Used to be I'd hit the lower east side for a fix. No, not meth or heroin or skunky weed. Nah, for cheap Tequila at the original Coyote Ugly, still on 9th and 1st. Still has a great jukebox, dartboards and gorgeously snarly waitresses who've been wronged by life. And no, it's not like the movie (which was shot at Red Rocks in the meatpacking west side). Matter of fact before the movie was even a glimmer in Piper Perabo's eye Coyote was where my cousin Yve and I would down unGodly amounts of Tequila and dis men.
Of course the east village is also where I go for a great, cheap meal in a usually small and requisitely funky venue. Things haven't changed that much. Second Ave still swarms with crowds - many of whom are excitingly tatooed and pierced - dining al fresco in front of English phone booths or in tiny shops no wider than a subway car.
Bar Carrera 2 is one such joint (2 because of it's sister location in the West Village). Suffering from a single Espresso Martini induced hangover (damn that sugar!) my stomach felt inclined to fill itself with salty, fatty treats - damn the damage to my thighs or sweet red arteries. My dining partner is my femme buddy Karen - a seasoned New Yorker. The fact that both of us worked at Sherry-Lehmann as wine consultants, followed by her stint at Merrills means we're a bit finicky when it comes to the grape. Luckily Carrera provides a handsome wine list comprised of mainly Spanish wines that pairs admirably with the Tapas style menu.
We shared Jamon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds. The chewy date added the perfect counterpoint to the salty, jerky-like ham and the almond was a nice textural surprise. Sauteed tiger shrimp and chorizo was a very small plate (2 orders) on a toothpick with a briney banana pepper. Torilla del dia was the standard potato and egg at room temperature. The vine-ripened tomato salad with a sherry vinaigrette fed our need for shrubbery while the Plato Combinado (assorted cheeses & meats) eased my hunger for spicy, fatty meat. The surprise favorite of the evening turned out to be a Russian sounding combo of smoked salmon over a slather of mascapone on a toasted brioche drizzled with honey and a sprinkle of black caviar.
As a drinking accompaniment I stuck with a dry Cava - Casteller Brut. Karen tried out a couple wines - Bacasis Blanco from Pla de Bages, the Aforado Albarino from Rias Baixas and Can Blau from Montsant - all 2007.
Overall rating Pros & Cons: lovely food, a bit heavy on the bread in the sandwich type tapas. The smoked salmon a surprise winner. Attentive, helpful bartender. Attractive indoor space however, the music was much too loud. Great wine list however would have preferred stemmed glasses as my sparkling wine got warm with handling.
Bar Carerra
175 Second Avenue
New York, New York 10003
212-375-1555
info@barcarrera.com
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