Buceo 95 — Restaurant in New York

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Buceo for the third time in the past 12 years, and I feel compelled to share my honest feedback with you. Firstly, I want to express my appreciation for the fantastic service provided by the bartender and the overall competence of the restaurant staff. The ambiance of Buceo is undoubtedly charming, creating a pleasant atmosphere at this cute tapas restaurant. However, I must express my disappointment regarding the quality of the food, which has unfortunately been the consistent factor in my visits. The menu, while visually appealing, doesn't seem to align with the actual execution of the dishes. For instance, the braised cauliflower was more reminiscent of boiled cauliflower and lacked the promised ingredients that could elevate the dish. The baby whole octopus dish left much to be desired, as it seemed to be swimming in a bottled Boar's Head condiment one might find at a local bodega. The Pan con Tomate had a nice flavor profile, but unfortunately, the texture was compromised by sogginess. Additionally, I would caution against ordering it with the ham, as it resembled more of a tuna than the expected jamon. The grilled artichokes, while straightforward in name, lacked basic elements like salt and oil, resulting in a dry and flavorless experience. On a positive note, the lamb sliders were fine. I would like to highlight that the wine we ordered was, in my opinion, a redeeming aspect of the evening, providing a positive note to an otherwise mediocre dining experience. In conclusion, my two-star rating reflects the exceptional service provided by the staff, particularly the bartender, and the charming ambiance of the restaurant. However, it also signifies my ongoing disappointment with the consistently mediocre quality of the food. I believe addressing these culinary aspects could significantly enhance the overall dining experience at Buceo. Thank you for considering my feedback, and I hope it contributes to the improvement of this...

Visited Buceo 95 last night in search of some good tapas on the UWS – was warmly greeted upon entry and was seated almost immediately, was pleasantly surprised since the restaurant was nearly at capacity. The wine list is long enough to accommodate anyone but, not too long as to discourage you from searching for the perfect wine and there were excellent drink options, also. We ordered a pitcher of sangria – the flavor was excellent but, had a bit of viscosity to it that made it a little less enjoyable. Our food order: Pan con Tomate (tomato spread on garlic bread), Alcachofas (grilled artichokes), Esparragos a la Plancha (grilled Asparagus), Pulpo de Buceo (grilled baby octopus) and a nightly special Bacon wrapped Scallops. The food was fantastic I would recommend everything that we had, everything was cooked to perfection – loved it. The only draw back to this location is the acoustics in the restaurant itself, went on a Tuesday night at 9pm and the restaurant was packed and very loud making it quite difficult to hold a conversation. Regardless, I will definitely...

Important! This review is only based on a single visit.

Food- Interesting, fun dishes. My only gripe is that most of them needed salt. I NEVER add salt, but I had to ask the server for some. I feel like if everything was properly salted, it would’ve been much more enjoyable. I think the mussels was the only dish properly seasoned. Also, with all the exciting and unique items on the menu, serving plain white bread with plain olive oil, seems out of place. Perhaps a little something more fun?

Service- Our server was timely and friendly, however the order the food came out didn’t make sense. I know it’s tapas, but I appreciate having it come out in order from lighter tasting/mild dishes to heavier/spicier dishes.

Atmosphere- Quaint and cozy. A little too cozy though. Cramped when it fills up, but I’m used to that in manhattan restaurants.

Overall- Definitely has potential. A bit of salt could go a long way and have more of a system to the order of dishes. Maybe I caught them on an off night? Perhaps. I might try them again since I’d like to get a few other things...