| Edible NY - Sol y Sombra |
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| Written by Christine Campbell |
 In NYC, there’s an eatery every few feet. Every possible nationality is represented – the question is never what’s available, but where on Earth you want to visit for your hard-earned lunch hour. Got Spain on the brain? Visit Sol y Sombra on Amsterdam. It’s worth every penny, even the subway fare if you’re traveling more than a few blocks. Walking in, you will be confronted by a long bar with a wide variety of wines stacked to the ceiling. Don’t let this intimidate you – the food will more than balance the wine collection. As a matter of fact, Sol y Sombra’s wine list is incredibly lunch-menu friendly. The staff will happily assist you in pairing a glass (or maybe 2) with your menu selection. Servers and bartenders alike know what they are serving, as most of them hail from the Iberian Peninsula, and they are justifiably proud of the menu here. If you’re not familiar with a tapas menu, don’t be afraid to ask for explanations and recommendations. You might even get a good history lesson! That’s what they are paid for. As for the food, you really can’t go wrong. Even if you’re in a hurry, order from the tapas menu. If you’re with a lunch date, don’t double up – taste as much as you can! The octopus is tender inside and crispy-smoky on the outside, with just enough grill flavors to bring out the ocean. Serrano ham is shaved properly and paired well with toasted bread and fresh tomatoes. Ever try a fresh anchovy? You don’t know what you’re missing. Trust me. Other items my party tried and loved were the chicken in green sauce (pungent without being overpowering), mushrooms in garlic sauce (more garlic than mushrooms, which was fine by me – and my date!), and the hanger steak(absolutely perfect – rare and tender and salty sweet). The only item I was a little disappointed in was the tortilla Espanola, which is egg and potato omelet. The National Dish of Spain, I guess its simplicity makes it an easily overlooked (and overcooked) plate. Not the cheapest lunch you’ll ever have, but well worth the price tag (50 bucks a person if you order tapas and wine – 30 or so sans alcohol). Sol y Sombra Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
