First stop: Tía Pol

We began our quest with Tia-Pol in Chelsea. A neighborhood favorite for some, yet it was my first time there and I loved it! Too bad our self-imposed rules prevent us from re-visiting a restaurant all year. The food was fabulous, and so was the wine, not to mention the company. It was no wonder we spent over three hours there and the hostess graciously hinted around midnight that it was probably time for us to leave! We sipped wine, discussed the perils of social networking and spent hours at this intimate and relaxed Spanish tapas spot sampling everything from the plato de queso variados (the featured Spanish cheese) to the wonderful tapas style desserts. We definitely recommend the Spanish cheese platter, the flounder (though it was a special for the day), the patatas bravas, the Serrano ham, the chorizo al jerez and to snack on, the native Spanish almonds. For dessert, the Orange Flan and the leche frita – fried custard with drunken cherries. The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations and there maybe some trouble seating large parties, so expect a wait, and in the mean while, douse yourself with lots of Spanish wine or Sangria. Happy chomping!

www.tiapol.com/

Price: $$$
Ambiance: 3/5
Recommendation: HIGH

CUISINE: TAPAS- SPANISH