New York City: Bar Jamon (May 2011)

We had drinks with friends at the Bar Jamon wine bar/ham bar adjacent to Casa Mono in mid-May 2011. We arrived around 4:00 pm and were lucky to secure seats at one of the two long tables (which probably each seat about 8 guests, either sitting or standing). The crowd ebbs and flows at this establishment, making it quite crowded at times before emptying. (Our Manhattanite friends tell us that it’s impossible to find a space inside on weekend evenings and were surprised at how uncrowded it was when we were there on a Saturday afternoon.) This bar is quite tidy and compact, reminding me of something you would find in Spain. Wine is available by the glass, carafe, or bottle, and is poured with great flourish. The food, particularly the meats and cheeses, looked excellent, but we didn’t have time to eat, which was a pity because the hams and cheeses and other tapas looked terrific. We will return again!