Laid-back hangout below the Spanish Benevolent Society, serving traditional Spanish food, and wine.
"When you see the gigantic Spanish flag waving outside, you’ll know that you’re in the right place. La Nacional is located inside Chelsea’s Spanish Benevolent Society, and the Spanish culture is on full display here. It’s also one of the best value restaurants on this list, getting a table is reliably easy, and they make three different preparations of shrimp (in olive oil, in a seafood salad, and in the paella) that we’d happily eat on repeat for the rest of our lives. Come with a big group and split the paella, making sure everyone gets a bit of that speckled socarrat." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim
"For a single, beautiful moment at La Nacional in Chelsea, you could convince yourself that you’re in Spain—in some small-town plaza, surrounded by blue mosaic-tiled tables, fresh seafood, Spanish meats and cheeses, and some European tourists smoking cigarettes while sitting in black-and-white wicker chairs. Before you switch your brain to vacation mode and ask to bum one, a truck honking its way down 14th street reminds you that this isn't the Valencian countryside, but just the Spanish Benevolent Society. The cultural institution, founded in 1868, is one of the last vestiges of the area’s historic Little Spain, and a massive yellow and red flag on the building still waves people into the basement restaurant. photo credit: Will Hartman Far as you are from the Mediterranean, the possibility that a 2pm snack and a glass of wine will accidentally turn into dinner, leaving you buzzed on tinto with a bellyful of tapas and paella, is dangerously close. But is that actually dangerous? Or just a good excuse to take a sick day on Monday? Focus mostly on the seafood—especially the various different shrimp dishes. If you’re with at least three people, the paella mariscos is an excellent way to soak up the $9 glasses of wine. Food Rundown photo credit: Will Hartman Gazpacho We’re here for this light, aerated gazpacho, well emulsified with olive oil. It’s served ice cold, and a required order on a hot day. photo credit: Will Hartman Croquetas Caseras The cheapest way to get your jamón fix at La Nacional comes in croquette form, served adorably in an egg carton-like vessel. Tasty, but we actually prefer the wild mushroom version, which has more flavor. photo credit: Will Hartman Pulpo a la Plancha This pulpo never makes it past first base with la plancha. It’s a bit gummy and chewy, and the broiled potatoes with aioli underneath don’t help. Skip. photo credit: Will Hartman Gambas al Ajillo In the La Nacional shrimp awards, a prize we just made up, these gambas win the category for Most Outstanding Shrimp Flavor. Rich and juicy with garlic and paprika, these fat shrimp simply must be on every table. It’s non-negotiable. photo credit: Will Hartman Citrus Seafood Salad The award for Outstanding Shrimp Texture goes to this Citrus Seafood Salad, where we recognize the extraordinary plumpness of the shellfish, the light zesting of citrus, and some pretty small, yet juicy scallops. photo credit: Will Hartman Paella Mariscos This paella wins our award for Shrimp in A Supporting Role. While the socarrat is only concentrated toward the center of the pan, the seafood flavor is pronounced enough to make us forget we ever needed a crispy bottom in the first place. The chewy squid rings don’t hurt either." - Will Hartman
"This unique and affordable Spanish spot in Chelsea is housed inside the historic Spanish Benevolent Society’s brownstone — the organization dates back to the late 1800s. The Society first began serving tapas in 2002, and closed for an extensive refresh in 2016 before reopening in 2018 with a rotating selection of chefs in residence, hailing from different parts of Spain. Dishes like patatas bravas are just $7, with bigger dishes starting out in the low $20s. A daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. offers Spanish wines by the glass for $6." - Alexandra Ilyashov, Izzie Ramirez
"La Nacional, after a hiatus of over two years, has reopened with a revamped décor and a rotating cast of chefs from Spain. The menu features a mix of traditional and contemporary Spanish tapas, including patatas bravas, tortillas, garlic shrimp, and gazpacho, with some dishes offering delightful modern twists. While the tapas are generally exciting and well-executed, the main courses, particularly the rice dishes, fall short of expectations. The desserts, however, are exceptional, with a standout flan and a well-executed deconstructed lemon tart." - Robert Sietsema
"Chelsea’s historic Spanish restaurant La Nacional springs back to life today with a modernized look and menu developed by four chefs in residence from Valencia. A part of the 150-year-old Spanish Benevolent Society (SBS), La Nacional takes the meaning of a “neighborhood restaurant” to a whole new level. The society’s brownstone has always had a restaurant that’s been deeply embedded in the Spanish community and neighborhood’s history as part of the nonprofit. In 2002, it became a tapas bar run by chef Lolo Manso that quickly became a beloved and critically acclaimed institution. But after a decline in society membership, the restaurant closed for a revamp in 2016. The menu is still based around tapas like patatas bravas, wild mushroom or jamón ibérico croquettes, and gazpacho, all just $7. Pricier share plates include fried baby squid served in a squid ink bun, tuna belly with grilled vegetables and avocado, and daily-changing paella made with Valencian rice. The most expensive dish at $23 is a rice with prized Iberico ham. Because the first batch of chefs in residence are from the coastal city of Valencia, seafood is featured prominently on the summer menu, which is in full below. SBS executive director Robert Sanfiz says a big priority was making sure that the restaurant was accessible to people who have lived in the neighborhood their entire lives. An affordable lunch hasn’t rolled out yet but is expected to after the summer, and the restaurant will have a regular happy hour running from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with glasses of Spanish wine for $6. A lighter, brighter, modernized space shows off bright red banquettes, intricate tile work, and an open kitchen. Some touches of the original structure — which has been around for 180 years — remain too, though, like an exposed brick wall above the banquettes. “We have this really gorgeous timeline as you enter the restaurant, this beautiful, museum-quality timeline that celebrates the 150 years of the society,” Sanfiz adds. SBS was a vital resource for supporting and connecting Spanish immigrants in NYC, but its relevance declined over the years. Determined to save the restaurant and restore its role in the community, Sanfiz, Manso, and volunteers from the community helped restore La Nacional. “None of us are really restaurateurs,” Sanfiz, who is an attorney, says. “I’ve never opened a restaurant before. It’s a classic example of a passion project that we hoped would work.” Sanfiz says that the society serves much more than just Spaniards now, providing support for the Spanish-speaking community at large but also just the neighborhood in general. That sense of community is embodied in the restaurant: “We wanted to be able to provide jobs in our community,” Sanfiz says. The society also provided housing for chefs in residence Jordi Morera, Francisco Javier Parreño, Salvador Burguera, and Gracia Sales. La Nacional reopened at 1 p.m. today — just in time for the Spain versus Portugal World Cup match, as Sanfiz points out. The restaurant will show the game, and there will be drink specials." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya