BIKINIS

I loved this place and am heartbroken to see that they closed! Does any one know why or what happened or if they will re-​open at some point?

I was really excited when I saw this place open up because it was another cool /​interesting /​ethnic concept added to the Bohemian Avenue C but I was disappointed by this place.
I came for brunch and the food wasn’t hot and the portions were pretty tiny given the price. I got the Huevos con Xistorra and it looked much more interesting on the menu than it was when I got it. It really was pretty basic unfortunately. The coffee was also very bland.
Maybe I need to give this place a try for dinner and it would be better.

My favourite place to eat in NYC. There is a great atmosphere for intimate dining. The menu is varied and my personal recommendation would be the steak. We stumbled upon this place by mistake when looking for The Stone and we were so pleased with this find.
The staff were great, the waitress was really nice and gave us complimentary olives and rose wine.
Definitely go and definitely get the steak

I love finding somewhat hidden gems around the city. And luckily, I found another, in Alphabet City, for brunch, BIKINIS.
First off, the name is pretty adorable, so, I knew we were off to a good start. This Spanish cuisine restaurant is small, yet very bright and charming. On the walls you’ll find quirky pictures and paintings, namely one of a hairy chested, mustachioed man. Everything on the menu is extremely affordable and sounded delicious.
We were first brought out some complimentary little Mimosa shots. Not a bad way to start.
Then, for my entrée, I ordered the Verde Bikini (Barcelona style pressed sandwich made with challah bread, sautéed crimini mushrooms, organic catalan style spinach, pine nuts, raisins, roasted peppers, provolone cheese). Served with a mixed green salad, this was a really nice sandwich. Golden brown and crisp around the edges, this was more of a fork-​and-​knife sandwich for me. The ingredients go really nicely together, and the mix of textures and flavors made this really tasty.

Ordered food on seamless (35 – 45 minutes wait time) but took over an hour and a half to arrive. They sent me a beer with an apology though! The food is good so I’ll give them another shot.

Writing this with a heavy just-​recently recovered heart, and to update other reviews that mention the gluten-​free menu offerings.
A couple of years ago following a google search, I was dumbfounded to discover that this cute space, only a few blocks from my building, served gluten-​free bread and gluten-​free desserts! This is one of those places that, when open, places a chalkboard on the sidewalk to attract attention — but never did it mention how gluten-​free friendly it was.
Sadly, «was» is the appropriate tense to use: as of Spring 2014, Bikinis discontinued all its the gluten-​free offerings. I was told the reason was it’s «too expensive.» Perhaps if they had marketed more directly to the gluten-​free community, and become a destination spot for gluten-​free and celiac diners, the initial expenses would have paid off in the long run. Oh well.
So, sans the gluten-​free options, the food here is decent, nothing special. I’ve had their tuna-​based sandwich (when gluten-​free bread was on the menu) and their breakfast egg offerings. The prices are inexpensive, though. Overall, enough charm that it could easily become someone’s regular spot for brunch or super casual dinners.
While the food hasn’t been its strongest point, I do adore the pairs of young Barcelona-​born women (each pair runs a separate shift: day or night). Although food service can be incredibly slow (be aware if you are in a rush), they are always extremely generous, providing drinks and hooking you up with more drinks on the house (and I’m not a regular customer). Once brought a date here for late brunch and women on the shift immediately picked up on that. When a slightly inebriated yet charming couple got too close for comfort, more or less crashing the date, the wait service subtly yet effectively took care of us so that we could get privacy. I was very impressed.
Also cannot forge to mention the cute outdoor front-​patio counter built for two, which is also a perfect spot to dine if you’ve brought your doggie in tow. The women are happy to provide a water bowl for your pooch.
Finally, a bonus for some: besides me, each time I’ve visited, there always seem to be at least two other gays or lesbians in the house, dining or having a drink. Haven’t put any thought into why that might be, but for those of of us on the queer spectrum, or for those allies who adore us, that can be worth a star all on its own.

I’m a vegetarian and came here with 2 friends to share some tapas. We got the potatos bravas (delicious!), ishito peppers (amazeballs), escalivada (good but not great), and calimares (not breaded — just okay). My friends also shared the croquetas which they said was good.
The portions are very big for tapas, which makes it great for sharing.
The actual restaurant is very small and is performing very strongly on the cute factor.

Stumbled upon this place by complete accident on a leisurely bike ride through Alphabet City. What a find. Truly one of those unassuming places you want to tell people about but at the same time don’t.
On my two visits I’ve only tried the tapas and not the entrees, but everything I’ve had (which is now everything vegetarian on the tapas menu) has been simple, cheap and absolutely delicious. Favorites are the tortilla espanola and veggie croquetas (and, of course, the red wine).
The service is super friendly and casual, the décor is charming, the food is perfect and the prices are great. Can’t wait to come back for brunch.

cozy tapas/​wine bar with beer options.
didn’t tour the entire menus because i was keeping it light aka post-​workout reward.
sangria. great. freshly made. fresh fruit. sweet without that cloying stick-​to-​teeth taste that plagues most other tapas spots i go to… blergh.
had the chilled beet salad, which is excellent. simple. fresh. and perfect as a veg choice.
also ordered the tortilla espanola (comes with a dab of tasty aioli and a piece of bread smeared with a tomato tapenade-​esque spread). tortilla espanolas can be different depending where you are in Spain. this one was perfect not overly eggy… a little more hearty bc it had a bready potato feel to it without being like a lead weight. served at room temperature, i scarfed it down like a savage. delish.
both portions to me were a perfect size for a hungry person. however if you’re there on a date etc. me thinks you need to order at least 4 – 6 tapas to sate the hunger along with a healthy amount of sangria.
Bikinis is on the small side. there’s a table for two right outside the front window. inside there are about 5 – 7 seats at the bar. a couple of two-​tops and a couple of four-​top tables. i wouldn’t try a group of larger than four in here… might be too snug for comfort. perfect for a more intimate night with friends or the sig other.
staff. only spoke with the bartender who served me food and drink. really friendly. knowledgeable. from España, so she knows what she is talking about. and she’s cute to boot, so bonus points there.

will definitely be making a visit to Bikinis in the near-​ish future. maybe for brunch???
to be continued…
p. s.–there’s a flat screen behind the bar playing classic foreign flicks subtitled (no sound) for solo diners.

Love the ambience and the overall vibe. The food was not good, but I can only speak for the tapas I got. I ordered the Tortilla Espanola, Patatas Bravas, and the Croquetas (chicken) — probably the most basic you can get with respect to Spanish tapas. The tortilla was the only item I thought was slightly reminiscent of my time in Spain — the croquetas tasted like they were once frozen and then microwaved, and the sauce on the patatas bravas was more like goop. In general, overpriced.

I love spots that are original & deviate from the norm.
I had to go to Loisaida to encounter this.
I came here on a whim, after looking at scoutmob and decided, ‘Ok, impromptu dinner for one? Sure.‘
Entering this spot reminded me of little cafés in Sitges, Spain.
Appropriate, since it’s a Spanish spot.
Great music (of the foreign realm) & they had old movies (1950’s-1960’s) playing on their flat screen tv, which I adored.
I opted for the beets & croquetas apps, main course of Mac & queso, & a cosmololita.
The beets were amazing. Not as amazing as my mom’s recipe, but they came quite close.
Croquetas were perfection. The Mac & queso though?
Whoa.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ to the 10^th power. Best Mac and cheese I’ve had in the city, hands down. Not too greasy, multiple cheeses, and an amazing portion allotted to you.
Cosmololita? Strong & yes… amazing.
Even though I scoutmobbed it up in this place, I’d absolutely go back at regular price.
It’s that good.
Well played, Bikinis. Well played.

Not worth the $ 7 Sangria’s they charge. For Christ sake it’s the East Village! Not Madison Avenue.

The place is tiny, but cute and characteristic. Feels like being light years from the East Village.
Xistorra (sausage links tapas): simple, but tasty.
Calamares: delicious sauce.
Mango cheesecake: Ok.
I would go back to taste more. 3.5 stars for the trust.

No último sábado, dia 29/​03/​2014, sai para procurar um lugar para almoçar antes de ir embora de NYC, após 2 semanas fazendo turismo nesta cidade. Caminhando pela rua simpatizei com a fachada do restaurante e resolvi entrar. Foi uma das melhores surpresas que tive neste tempo que fiquei em NYC. O lugar é pequeno, é verdade, mas a comida é maravilhosa e o atendimento excelente. Minha esposa pediu um prato com aspargos, minha filha uma sopa e eu um sanduíche com salada. Tudo preparado com um enorme capricho e servido de maneira rápida e exemplar. Os donos são espanhóis e usam ingredientes que me fizeram lembrar uma viagem a Madri. Minha alegria ficou ainda maior quando vi que serviam cerveja Estrella Galicia, e obviamente pedi duas taças.
A cereja do bolo veio quando, após uma longa conversa com o cozinheiro sobre o cardápio e os pratos, ele nos ofereceu uma sobremesa de cortesia.
Fechado com chave de ouro.
Minha tristeza não foi ter conhecido o lugar logo na minha chegada a NYC, mas como diz o ditado: antes tarde do que nunca. Nota 10 com estrelinha para tudo.

Pretty great, despite being a small and easily forgettable place!
We went as a group casually and a friend of mine, who has been before, ordered for the table. Everything tasted delicious, especially the beets. Their sandwiches were also pretty delish… and in the shape of… you guessed it, Bikinis!
Drinks are also quite reasonable here. Great spot to get a small bite to eat and a quick drink to pre-​game before your nightly festivities begin!

Stopped by for a quick late lunch and were glad they were still serving brunch around 3:30pm! Ordered the bikini Madame and it was simple but delicious! (Maybe because I was starving) overall a small but cute little restaurant with good service and simple yet yummy food.

I would put Bikinis in the category of a place to come get a glass of wine and a small bite or two rather than a dinner place. The atmosphere is small and quite charming. The servers are pleasant and accommodating. The food is just mediocre and as is typical with tapas, seems inexpensive until you get the bill. If you each get four tapas, all of a sudden you’re in the $ 30 to $ 40 range for just your savories…
I had a couple glasses of cava ($ 7 ea) that were delightful and complemented the rustic food even on a chilly night. The xistorra (three mini-​baguette slices each topped with a link of basque sausage and shishito pepper) comprised our favorite food dish ($ 7.50). The patatas braves ($ 5), benchmark of any tapas place, were cheap but subpar– not crispy/​crunchy enough on the outside and just blasé all around for me. The calamares ($ 8) included squid rings and tentacles pan-​fried in olive oil with garlic, parsley and lemon but was essentially tasteless and could not escape the unappetizing pencil-​eraser texture that accompanies essentially any squid that is not deep-​fried. The beets ($ 5) had neither interesting presentation or anything beyond the packaged pre-​prepared variety I buy weekly at Union Market. I really enjoyed the setting here, the wine list and the service, but for eating in my neighborhood, I’ll continue to go elsewhere.

The epitome of a small business done right. The owners are as warm and charming as the restaurant itself. You are drawn to this place the moment you step in as you are snatched to the time of good ‘ol diners. The décor is meaningful and not overtly cliché, but inviting and a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the hard-​to-​find white and blue floor tiles and old skool wall fan.
The food was one of the best when it comes to tapas in the city. The patatas bravas was hands down the best patatas bravas I’ve had in town. Crisp and not oily, topped with addictive sauce. I appreciate the uniqueness of some menu items including rooibus tea and soy milk. Definitely refreshing when my favorite tea and accompaniments are available.
And an art gallery next door? The owners definitely know the ingredients for success. The thoughtfulness in this space has ensured bikini’s spot as a neighborhood gem!

Pros:
Calamares
Albondigas Machado
Friendly host/​hostess, good service and chilled out feel (music and ambience)
Well priced
Cons:
Tortilla Epañola (not sure if it’s because I was expecting something else — this was my first time ordering this dish)
Come here to enjoy a range of traditional tapas with a pint of Estrella — just like the Catalans in Barcelona!

Gluten-​free challah bread?! Organic and free-​range ingredients?! I’m sold.
_​VERDE Bikini (mushroom + spinach pressed sandwich)
= Yum! Love pine nuts & raisins mixed in = nice touch.
Yes, on gluten-​free challah bread!
_​BEETS appetizer = refreshing
_​HASH potatoes = tasty
_​MAC & CHEESE
Delicious! Cheesy! Crunchy top. Good flavor.
Interior:
Cozy space, intimate lighting. Good for dates and small groups. (We were a group of 10.)
Ran in to an acquaintance that lives nearby and comes often. (Compliments to the staff + chef!)
Will definitely return!

This is a cute place. It’s cozy and the wait staff and chef are very nice.
We ordered two tapas for apps, the patatas and fish croquet. The croquets were amazing.
For dinner, I ordered the chicken entrée, which came with sauteed spinach and mash potatoes. The boo had the tilapia meal that came with mushrooms and mash.
Overall, I thought the entrees were too salty. However, I would love to try out the rest of the menu because it was a nice atmosphere. Hopefully the next time I pop in, those annoying kids won’t be there.
*cash only*