BarBossa

Group dinners. At times, they are one of the joys of living in New York. And other times, they are the bane of your existence. If you are in charge of the planning, locating a venue that actually seats 8 or more people is never an easy task. And, if you are simply a guest, it's nearly impossible to escape the evening without forking over an arm and a leg. Never mind, you usually never even get a chance to speak to more than your corner of the table. Oh the joys of group dinners!

Well, the group dinner tale does not always have to end like that. One night in the back room of BarBossa will certainly convince you of this. At first glance, this Brazilian spot appears to be another one of Nolita's cozy ethnic restaurants that doubles as a bar to the neighborhood. Don't get me wrong - the main room is a great area for both drinking and eating. But, it is the private option in the back where they have converted a wine and liquor cellar into public dining that really sets BarBossa apart. The long wooden table can seat 8-12 people comfortably - and since it is your own space in the restaurant, you are free to cause a little commotion or move about as much as you want. While you feel like you could actually own the space, you are still treated with the utmost care by a warm and proud waitstaff. And whether you are seated in the group throne or up front at the bar, their Brazilian cocktails are the way to start off the night. I also highly recommend sharing a few of their starters. The provoleta - grilled provolone with pico de gallo - as well as the baked fresh crab are served with toasted bread. If you haven't had enough bread or cheese (two items I can never get enough of), their mini rolls stuffed with cheese are addictive. The overall menu has more of a Latin American appeal than purely Brazilian - offering Portuguese, Chilean, and even Central American delicacies. No matter what part of the region you order from, you will enjoy a flavorful, hearty dish - and all at a low cost. The menu options range from curries to salads to sandwiches to regional specialties. While there are some very solid vegetarian options such as the eggplant lasagna, this region is truly known for their meats - and when in Rome... I highly recommend the feijoada - a typical Portuguese stew made of beans, beef, and pork and served with rice and kale. Another great meat choice is their grilled steak served with baked polenta and roasted tomatoes.

Your meal at BarBossa will be a festive one - and this is true whether you have a real reason to celebrate or not. It will be a joyous one - and this is certainly true as you enjoy the company of each and every person you started the night with. It will be an affordable AND tasty one as you will enjoy eclectic cuisine, drinks. and a bill at the end of the night that will actually make you question if you ordered any drinks (even if your head the next day speaks otherwise). Yes - these are the joys of group dining!

Barbossa

232 Elizabeth St.

New York, NY 10012

(212) 625-2340

menu

FOOD RATING (Out of 5):

Esperanto

There are actually plenty of weekend nights when I have no real event to attend and so I happily plan my night around a restaurant - eating out with a few friends and seeing where the night takes us. On nights like these, I just want to go to a place where I know I will get great food and drinks, but also be in a fun, festive setting. I am in search of a restaurant that will satisfy me, not financially drain me, and also encourage me to continue my night out. Esperanto is the perfect spot to make sure that I get all this and more!

Located on Avenue C and ninth street, Esperanto is a Brazilian restaurant that embodies the laid back attitude and culture of both alphabet city and South America. Even if you have reservations, they will probably make you wait 20-3o minutes - but this is never an inconvenience as their affordable bar will quickly mix up one of many authentic drinks on the menu. The delicious (and not too sweet!) mojitos and caipirinhas may take you straight to Brazil, but there may also be many entertaining reminders that you are just off of Avenue C. During my most recent trip to Esperanto, I was barely phased when the waitress had to escort a harmless, yet intoxicated man out of the restaurant. He had attempted to engage in conversation with our table at one point, however we couldn't quite work out what he was saying. Assuming he was eating at another table and was simply a little "lost," we soon realized he was never eating at Esperanto in the first place (and couldn't blame his state on the delicious cocktails). As we were all cracking up at the scene, I was reminded that you do not go to Avenue C without expecting some sort of commotion! Not only did he provide us with unexpected entertainment, but he indirectly gave us dessert - our embarrassed waitress brought out a delicious, complimentary coconut flan at the end of the meal.

I will admit that is not a typical night at Esperanto. But, on most any other occasions, you will find a restaurant full of groups of people laughing and enjoying their meals as much as we all were that night. The menu is extremely affordable and is designed such that most appetizers and side dishes can and should be shared. In particular, the Tapas Plate, consisting of grilled chorizo, tortilla Espanola, sardines, olives, lentil salad, and marinated baby shrimp, provides something for every one and gives you a great sampling of many of the local favorites. However, ordering the tostones (flattened plantain cakes sauteed in garlic - pictured above) are a must! These are amazing - and having previously thought I had sampled every version of prepared plantains, I was wonderfully surprised by this new discovery. It may even top my plantain list!

The main courses are all based around authentic Brazilian dishes - all of which are very hearty. I recommend the Feijoada - a traditional pork stew with beans served with collard greens. The pork is slow roasted, making it extremely tender and flavorful. I also think that they have a wonderful selection of shrimp dishes. My favorite is the Camerones de la Feria - shrimp and hearts of palm cooked in tomato and coconut milk. All dishes are served with rice and farofa - an authentic version of bread crumbs that you can voluntarily sprinkle on each dish. I really like the texture that it adds to the stew-like meals. Although we were all very full from our Brazilian feast, we couldn't resist the gift of the coconut flan. If you love coconuts, you will surely love this dish. While I would normally never have thought to order a dessert at a Brazilian restaurant, I will now have to think twice before turning away the list on my next trip to Esperanto. Thanks again, intoxicated mystery man!

Although we were sad that our meal had come to a close, it had been another memorable evening at on Avenue C. And, we knew our night had only just begun. As we headed out of Esperanto and onto our next destination, it didn't really matter where we ended up - the night had already been more than eventful.




145 Ave C
New York, NY 10009
Phone: (347) 329-4684
website