La Nacional-Spanish Benevolent Society was founded in 1868. While serving as the cultural, charitable and spiritual center for Spanish-speaking community in New York City, a neighbourhood arose around the Society -Little Spain.
The enclave quickly became the largest Spanish colony in the US with houndreds of Spanish-owned bussinesses thriving right here on 14th street. Today, only La Nacional remains – the sole testament of that unique time and place in history.
Laid-back hangout below the Spanish Benevolent Society, serving traditional Spanish food, and wine.
Jorge Gomez
Upon early arrival, we were seated at the communal table. I ordered Vermut and olives . The olives were some of the tastiest olives I’ve had. Appetizers were Pan con Tomato and Serrano ham croquettes. The flavors were outstanding. We shared a seafood paella which was both tasty and authenticity presented. Our dessert was a beautifully presented light and not to sweet. To wrap up the dinner, I ordered two double espresso which were good. The service was friendly, professional and efficient. The atmosphere was electric. You could feel the energy. Reminded me of the Tapas bar in Barcelona. It was noisy because the place was packed. If you want great tasting and authentic Spanish food , highly recommend this restaurant.
… moreHak Bén
Great experience here, close to two major subway lines nestled in a great location. Cozy and welcoming interior with attention to detail created a nice ambiance.
Friendly hostess, was able to sit us near the end of happy hr. Waitress was very friendly and attentive to our needs- she even let us order a second round of drinks before our first round arrived (since happy hr was ending). This type of hospitality is much appreciated.
My friend ordered the olives, pan de tomate with jamon, tortilla de patata and mixed croquettes. I ordered the croquettes and empanadas which were filled with spinach and cheese.
I was absolutely blown away by the presentation and flavors infused into each dish! Incredible value for the quality we received.
I had the Rosalita drink which was tasty and the red sangria which came as a very nice portion.
Highly recommended! Very authentic and friendly.
Indoor and outdoor seating was available (mid October was my visit).
… moreVictoria Geh
The paella was the best I’ve had (granted I haven’t had paella in a while). The tomato toast bread thing was so refreshing, the bread just the right crunch and softness. The shrimp was sizzling and garlicky, just the way I like it. We also got some extra toast to dip in the shrimp oil. The paella we got had so much seafood, super generous amounts and we left very full.
… moreCindy Chang (CINART)
Love this place. My sister visiting from LA specifically wanted to come back here on her most recent trip. She got her octopus over black ink rice. I got the scallops over rice. The surprise and delight was the anchovies appetizer. So delicious.
You can sit outside on a beautiful day. We sat inside that’s dark, its own kind of ambiance.
Serve was attentive and friendly.
I’m going back to try more of their appetizers.
… moreTeresa Nguyen
Food was absolutely delicious – we ordered the seafood paella, croquettes, patatas bravas, empanadas, the grilled octopus, flan and churros. Everything was amazing and we enjoyed everything. Services was also great and they gave a complimentary dessert since we were celebrating a birthday. Would totally come back!
… moreSameet Sapra
I really loved the food here.
The jamon Iberico was perfectly fatty, the anchovies were plated really nice and tasty, the patatas bravas were an instant classic.
I also loved the empanadas with how juicy, crispy, and large they were.
The paella also was the right amount for 3 people with a small – the rice wasn’t overly crispy which I find to be the case with most other paella.
… moreNuria El
The atmosphere feels authentic, like a classic Spanish tavern, and the service is warm and attentive. The tapas come out quickly, beautifully presented, and full of real, traditional flavor.
… moreZimmi Coker
La Nacional has amazing spanish tapas, offering generous portions throughout each appetizer and entree! The service was also great! The staff was very accommodating and checked on us continually throughout the night. We went for a friend’s bday and they sang along with us and made it very special. The drinks were definitely not that strong, although we got the pitcher so maybe that’s why. So I recommend getting individual drinks. Out of all the dishes we tried the chicken was DIVINE. It was so succulent. The paella was fine but not amazing. I did enjoy the squid though, which wasn’t rubbery or chewy but extremely fresh.
… moreRichard S
This place is amazing and an incredible find. The food, atmosphere and service are all outstanding. It feels a bit like Queens but in a positive way, like you’re dining with a family. The empanadas were the best I’ve ever eaten – and I’ve eaten a ton! The sizzling shrimp was incredible. The mini paella was sadly short on lobster but the rice, again, better than even what we had in Barcelona. An absolute must for the best authentic Spanish food! Love, love, love.
… moreChristina Menendez
What an amazing night! I made reservations for Wednesday night for a group of 20. They were very accommodating for our large party. When we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and kind words. We felt welcomed as if we had walked into our family’s home. The private room felt very cozy. I had ordered from a prixe fixed menu to be served family- style with pitchers of margaritas, sangria, beer and bottles of wine. The food was delicious and the drinks were great too. The portions were substantial with very nice presentations. Overall, a great night. We will definitely be back. Very grateful to Idurre and the magnificent staff for such a fantastic evening.
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