Casa MonoTotal Shock and AWE!!!Totally unprepared for the extraordinary! Foods prepared to be photo worthy and delicious beyond words! My first time in the restaurant and I will be become a regular! Fabulous combinations of perfectly grilled asparagus with a runny cool egg along with blue cheese and other secrets was heaven on a plate. Perfectly grilled sardines or generous portions of razor clams blew me off the map! A menu filled with unique and brilliant combinations for the real foodie. I wish I lived next door rather than across town.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant once you get pastThis is a great restaurant- once you get to the table.
The food is delicious, wait staff is very knowledgeable and friendly.
However the hostess staff is disorganized and fairly rude.
They called me 3 times to confirm my reservation even though I confirmed on the first call.
My husband was 5 mins late and the hostess told me that they had another table coming after us and we'd have to be out - several times, quite rudely. Throughout our entire dinner and when we left there were empty tables and no one waiting.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMLove Casa MonoThis is my favorite restaurant in NYC. The Foie Gras Cinco Cebollas is beyond words. Of course there are a great many delicious things on the menu. I've never had anything mediocre there.
It IS very small so prepare to be intimate with those in neighboring tables. You'll forget you're on some stranger's lap when the food arrives.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for a relaxed innovative mealWanted to catch up with my daughter, who's off to Africa for six months, and a foodie- great on all counts- un pressured, knowledgeable friendly staff, interesting food and wine options, and comfortable surroundings in great neighborhood- thanks Casa Mono!6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food!The food was delicious! The baby squid dish was amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone! The presentation of the dishes was excellent. All the food looked so beautiful. The only complaints I have was the size of the restaurant. It was so tiny, getting up from the table was extremely difficult. Also, because it was tiny, the noise level seemed amplified. But the food more than made up for that!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMRead some of the reviews andRead some of the reviews and was a bit apprehensive--> However, Casa Mono was a great Tapas place with the wait staff as nice and knowledgeable as in the other of Mario's places. The lamb and baby octopus plates are quite generous and are to die for. Not your typical tapas place with mini portions of 1-2 bites! Yes, it is a small place, but not uncomfortable since all the other diners were also cognizant of their close neighbors. It felt like some of the neighborhood places in Southern Europe.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMA FLAVORFUL CHOICE IN GRAMERCYCasa Mono has terrific food with great variety for everyone from diehard meat eaters to vegans. Although it is quite small and can feel crowded even when it isn't full, it is a great choice on a temperate day because the floor-to-ceiling windows are flown open, and you feel as if you are eating outdoors without being on the sidewalk. It can be deceptively pricey, because you aren't always sure how much food to order, and it adds up -- not just in price but in a feeling of fullness. If you do not want to overeat, ask your waitperson how many dishes to order, and then order one less. It's easy and quick enough to add another if you and your companion(s) are hungry.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMLittle Gem in the NeighborhoodThis tapas place doesn't serve the usual tapas found everywhere else in the city which is why I like it. They also always have new specials in the menu. But my favorites are: the duck egg with truffle oil, razor clams, fideos, and the catalan creme brulee with the batter dipped fried bay leaf that you rip the crispy batter out off.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGet there when it opens for brunch!We love the food at Casa Mono and it can be fun in the evenings with the energetic crowd, but it is often hard to carry a conversation and it seems the food comes all at once, and dinner is over way too soon! But if you arrive at noon when they open on Saturday, the room is yours and gradually fills as you are finishing a leisurely meal. The food is top notch!! I could rave about a dozen dishes - but I have the best artichoke hearts on the planet there! Thanks for the memories! I'll be back!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMNice little spotWe had a nice lunch in this cozy spot. Be prepared to be squeezed in quite comfily. The small restaurant was perfect for getting together over a few tapas and wine to chat. The only drawback was the lack of legroom at our table (we were squeezed up in front). Otherwise, excellent food and great service.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMTight quartersFood was pretty good. Did not like having to order all dishes up front. To me tapas are order as you go. Also tables were way to tight. I would go back, however, and now know what to expect5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite Spot in NYCI used to live on 14th Street and during my stay I found this little gem only a few blocks from my apartment. Since then, I've been going back for lunch and dinners whenever I'm in the city. The wine list is very good, the food is excellent, the staff are helpful, and the ambience is lovely, though can be a bit loud when the doors/windows are shut on rainy days. Highly recommend!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMSo many foods to try!We loved the small plates and sharing style of eating. There were so many unusual dishes to try, we can't wait to go back and order more. The soft shell crab was excellent, as well as the goat livers we tried. All very good and nicely presented. My only complaint is that we were 20 minutes late for our 6:00 reservation (raining in NY, couldn't get a cab, took subway and got lost). We called twice to say we were on our way and we were told both on the phone and when we got there that our table was reserved at 8:00 so we had a time limit. Now I get the problem but I did think it was rude for the hostess to basically reprimand us for being late. We stayed any way and didn't worry about time but we could tell our food was somewhat rushed.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall BitesI came here for lunch with my coworkers so I cannot give a good impression on their notable wine list though I heard it was pretty great. We ordered 8 different small plates off their menu and all were superb. I would definitely like to go back to try their wine one of these nights. I've tried before but this small space gets very crowded, a sign of a great restaurant/bar I suppose! Will definitely be coming back. Thanks!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat foodThe food here is great along with an extensive wine list. The only draw back is the size of the restaurant. It's very tight and cramped.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousFound the dishes--both small plate and entree-- inventive and delicious. Flavors enhanced each ingredient. Nice delicate touch with seafood. Cost adds up, but well worth it for a dining experience that transports you out of New York to enjoy relaxation for a few hours in Spain. Went three days after first visit to ensure other friends could experience as well. On my short list now for all NY trips.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Foie Gras!We ordered 5 dishes. Foie Gras, Razor clams and calamares were absolutely amazing, especially the foie gras with five onion sweet and sour sauce, perfect combination. definitely go back again.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMNever Disappoints!Casa Mono is a favorite of mine. The food never fails to impress and delight.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food, Fair ServiceFirst of all, I would like to say the food there was great. We ordered razor clam, squid, scallop , rabbit meat and we love all of them. The only complaint we have is their hostess. We were 10 minutes late (I had a long day walking in New York and can't walk too fast) and hostess said she can't seat us because we are late and it is a "protocol" to prevent her from seating us. "There will be full of people in next twenty minutes", she claimed. So we deiced to seat at bar. The next one to two hours we observed the restaurant and found there are plenty enough seats available.... Overall this is a great place for foodies but don't be late (not even a bit) because it is a "protocol".5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat perfectly sized, innovativeGreat perfectly sized, innovative and flavorful tapas!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always Casa Mono is a wonderfulAs always Casa Mono is a wonderful evening of great food!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWas so delicious - everything!...weWas so delicious - everything!...we had a lamb chop/belly special that was excellent. When the chef overheard my sister ask for two chops instead of belly - he agreed but added that we "didn't know what we were missing!"....we were sold, but the really classy part of the story was that this chef sent over two chops and the lamb belly --- completely unexpected surprise....great energy, great food!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBone marrow was awesome! TheBone marrow was awesome! The place is very small and cramped so this is a 2-3 party place.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA small but very good placeContrary to what I was led to expect by other reviewers, I found the service to be excellent and friendly. The food places an emphasis on the intense flavoring of dishes with a distinct but not overpowering smokey taste. I did not find the dishes overly salty. While it's true the restaurant is small and noisy, I had no difficulty carrying on a conversation with my dinner companion. The portions seemed reasonably sized and fairly priced. Between the two of us, we ordered five tapas plus dessert and could probably have gotten away with four tapas and dessert and felt completely sated. The glass of wine recommended by our waiter was outstanding. I highly recommend the restaurant for a night of exciting but casual dining.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was exotic and fantastic;The food was exotic and fantastic; going to have to go back and try all new plates. The rabbit, razor clam, and baby squid dishes were AMAZING. Well worth checking out.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent standard of food,Excellent standard of food, great atmosphere, friendly staff & an eclectic 90s themed Britpop soundtrack!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLOVED ITMy companion and I were so tempted by so many of the interesting menu items. everything was delicious and each dish served immediately when it was ready.
Determined to go back and try a different selection each time4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is tapas so designedThis is tapas so designed for sharing. Small tables mean that your food comes out only a couple of dishes at a time. Not a problem but be prepared for a little wait between courses. don't forget to order sides - the artichokes and mushrooms were amazing. Food generaly was delicious. We particularly likedthe baby octopus salad and the scallops.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tapas there are incredible.The tapas there are incredible. You can always have a great meal there!!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThere are some very good tapasThere are some very good tapas in NY right now -- Tia Pol, Txikito, Tertullia -- but Casa Mono remains at the top of the list. Problem is, the place is so small, it's really best for intimate groups, and that means you can't order everything on the menu, as you'd like.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMthe food at this place neverthe food at this place never fails to impress me, the problem is the size of the restaurant. it's really small, so if you're showing up with a party of three your different small plates won't fit on your table (go to the bar or find a fourth person so you can get a larger table).4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMgood music, good service,good music, good service, good food, cheap price!!!!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing!!Amazing service, waitress made great recommendations! I'm adding this place to my "must-visit" list when in NYC!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique tapas in NYCDelicious, unique tapas! Very charming little place with reasonable prices for New York. Loved the Foie Gras and the Skirt Steak!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tapas was beautifullyThe tapas was beautifully presented, the food itelf well thought out, and delicious. We would highly recommend it. The tables were squished together, but the waiters were effortless in their service, and very attentive. Our server recommended a wine that was wonderful.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have tried their tapasWe have tried their tapas bar next door( excellent) and decided to try the restaurant. Food was very good, wine list excellent, knowledgeable servers and quick service. Nice vibe inside given it's cramped quarters . Definitely a notch above.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe dining area is very smallThe dining area is very small and tight. The food and service was very good.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMust try the razor clams.Must try the razor clams. A little salty for my taste but I must admit the food was amazing. The place is a bit small/cramped but it provided a cozy environment overall. Went with a friend and ordered 5 tapas, perfect portion.2/22/2013 12:00:00 AMBest flavor leave kids at homeALWAYS a favorite for lunch for my hubby and I. Of all of Mario's places, still most unique flavors. Only critique this time, is that we came w our 3 kids, and we know its not kid place they were not even trying to accommodate. Just wont bring kids next time.1/16/2013 12:00:00 AMVery authentic, it reallyVery authentic, it really transported me to Spain. They really know how to use "la plancha"
Delicious sardines, cod kokotxas, good Spanish tapas. Period. It would be even better if service were more like in Spain as well: friendly and knowledgable12/13/2012 12:00:00 AM