Chelsea

September 23, 2024 Update:

After recently exploring the south of Spain, and trying a few more “Tapas” joints in the city, I still think Tia Pol is the closest we have to an authentic Tapas bar in NYC.  The food at places like Salinas and Txikito might be more refined, but their environment, accessibility and prices makes them far removed from Spain, no matter how authentic their menu looks.  The worst experience you can have in Andalucia or elsewhere in Spain is at a place that looks and feels like NYC.  Ok, maybe not the worst but you get my point.

Tia Pol has that old fashioned rustic feel, easy to reserve or pop in at just about any time.  A menu full of Tapas classics with correct prices, and a fantastic drink menu to boot.  In fact I much preferred my Vermouth from Jerez I had last night at Tia Pol than the Vermouth I had at the more polished Txikito.  Tia Pol has that look and feel.

With that said, last night’s meal wasnt my favorite here.  Disappointing actually while introducing it to my daughters.  Though if you’ve been following me for more than 5 minutes you can probably imagine how spoiled they are by now.  The environment hasnt changed and we still had fun.  But the food was more mixed bag than usual.  The menu is vast, and chances are there will be plenty of items you wont like, some days more than others.

I’m removing the Gambas al Ajillo from the recommended dishes, as it completely lost its mojo.  The Tortilla is a dry boring waste, and the lamb skewers are kinda meh.  I still recommend the squid ink rice though I would have liked more rice with it.  The Chicken Liver Mousse, Patatas Bravas, and the Flan are still top notch.  And the Octopus special was perhaps the saving grace.  Though I get the sense that Sundays is perhaps not the best day for specials here, which are usually great.  Drinks are still fantastic, and the overall recommendation is still very much intact.

February 9, 2023 Update:

Z-List staple Tia Pol is still the same ol’ Tia Pol.  Maybe not quite entirely Basque, but a multi-region tapas/pintxo playhouse.  The very full menu hasnt changed much since 2004, and to fully take advantage of it, its best to come with a group of 4 or so.  Its not exactly a new and exciting place, so easy to reserve unlike so many places in the city today.  Here’s the latest food rundown.

The Highlights:
Squid ink with rice – Sweet, savory, awesomeness.  A must order every meal for us.
Chicken liver mousse – New menu discovery. Top notch mousse with lovely Sherry notes
Lamb meatballs – A special.  Lamb meatballs at a tapas joint is an automatic order, and this is why

The Solids
Skirt steak – Expertly cooked, flavor packed special
Patatas Bravas – As good as it gets in NYC.
Gernika peppers  – Just dont call them Shishito.
Jamon – Because its Jamon.
Deviled Eggs – Cant screw this up.
Dessert – All good with the Flan being best.  If only they offered the Basque cheesecake from the nearby Salinas

The just Ok
Croquetas de Jamón – Fine.  Didnt taste much Jamon
Chorizo al Jerez – I never learn and keep ordering it, because its Chorizo
Veal tongue  – Not very memorable

Original October 16, 2018 Post:

“If you want it, you got it.  You want it, baby you got it.  Just Basque a Move.  Yeah!” – Its been a while but pretty sure thats how it goes.  Thats how I sing it it my head at least.  But the moves I’m busting these days are more like Elaine from Seinfeld.  Like a cross between twerking and wild prayer sways.  Still much work to be done, but I’m getting better at it.  There’s even a video circulating out there of me dancing, but there’s zero chance I’m sharing it here.  I got bullied enough as a kid.

The moves, the sways, and subsequent 911 calls get usually wilder after a fun meal.  And we had another one of those at Z-List darling Tia Pol the other day.  Its the most Spanish place I know.  Even if Rita Hayworth rolls in her grave every time someone orders a Gilda.  She rolls twice because it comes in twos (or at least everyone orders at least two).  But the fact that they even have Gilda, and things like green Gernika peppers on the menu says a lot about the place.  It may not be correct to call it Basque, as NYMag does, as it covers Catalan, Galician and other regions of Spain.  But its Basque enough, and perhaps one Galician Octopus, or Spanish style fried calamari (yep, best fried calamari is in Spain, not Italy) from covering the North of Spain rather nicely.

Tia Pol is tiny, and buzzy even on a lazy Saturday afternoon.  It subscribes to “If its not broke, why fix it formula”, serving pretty much the same menu since 2004.  The dishes to get today are still some of the same dishes we enjoyed 10 years ago.  New Orleans native Mani Dawes, who spent years happy munching in Madrid, knows a thing or two about Spanish food.  Madrid doesnt really have much of a cuisine, and draws much of its influences from the North, which is reflected all over the menu at Tia Pol.  Here’s a rundown of what we ate

Gilda – I’ll start with a mini (pun) rant.  Its hard to criticize a $2 snack but I’ll do it anyway.  Gilda is a popular pintxo eaten in Basque Country consisting of a single skewer of chili pepper, olive, anchovy, and pickles, usually served on a piece of bread.  The Basque people called it Gilda because its tall and skinny just like Rita Hayworth in their beloved Gilda that captured the nation back in the day.  Its not something that can be easily done here because we dont have fresh Spanish anchovies easily available, and for $2 a pop you just cant expect anything remotely close to the real thing.  But c’mon now.  This is not a Gilda, but a skinny Danny de Vito at best.  I suppose this might the best version we can come up with, but if you serve it to homesick Spaniards, they might start to weep, for the wrong reasons

Pimientos Estilo Gernika – One of the more nonsensical comments that reviewers often make – “I can probably do this at home”.  Even if its true, is the point of eating out only to eat things you can not possibly make at home?  You are in full control of what you order.  But I love simple dishes, like the Miznon Cauliflower for example, that make you talk about possibly duplicating, and enhancing your life as a result.  The Gernika peppers that come blistered and simply sprinkled with sea salt, is such a dish.

Pinchos Morunos – Lamb skewers with Moorish spices, which means Cumin, Coriander, and all the goodies.  Gorgeously marinated and seasoned.  Get this!

Patatas Bravas – as solid as Bravas get in NYC

Chorizo al Jerez – chorizo cooked in sherry and rosemary.  Chorizo, like Olives, is one of those things I like less than I think I do.  I keep ordering it, like olives, to see if maybe this is it, the grand chorizo, only to be mildly disappointed.  No exception here

Txipirones en su Tinta – This is it.  The dish I must get every time I’m here.  Squid cooked with its ink and a small hockey puck of rice.  It has that palatable inky sweetness, and the squid is never fishy.  Just wish that hockey puck was a little bigger.

Gambas al Ajillo – This is another dish I get all the time.  Its not going to win any shrimp in garlic awards, but its very garlicky and satisfying

Octopus Salad – Enjoyed in previous visits

Go!

Tia Pol
205 10th Ave (22/23), Chelsea
Recommended Dishes: Patatas Bravas, Pimientos Estilo Gernika, Pinchos Morunos, Txipirones en su Tinta, Chicken Liver Mousse, Lamb Meatballs, Flan