Slideshow

First Look at Lizarran, Bringing Spanish Dim Sum to Soho

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Back in November we told you Spanish fast-casual chain Lizarran would open the first of five planned New York City locations in Soho. They didn’t hit their January opening date, but as a stop-in last week revealed, they’ll be ready (once the furniture arrives) to open for dinner on Wednesday. Lizarran (with 200 locations everywhere from China to California) operates a little differently from other local tapas joints, in that waiters jet around trying to tempt you with trays of what are essentially tapas mounted on bread, each of them costing $2.50 to $2.75 (there’s a constantly rotating selection of 200 of them). You choose what you want and are billed by the toothpick — somewhat like a dim sum joint except in this case, you’re likely to be under the influence of Spanish beer and wine.

The pinxtos range from Basque classics to creations more in the tradition of molecular gastronomy, and there’s also a menu (which you can see below) of larger dishes. Check out the former Cendrillon space in its raw form and imagine bar-height tables along the narrow front area and skylight dining in the back, from 11 a.m. till midnight.

Lizarran menu [PDF]

Lizarran, 45 Mercer St., nr. Grand St.; 646-837-6580

First Look at Lizarran, Bringing Spanish Dim Sum to Soho