Altar — Restaurant in New York

Instantly fell in love with this hidden gem speakeasy when I walked in through the double doors. The dark chapel theme that they curated really gave it a sanctuary feel. Its like they excavated a church and kept the ornate masonry. The bar, the main centerpiece, is so gorgeous and appropriately looks like an altar. This place certainly has date night written all over it. The laid back modern R&B music they played in the background was very soothing. You could easily get lost inside here for hours, which we did.

We arrived around 10pm during the holiday weekend and all the good seats were taken in the booths and by the bar. We had settled for the tables in the aisle until we spotted some people leaving. Our waitress, Fabiola was very cheerful and patient with us as we had many questions regarding the menu.

Their cocktails here are thoughtfully crafted. We easily had 3 round of drinks. Started out with the Holy Smoke (earl grey infused mezcal, peche, l'orgeat, lime) and Boxing Day Punch (bourbon, marzipan, Guinness, egg, spices. Out of the two, the Holy Smoke was my favorite. I'm already a fan of mezcal and I could sip on that drink everyday, that's how classy and smooth it was. Not to be discounted, the boxing day punch arrived with all the bells and whistles. But it was doing too much with the flavors in my opinion. Our 2nd round of drinks included the Mariahhhh (mulled rose wine, absinthe, rose pet nat, grapefruit) which tasted like a medium body complex rose to me and the Bolivian Snow (Singani, rum, matcha, pistachio, cocoa, egg white, lemon). Not a big fan of the latter, it felt like a green light smoothie. Last but not least, we finished with two great drinks if you are a rum drinker : the Faith Healer (Rum, green tea, spiced pear, coconut water, lemon, egg white) and the Sterling Nutcracker (151 rum, Oaxacan rum, fruit punch cider, L' orgeat, lemon). The nutcracker was stronger but these were both good choices to end with. 3 drinks in, I had a nice buzz going by the time we had to leave but I was not overly drunk. I also didn't wake up the following day with a bad headache.

Even without the spectacular cocktail menu, the food here could stand on its own. Their menu consisted of small plates. We sampled about 5 dishes. Let me get this out the way quick, get the duck magret!!! Amazing seared duck breast in merlot reduction & served with black mission figs & gooseberries. They ran out of the ciabatta melt which my husband was pining for when we arrived (he said it was delish last time he came here), so that's another gem we missed. If you want to construct a full meal, the duck went perfectly with the Forage and Farm (mushroom, whipped goat cheese, arugula, chives, olive oil, toast). They also happened to have an oyster sampler special the night we went in (6 for $14). The poke arrived in a beautiful presentation. I loved the super light rice crisp and the artic char with ginger vinaigrette and avo pure. Overall, solid dish but I felt it contained too much wasabi. Lastly, my husband wanted the patatas bravas, which I thought were a tad overly seasoned with that garlic saffron aioli.

All in all, if I could, I would worship here every Sunday! When you find a good cocktail bar, it really is nourishing for the soul. Already planning...

Altar is an exceptional dining experience that I would highly recommend. The food was simply outstanding—each dish was thoughtfully crafted with rich flavors and beautiful presentation. I tried the [specific dish], and it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. The menu offers a great variety, catering to different tastes and dietary preferences.

The service was impeccable. Our server was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, making excellent recommendations. The staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable evening, maintaining a perfect balance of professionalism and warmth.

The atmosphere at Altar is elegant yet cozy, with a beautifully designed interior that enhances the dining experience. The ambiance was perfect for a relaxed evening, with soft lighting and a pleasant background of music. It’s an ideal spot for both intimate dinners and group gatherings.

I spent around [$30–50 per person], which was absolutely worth it for the quality of food and service. I chose to sit in the indoor dining area, which was comfortable and beautifully decorated. They also have a bar area with a sophisticated vibe, perfect for enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail.

Overall, Altar exceeded my expectations in every aspect. It’s a culinary gem that should not be missed. I would definitely return and recommend it to anyone looking for a top-notch...

Was looking for a place to eat and saw there was a tapas place closeby. Wanted to check it out and was not disappointed at all. We walked in and was greeted by Troy who offered us many booths to choose to sit down. The place is nicely decorated and had some oldies playing in the background. Really nice atmosphere especially if you want to date. They even have a private room if needed as well. We sat down and ordered some wines to begin. We thennchose to order 4 plates of tapas. We started with the duck and and tuna. The duck had a nice grilled type of flavoring with figs, which was the 1st time I had this combo. Next, I went to the tuna tartar which was so fresh and flavorful. Troy thought it would be nice to order the sticky chicken. He was not wrong at all. Before the chicken arrived, we sampled the lobster roll which was not bad at all, then we dabbled with the boquerones (sardines) with a spicey bite but not overly spicy. It was really good. Troy checked in on us constantly to see if we were enjoying it, and we were!! Picked up a cote du Rhone wine and was feeling easy. The chicken arrived and was worth the wait. We had an excellent dining experience and looking forward to returning for the rest...