AldeaAnd another great dinner at AldeaWonderful new items on Chef Mendes menu. And as always, Heidi, Maya, and Miguel make the atmosphere just the most pleasurable and cordial. And newcomer Benjamin makes a very nice addition to a great staff that is very knowledgeable and helpful, without being intrusive. My wife and I can't wait to return!!!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently StellarI have dined at Aldea numerous times and every visit is a wonderful dining experience. The cuisine is nouveau/modern Iberian and the wine list stellar! The staff is warm, courteous and attentive. I can't wait to return for another memorable experience. Aldea is one of NYC's truly unique dining experiences!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was phenomenal! EspeciallyFood was phenomenal! Especially the mussel soup! The service could have been more attentive; however overall a lovely experience.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, excellent serviceThis was my fourth time at Aldea and again, it was an outstanding experience. Service is one of the best in this city, and the food is innovative without being pretentious. Love the serrano ham, love the morel mushrooms, and the suckling pig is not to be missed. I'll be going back again soon.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMlunchnice prix fix - good sized entree portions and a great salad. didn't feel rushed6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat foodMy friend and I enjoyed the prix fixe lunch. Service was very attentive but not overwhelming.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWhy can I get a table here?Aldea is a strange thing in the New York City restaurant scene. It is in a hip neighborhood (Flatiron). It has a clean modern aesthetic. The food is a brilliant melding of classic white tablecloth dining with modern technique. It even boasts a Top Chef contestant. So why is it so easy to get a table there? Whenever I have annoyingly last minute friends or business colleagues or more often than not, family, Aldea is always my go to. The food is fantastic, the room lovely, the service is good, the drinks also good and as I mentioned earlier, they always seem to have a table available. Hopefully this strange anomaly won't prove the ultimate end of a wonderful Flatiron gem.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA great night outI was lucky enough to get a Saturday off of work, which meant I was going to make it count! I decided to take myself out to dinner; I wanted to go somewhere special, that I'd meant to check out for some time. I scored a day-of reservation at 8:30 at Aldea and when I arrived was seated at the counter in front of the kitchen. I ordered the tasting menu and was able to substitute a cheese course (which I did want to try) for the cod with a soft poached egg and collard greens (which I wanted to try more). I'll admit that my expectations were pretty high but Aldea exceeded my expectations, the food was creative, presented beautifully and executed well. Service was also great, good wine and beer, overall wonderful experience!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWent to celebrate a birthday.Went to celebrate a birthday. Food was good. Tables very close together. Odd that they charge $5 for bread(I was informed upon requesting bread). Bill was $100 per person. Think they should give the gift of bread. If you enjoy watching kitchen action, there's a bar facing the open kitchen. I'd return to experience that.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing tasting menu!Highly recommend the tasting menu, as the chef really knocks it out of the park. Food was incredible, and the service was very good as well. Can't go wrong with classic rock playing in the background either! 11/10!5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food with an attentiveGreat food with an attentive but not obtrusive wait staff. The extras were as good as what we ordered. I really appreciated being asked about food allergies. What a delight Will definitely return5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMQuite a delightFrom start to finish, I have never experienced a dining adventure quite like the dinner we had. Our seasoned and charming server suggested the chef's tasting menu. We bit. Chef Georges Mendes is brilliant and passionate about his food. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who takes pleasure in the joy of food with a twist.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMnice findBeing Portuguese descent myself, I wanted to check out Aldea and bring some Brazilian friends who were in town for a special dinner...It didn't disappoint at all! Great ambiance with an international look, food had a fun spin on traditional Portuguese (not your typical dishes), really well prepared.. The sonhos for dessert were really a dream... Only downside was the table next to us with a really obnoxiously loud group...5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother fantastic dinner at AldeaChef Mendes continues to outdo himself in the way he makes new delicious combinations of flavors. This time it was the new quail appetizer...just wonderful. My wife and I have been dining at Aldea at least once a month for the past 3 years and have never been disappointed or walked away wanting more. And the hostesses are very cordial, the service is exceptional, the open see-everything kitchen is fantastic, and the general atmosphere makes this just a not-to-be-missed dining experience. Can't wait to get back.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice fusion foodIn this nice restaurant, where you can watch the kitchen staff preparing your dishes, you will be amazed by the delicacy of the dishes, a mixture of two worlds: iberic peninsula and America. Land and sea are intertwined in many dishes, reminding us of the best portuguese traditions, with a light touch.
Do not miss the wonderful rice pudding to finish with.
Very attentive staff to serve you.
Good, though not thorough wine list.
Not to miss!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceWas a perfect evening of tasty food accompanied by great wine5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Food, Service, Prixe-FixeWent for lunch with a friend. The $25 prixe-fixe lunch is a bargain! I had mussel soup, skate wing, she had salad and paella made with farro. Had two desserts, each wonderful. Food was sumptuous, large portions, well prepared, elegantly served. Iced coffee served in short "old fashioned" glasses was lovely - a nice touch.. Attentive but not obsequious service. The lunch bargain (3 courses including dessert) is quite a deal for food of such high quality. Will definitely return.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a delightAldea has become my favorite restaurant. Every experience has been sublime. The setting is serene, the service is impeccable and the food is both interesting and delicious. It is also a great place to explore Portuguese and Spanish wines.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMPoor service, good foodThe overall experience does have shadows due to the poor service. The portugese wine and the food are excellent.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAldeaPlenty of other options in the Flatiron district, but you can actually get a table at this stellar Greek spot, the staff is attentive and doesn't upsell, and the food is memorable. Well worth it!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was lovely, beautifullyThe food was lovely, beautifully presented and nice twists with goodxquality ingredients.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent dining experienceExcellent food and attentive service. The menu is seasonal and fresh. It's a little pricey, but overall a great dining experience. We'll be back.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful EveningMy daughter and I had a wonderful time here. The server was stellar and unobtrusive, answering questions and always there when we needed him. The house cocktail and the wine he suggested were spot on. The restaurant decor is serene and the chairs comfortable enough for a long, leisurely meal. And the food .... Simply delicious. The main courses we had of suckling pig and duck with rice (an imaginative riff on paella) were fabulous. The appetizers -- cod croquettes, ramps and peeky oe crab and sea urchin toast simply delicious. I do not live in New York. If I did, Aldea would be a bi-weekly event for me. Not unreasonable at all for the ambiance, service and quality of ooh.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the skate - so good,I had the skate - so good, and I loved that it didn't come with a starch. The highlight was dessert. Really excellent!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FoodWe've been thinking of coming here for a long time and I'm glad we finally did. The food and service were excellent. they made our 75th birthday celebration special.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMPotuguese, but modern, tastyPotuguese, but modern, tasty food. All 3 courses enjoyables but donuts great!!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMRefreshingFirst of all, the decor was refreshing and very comforting. The service was absolutely wonderful. The presentation of the dishes was very notable as well, especially the 2 amuse-bouches that my boyfriend and I were served before our meals. Those were complimentary. We were served a small delicious tasting plate of desserts after our meal as well, and that was also complimentary. We also had some really strong drinks, especially one called the 17 Street Lazerac (hope the spelling is correct). That really started us off in a good mood. What I liked most about the whole ensemble is that I did not feel too full after our meal, which is actually something that happens quite often at other fine-dining restaurants. I would come here again!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMA not-to-miss dining experience...Another wonderful dinner at Aldea. My wife and I go at least once a month and Chef Mendes has never disappointed us. We always leave marveling at the way he puts flavors together and the deliciousness of his dishes. The menu has many new items and we tried a number of them to our great delight. The service is very efficient and helpful A truly not-to-miss dining experience and the manager Heidi is always cordial. Just a not-to-miss dining experience. We can't wait to go back.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGeorge does a good job, heGeorge does a good job, he came to the table and said hi
I personally found food slightly under seasoned. A bit on the small side too.
but I know its a business, and I respect what he does.
A very good Job!
I will be back4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThose 6 counter spaces overlookingThose 6 counter spaces overlooking the kitchen are fantastic! I take one friend after another there. Surprising that every dish is prepared individually, with utter concentration, and with pride.
Staff very friendly and smiley, especially our waiter Ben.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb experience at AldeaI had dinner at Aldea on April 23rd while in town for business. I I sat at the Chef's counter....basically a front row seat looking directly into the kitchen. I was able to watch virtually every member of the staff at work, but most notably, I was impressed by how closely the Chef watched and controlled every dish that was served. He made staff members prepare each dish meticulously, sending all dishes back that we're not perfectly prepared.
I had a salad and the suckling pig, along with a terrific Portuguese red wine. Both dishes were excellent, particularly the main course. The flavors were extraordinary, and the pork literally melted in my mouth. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly, too. I highly recommend Aldea.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a findAlden was our second choice -- were we lucky! As only the second customers, we got a larger, more private table. The menu was very different -- mostly local, very fresh products that were really tempting. We chose the green garlic soup and mussel soup -- both delicious. Then beautiful scallops and sea bass as entrees. Our server knew the menu and wine list like the back of her hand and shared her knowledge freely! When they learned it was a birthday celebration, they offered us a lovely dessert wine. What a find!!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMNever fails to disappoint.Never fails to disappoint. It has been about 5 months since I have been there and the food still impresses me.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique and memorable experienceThis was my second visit. My friend and I decided on the nine course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. Each food and wine course was served with flair as well as a wonderful narrative. Each course was delicious and beautiful, and the wine pairings were wonderful. Our experience was enhanced by our decision to dine at the counter facing the kitchen where we were able to watch our food being expertly prepared. We were also pleased to meet George Mendes. A memorable night!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA real adult foodies restaurantA real adult foodies restaurant in Chelsea/Flatiron. Takes modern deconstruction of flavors and adds explosions of novel flavors using shaved ice, gels, and the ubiquitous foam. We have been eating out in NYC for over twenty years and this is one of the best restaurants we have been to (food-wise). Can sense the Bouley and Arpege training in the dishes but with its own Iberian twist. Interesting wine pairings, delicious amuses bouches.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice and relaxed restaurant.Very nice and relaxed restaurant. Good en friendly service. We had an excellent lunch for a sharp price ($25 - 3 courses).4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dining experienceWonderful dining experience as usual. We some friends from out-of-town and claimed it was the best food they've had, ever (including our adorable wait person).4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother outstanding diningAnother outstanding dining experience at Aldea. We were a party of six. We were warmly greeted at the door. We started off at the bar with excellent cocktails prepared by Maya. For dinner we were seated on the balcony at a table perfectly designed for a party of six, with the just the right sound level for comfortable conversation. Service from Louisa and her team was exceptional. Our multi-course meal was excellent and perfectly paced. We ate and drank and conversed late into the night. A fine dining experience and an exceptional value.
Highly recommended.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing experience!!! My husbandAmazing experience!!! My husband kept raving abt it w/c is unusual of him to appreciate a place and food.. This place made my bday a wonderful one4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Portuguese/Spanish place!Great Spanish & Portuguese menu. Cocktails were good and the wine list well selected with interesting bottles from Iberian peninsula... Food is well balanced between tradition and sofistication. Suckling pig was delicious with a brave garnish of clams! Sardines, Octopus were a good starting point. Great dinner, thanks!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMI enjoyed this meal very much!I enjoyed this meal very much! I had the suckling with clams which was delicious and beautifully plated. The marinated wild stripe bass was sublime but the portion could have been larger.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good meal here. We hadVery good meal here. We had the tasting menu, which I thought represented exceptional value.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tasting menu was reallyThe tasting menu was really long and tasty. Toasted urchin is our favourite.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe dined here whilst on honeymoonWe dined here whilst on honeymoon and as if that wasn't enough reason for celebration, my new wife and I share the same birthday (that day) so it was really important we found the right restaurant to fit the occasion. Aldea didn't let us down. Fantastic food - definitely the best we had in NYC - fantastic service and we were made to feel special without being the centre of attention.
Low-key elegance, exceptional menu and the wine list is to die for. We went for the chef's 7-course tasting menu and paired it with a selection of wines and we were not disappointed. We would highly recommend sampling these delights for yourself!
Next time we're back in the Big Apple, we are DEFINITELY coming back here!
5-stars all round!
Thanks x3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Food Snob Loved IT!The food was thoughtfully prepared and presented. The service was respectful and timed perfectly. Recommendations should be taken seriously because obviously the staff is trained thoroughly. The ingredients were extremely fresh and delicious! I am an adventurous yet discerning diner and this place hit every thing that is important to me spot on! Thank you for helping me give my husband a birthday to remember!
I will definitely be back! (especially for the oysters, octopus and 'Sweet Dreams")3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the food, the ambienceLove the food, the ambience and the service. Went there for the first time only recently and have gone back several times.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely pre-theatreWe had a lovely pre-theatre dinner. Our cocktails were very well-crafted, the menu was well-conceived and executed expertly. The service was near-perfect.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAldea is our go to for specialAldea is our go to for special occasions and a guaranteed amazing meal every time. Highly recommend for out of towners and locals alike.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was outstanding.The food was outstanding. We had the octopus and sardines to start. The sardines were not salty at all. Very fresh. My main meal was the duck and my husband had the venison. All mouth watering. The dessert of rice pudding was the best I ever had.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a family dinner atWe had a family dinner at Aldea. Everyone ordered different dishes from the 3 course Prix fixe menu. Everything from octopus to pork to steak was cooked perfectly. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive to us.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM