Alessandra C
Google
Ambiance? 5 stars. Food? 5 stars. Service? Definitely 5 stars. Everything was just excellent.
We arrived on a Friday night around 6:45 pm, and the only tables available were outside. I was a bit surprised that they were fully booked inside, given the time. The hostess apologized and said that if we wanted to sit inside without waiting, we could go to Reyes, their sister restaurant. Nice of her, but no: if I came to Sparrow, I want Sparrow.
We ended up sitting at a high-top table outside which, despite being small, wasn't an issue since the tapas-style dishes and serving plates were also small. Our server, Jackie, was extremely friendly and quick; she explained the menu and brought us water right away. I asked to try two red wines and, even though my friend hadn't shown any interest in drinking, she immediately asked "can bring the two samples for you to try as well?". Quite generous. We both ended up ordering a glass of Malbec each, which paired quite well with the food.
For starters, we ordered the Pulpo and a side of bread with olive oil. I assumed the Pulpo would come grilled, but I clearly overlooked the fact that one would hardly get grilled octopus at a restaurant of this caliber for $18. I was a bit disappointed to see preserved octopus served from a tin (which, according to our server, was "just for show") and not in a very generous portion. The flavor, however, was excellent.
As to the bread, it was toasted just right, and the olive oil (definitely Spanish) paired beautifully with everything.
After that, we shared the Arroz Negro, which was without a doubt the best dish of the night. An explosion of flavor. Again, the amount of seafood wasn't exactly generous, but the taste and texture were simply di-vine. I squeezed some lime over the shrimp and boom. Perfection.
Not fully satisfied, we ordered the Basque Cheesecake which, while tasty, was more of a reinterpretation of the true tarta de queso vasca. I was expecting a dark, caramelized, burnt top forming a thin crust, but I didn't quite get that crust. Yet, it was delicious. I might come back just for the cheesecake and a cup of espresso if they're open in the afternoon.
The cherry on top of the cheesecake (tu dum tsss) was the birthday postcard the server brought, signed by several staff members. I truly felt appreciated. Big kudos to Chef Jennie (who always kills it) and Jackie for such a memorable dining experience. Bravo!