Sol y Sombra

462 Amsterdam Avenue & 82nd Street
212/400.4036
about $100 for two, with two drinks, without tip

It was a slow Thursday night and we decided to step out for tapas. I loved the white anchovies with vinaigrette but why were they served on a bed of Romaine lettuce? The grilled sardines were more fishy than what I’m used to. They would have been better with some roasted julienned red bell peppers on the side. Staples like the Galician octopus, artichoke hearts and Spanish sausages were good but the pork tenderloin was boring and the leeks with a variety of mushrooms shouldn’t have come with, well, the mushrooms.

Beautiful lanterns

The bars along Amsterdam Avenue in the upper west side are scenes from frat movies I’ve never seen. Even though our bill was a bit steep compared to other tapas bars in the city, it was a bit refreshing to sit inside Sol y Sombra and enjoy a glass of Tempranillo without bothering with boisterous young men.