MenuPages

Almost want to keep this one a secret. The owner and staff are very welcoming, and frequently spot repeat customers. Juan Carlos, at the bar, had us taste a number of different wines before we picked one. He pushed us to try the grilled baby octopus, a food that neither of us usually go for -- it was spectacular. We mostly had traditional Spanish tapas (like a perfect housemade chorizo) but the menu includes lots of interesting variations for future visits. Our only problem was that we didn't know it was called "Buceo 95" until we got the menu -- can we get the name on big letters outside?

We were on our way to Dive Bar when we were seduced by the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen at Buceo 95. And we weren't disappointed, a couple of quartinos, five tapas - including the two specials, fried anchovies and scallops in a buerre blanc - and we were transported back to Spain. The manager, our waitress and the other staff were prompt, friendly and willing to offer suggestions and explanations of both the wine list and the tapas. A great place for fabulous bar food with a lively atmosphere. If we lived on the UWS this would be our neighbourhood bar.

I came here a few months back and was disappointed by the venue. The food was tasteless and I was pretty upset about the whole experience b/c I live around the corner and was looking forward to a nice wine bar nearby. So last night my fiance and I decided to give it another shot and low and behold it was a completely new experience. The bar tender, Juan, was exceptionally attentive and even offered me a complimentary 1/4 glass of port (the last bit of the bottle) since he didn't have another bottle on hand. He apologized for not having another bottle but suggested another wonderful port that hit the spot. Onto the food- fantastic much better than the last time we came. I mentioned this to Juan and he informed us that the chef had changed and it definitely has made a difference. The deep fried mussels just melted in our mouths and the ambience was wonderful as always. The only thing it's missing is a bit of a creative edge on the tapas- they have all the traditional treats that taste wonderful but some wild desserts might make this lovely nook a real gem or some funky mixology at the bar might take it to the next level.

I met a friend of mine at Buceo 95 last week to have what I thought was going to be a great night out. We also had another friend arriving a bit later in the evening. I was running a bit late so my friend arrived at the bar before I did and when she was seated by the owner and was asked how many people were arriving and she said, "Two possibly three." A bottle of wine and at least a half a dozen tapas later, our friend was running late and the waiter asked us if we'd like to order another bottle. We said that we would do so when the third person arrived. In the interim, it became clear to us that the owner was buzzing around us and seemed to be overly interested in what was happening (or not happening)at our table. He finally approaches us and tells us that he has been turning away people from the bar and insinuates that if we are not ordering anything else, we should be moving on. We had been there for HOURS and had not seen him turn anyone away from the bar - there were multiple tables that were free for other customers. In fact, if we had been asked if others could be seated next to us, we would have been perfectly fine with that. We were shocked at his downtown attitude and I said to him that we were waiting for a friend to show up to continue our evening. He said, "Well, this is New York City!" Did he actually think we were tourists going to a wine bar on 95th and Amsterdam?? We promptly asked him for the check and he immediately conferred with our waiter. It was clear that he had not realized that we run up a nice little tab...what became clear to us is that we NEVER will go back. Such a shame because all three of us that live in the neighborhood! Sorry, give me a break, your wine bar is not the only one in the immediate area and quite frankly with that attitude, perhaps the owner of Buceo 95 should consider moving his bar to Soho or Tribeca where there will be a clientele who likes being spoken to like they are idiots.

Lovely, warm environment. Love that you can order 1/2 bottles for almost all the wines. Good tapas, great service, a great UWS addition.

Since BUCEO 95 is a three block stone's throw from my house I have been a frequent filler at this restaurant. I have never been disappointed. The drinks are well done, especially the sangria (white/red) which is pleasantly fruity. The bar is friendly. I have had the pleasure of eating EVERYTHING on this menu and I have found that it is consistent from night to night. Vegetables are grilled to perfection and the meat and fish are never overcooked, as they can often be at Tapas. I believe the restaurant has improved since its opening with the arrival of a new chef. This is THE neighborhood gem on Manhattan's West Side which has in the last few years had an influx of very fine larger scale restaurants. If you are a single person or have a family entourage, this is a wonderful place to dine.

Lovely new neighborhood place, decided to try for my wife's birthday dinner. Our 13-year-old aspiring gourmet vegetarian had eaten here with friends and urged us to try it. Our 8 year old, who will eat anything as long as it's chicken fingers and fries, was willing since the special was a fried chicken. We were seated quickly and service was attentive. White sangria was fruity but good. Trio of croquettas was excellent, except we couldn't tell which was the ham (which the vegetarian won't eat) and which were the others. They all tasted like potato. Aioli accompanying them was terrific. Mushroom canneloni was good but undistinguished. Tiny crabcakes were one-bite tasty, and cheese-stuffed peppers were a big hit. Then the fried chicken came out, an intriguing black skin lights are low so you can't see detail too well but a *raw* interior. The waiter took it back in a nanosecond and brought it to the open-kitchen window, where the two cooks puzzled over it. It came back in a while, and was nicely seasoned even the vegetarian loved the breading. The sauce, a chopped-pepper, olive oil and pistachio melange, was so wonderful we ate it with forks, bread, anything. And the eight year old was satisfied. Then came the chorizo, a long-time favorite of ours. The plate holds one solitary, plump sausage. We cut it up, enticed the eight year old to taste, and three of us noticed immediately that the inside was cold, mushy and clearly uncooked. We called back our friendly waiter and told him that this, too, was raw. When I told him to touch a piece he was convinced, and back it went to the kitchen window. Animated conversation again, now including the hostess. He came back and told us they would do it again, on the house. A new sausage came back shortly. Again, the inside was room temperature and mushy. (Both this and the first one were bright red, but chorizo should be, so that didn't tell us anything, especially in the low light of the room.) This was not moist, cooked sausage, or even underdone this was raw meat. The waiter took it away. We ordered grilled asparagus instead. It was great. They were solicitous, deducted the cost of the sausage and the asparagus from the bill, and comped us to two free desserts. But bottom line: At these high prices, I don't want to have to worry about whether my food has been cooked at all. It isn't worth it. We won't be back.