There's no such thing as a free lunch, but at a handful of the city's restaurants, you can get a free snack if you play your cards right. We've rounded up some of the city's finest complimentary aperitivos and tapas for your grazing pleasure—note that all of the options do require the purchase of a drink, but let's face facts: you were going to throw a few back, anyway. more ›

Nestled between a Williamsburg condo construction site and another building occupied by a battalion of fashion models, the swank new tapas restaurant Bar Celona seems poised to cash in on (and advance) the neighborhood's steady drumbeat of gentrification. At first glance, one might assume this chic place is just a tad out of step with the still slightly scruffy South Side, but let's not forget that the well-appointed Dressler is just a few blocks away, and Aurora isn't exactly a dump, either. Bar Celona's interior design may be seductively or surreally luxurious, but that doesn't take anything away from the stellar cocktails or chef Jordy Lavanderos's first-rate menu. Also: fireplace. more ›

In 1960, big shot restaurateur Joe Baum opened La Fonda del Sol, making a huge splash with what was then a novel concept: the "theme" restaurant. Though the chef was Swiss, the cuisine was South American, served in a kitschy setting replete with an adobe hut for a bar. Fast forward to '09, and a new restaurant with the same name is opening in the MetLife Building, with Colombian-born chef Josh DeChellis at the helm. more ›

Onda: Raymond Mohan (Plantain in Midtown, Colors on Lafayette) has brought his "refined Latin comfort food" to the South Street Seaport, where he's cooking up Mushroom Ceviche ($9), Churrasco grilled skirt steak with chimichurri ($23), Lima-style chicken ($18), yucca fries ($6), etc. We stopped in Onda (Spanish for vibe) the other night and liked the warm, dimly-lit lounge ambiance, accented by light fixtures constructed of colored wine glasses and bottles. Though we were too late to try much of the food, we highly recommend their superb Peruvian Pisco Sour at the bar to start things off (or finish things off). Pizzeria Uno, our usual Seaport go-to, will definitely have some competition come spring. 229 Front Street, (212) 513-0770 more ›

Prespa: This new bi-level restaurant and lounge is named after two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe shared by Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia. It's a redesign of what was formerly Prespa Mediterranean Brasserie, and Strong Buzz says Murray Hill gourmands are fervently hoping it'll become a local dining oasis in their mediocre neighborhood. The menu from Executive Chef Richard Farnabe (Jean-Georges, Montrachet) emphasizes Mediterranean tapas, but there are also full size entrees such as Braised Short Ribs with pine nuts, apricot and carrot fritters ($12/$27); Paupiette of John Dory with foie gras, chanterelle and yellow wine sauce ($17); and Broiled Black Cod with jicama and avocado salad ($11/$28). (Officially opening Monday for lunch and dinner.) 184 Lexington Avenue, between 31st and 32nd Street; (212) 810-4335 more ›

Boqueria Soho is the spacious new outpost of the decidedly smaller Flatiron district tapas joint, named for a food market in Barcelona and beloved by Times critic Frank Bruni for its "charismatically bustling, remarkably warm scene." The second location keeps the warm vibe while more than doubling in size, with room for 70 diners in the 2,300-square foot room. But the focal point here is the open kitchen, which is surrounded by a 12-seat chef’s counter made available to walk-ins only. (Plus WiFi for the antisocial!) more ›

Buzz has been building for Socarrat Paella Bar (pictured), the casual tapas and paella joint that has fans waiting 20-30 minutes for a seat at a long communal table. And after today's review by Frank Bruni in the Times, you may as well take that wait time and double it: "They’re better than the paellas at many other Spanish restaurants in New York, where paella doesn’t always fare so well...The broad, shallow, black cast iron pans in which they’re cooked are put on pedestals in the center of the table, and at the height of the dinner hour, they form a line stretching deep into the restaurant. It’s a glorious sight." more ›

Daniel: After a major renovation, chef Daniel Boulud has reopened Daniel with a flashy new look, courtesy designer Adam D. Tihany. Eater, which has gorgeous photos, deems the new space “cleaner, brighter, less stuffy.” And, presumably, still cost-prohibitive for dogs like us. But if you’ve got the Euros, by all means, enjoy the four star French-stasy. 60 East 65th Street, (212) 288-0033 more ›

Beast, on the corner of Vanderbilt and Bergen Streets in Prospect Heights, serves a wide range of tapas and brunch plates with a Spanish flare. As befits the restaurant's bristling name, the first of two dining rooms is dark – almost medieval – and dotted with appropriately colorful creatures: monsters, gargoyles, and demons. The kitchen is open and separates the front from the back room; curious diners can usually observe a small army of toast and burgers on the grill. more ›

Just a few feet off of the BQE’s Hamilton Avenue exit and next to the Battery Tunnel toll plaza is an assortment of auto wreckers and chain link fences. On Columbia Street between Ralpelye and Summit Street are a couple of neighborhood institutions like the venerable Moonshine bar, whose floor is paved with discarded peanut shells. In the last few weeks, (and somewhat stealthily), a new tapas bar and grocer called Reds Produce has also opened on the same stretch. more ›