Xunta

Xunta is a Catalunan tapas-style restaurant in downtown Manhattan. This is the third time I've been there, and though it wasn't bad, it wasn't as good as my other visits. The food was fine, but one and a half waiters (one seemed like more of a bus boy) couldn't really handle the crowd that well and the dishes came out a bit too slowly, especially for tapas, which you really want to come one after another, not 15 minutes between tiny plates.

The food is pretty good, but the prices tend to add up quickly. The plates we enjoyed included...

- Datiles a Plancha con Toucino - Grilled Dates wrapped in Bacon
- Patacas Bravas - Spicy Crispy Potatoes
- Gambon a Plancha - Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Head on
- Guicho de Rape a Plancha - Grilled Skewers of Monkfish over Rice
- Croquetas - Fried Bechamelle and Breadcrumb Croquettes
- Sardinas Asadas - Grilled whole Sardines
- Aceitonas Recheas - Green Olives Stuffed with Anchovy
- Queixo Manchego - Manchego Cheese

Out of all the above, the real winners are the Dates and the Sardines. I think I could eat bacon wrapped dates every day for the rest of my life. The sardines are crispy, hot, and served whole so you get the real taste of the sea. The Manchego cheese is also pretty great, as were the croquettes. The spicy items (patacas bravas and the monkfish) were good, but frankly I would expect a Catalunan restaurant to make their own hot sauce, not use Frank's Red Hot straight out of the bottle, which I am 99% sure is what they did. I wouldn't go back for the shrimp, which were tasty, but a bit overcooked and were prepared in such a way that didn't give you access to the brains in the head, which is the whole point of leaving the head on. I expected to be able to suck out the head juices, and was disappointed that I was not able to.

Ultimately I would recommend coming here, but not that often. I'm sure there are better tapas places out there, but I do like this place and once in a while it really hits the spot.