Loved It
TLDR: There’s nothing I love more than an instant classic, and Txikito fits the bill. With outstanding food and a refreshingly light take on Spanish food, this quiet date spot is a new go to.
Spanish food, especially tapas, is a “sometimes” meal for me. While eating in Spain can be revelatory, eating Spanish food in New York tends to be the same menu with slight modifications. Usually it feels unhealthy, despite being small plates (all meat and bread, no veg) and honestly I don’t ever crave it. But Txikito might just have changed that.
Txikito (pronounced chee-kee-to, according to my server) is fresher, tastier, and more interesting than your typical New York version of Spanish food. With flavors hailing from Basque country, there is ample fresh fish, pickled things, and even (gasp!) actual vegetables. Not to say that it’s all uber-healthy – the hot jilda (which you should order) is basically a slightly spicy hot dog with relish on a stick.
Txikito does a great job of creating dishes to crave – namely the boquerones and the mendreska. The first was a glorious plate of fresh white anchovy, wafer-thin toasts, and marinated tomatoes (these are some of my favorite things). Each bite with all three was like an explosion of incredible flavor, and I truly could consume 3 plates of this; so simple, so good. If the word “anchovy” scares you… you’re missing out. The second was a plate of luxurious swordfish belly over a bed of lightly smoked eggplant. Kind of like a babaganoush but less creamy. This swordfish, my goodness. It had the texture of fatty tuna and literally melted in your mouth. Outstanding.
Other dishes enjoyed included: the daily kroquetas (the secret to mind blowing croquetas is blue cheese, who knew?), amberjack crudo (olives are a surprisingly good complement), and the risotto (deliciously sweet and fresh seafood). While I don’t think you can go too wrong at Txikito, the weakest dish was definitely the gem lettuce salad, which had a surprisingly bitter dressing. Dessert stands up to the test though; if you love chocolate pudding, get the chocolate flan. Delish.
What solidifies Txikito as an instant Loved It is the vibe. Perhaps it’s just me, but it was refreshing to find a date spot that felt so chill. Somewhere to be cozy, quiet, and have a little privacy (there’s a screen in the middle of the main dining room that creates a little separation from your fellow diners). New York has plenty of fun, raucous spots – Shukette next door is a prime example – but it’s nice to go somewhere you can really relax and enjoy spending time with the person you’re out with.
Bonus: you can make last minute reservations! Even on a Saturday. Next time you really want to just unwind and eat lots of anchovies, you know where to go.
Comments