Description
Claiming to be the oldest Spanish restaurant in New York, Chelsea’s La Nacional – founded in 1868 – has certainly been doing tapas longer than most other places in the city. The safest way to go at any tapas place is to order as many dishes as you can afford, and La Nacional is no different. Portions are on the skimpy side, but the quality is high, and the paella de la casa (shrimp, squid, clams, mussels, chicken, green peas and piquillo peppers) is a particular hit with the unpredictable crowd. As for the vibe, there are times when the basement-like space is packed full of twenty-somethings, and others when there are only a few old regulars seated at the bar, so it’s a good place to check out if you’re looking for a (possibly) quiet dinner. --Shane Barnes
