Welcome to my new series: The Eat Critique! I’m a huge foodie—and those who dine with me know this much, which is why they always ask and trust me to order. And living in one of the food capitals of the United States means I am always eating. Here I’ll be reviewing restaurants in the big apple, so make sure you take notes for your next NYC visit (or your next night out, fellow New Yorkers).
Without further ado, first up is…
Sala Astoria
Recently opened, Sala is located in the heart of Astoria, Queens. My fiancé and I were extremely excited to try out this restaurant since Spanish food is one of our fave cuisines. (And unfortunately due to the pandemic, our go-to authentic Spanish joint permanently closed.) Needless to say, my expectations were pretty high.
It was moderately empty when we arrived for our 7pm reservation but ended up getting much busier within the hour. The atmosphere was very inviting, and there was plenty of seating. I especially liked the double bars on either side of the room that would be a great spot to grab drinks. Super clean with great service. I’d say it was a good first impression.
Now let’s talk about the meal. First we started off with a cold beer on that hot summer night. The original, Estrella Galicia—alcoholic for him, non-alcoholic for her. This is something I’d like to note, because it was very refreshing to have an option of non-alcoholic beer.
We ordered four different tapas: Patatas Bravas (potatoes), Pulpo A La Plancha (grilled octopus), Calamares Ala Plancha (grilled calamare), and Empanadillas.
Starting out with a bang, the Patatas Bravas, paired with fresh bread, were dropped off at our table. The crispy texture was divine. However, the hot spanish chile was completely overpowering. This is something that seemed to be in other dishes on the menu, as I noted the woman next to me uncontrollably crying from her shrimp plate and asking the server what was in it. Gio enjoyed himself, but being someone who doesn’t prefer that much heat, I had trouble finishing my portion and allowed my man to carry us.
The Empanadillas came next, filled with braised pork, manchego cheese, and nora peppers. These delicate croissant-like filled pockets melted in our mouths. On the plate was also a simple salad, light and fresh. Hands down, these were the best part of the meal.
Onto the Calamares. Although the parts that were grilled had a decent charred taste, most of it was too chewy to appreciate. We didn’t finish this one, and that’s something we very rarely do.
Lastly, the Pulpo made its debut. Yet again, we were dissatisfied. No strangers to octopus, we know when it is good or bad. This tentacle seemed to be cooked much too long and was extremely tough. We weren’t able to finish this one, either. The paired potatoes were the best part of this dish.
Price wise, it wasn’t too bad. For four drinks and four tapas, our bill came to a little over $100 without tip.
Overall, I was disappointed in the meal, which is not a common feeling I have when dining in New York City. I’m going to rate Sala Astoria at a 3.5. However, I would like to give this place another shot and try some more tapas, cocktails, and paella.
I’ll keep you updated on our next visit that hopefully will redeem this restaurant. And be sure to stay tuned for more of The Eat Critique!
