Txikito

240 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY
212.242.4730


You won't just run into Txikito, but if you look too hard, it'll hide right under your nose. Located on 9th avenue and 24th st., a block from the projects (no worries about blazing up here), this super tiny 28 seat humble Basque conquest is located in the no-man's-land of Chelsea. It took me about ten minutes scrolling through Google on my phone before I realized that I was standing right in front of it.
Txikito, which means "little" in Basque, opened in November of 2008 by uber driven couple Alexandra Raij (formerly of Tio Pole and El Quinto Pino) and Eder Montero. Based on the couple's reputation and the intrigue of Basque food, I was hyped to try it out.
The decor; simple and cheap, with rustic barn wood covering the walls and ceiling, invokes the feeling of a mess hall in a ship, with round metal lighting fixtures dotting the walls. The bar, located at the front is also txikito, and modest, serving a hand full of wines and two beers on tap.
So far, I like the steez, laid back and no fuss, but once I saw the prices for the portions, I realized this place is anything but modest.
Kroketas, two crispy creamy croquettes the size of my thumb; $5
Txiki Txanpi, basically a grilled cheese, shrimp and mushroom sandwich, albeit mad good, but the size of a cocktail napkin; $8
Txangurro, a grab meat gratin that filled a small casuela only a few centimeters; $15
Txipiron "Encebollado", squid ribbons, about the same portion as the gratin; $15
The food was interesting and I was surprised by a few of the flavor combinations, but over all, I felt like I was being robbed, the food was just too simple and served in portions way too small to be charging these prices. I left hungry and bewildered.

I give Txikito out of
Blazeability: