Review: [Closed] Press preview at Lizarran

*NOTE: This restaurant has since closed.*

Restaurant: Lizarran
Cuisine: Spanish, tapas y pinxtos
Location: 45 Mercer St. (btwn Broome & Grand Streets)

From chorizo and green-pepper pinxtos + sharing dessert and a wine-cooler with Pichet Ong, Thursday evening was jam (+ food & drink) packed. My adventure began with a "press preview" at Lizarran, followed by a quick dinner at Mexican Radio, and finished with dessert at the Village Tart (now closed). Whew!

*All of the photos from my evening can be viewed on Flickr

NYC's Soho neighborhood is the first state-side location for Spanish import, Lizarran. The first half of the restaurant's space reminded me of the apartment in Hell's Kitchen that I once shared with four other roommates: long and narrow, similar to that of a railroad car. Located out of initial sight, the spacious main dining room is illuminated by a vast skylight. Aside from a list of 200+ pinxtos (bite-sized sweets/savories held together with a toothpick, most mounted on to slices of freshly-baked bread), Lizarran also serves traditional tapas, larger Spanish entrees, and desserts. Of the pinxtos that I sampled, my favorites included the crisp and salty ham-wrapped chunk of sweet banana, and the juicy chorizo sausage paired with a slice of grilled bell pepper.

I foresee Lizarran being the perfect "first date" restaurant, as its menu encourages interaction.