"My spouse and I, retired locals from the suburbs, have decided to start enjoying life again post-pandemic. Once a week, we like to discover a new restaurant for lunch, preferably close to a point of interest. Our latest find was Boqueria for an early Thursday lunch. Tucked away just a few steps from the chaos of Broadway, this restaurant is a tranquil oasis. Despite its large size with glass and chrome décor, it was surprisingly quiet during lunchtime. We could easily imagine it getting louder during happy hour. As for the food, it's important to remember that this is a tapas restaurant! Each dish is small and perfect for sharing between two people. Alongside glasses of cava, we tried five dishes. The olives were plentiful, the croquettes perfectly crispy, especially the mushroom one. The bacon-wrapped dates, although made with good bacon, fell a bit short with mushy dates. The jambon was heavenly, and the highlight was definitely the eggplant dish. Don't let your preconceptions about eggplant deter you, it was truly a delightful surprise. The entire staff was friendly and provided just the right amount of service. Just a reminder, make sure to get your parking ticket validated at the hostess station to avoid unexpected charges in the garage."
