The chef seems unfriendly - The food is mediocre. Won’t come back and won’t recommend at all.
Meganne Hicks
I’m so sad to see that this place is closed and I hope it’s truly only temporary. The rustic, delicious basque food is something that will live in my memory bank forever. We sat out in one of the little open booths outside and it was so quaint. We ate a whole delicious meal when we really meant to just grab a drink and some bread. The window display of the bread and the staff drew us in and we were hooked!
Richard Harper Jr.
Just an amazing little spot. It's on the pricier side but you get a lot for what you order and then some. Plus, every time we've interacted with the staff they are top notch. Also, Mikel really nails the Basque/Spanish cuisine - and cardi B eats here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Trief
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can’t wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
jessicat458
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can’t wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
Jessica T.
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can't wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
Mae W.
How can one give anything less than 5 full stars for this wonderful restaurant???All the food we ordered were beautifully presented and taste "divine and authentic". Having been to San Sebastian and other parts of Spain recently, I was pleased and impressed at the seafood selection they had at Haizea. Even the seafood were the same as Spain...talk about authenticityEddy was just a charm. He made us feel comfortable and was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Eddy and the staff were friendly and courteous and made us feel right at home. Very cozyWill be back for sure and I do not say that lightly since there are so many restaurants in NYC. Have to be super special to be a often go to on my list. Haizea made it easy. Food Service and Ambience were all 5
Waited roughly 10 minutes for a server to offer us menus; when asking the server if they were out of anything, the server forgot to add octopus in addition to cod and several other dishes. The vermouth & beer requested was also not available. The Jamon and cheese plate was great. We ordered chicken and Jamon croquettes, but received fish croquettes by accident that were cold in the center. They were inedible and we gave them back. We were told they'd be taken off the bill, but weren't and were not given the croquettes we ordered or offered another appetizer. The steak and potatoes arrived cold - the steak was rare rather than medium. We didn't bother to ask for the fried potatoes to be reheated and left them uneaten. The dish must have been cooked earlier. We were excited to try this restaurant, but never have we been more disappointed by a restaurant and its service. We left tipping 20% as we're locals and understand servers need tips for a living, but felt taken advantage of and ripped off. It's unfortunate because we were excited to come back and order take out coming in but after this experience won't be.
Simon L
This place is a gem. It's incredible Basque cuisine. More than once I felt transported to that food mecca. The seafood dishes, little jewels of the sea with sublime scallops, lobster, baby squid, prawns and on with amazing rice and light garlic soaked bread. The wine of a quality hard to find even in this City, without getting a mortgage. This place has charisma, homely charm and packs quality on every dish and touch. The chef is a character and a charmer but make no mistake. This is sensational stuff. Reasonably priced, even a little low for the quality. Go. Absorb. Dine. Salud!
Aya E.
Ordered:Sangria Pitcher (~$45): with roséPercebes aka Goose Barnacles (half order: $45)Gildon La Pinta, La Nina, y La Santa Maria (~$20): olive, anchovy, boqueron, & gundilla riojano chili pepperPulpo a la Plancha, Espuma de Patata y Amona Mojo Picon (~$28): slow-cooked Galician octopus, potato foam, charcoal essence, and mojo piconSaltado de Arroz con Langosta y Pescado del Dia (~$51): crunchy rice cooked "a la plancha" with lobster, langoustines, fish, and other shellfishAya's take:I was a bit hesitant to come here at first after reading some reviews but my friends insisted so we made a reservation and stopped by for a weekend lunch. The place itself is small (seats 5 people inside, 4 people by the door, and a couple of tables outside). We opted to sit all the way inside since it was super humid out. It's so cute and intimate inside; definitely suitable for dates. The staff is very friendly and attentive. One of my friends is from Spain which helped us a lot with figuring out what some menu items were but the waitresses were also super helpful. We began with a complimentary starter which was bursting with flavor and already set my expectations high. It was shrimp and scallop on a plantain strip in a delicious and warm orange sauce. The Goose Barnacles (Percebes) is a Spanish delicacy and is really difficult to find/get in the US. Since it was here, we decided to try it. It kind of reminds me of a mix of clams and snails. If you're a brave eater, this is for you! I thought I wasn't a fan of anchovy but turns out if it's done right, it's phenomenal. The Gildon La Pinta, La Nina, y La Santa Maria was beautifully presented and I loved the mix of anchovy and bouqueron with peppers and olives. The Pulpo a la Plancha, Espuma de Patata y Amona Mojo Picon (~$28) is what BLEW ME AWAY. If you take anything from this review, let it be this - GET THE OCTOPUS. By far the best I've ever had. Well-cooked (not rubbery like other places), smoky, and the charcoal essence was tasted in every bite. Finally, the Saltado de Arroz con Langosta y Pescado del Dia (~$51). This crunchy rice dish was put together nicely and topped with lobster, langoustines, fish, and other shellfish. The Rosé Sangria was refreshing and light; the chef even gave us a taste of the rosé by itself. Chef Mikel even offered our group shots of Abre Ojos tequila reposado from Spain. One of the best tequilas I've had! He was super friendly, frequently coming out to talk to us and making sure we were enjoying our lunch. He even gave us Sugus candy from Spain (similar to Starburst here). Haizea is by far one of the most unique New York dining experiences I've had. Chef Mikel is a no bs kinda guy who knows what he's doing in the kitchen. I highly recommend visiting if you're in SoHo.
Such an amazing experience. Intimate, delicious and tried new things I didn’t know existed. If you have a group of 6, you can reserve the whole back room and Eddie makes you feel like you are in a dining experience crafted just for you. Highly recommend the octopus and the scallops!
Shao-Yun Tsai
The food is incredible and astonishing!I personally recommend the lamb chop, which is super amazing. You can see how the chef delicately makes the dishes! Also they are very thoughtful for vegetarians (my mother in this case) to provide additional snacks for her.I also want to thank Eddy, a very responsible, friendly, and amazing waiter! You make our visit wonderful!Please do not hesitate to dine in! I strongly recommend Haizea for meals with friends and family!
REGINA OU
Amazing food here, very unique style and menu
jordanalmonds
Service was spotty. The best dish was the amuse. Main dishes were remarkably under- seasoned. The rice dish, described as “creamy”with duck and chicken, needed salt and was served in what could only be described as a sauce of grease and fat from the duck and chorizo. The rice itself was undercooked and there wasn't a lot of it. I expected something in a Paella or risotto vein. The swordfish special had no flavor at all, despite being piled with tiny clams and baby eels. The sauce itself was faintly fishy, and also lacked seasoning. The cheese plate was average, although the portions were notably huge blocks of cheese. Smaller portions and lower pricing would have been welcome, as an appetizer. The prices were quite high, overall. $48 for entrees that lacked flavor and were un appetizing to look at. Considering the food was sub-par, We will not hurry back.
LEILEI
I was born and raised in the Basque Country, but have been living abroad in the US for almost a decade. As such, I enjoy every opportunity I have to savor food from my home country. My culinary experience at Haizea was superb, I greatly appreciated the attentiveness of their staff and the coziness of their outdoor seating space. Eskerrik asko!
The chef seems unfriendly - The food is mediocre. Won’t come back and won’t recommend at all.
I’m so sad to see that this place is closed and I hope it’s truly only temporary. The rustic, delicious basque food is something that will live in my memory bank forever. We sat out in one of the little open booths outside and it was so quaint. We ate a whole delicious meal when we really meant to just grab a drink and some bread. The window display of the bread and the staff drew us in and we were hooked!
Just an amazing little spot. It's on the pricier side but you get a lot for what you order and then some. Plus, every time we've interacted with the staff they are top notch. Also, Mikel really nails the Basque/Spanish cuisine - and cardi B eats here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can’t wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can’t wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
We had such a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night. It felt like a private dining experience. The waiter was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. We had a lot of questions and he explained everything to us. He even demonstrated how to eat the barnacles without making a mess. None of us had barnacles before. The plates came out so beautifully designed but even better everything was delicious. We went to dinner thinking it would be a normal dinner and it turned into a three or four hour fun adventure! The chef was so passionate about his food and you could tell loved to just experiment with whatever was freshest. He came over and chatted with us for awhile and we loved it!! Great service, great food! Can't wait to go back. The restaurant is very small. There is only one four seat table and two spots for bar seats with ~4-6 spots. There also is an outdoor area.
How can one give anything less than 5 full stars for this wonderful restaurant???All the food we ordered were beautifully presented and taste "divine and authentic". Having been to San Sebastian and other parts of Spain recently, I was pleased and impressed at the seafood selection they had at Haizea. Even the seafood were the same as Spain...talk about authenticityEddy was just a charm. He made us feel comfortable and was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Eddy and the staff were friendly and courteous and made us feel right at home. Very cozyWill be back for sure and I do not say that lightly since there are so many restaurants in NYC. Have to be super special to be a often go to on my list. Haizea made it easy. Food Service and Ambience were all 5
Waited roughly 10 minutes for a server to offer us menus; when asking the server if they were out of anything, the server forgot to add octopus in addition to cod and several other dishes. The vermouth & beer requested was also not available. The Jamon and cheese plate was great. We ordered chicken and Jamon croquettes, but received fish croquettes by accident that were cold in the center. They were inedible and we gave them back. We were told they'd be taken off the bill, but weren't and were not given the croquettes we ordered or offered another appetizer. The steak and potatoes arrived cold - the steak was rare rather than medium. We didn't bother to ask for the fried potatoes to be reheated and left them uneaten. The dish must have been cooked earlier. We were excited to try this restaurant, but never have we been more disappointed by a restaurant and its service. We left tipping 20% as we're locals and understand servers need tips for a living, but felt taken advantage of and ripped off. It's unfortunate because we were excited to come back and order take out coming in but after this experience won't be.
This place is a gem. It's incredible Basque cuisine. More than once I felt transported to that food mecca. The seafood dishes, little jewels of the sea with sublime scallops, lobster, baby squid, prawns and on with amazing rice and light garlic soaked bread. The wine of a quality hard to find even in this City, without getting a mortgage. This place has charisma, homely charm and packs quality on every dish and touch. The chef is a character and a charmer but make no mistake. This is sensational stuff. Reasonably priced, even a little low for the quality. Go. Absorb. Dine. Salud!
Ordered:Sangria Pitcher (~$45): with roséPercebes aka Goose Barnacles (half order: $45)Gildon La Pinta, La Nina, y La Santa Maria (~$20): olive, anchovy, boqueron, & gundilla riojano chili pepperPulpo a la Plancha, Espuma de Patata y Amona Mojo Picon (~$28): slow-cooked Galician octopus, potato foam, charcoal essence, and mojo piconSaltado de Arroz con Langosta y Pescado del Dia (~$51): crunchy rice cooked "a la plancha" with lobster, langoustines, fish, and other shellfishAya's take:I was a bit hesitant to come here at first after reading some reviews but my friends insisted so we made a reservation and stopped by for a weekend lunch. The place itself is small (seats 5 people inside, 4 people by the door, and a couple of tables outside). We opted to sit all the way inside since it was super humid out. It's so cute and intimate inside; definitely suitable for dates. The staff is very friendly and attentive. One of my friends is from Spain which helped us a lot with figuring out what some menu items were but the waitresses were also super helpful. We began with a complimentary starter which was bursting with flavor and already set my expectations high. It was shrimp and scallop on a plantain strip in a delicious and warm orange sauce. The Goose Barnacles (Percebes) is a Spanish delicacy and is really difficult to find/get in the US. Since it was here, we decided to try it. It kind of reminds me of a mix of clams and snails. If you're a brave eater, this is for you! I thought I wasn't a fan of anchovy but turns out if it's done right, it's phenomenal. The Gildon La Pinta, La Nina, y La Santa Maria was beautifully presented and I loved the mix of anchovy and bouqueron with peppers and olives. The Pulpo a la Plancha, Espuma de Patata y Amona Mojo Picon (~$28) is what BLEW ME AWAY. If you take anything from this review, let it be this - GET THE OCTOPUS. By far the best I've ever had. Well-cooked (not rubbery like other places), smoky, and the charcoal essence was tasted in every bite. Finally, the Saltado de Arroz con Langosta y Pescado del Dia (~$51). This crunchy rice dish was put together nicely and topped with lobster, langoustines, fish, and other shellfish. The Rosé Sangria was refreshing and light; the chef even gave us a taste of the rosé by itself. Chef Mikel even offered our group shots of Abre Ojos tequila reposado from Spain. One of the best tequilas I've had! He was super friendly, frequently coming out to talk to us and making sure we were enjoying our lunch. He even gave us Sugus candy from Spain (similar to Starburst here). Haizea is by far one of the most unique New York dining experiences I've had. Chef Mikel is a no bs kinda guy who knows what he's doing in the kitchen. I highly recommend visiting if you're in SoHo.
Restaurantji Recommends
Such an amazing experience. Intimate, delicious and tried new things I didn’t know existed. If you have a group of 6, you can reserve the whole back room and Eddie makes you feel like you are in a dining experience crafted just for you. Highly recommend the octopus and the scallops!
The food is incredible and astonishing!I personally recommend the lamb chop, which is super amazing. You can see how the chef delicately makes the dishes! Also they are very thoughtful for vegetarians (my mother in this case) to provide additional snacks for her.I also want to thank Eddy, a very responsible, friendly, and amazing waiter! You make our visit wonderful!Please do not hesitate to dine in! I strongly recommend Haizea for meals with friends and family!
Amazing food here, very unique style and menu
Service was spotty. The best dish was the amuse. Main dishes were remarkably under- seasoned. The rice dish, described as “creamy”with duck and chicken, needed salt and was served in what could only be described as a sauce of grease and fat from the duck and chorizo. The rice itself was undercooked and there wasn't a lot of it. I expected something in a Paella or risotto vein. The swordfish special had no flavor at all, despite being piled with tiny clams and baby eels. The sauce itself was faintly fishy, and also lacked seasoning. The cheese plate was average, although the portions were notably huge blocks of cheese. Smaller portions and lower pricing would have been welcome, as an appetizer. The prices were quite high, overall. $48 for entrees that lacked flavor and were un appetizing to look at. Considering the food was sub-par, We will not hurry back.
I was born and raised in the Basque Country, but have been living abroad in the US for almost a decade. As such, I enjoy every opportunity I have to savor food from my home country. My culinary experience at Haizea was superb, I greatly appreciated the attentiveness of their staff and the coziness of their outdoor seating space. Eskerrik asko!