of paella typically I have to say. However, my mind was changed here since the food is really excellent. The restaurant is pretty easy to find, not far from 18th St subway station on line 1. The dining area is deep and thin, extending to the back of the bulding and beyond, with a covered courtyard in the back. It reminds me of a Parisien cafe in layout. We were here with a party of 6 on a high top that sat that number, which was very comfortable. We were dining early so it wasn't packed, but even so, it wasn't too loud which is sometimes the bain of establishments of this type. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, guiding us through the menu and making suggestions for both food and wine. The menu has a great selection of tapas for all tastes. I am a big fan of this type of food and the examples served here were excellent. They are always much more filling than I expect! When you order they ask you what you want by way of paella, and you have to choose for a minimum of 2 persons and it takes 30 to 40 minutes to prepare so you order it up front. It works well - the tapas came pretty quickly and the whole atmosphere, food and ambience generally makes for a convivial time. The paella was, even for someone not enamored with the dish in general, truly outstanding. It is cooked with a think layer of rice that caramalizes on the pan (hence the term socarrat, with which I was unfamiliar. We ordered a lobster version, as well as a squid ink paella and both were very good - well presented and flavorsome, Be aware though that you will need to be hungry if there are two of you and expect to get through this - there is a lot of food here! We ordered two paellas for 6 people and struggled to get through them even though each was ostensibly two servings. Not super expensive for what it is, the amount of food and the drinks we consumed of which there is a good selection of wines and cocktails, although not a huge alcohol list. We very much enjoyed our meal and it is great for a family get together. Even if, like me, you are not a huge fan of paella I suggest you might well like this. There is even a paella with short ribs so if seafood isn't your thing, you can certainly eat well here.

The tapa menu looks good so I would come back to explore other dishes. I did try the tuna and it was well cooked with solid flavor (a lot of salt which was overwhelming). The paella (black rice with seafood) was OK. It was a very thin layer of rice which meant you had a lot of the burnt bottom which was not bad; however, I prefer to have some soft rice to counter the hard chewy bottom. The seafood was not well cooked and did not really have much flavor. Bill for tapa + 1 paella serving was about $40. I'd go back for tapas and maybe another paella. Maybe.

We were greeted and seated quickly at a high top table near the bar. We were given both Restaurant Week and regular menus and chose to order from the Restaurant Week menu. Our first courses (tapas) were very good: salad, shrimp and Brussels sprouts. The lamb chop entree was very good; however, the paella negro was underseasoned, bland and undercooked: the scallops were practically raw, no socarrat. We told both our waiter and the manager about this and they both said that they would speak to the chef and ask them to adjust the broth for the paella. The wine was reasonable priced. The flan and churros were good. Perhaps this was not the usual for dinner, but it was disappointing,

I love Paella, and I eat it everywhere I go that serves it (including in Spain). I must say the Paella in this place is Legit!! Tastes great, and worth every penny. The service was average, and not special at all. They get a 5 star for their food, not service.

The last time I visited this restaurant was when it first opened years ago. At that time they did not even have a liquor license; but time has passed, they've expanded to occupy the location next door, they've opened up a few other locations throughout the city and they now serve alcohol. You used to have to go to the wine store on the corner, which by the way is no longer there, now the waiter brings you your wine. Although many things have changed, what remains the same is the excellent quality of the paella. Socarrat, in my opinion is still the best Spanish cuisine I have tasted in the United States, no other restaurant is even close.

We went to Socarrat hoping to find paella like we had on a recent trip to Spain. The paella was pretty good, not great. The rice was good but some of it was burned. The choices of paella were ok but you couldnt select your own ingredients, but rather had to chose from a menu of about 10 preset paellas. We were told that you couldnt get individual paellas, rather 2 or more people had to order the same one, but then we were told that since it was before dinner we could get individual orders so 3 of us ordered different paella. The appetizers were excellent, probably the best part of the meal. We had squid, octopus and shrimp, all were good. Having going there in july on a hot day in New York, we were quite warm as the air conditioner blows only in the back of the restaurant. I asked if we could move but never got a straight answer, so we were too hot during dinner. The back only had tables for 2 and we had 3 people, but there was nobody else there and they easily could have combined 2 tables. I ordered a glass fo red wine as recommended by our server. He recommended a glass of temparanillo which was barely passable. It tasted like the bottle had been open several days though the waiter said it was only open the day before. I drank about half the glass and left the rest. In summary I thought the restaurant was decent but probably not worth returning.

Met up with here friends we traveled through Spain with. Perfect paella that was more than enough to feed all four of us. Sangria Rioja brought back those wonderful days strolling through beautiful cities.

Great little bar/restaurant where the speciality is paella. Excellent range and we chose the Arroz negre (black rice) flavoured and coloured with squid ink and filled with seafood. We shared this dish and there was more than enough. We enjoyed the wait for the meal sipping house made sangria. There are also very attractive tapas available and would suit dropping by for a drink and snacks or a dinner for four evening.

It has been a nice surprise this paella bar in Chelsea. The atmosphere is really European and there was a genuine Spanish sophistication. The waiters were great: the were really professional (yes, they deserved the tip!). The food was mainly great! I had one of the greatest sangria in NYC with a gorgeous serrano ham. The paella reminded me the one I had in Santa Caterina in Barcelona last year... Delicious! They should improve the quality of the desserts, but overall it has been a great and nice experience.

I've been to Socarrat a few times for happy hour with my friends. The food is good, love the Patata bravas, they are really good. Sangria is a must. It is a bit small but sitll nice place to hang out with friend for drinks and dinner.

We have been here several times and it never disappoints. The paella is cooked with perfection and the sangria is so refreshing. Each time we have been seated the in main bar room with the high tables. This room offers such great ambiance It's small yet cozy. The wait staff is always upbeat and friendly. The shrimp in garlic sauce and the potatoes bravas are a must order. Soccarat is truly a great neighborhood gem !!!!!

This seems like a neighborhood spot as it out of the way in a residential neighborhood. If you are a foodie, definitely check it out if you like spanish food. Our meal Shrimp Tapas - Head on , really good Meatballs - also good you get 6 which is great for sharing. Lobster Paella - good, but some of the calamari was tough. Note: You order paella for 2 and must be the same version of paella. Also you may be seated at a community table if the individual tables are full

We were delighted to have a chance to return to this very interesting Spanish restaurant which specializes in paella. Unfortunately we did not have time to wait for the paella so we enjoyed a number of their tapas choices. The seared tuna with sesame seeds is divine set in a delicious sauce. There was an excellent pear, gorgonzola and walnut salad which was a very generous serving. However the flatbread was a total disappointment. We had to wait a long time. Tge portion was really ridiculously small. It wasn’t even the size of a half hotdog bun. It also arrived lukewarm after they had explained they had to remake it because the first one burned. So that was a real disappointment. I think the tapas can be very expensive so you need to choose carefully but there are some wonderful choices. And during happy hour if you sit at the bar the tapas are half price which is an excellent deal. Wines seem a bit expensive.There’s a nice vibe and servers try their best but they really blew it with our flat bread.

We were visiting NYC and a friend who lives in the Village took us there. We loved it for its atmosphere, its service and most of all the quality of the food. You can't go wrong to go there for paella, and the price is not bad for that part of the city. Enjoy.

We had a very disappointing meal at Socarrat this evening.  We were excited for authentic Spanish Tapas.  The food "looked" delicious but unfortunately did not impress our taste buds. We ordered the calamari, fried artichoke and the Brussel sprouts as starters.  The artichoke was tender but too greasy and lacked flavor.  It also needed something to cut the grease like lemon.  While the brussel sprouts had an interesting flavor, they were also very greasy.  The biggest disappointment was the calamari.   For $17 we were served two tiny baby calamari in olive oil with a lemon wedge on the side.  Although the serving was very small, we anticipated that it would be tasty and reminiscent of our recent trip to Barcelona where we had the same dish.  Unfortunately we were disappointed,  The dish had no taste and the calamari was dry.  Would not recommend this place.

The food was truly excellent, the atmosphere was exciting with a young (late 20's - 30's) crowd and the service was very good. I have had family and friends there that rave about it. My modest rating is due to the fact that we had 6 people in our party and all 6 were not feeling well the next day. Too much of a coincidence.

This Chelsea outpost of the Socarrat restaurant group was bustling with a mostly young crowd on the Thursday evening we visited for dinner in a party of four to celebrate a birthday. The narrow and deep space with brick-lined walls has the feel of a cellar, warmed by the crowd, and a welcome respite from a rainy and blustery night. We were fortunate to score a four-top, as much of the seating is at communal tables. The bar served us very good cocktails while we waited for our friends to arrive, and we were seated promptly at our reserved time. The menu offers a wide selection of tapas, and we decided to share the patatas bravas and brussels sprouts - both quite good - while deciding on which paellas to order. The paella choices at dinner ranged from $25 to $35 per serving, depending on the protein choices, with a minimum of two servings per order. In other words, our party of four could have ordered two different paellas, or we could have ordered one paella in four-serving size, but ordering one paella for three of us and a different one for the fourth would have resulted in the fourth person getting a two-serving paella. For a party of two, choosing one paella to share is the only sensible option, unless you want leftovers to take home. Fortunately, for the four of us, choosing two different paellas and sharing them worked out perfectly, and there was more than we could finish. The eponymous Socarrat paella was the favorite, and reminded us very much of the versions of this dish we have had in Spain. The crusty, caramelized rice at the bottom of the pan was certainly authentic. The Pescados y mariscos was good, but didn't get quite the same degree of socarrat at the bottom of the pan, and the seafood was a bit overcooked. That's the one we didn't finish. We opted for a pitcher of sangria to accompany the meal, and on a return visit I'd be more inclined to explore the wine list, as the sangria was nothing to write home about (is it ever?), and overpriced. The service was friendly but seemed a bit disorganized, with four different servers at our table at various times. All was delivered in good order, however, and the pacing of the meal was just right. If you are in the mood for cocktails and tapas, or paella is what you crave, Socarrat is worth a visit - we would certainly return.

We had a nice time, very small place with little seating. The food wasn’t bad, not sure I’d return though.

When visiting New York a couple of months ago I was at the Soho/Nolita location of Socarrat and absolutely loved it. This time I took my local friend to the Chelsea location for happy hour. Simply the best: tapas half price. The sangria is absolutely awesome and very dangerous! The tapas really are to die for. Scarab is a must visit on every NYC visit for me. At the Soho/Nolita location there is live music and flamenco every Tuesday night. Unfortunately have missed that so far.

Wow - I wish that the paella in Spain was this good! The appetizers were fantastic, especially the suckling pig and the octopus. But the dishes were even better!The arroz negro sounds strange as the rice is colored black using a bit of squid ink. The result is beyond description - an incredible and subtle mix of flavors that are unique. TIP: The seating is mostly at long, community style tables. Lots of fun, but just know what to expect.

We've been to this restaurant very time we've traveled to NYC. Tapas and paella are both outstanding. Sangria roja excellent as well. Would highly recommend.

What a nice little surprise for my friends and me when we stumbled upon this restaurant on 2nd Ave midtown. The kitchen was open till 11pm we walked in at 10:45. We were not rushed at all. The waiter was nice, funny and professional. He made great suggestions for the bottle of wine. The paella was awesome and the perfect amount for the three of us. It was so good we contemplated going back the next night to try a different paella. We didn't then but I will be going back. Great time and great food.

Being not too crazy about seafood, I was quite apprehensive when entering this restaurant. I am happy to report that all my concerns were blown away. Tried three different paellas and eight tapas and loved them all (especially the bacon wrapped dates). Paellas was cooked perfectly. Good selection in beers and wine with focus on Spanish of course. Service was friendly and expedient.

While there are dozens of restaurants near the Joyce Theatre, this is a stand out. Great tapas - lots of small plate choices which is perfect for pre-theatre dinner. Lovely atmosphere and nice service. Not loud or boisterous. A great choice among many offerings. Will definitely return for the paella.

If you like paella, you better not go any where but here. It's a little crowded, a little pricey, but SO worth it in the long run. The meals are filling, the service is fantastic, and the drinks are well made and flavorful. This is the one place I let go - I dont place rules on how much I eat, because everything tastes SO good. I strongly recommend the Carne paella - share it with at least 2 other people, and you'll thank me tomorrow.

The server was friendly but wasn't too familiar with the menu. We still got great food. My only concern was that we were there for a business meeting but didn't realize that it was communal seating at a long table. In all fairness it was probably an oversight on our part, rather than a restaurant deficiency. But everyone was happy with the meal. The wine pairs well with the meal. Flavours were on point and the vibe was good too.

Went to this restaurant last night. We had some of their appetizers and paellas. Arizona negro and the vegetarian paellas were excellent. I also loved their calamari appetizer. Sangria was also good. Fun atmosphere, friendly staff and fun place for dinner.

2 people. tapas menu. Tried rose sangria: well made, very colorful Beet salad, goat cheese--outstanding. Variety of beets, very fresh Fried artichokes--lovely, crispy leaves. somewhat peculiar cheese sauce Shrimp--simple, flash fried, tons of garlic butter Chorizo- fried rounds, uninteresting Stuffed figs--bacon wrapped, seafood puree, charred. Puree bland, overall good Stuffed peppers, tomato sauce. mashed potatoes with something not detectable. ok. Attentive, knowledgeable service. Tolerable noise level.

My daughter invited me and my husband on my birthday Oct 9 to this restaurant. This place had really ruined my day. From the beginning of our meal the waitress was so pushy and rough in putting the plates, at times she intentionally pushed my shoulder. The table was so small for the 4 of us , It was tight enough but she pushes herself in between intentionally. She spoke to us loudly and unpleasantly. I tried so hard to contain myself so as not to disappoint my daughter since she planned my special day weeks ago. When we were almost done and during our conversation , the rude waitress pushed herself bet me and my husband wiping the table. This place is Ghetto!!! The food is mediocre and overpriced!

We went for dinner before a show and Socarrat was recommended by a friend. Aside from the noise (very loud), the food was just okay. We ordered some tapas (not very good) and then the lobster paella. The seafood was fresh and tasty but I didn't care for the rice. I won't return.

The paella was great. Better than some I have had in Spain. The tapas were also very good all around. But be warned, it is noisy, crowded, and you have to sit at communal tables. They promote the communal table as if it is an added benefit, something about how the Spanish eat at communal tables, but it really just a way to cram more people into the space. I've never eaten tapas at a 30' long communal table in Spain. It's usually been at an intimate bar table with 2 or 3 friends or at the bar itself. I hate this new phenomenon of communal tables in NYC restaurants. The long communal table is for an inexpensive restaurant... $25 per person maximum. I get that. That's fine. But good luck getting out of Socarrat for less than $75 per person. Adding insult to injury is the overly loud techno music that was playing the night I was there. If they want "authentico" I think Los Toreros Muertos would be the better choice. And maybe do something about the reverb of the space. The service was reasonable once it got going, but anything more than menus and water took a good 20 minutes. The Tapas bar in NYC is such an interesting phenomenon. In southern Spain tapas are the norm and are often free with a drink. Overall, tapas bars are very inexpensive. In NYC the tapas bar is an expensive restaurant pretending to be an inexpensive bar. I suggest that Socarrat give every group a free tapa to start, just to help ease the shock that everybody has when they realize that they will be dining at a noisy communal table on backless stools. In summary: Very good food. But a very annoying atmosphere in which to eat it.

One of the best Paella 's we have had in NYC. Nice atmosphere, nice service cute decor. Try the calimari appy, tasty and not fried. The lobster paella was tasty, the rice crispy. Although a bit pricey for 2 people. Next time we will try a chicken paella. Disappointing Sangria. Tastes okay but very small pitcher.

I honestly think this is the best paella bar in all of NYC. The food is absolutely delicious and the sangria is excellent!

Friendly, attentive service. Really good food and generous portions. Excellent value, we will be back for dinner! Very good Albarino.

This place wins my paella-hungry heart. Though pricey, all of their paellas come perfectly cooked, flavored, & loaded with your choice of fillings. Rice at the edges gets nice and crisped, the seafood (my favorite) is perfectly done. Their sangria is amazing, too, & I've never met a dish from their tapas list that I didn't like. Make reservations, plan a little ahead since paella takes 40 minutes.

Really enjoyed the food here and service was impeccable. My 18 and 9 year old daughters enjoyed everything. 4 tapas croquette, suckling pig, plancha squid and beef skewers were terrific and delicate. Then a seafood paella that was cooked to perfection. Thank you

Sadly, the best thing served to us this evening was the mixed green salad. It was quite good with walnuts and blue cheese. The shishito peppers were bland, but okay. The sangria was okay was well, but nothing special. We also ordered the bacon wrapped dates that had a decent flavor, but the inside was still cold and the bacon not fully cooked. The paella was so greasy. I attempted to eat around the extra greasy burnt bits when the waiter came over unprompted and began scraping all the parts I was trying to avoid into the slightly less greasy section and stirred it all together. By that time I’d been underwhelmed multiple times and just gave up. In NYC, where restaurant competition is so fierce, there is no excuse for a bad meal, especially at the prices they were charging. I’m not a fan. Was the food inedible? No. Was it good? No.

Great food, tapas and Paella are great and the service is friendly. THe style of paella socarrat - refers to the crispy bits of rice on the bottom of the pan....truly a gift.

cosy place with very cute and friendly female waitress. Got nice drinks and their husband was totally in the top. Will come again.

Though we came here for the paella (it is, after all, a "paella bar"), the best thing we had was the tocino pork belly tapas (or is it tapa? is there a singular form of tapas? I digress). Don't get me wrong - the paella is pretty good (we got the Socarrat), but it feels like something is missing. I think it has to do with the fact that they seem to cook the rice separately from the meats and seafood (the paella arrived with the meat and seafood sprinkled on top of the rice). Consequently, the rice and the meats/seafood have entirely different flavors. Since everything isn't cooked together, the paella is a little bit disjointed; there's no intermingling between the rice and the meats/seafood, which is what I expected from a paella. That said, it's still pretty tasty, and they are quite generous with their servings of meat and seafood. However, the star of the night was the tocino pork belly small plate, which was tender, fatty, and juicy. Definitely try that if you come here. The space itself is kind of interesting. It really is a "paella bar": there is a long, bar-like counter that you eat on. It's a little bit cramped, as you sit side-by-side with other patrons, but I could see it being amenable to large groups. This is particularly true because the restaurant requires that you order a minimum two servings of paella. That is, if you want the Socarrat paella and your friend wants the Black Rice paella, you're out of luck unless you order two servings of each (and that's a lot of paella). All in all, this could be a fun place for groups, but don't expect earth-shattering paella.

We had a carne paella and the seafood one. Lobster was tasty. Really enjoyed the glaze on the carne one. Sangria is decent Atmosphere is typical NYC. Long and narrow. Close quarters. Lots of high top tables. We liked it

Food was hella expensive for such small portions. Mediocre. I would have enjoyed it much better had there been more portions and had more flavor in them. Sangria was nice and strong though. Service waitress seems like she's had a long day and was cranky to get out.

We stopped in Sunday for a drink quick and found out that not only is their happy hour great(half price drink and tapas) they also have wine Down Mondays-half price bottles over $60. So we went back on Memorial Day for dinner. Sat at the communal table which was not packed but had enough people to make it lively. We didn't get past the wine and tapas! All were wonderful and well priced for the size. Can't say enough about the staff! Sweet and engaging and all working together to make the evening enjoyable. Go here!

The paella is excellent. We had two different varieties! Both had delicious, authenic Spanish flavor! The sangria is wonderful as well. We finished our meal with flan, crème brulee and chocolate-filled beignets! Wonderful restaurant in a great location! Prices were good for the area and the amount of food you get! Service was fabulous!

Huge anti climax this time, gutted! I put together a list of restaurants I wanted to revisit this holiday to NYC and Socarrat was on the very top of my list. I had an amazing dining experience the last holiday 2 years ago. In fact my love for this restaurant was been huge for all this time. I made a point of recommending it to all and sundry. The love is no more alas... The paella was basically undercooked. The flavour was outstanding but the texture of the rice was clearly under cooked. I know what el dente is!!!!The texture was too hard like eating loose gravel. Ps: I'm a qualified chef with 15 years and a London head chef title under my belt!!! Now I'm not ignorant to the whole delicacy of Socarrat ie: the toasted caramelised lovelyness that you get during the final cooking of the paella to attain Socarrat. This was not the problem, the problem began when both the waiter and manager decided to avoid the obvious mistake of an under cooked paella. I have never gone to a restaurant and been told that a paella texture should be crunchy! El dente yes, hard rice NO. Huge pity because everything else ie the flavours where delicious. I was in Madrid on holiday last month and that was def not how I remember it. They did offer to recook the dish but a further 40 min was a little but too long to wait. This used to be my favourite restaurant find, alas I'm less excited by this place and perhaps it has fallen victim to its own success!?

We stopped by this restaurant on our way out of town. Sunday afternoons they offer half price tapas. We ordered the octopus with purple potatoes (tender and delicious!), the brussel sprouts (still just crunchy enough and so flavorful), and the fried artichokes (which were lightly breaded and came with a delectable sauce). Everything was fantastic-and a great deal, too. Wish we'd had time to try the Paella!

Very good service and good recommendations from the staff!!! They even come to your table and scratch the bottom of the big pan used to cook the paella!! Lovely wine list and super cool atmosphere!

Went to Socarrat for dinner with friends and lucked into going during restaurant week so treated ourselves to three outstanding courses. The octopus to start was phenomenal - tender and flavorful. Shared two paellas for four of us and more than enough. And, capped a perfect evening off with decadent churros. I'd highly recommend.

Visited Socarrat during restaurant week. Great selection of paella. Delicious down to the scrapings at the bottom of the pan. Great flavors, fresh seafood. The shrimp appetizer was yummy and the churros dessert was a wonderful way to end the meal.

I´m from Spain. I´m always keeping myself away of Spanish restaurant in New York, but I did one exception yesterday night with this restaurant when I checked the menu. It was a big error. The place is nice but not the waiters. The food in the menu seems amazing but the portions are ridiculous and not good cooked like the cucumbers dish. I will never come back or recommend to anyone. Vanesa

EXCELLENT PAELLA! The rice gets nice and crispy and it is not a creamy dish just a flavorful one. They also have good tapas.

The paella was excellent. 2 large pans was more than enough for 4 women. The sangria (white) was delicious. The only downside is how small, and how cramped together the tables are. Great waitstaff.

Red sangria was tasty, gambas ajillo was piping hot and just right, but the carnivor's paella was the best. Always a struggle to avoid certain shellfish we don't like. This really fit the bill! Only negative is that you MUST order the paella for two--and a little pricey at that for rice and meat ($48) and not a drop of leftovers...I would have loved to have tried so many of the other tapas...paella for one would have been better so we could have made it through more of the delicious menu.

Delightful experience among friends, the food is great, the staff is very polite and friendly. I am vegetarian and I still found some good opportunities, while my guests, carnivores, ate a delicious paella. Very good drinks. It was, undoubtedly, a nice evening. I my humble opinion, I highly recommended.

Happened to come here during restaurant week with a friend who had been here. The 2 apps were very tasty (the shrimp and the sausage). We even added a pork belly app that while delicious could have been amazing had the skin been slightly crispier. The paella itself was incredibly authentic and tasty. Btw, they do mention it’s prepared fresh and takes 40 minutes. The churros for dessert (during restaurant week) were tasty and a nice conclusion to the meal. We did not order any drinks (including soda) and still went for $130. I’d consider going back but would probably try other places.

Had an 8pm show at the Gotham Comedy Club - - great show by Orny Adams, but I digress - - and was looking for a restaurant in the area. Google maps identified a few, did some research and booked Socarrat. Start was a bit rough, had a high top in the corner directly under the speaker which was annoying. Our waiter turned down the volume, but sensing that it wasn't going to work, opportunistically moved us after 10 mins. just before hostess was able to seat another couple. From there the evening exceeded all expectations and we can't wait to go back. As my wife and I were having paella (35 mins. prep time), we started by sharing a tortilla espanola tapa which was fine with the house cava by the glass which was very good. There were several paella options and we selected the pescados y mariscos. The paella was beautiful when it arrived, and OMG, it was fantastic. The fish and shellfish cooked to perfection, the scallops were outstanding, and the rice, also cooked to perfection, with the caramelization that is a trademark of an excellent paella. Accompanied the paella with a few glasses of the house Grenache. Only downside was that my wife, whose meals I usually finish, became a bit aggressive as she fought for more than her fair share! Not one grain of rice was left on the pan. We still had time so I ordered an espresso and we shared an almond ice cream. The almond ice cream sounded simple, but it was uniquely presented and delicious. Excellent meal, fair price, attentive service, like I said earlier, we can't wait to go back.

The chorizo was OK. The vegetables and chicken paella was bland. We had to ask for hot oil. The churros were small and over done. The sangria was cheaper and made me feel weird. Not worth the price.

There were several types of paella and a daily paella special. The paella was right up there with some of the best I ever had. We had the seafood paella. The paella was bountiful shellfish and whitefish the rice was superb with a slight char on the bottom. Nicely presented right in the paella pan. As we approached the end waiter came over and scraped rice from bottom of pan into a nest pile to enjoy the charred morsels. Nice touch. Paella is presented in paella pan and must be ordered for at least 2.we also had some tapas including Brussels sprouts and Iberian ham. All our tapas was excellent. A little mess up with our drinks being served 10 minutes apart but they made good by buying us a drink. Only real drawback cramped high top community tables. Overall if you like paella don't miss it

Came here with a friend and loved how small it was. That being said the tables are high top tables mostly meant for groups of six so we had to share with a group of four. It was also a little loud so might not be the best date spot. We strictly had tapas and they were all excellent. If you have a group of friends and want to try a variety of dishes this is the right place to come.

I went there for dinner after arriving in NYC. I loved Paella so I decide to give this restaurant a try. The seafood paella was fulled of shrimp, white fish, clams, mussels and scallops. Highly recommend. The wine list is full of wines from Spain and the price is reasonable. I ate at the bar and was able to enjoy watching the dining room without the noise level. Very energetic. I will revisit Socarrat again in my next visit to NYC.

nothing special but good except for one dish that was not what we thought would be. The wine list is good.

We found Soccarat to be a lovely experience and fantastic food. We had some tapas which were lovely and there were many more we would have loved to have tried but had to save room for paella. The paella was fantastic and had great soccarat. There is also an impressive wine list. The interior has a lovely warm feeling and there is options to sit at the bar or at a table. Service was faultless as well. This was a great night and we would have definitely gone back if we had the time.

I was very excited to visit this restaurant especially after the great reviews and pictures of their paellas, I should start by saying that their white sangria is simply amazing, the ambiance is nice and the service was very good however the food is far from great. My cousin and I started with two appetizers, the shrimp in garlic and olive sauce and tuna in some type of green sauce and neither was nothing to rave about, basically there was no seasoning at all. The paella's rice was not cooked properly and had to be scraped off the pot in to our plates lol the rice was seasoned very well but I believe that the seafood was added after the rice was cooked because again there was no seasoning on any of the shellfish, I have visited other restaurants where the paella is amazing and for half the price of this location. Again I'm very disappointed in Socarrat Paella Bar I was really expecting authentic paella here :(

Undecided on where to go and getting late on Saturday we headed to Soccarat for paella. We ordered a seafood / lobster paella for three; We were four. We also ordered some pinchos including octopus, potatoes and olives. The paella did not disappoint! Lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari, shellfish and fish enrobed in a lucious risotto like rice laced with safron. The bottom of the pan was crispy (as it should be) and the top moist and inviting. Add a couple of bottles of Spanish wine and we were set! Look forward to returning to try some of the other paella options.

The paella was great, wanted it a little crusty at the bottom but it was really good nonetheless. Scallops was wonderful, too, but the serving was small. The waiter was annoyingly pushy and wanted me to order all sorts of food on the menu.

Great atmosphere and service. Attentive and discreet. Food was very flavorful and tasty, especially if you like Spanish and Latin food.

I discovered this place by sheer accident. I came early to a friends’ home which is opposite this Tapas bar and dropped in here to wait an hour or so. The Sangria’s and Tapas were sensational. It was also happy hour so all at half price from the tapas menu. The staff were all incredibly friendly. I will definitely drop by next Nyc visit.

We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night and the place was jammed, literally, with lots of people and limited space. Fortunately, we had a reservation and were seated relatively quickly, but at a common table. Our server was nice and friendly and made some great recommendations with regard to tapas to start with. Things were great until the paella arrived--perhaps i'm being unfair by comparing theirs to the paella in Spain but suffice it to say that I was less than impressed. I think i would have been much happier making a meal out of the wonderful tapas.

Almost never went back after the last visit to this restaurant, but so glad I did. The staff tonight were a pleasure and the wine recommendation was spot on. Tempranillo was delicious and complimented the meal perfectly. The tapas selection we ordered to start with was a little hit and miss. The fried artichoke dish was wonderful, however the octopus was not. Over cooked and burnt on the underneath. Tortilla was tasty and hit he right spot. We Shared the squid ink and scallop Paella which was delicious. This time the Paella was cooked to perfection. On my last visit it was uncooked and although I get that Socorrat specialises in crispy rice this was basically raw. Socorrat you redeemed yourself tonight! Glad I came back and do recommend this place to those looking for a romantic taste of Spain in the Big Apple!

I was meeting a client for dinner and it wasn't the most conducive atmosphere for conversation, especially because Tuesdays are flamenco night. Having said that, we both enjoyed the music, the flamenco dancer and the food. Loved it.

Socarrat is the crusty bit on the bottom of the paella pan and is a sign of an authentic and well made paella. Socarrat has three locations in Manhattan, we ate at their original spot in Chelsea. The menu focuses on Spanish food, with a twist? Plenty of sides to choose from, we opted for the chorizo with chimichurri; Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp with garlic) and then the Pulpo alla Gallega (octopus Galician style). The shrimp were awesome - the garlic slices were slightly toasted (very Spanish); the chorizo rounds were spicy and a tartness from the chimichurri while the Pulpo was sliced, grilled and served with a potato timbale. All very good, although my personal favourite was the chorizo - I couldn't get enough of the sauce, perfect for bread dipping. We ordered four paella's: Marisco y Pescado (fish and shellfish), Langosta (lobster), Arroz Negra (squid ink) and their signature Socarrat (clams, fish, beef, fava beans). In order of preference: Arroz Negra (this was just amazing), M&P delicate pieces of fish, scallop, clams, mussels, Langosta (half a lobster), prawns and finally their signature dish. Honestly all very good, but these were the consensus. And of course the socarrat was what makes the dish? Their sangria is very good and the desserts? Well what can one say: the flan with passion fruit was beautiful with a creamy texture; Bunuelos (little balls of fried dough filled with a luscious chocolate) and Churros in a chocolate mouse and coffee sauce - all amazing. Perfect place for a large group or if you're looking or a nice selection of tapas, for a light supper.

Let me start by saying I am not a big seafood fan, as I don't like "fishy" taste. That said, this place was Amazing! The appetizers are smaller sized, Tapas. I recommend getting 1 or 2 apps for every person at the table and sharing. We had the Pulpo (Octopus), Cochinillo, and Datiles. All were good, but the Datiles were extraordinary. They are Dates, stuffed with almonds and Spanish Blue Cheese, then wrapped with bacon and served with an apple puree sauce. OUT OF THIS WORLD! For the entrees, we shared two Paellas, the Socarrat (Chicken, Beef, White Fish, Cuttlefish, & Mussels, and the Langosta (Lobster, Calamari, Shrimp & Scallops). Now like I said before, I am not a big seafood fan, but this food was excellent. The rice was excellent and everything I tried I liked. The only thing I didn't try was the Mussels, I just really, really don't like mussels. The lobster claws on the Langosta were sweet and meaty, and the White Fish on the Socarrat was tender, tasty and anything but fishy. Excellent wine selection too. Great Meal!

A terrific post Joyce Theatre choice. Our favorite in that neighborhood. Great selection of tapas and charcuterie boards. Noisy but fun vibe. Great and attentive service.

I have been to Socarrat before and came back here recently to celebrate my birthday with originally a group of 10. From the planning to the actual dinner, the staff of Socarrat had been very accommodating to my changes and needs. The manager Betania, was very helpful, even when my group size was reduced to 8. The food was superb - appetizers were plenty and of course the paella was wonderful - and the drinks kept coming. We had a great time!

I ate at this restaurant years ago and enjoyed the Paella. I though it would give it another try while in NYC. We were advised it would take 30 minutes to prepare, two persons had to order the same dish at it was $31 per person. With that out of the way we ordered the seafood version. 30 minutes later it arrived. There was a thin cover of yellow rice with a few small shrimp, scallops and mussels on top. There was also some mystery white fish mixed in. The rice was overcooked and super salty. The seafood was tasteless - i think the rice is baked and at the last minute they throw some precooked seafood on top. This is authentic like Taco Bell is real Mexican

The paella was good, but do not bother with the tapas. The tortilla, pulpo and baby artichokes were mediocre at best, and the churros were tough.

The place is very well assembled, though not very big gouged out the premises, you will find some tables but in the main dining room you will find long tables where you sit with other groups of people. The paellas are the specialty of the house and taste it a unique and delicious style.

Having taken a chance finding a restaurant for a girlie dinner, my friend and I happened to come across Socarrat. What a find! This place is perfect for a casual dinner with very tasty paella. We shared a couple of tapas dishes while our paella was being made, and they were utterly delicious. Nice dark lighting, with good vibes and music - staff were helpful and the cocktails were also delicious. We would definitely eat here again - the paella was fantastic and cooked very well!

A few friends and I came here for brunch. Our server was disinterested at best. The Catalana paella (chorizo, spinach, vegetable sofrito; $24) was bland. When a mistake was made with our order, we were told that the person would have to wait another 30 minutes to have the appropriate paella made. The mixed salad and bread was good though not worth making a special trip to Socarrat (Chelsea).

I sat at the bar so didn't experience the sit-down service. I had an appetizer (can't remember what but it was very gourmet and delicious). The people next to me had paella which looked very good. It's a little pricey but the quality is high.

We go out frequently in Chelsea and are always looking for new "finds" and were quite pleased when we read about this tapas and paella restaurant. The info on the web was positive including the venue and the menu! Everything opposite turned out to be true. The staff was unhelpful - why would you seat someone near a big party of folks when the restaurant was open - and the description of the food inaccurate. The food itself was not flavorful and bordered on the bland. Totally disappointed NO as the was very good (and accurately described). Sorry but no second chances when you are this far off the mark in an area with so many alternatives.

We had just recently visited Barcelona trying paella there. This restaurants paella was even better than in Spain. Very tasty & we had 3 adults but you only needed to order 2 entrees & were satisfied

Went to Socarrat with our son and his girlfriend. What a great find. Tapas were superb. We had the shrimp with garlic and olive oil (could have used a whole loaf of bread to soak up the garlic and olive oil), grilled squid, ham and cheese board , pork belly and croquetas tapas. For the main course we had the langosta paella. Best paella I have had. Seafood was cooked to perfection and he rice nice and crispy. Our wine selection was very good. Restaurant is small and noisy but then it is NYC and that is part of the ambiance. Not cheap but you get what you pay for. Will surely return.

Tapas were muy delicioso!! Rose sangria was to die for! You must try the churros and beignets. We will definitely return.

I came here with coworkers after work one day and we were all so satisfied with the food. We got 6 different types of tapas and 3 different paella’s for the 7 of us and it was more than enough food. We got a vegetarian paella and chicken paella and a seafood paella (my favorite- it has black squid inked rice which was amazing). The tapas were all delicious and the service was top notch. Very intimate setting and highly recommended for friends and for dates.

There was enough noise in the dining room to make it hard to hear my waitress next to me tell me the tapas special of the day ($13). Besides tapas, they serve Paella as a main course. I started my meal off with the tapas croquettes of the day, which was short rib filled croquettes but I thought they were, surprisingly, tasteless. Contributing to that was the fact that they were served close to room temperature. The second tapas item I had was the Braised Beef Cheek ($16), which was also served near room temperature and had little flavor.

We started with a jug of Red Sangria, which was good, and a bunch of tapas. We ordered a vegetarian and carne paella. The service and food were both good. I would go back again.

This is one of my favorite places to eat in NYC. The food is so good and the sangrias are to die for. Please note that this place is not a fast place to eat because they make the paella to order. It is worth the wait though. The restaurant is very small and the tables are extremely close. You can hear everything that the people next to you are saying. No privacy at all. Overall, excellent- a must when in NYC.

This place claims to be one the best paella places in NYC. Although good but not best. I think this place a shoot off of the National on 14th street, now there is a great paella. Service her not very good, it felt like we where imposing. Waitress would only come to where we were sitting when she had to do something at her register. The list of panel las was good but not authentic. Oh by the way people when you see Pimentos de. Padrón on anyone menu unless it's summer time they are not. Pimentos de padrón are small and stubby, not long, these are from japan. Most. Span iras restaurants have them on their tapas menu, I'm just telling you they are not. Once you have the real deal you won't want the others. I hate when places advertise something and try and pass it off to people as authentic. This should be against the law. Although they are good and tasty they are not from Spain. Enjoy the paella, but if you want the best paella in NYC go to the national on 14th

I wanted to take my family for paella and we found this location in Chelsea. We wondered in without a reservation and the owner himself took care of us. They set us up with a table which opened up to the sidewalk. The staff was very attentive and we felt well cared for. We ordered a meat paella and it came a little burnt on the bottom. We were all hungry and it didn't detract too much from the experience.

I went here with a girlfriend before a dance performance at the Joyce across the street. She was a little late, and we only had an hour to begin with, so we didn't get to enjoy it for all it was worth, unfortunately. The servers were great with getting us out in time to get to the show, despite telling us paella takes over 30 minutes to come out (they rushed it for us). We started with the Datiles - bacon wrapped dates stuffed with valdeon cheese, almonds & roasted apple puree. OH. MY. GOD. I have never chewed food so slowly in hopes that i could every single second. I really cannot explain how perfectly these flavors blended together. The seafood paella we got was good, too, but I will be coming back specifically for the Datiles. Really cute atmosphere and great wine list. One of those quintessential New Yorkish restuarants without feeling too trendy or pretentious. Just somewhere to enjoy good food with good people.

This is a restaurant that deserves a special trip. The Paella is extroadinary and the tapas are not far beyond. If you are going to the Joyce theatre, which is only steps away, this is is your first choice for dinner. The wie list is reasonable and the sangria is well made.. The only negatieve is that they have very few chairs most of what you will sit on are stools. If you have a bad back you might want to reconsider. Other than the seating this is one of my favorites.