Won Ko
Google
For a friend's birthday, Salinas was chosen as our tapas spot in NYC from several options I'd gathered. My first frustration began with their reservation system for parties of five or more. It's annoying to fill out a PDF with credit card info, billing details, and signatures, when a standard reservation platform with a linked credit card would be so much simpler. Moreover, they don't allow outside birthday cakes due to health concerns, which is common. However, they offered a $60 chocolate cake from their kitchen but wouldn't provide a lettering service nor extend our 1.5-hour time limit even if we ordered it. It almost felt like they actively discouraged ordering a cake. The email exchanges leading up to our visit also had a noticeable attitude, which left a bad taste from the get-go.
Upon arrival, the host informed us that all party members had to be present before we could be seated. I still don't fully understand this policy, especially since we were ready to order immediately, but I acknowledge it's common in many NYC restaurants. Despite this policy, the host herself was friendly and great. Once everyone arrived, we were promptly led to our tables.
The hallway leading to our area was dim and narrow, seeming ideal for dates. We were led to a backyard seating area, and entering it was a completely different experience. Teal velvet furniture juxtaposed against deep-colored walls with plant patterns, alongside lighter wood, abundant plants, and a windowed ceiling that brought in plenty of sun, created a lively and vibrant atmosphere. The cleverly placed mirrors on the walls made the environment feel much larger than its actual size.
We ordered many dishes. The Berenjena was deliciously nutty, the Croquetas were buttery and crispy, and the Rossejat Rápida was interestingly good and earthy. The Arroz Vasco and Bravas Marinas were definitely our favorites. On the other hand, the Crudo was a bit too tart for my liking (though many in my group enjoyed it), the Morcilla de la Huerta was just 'meh,' and the Pan Tumaca was not good at all; the bottom of the bread was burnt, leaving only a bitter aftertaste. We also never received the Pulpo we ordered, which was a letdown, though we were quite full by that point.
The servers were all nice and kind, which was a pleasant surprise given the prior email interactions. Because of the host and the servers, I’m adding a star on the service section.
The bathroom was clean, and I appreciated its dim lighting, as it meant you didn't see unnecessary details.
While the food was okay and the atmosphere was great, I will probably not return. There are likely other tapas restaurants that would have more accommodating policies, smoother reservation systems, and employees that don’t give attitude on emails.