With all the hullabaloo over Bobby Flay’s first new place in a decade, how could I not try it?
The servers were quite attentive, yet a bit too so for me, as our appetizers were served before we got our cocktails. The server was rushing us to turn the table for sure.
Those cocktails were nothing special. The unblended watery “paco” contained Ketel One vodka, blood orange juice and cava ($13). The “bolo,” sangria with Rioja and pomegranate ($12) was unremarkable. I’d 
recommend getting a bottle of wine instead.
We did that too, enjoying a Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rose ($60) — a blend of Cinsault and Mourvèdre — with the rest of our meal.
The appetizers are the most spectacular part of the meal. I could have eaten a large plateful of the roasted octopus in sour orange that came dotted with small cubes of bacon and topped with a roasted pepper. But for $17 there should be more than just one tentacle. Spectacular — with a Mediterranean flavor — is the hearty portion of the garlicky crab risotto with Calabrian red chile covered with a fine bread crumb cover ($18). Highly recommended!
Don’t miss the kale and wild mushroom unusual paella topped with crispy artichokes and an egg that the server mixes for you ($27). We tried not to miss any one of the kernels of Carnaroli rice on the bottom of the dish. 
Delicious.
Not as good, is the squid ink fresh fresh fettuccine topped with two Spanish red prawns in a green onion sauce ($34), missing were the menu stated mussels. Skip this.
I’m finding roasted cauliflower the side to order around town; this flavorful one comes topped with Padron peppers ($10). Don’t miss that.
We finished with a runny Meyer lemon tart topped with pistachio whipped cream ($11) and the offered delicious biscotti including one dark chocolate with dried strawberries, a fig and pinenut, and a pistachio one. Nice touch.
– bonnie
Gato
Greenwich Village
324 Lafayette St
New York City 10012
(212)334-6400
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