Jose Luis Restautant — Restaurant in New York

Jose Luis is a place that is relatively easy to miss, but thanks to its slow scenery near the park, you might come to find it anyway. However, that is not how I discovered this place—Google Maps does wonders for discovery. My partner and I went here for our anniversary dinner.

Here is what we ordered on 4/17/25 Polpettine Paella Negra (single serving)

The total came out to around $70, tax and tip included. You might ask, why order so little? Well, we were just coming off of a brunch and decided we weren't all too hungry by 7:15 PM but rest assured, it was enough for us. Your mileage may vary.

Here's what I think of it:

Atmosphere: 4/5 I was hard debating on whether to drop this to a 3.5/5 instead of a 4/5, and I believe it barely ekes out its rightful spot in my eyes. A part of it was definitely the fact that Google Reviews doesn't provide a half-star, but I digress. For starters, I believe that the restaurant has its charm, somewhere between "cozy" and "mechanical order." I would say that this establishment would lean more towards the "cozy" were it not overshadowed by the sort of lighting that restaurants seem to be following the trend of lately: dim enough to make sure your photos aren't crisp. Couple that with the blue hue that permeates the interior? Not for me. As an aside, two notes: 1) The green glowing sphere at the door isn't doing any favors; 2) The party (3-4) sat across from us were rambunctious and, frankly, rude. But rest assured, that won't be factored into point deductions; it's unavoidable.

Service: 5/5 The service was great and near-perfect. I felt that there were small hiccups at times where we were left unnoticed, considering we entered when there weren't many people aside from us and the aforementioned party. For added context, people did come in after we sat down for a bit. Bread service was satisfactory, we were provided a bowl for shells present in our Paella Negra, and even received a digestif—one shot each of Licor 43 on the house. I am not a big drinker and still I found it quite delicious. Very hospitable and much appreciated. Perhaps I will consider buying a bottle for myself as a homage.

Food: 3.5/5 The big thing that makes or breaks a restaurant and, after all the high ratings, why a 3.5/5? First, consider that of the many menu items, only two were ordered. Maybe we should've ordered something else, maybe it was a bad day, who knows? That said, if an item is on the menu, it must be good enough to be on the menu and representative of a restaurant's quality. For example, the Polpettine. We received two meatballs in our order. Luckily, as a party of two, there was plenty to go around and certain faults could be overlooked. But for the price? In fairness, they were quite big—still wouldn't order again. They weren't as juicy as I might have hoped, the tomato sauce was nothing noteworthy (not jar-worthy, though), and the flavor was... average. Average all around, I'm afraid.

What about our big star, the Paella Negra? Unfortunately, also not a showstopper and uninspiring. Not all food needs to be inspiring! But again, for the price? Taste-wise, salty and lacking the seafood flavor that it was (hopefully) cooked in. The shrimp was by far the best. The marker of a good shrimp is always a good snap on the first bite, followed by a meaty chew of crunchy-tender thereafter. Lastly, the squid, clams, and mussels—the three mollusks—are grouped together not just by phylum, but by quality. Nothing again to write home about except existing for consumption, lacking flavor besides salt and a hint of seafood. If only the clams weren't so small. For my first ever time trying a paella, disappointed I'm sorry to say. I simply don't see what 600 other reviewers see in it but again, maybe others are better.

All in all, what would Jose Luis be placed? The numbers would dictate it to be just below the cuff of a 4.25/5. My gut-feeling X-factor dictates it be a 4/5 in finality. Would I come here again? No, not really. But did I regret my stay? No, not really.

Edit: 9/2/25 Dropped to 3/5 on...

We were a party of 4 ladies and from the moment we walked thru the door Diego treated us like VIP. The tapas menu was excellent, the breschetta was excellent, very well presented and the flavors were so well paired the crunch of the bread was nothing short of a flavor sensation. The Spanish omelette was a hit! The egg melts in your mouth leaving you wanting more, the side of marinara sauce is brilliant and adds to the dish. The meatball tapas were robust and filling. The sauce was very flavorful and contributed to the overall heartiness of the dish. We had the mixta paella which was filled with seafood, meats and a warm flavor. It was delicious and filling. We also had the carbonara and it was also delicious, the pasta was cooked to perfection and the bacon had a rustic smoky taste. I was fortunate enough to order the Pappardelle Al Ragu ( at Diego recommendation) this dish was filled with sausage, mushrooms, cheese laid in a sauce made in the heavens. The drinks were top notch and as delicious as they read on the menu. The sangria is a must have, with all the flavors available you are sure to find a favorite. The service was beyond amazing, we met Jose Luis himself and he made us feel at home so much so that although we all had things to do the next day we opted to stay for one more round. I haven’t felt this welcomed in a while. Good food, good drinks, and good people. Highly...

Amazing place!!! Just can't miss it!!! I was just there and let me tell you all, this is the place to go!!! Great atmosphere, AMAZING FOOD, very good wines, the prices are fair to low for the great quality of food you will get. You name it, sea food paella, pasta, meat paella, octopus, and keeps going... The best part?, Jose, will be taking care of you right there on the floor, in a very discreet but opportune way he will create that personal touch of comfort that will make you feel attended in the precise moment. He and his team are one of those brave New Yorkers that are standing g up to make a point and bring this wonderful city back to life!!! Let's go and share good moments with him & his crew!!! Well done Jose Luis Mediterranean Cuisine Team!! See you soon!!! They Also have a backyard that must be booked ahead so call them to spare your event, you will be pleased...

Sep, 21st. Another great experience with Jose's Team!!! Always on point, always delicious, always making you feel comfortable, way to go JOSE LUIS MEDITERRANEAN...