Boqueria LLC   

53 W 19th St
New York, NY 10011
212-255-4160
Official Website

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The Scene Compared to its famous namesake, a bustling Barcelona marketplace, this polished tapas place is quite the sophisticate. Ham ages artfully in the window, and a marble bar stretches back toward a snug cul-de-sac of high cream-colored banquettes. Well-dressed patrons share this strong consciousness of style. They--and the room--warm up with food-induced buoyancy.The FoodThere may be nothing like the real thing, but chef Seamus Mullen's two-year tour in Spain is certainly evident. Trust the encyclopedic service to recommend the best of his attempts--and definitely begin with Pimientos de Padron, a grab basket of seared green peppers that surprise you with sweetness or heat. The hidden flavors of the ham, chicken and mushroom croquette trio, however, get lost in their creamy fried filling. For something more substantial, the Huevo y Pisto is a delightful, alioli-drizzled assemblage of poached egg, asparagus, peppers and zucchini, and the tomato-brothed seafood soup is a saffron-steeped elixir.