The Spanish Casa Dani, AKA Dani’s House, with Chef Dani Garcia is in Manhattan West adjacent to Hudson Yards. Its menu offers items inspired by Spain’s Mediterranean south that combine unusual flavors and textures. I had heard that I must try it.

As a spice lover, I had to sample their Piquillo-illo, an Aperol spritz made with pepper water and mastiha liqueur ($18). It didn’t disappoint. My dining partner had a glass of their Telmo Rodríguez, “Basa,” Verdejo y Viura. Rueda 2020 ($16), which we followed with a bottle ($60).

We were served a slice of crusty bread, offered EVOO for dipping and a bowl of varied flavorful olives. We then shared two tapas, the oxtail brioche and their octopus. The former offers highly seasoned pulled oxtail with sliced mushroom and arugula on a butter brioche ($12).  The only disappointment of the meal was the Pulpo con Papa Aliñá. This sliced, very bland octopus had an abundance of mashed potatoes ($19). Skip.

We liked both choices from their frituras malagueñas, Malaga fritters. Their patatas bravas ($12) with garlic aioli and a well-seasoned tomato sauce were so delicious I’m thinking of stopping by just for that with a glass of the Verdejo! We wiped the dish with our crusty bread to get every drop of the delicious sauce. Also good are the Buñuelos di mi Madre, six cod fritters topped with a soupçon of mayonnaise and fried parsley ($14)

We also shared the Pluma Iberica for our entree. This tender pork shoulder cut from the Iberian pig comes with grilled bok choy and a sweet mojo rojo sauce to compliment the meat’s slight saltiness ($42).

We were full, so we opted to skip dessert, yet Rob, our attentive server and Santo, the general manager, had discovered we were celebrating a birthday and sent out their yummy Spanish flan in a bowl of whipped vanilla chantilly with a candle plus a glass of sherry.

Casa Dani is a restaurant to go out of your way to visit. I highly recommend!

Casa Dani
Manhattan West 
448 W 33rd St
New City, NY 10001
(212) 785-0352
casadanirestaurant.com/