Tapas @ Cafe Andalucia

Patrick had met us at Virgin Records at the heart of Times Square. Cecile and I had been browsing around for dad’s “yodeling music.”

But tonight was reserved to find and taste good food around Manhattan. And with my cousin, Patrick Velez, showing us around… we were sure to taste something really good tonight.

Our steps soon led us to Café Andalucia located at 533 Ninth Avenue, between 40th and 39th Street, New York. Host is Guillermo. But we didn’t get to meet him. I guess, he was the tall guy in the kitchen who would occasionally go out to talk to some customers in the bar.

This café is pretty small. Only six tables and a long bar that cuts through the entire place. There was a TV set on the far left side of the bar from where we sat, but it was tuned to a Spanish-speaking cable network. I saw news clips on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and George Bush Jr.


On the bar, there were only 4 customers. One middle-aged lady was drinking alone on one corner and soon struck up a conversation with a native American. We were not surprised to see him move up the bar and sit next to the woman.

The three of us were the only customers which occupied the tables.

While this bar reminded Cecile of Cosa Nostra in Malate, this bar reminded me of the bar the cops at NYPD Blue or Hill Street Blues would frequent after their shifts. After all, we are in New York.

Known as the Café Andalucia, Tapas Bar and Gallery, one would see some paintings for sale on the wall.

We both praised Patrick for the good choice of restaurant. Cecile ordered tapas (which was really good) while I medallion pork with white creamy sauce. Patrick also had a couple of bottles of beer. Buttered bread with garlic was served and matched well with the tapas. Both Patrick and I would wipe the pieces of bread unto the sauce of the meal.