Casa Vasca/Newark

[Rosie]

We had not been to Casa Vasca in quite a while and Lowell and I have decided that this is now our favorite Spanish restaurant. Also, we tried the white sangria and loved it.Someone wrote about white sangria recently on these boards. Of course we had the white sangria after we consumed a pitcher of red!;) Dinner was fabulous. We had sauteed mushrooms in garlic, shrimp in garlic and chorizo. Entrees were a paella, mariscada verde and chicken in garlic. All were great. The Spanish potatoes were addictive and the rice helped us to consume the gravy. No dessert.  We were very full. And there were leftovers. Anyone been here?

(Edited by Rosie at 2:55 pm on Aug. 8, 2001)

[Jason Perlow]

See.. now you know why I have a tough time going back to Spanish Sangria.

BTW the take-home Tortilla de Patatas was great for lunch at room tempature over some toasted bread with a shmear of Hellman's (Yes Bux, I know you make your own mayo... but still... )

[Jason Perlow]

Casa Vasca is my favorite place in Newark too -- but other than Sangria and Spanish Tavern, does anyone have any other Iberian restaurant suggestions? I feel like I've only touched the tip of the iceberg.

Dont suggest Fornos... I have no idea why that place ended up #1 in the NJ Zagats... that place is abominable, they overcook everything and the service is horrendous..

Anyone been to Don Pepe?

[Rosie]

Don't like Don Pepe. We do like Spanish Pavilion in Harrison especially their chicken in garlic sauce. The chicken there has a very crisp skin. Reminds me of the gribinus (sp) that my grandmother use to make. Gribinus is chicken skin that has been fried in chicken fat.

[Rachel Perlow]

Technically isn't gribinis what remains after you render chicken fat?  It's all the pieces of skin and onions nearly burnt and almost crispy.  My brothers used to stand by the stove waiting for it!  It's also an excellent topping or addition to chopped liver or egg salad.

Gribinis = Jewish Pork Rinds

[Rachel Perlow]

OK - Jason and Rosie both want me to post about Casa Vasca (Rosie, Lowell, Jason and I ate there last night, Jay and I have been there many, many times over the past three years).  What can I say?  It is the best Spanish restaurant ever.

Now that that's been said: Sshh!  It's a secret.  Don't tell anyone.  Don't go there.  It's busy enough.  People were waiting for a table at 8:30 PM on a Tuesday night.  When we go on a Friday or Saturday, we have to wait for an hour.  Stay away, pretty please?!

If you can't do as I request and must go there then it is a garlic lovers paradise.  Garlic Shrimp, Mushrooms, Chicken and Pork are all prepared differently and are all wonderful.  The shrimp is cooked just exactly the right amount, cooked through and almost crisp, but tender and sweet.  Jason loves the Chorizo.  It is a little salty for me so I can only eat a few pieces, nevertheless we always order it and just take home the leftovers, which we manage to use up in an omelette, add to mussels, quesedillas, or by itself.

The fish & seafood is always good there.  We've been pleased with their many meat dishes.  The scallops in the paella and mariscada were huge and perfectly cooked.

I can't rave anymore.  OK, you have my permission to go.  Just go on a weeknight or get there early.  If you do have to wait, there's a nice bar (you can eat in the bar area too, but it's a little smoky for me), or if that's too crowded it is a pleasant street corner on a nice night.

Casa Vasca

141 Elm Street

Newark, NJ 07105

973/465-1350

They have a small parking lot around the corner on Prospect Street.

PS - another reason to get there early is the soup.  Last night it was a delicious Galician soup of greens, potato and meat (diced chorizo?).  If you get there after they run out of soup you are stuck with a good but simple salad.

PPS - the service if excellent and friendly, they'll happily bring you all the papas fritas you can eat. ;)

[Rosie]

Quote: from RPerlow on 4:38 pm on Aug. 8, 2001

Technically isn't gribinis what remains after you render chicken fat?  It's all the pieces of skin and onions nearly burnt and almost crispy.  My brothers used to stand by the stove waiting for it!  It's also an excellent topping or addition to chopped liver or egg salad.

Gribinis = Jewish Pork Rinds

Yes. But it is even better right out of the pan. We had it with eggsalad at Trio's in NYC which I think has closed. It is also served at Sammy's Roumanian.

[CooksQuest]

What a great place.  My wife and I had the potato and leek soup, clams casino, and the paella.  All were really unbelievable.  The atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for.

Two fairly small people ordered two paellas, if you can believe it.  Now I have about 5 separate containers of paella in my freezer!

I'm looking forward to trying Rachel's newest favorite Spanish restaurant.

[Jason Perlow]

I'm glad to hear Casa Vasca has been maintaining its quality. We'd go there more if it wasnt for the fact that Tapas de Espana wasn's so close by.

[Rosie]

Thanks for the report. I never thought to freeze paella. I usually eat the leftovers the next day.

[jtphjl]

Rosie, were you at our table? We were there last weekend, and with the exception of the sangria (we did only one pitcherof white ...uhh and one bottle of wine with dinner...) our meal was identical. This continues to be our favorite in Newark.

[Rosie]

Rosie, were you at our table?

No. I don't think so.

[rozrapp]

Quote: from RPerlow on 4:38 pm on Aug. 8, 2001

Technically isn't gribinis what remains after you render chicken fat?  It's all the pieces of skin and onions nearly burnt and almost crispy.  My brothers used to stand by the stove waiting for it!  It's also an excellent topping or addition to chopped liver or egg salad.

Gribinis = Jewish Pork Rinds

Yes. But it is even better right out of the pan. We had it with eggsalad at Trio's in NYC which I think has closed. It is also served at Sammy's Roumanian.

I just noticed this post. Rosie, I think the restaurant where you had the egg salad was Triplets, not Trio. It was called Triplets because it was owned by 3 young brothers who were triplets. And you are correct that it closed a couple of years ago. However, there is a restaurant named Trio, on E. 33rd St., btw 3rd and Lex. The cuisine is basically Mediterranean, but the menu also includes a number of absolutely delicious Croatian specialties. (The owners are from Croatia.) Wonderful place.

Since this thread is actually about Casa Vasca, I might as well add that we went there for dinner once. I, unfortunately, made the mistake of not inquiring in advance if they had a No Smoking section. When we go there, we were told that they didn't. I will not eat surrounded by smoke, but since it was early -- around 5:30 p.m. -- the restaurant is not exactly around the corner from our house, and the place was not too crowded, we decided to give it a try in hopes that we could get through the meal without being smoked out. However, just after we were seated, people at the adjacent table lit up. We immediately got up to leave. The man who had seated us saw us heading towards the door and rushed over to ask what the problem was. When we explained my aversion to smoke and that it was my mistake for not having checked before we came, he told us that he would seat us in the back, assuring us that nobody would be smoking there. He was as good as his word, so I'm not sure whether they actually have a No Smoking area or not. In any event, it was a very tasty meal. It was quite a while ago, but I remember a house soup came with the meal, and then my husband had the paella and I had some shrimp. Plus we had an order of fried potatoes that were thin like chips. We probably had dessert, but ?? So, we were certainly glad we were able to stay.

[CooksQuest]

I never thought to freeze paella. I usually eat the leftovers the next day.

I'm happy to report that the frozen paella was just as good as the night before (at the restaurant). There was no loss of flavor. There was some minor texture change in the chorizo, but everything was surprisingly good.

There are 4 more containers in the freezer at the ready...

The true test may come in 1-2 months.

[Rosie]

We had our first disappointing dinner at Casa Vasca. The bean soup, Spanish potatoes, mushrooms in garlic sauce and flan were very good. Gazpacho was fair. A veal and sausage dish was also considered good. Lowell did not care for his tough veal chops that were served with French fries. We don't know why French fries were put on his plate as we asked for Spanish potatoes. My grouper steak in a seafood sauce was forgettable and the mussels that came with this dish were cold. Interestingly the place was not busy.

Where do you go for Spanish food? We're ready for a new Spanish restaurant.

[Jason Perlow]

That's too bad, Rosie.

We went back to Tapas de Espana last friday, the food is great as ever -- and we found out from the manager and owner that they are going to open a new place shortly in Bergen County. Englewood, but I don't think they have the exact location set yet. Its going to be more upscale than Tapas apparently.

[RockADS21]

Rosie - give Adega Grill on Ferry St. a try...we enjoyed the food and atmosphere...I would suggest a weeknight as the weekend crowd gets more bar/lounge -ish and much louder...

[Rosie]

That's too bad, Rosie.

We went back to Tapas de Espana last friday, the food is great as ever -- and we found out from the manager and owner that they are going to open a new place shortly in Bergen County. Englewood, but I don't think they have the exact location set yet. Its going to be more upscale than Tapas apparently.

Would have gone to Tapas but my brother flew into Newark for a business trip and the Ironbound was close.

[Jason Perlow]

Actually, we enjoyed Tony Da Caneca when we went a month or two ago. Portuguese though, but lots of seafood and chops and steaks and tons of garlic.

[denise_madison]

Haven't been there is a few months, but I do enjoy Jai Alai in Dover to be good and consistant. The food is Basque and they have great paella.

[Jason Perlow]

Some Casa Vasca pics from our meal tonight:

[Rachel Perlow]

It was the first time there for some friends of ours, four adults and one child at the table. After the complimentary soup, Caldo Galicio (sp?), we started with the Mushrooms Ajillo, Shrimp Ajillo, and Grilled Chorizo. Followed by three mains of Paella Marinara, Pollo Ajillo, and Whiting with Shrimps and Clams in Green Sauce. Our god-daughter loved the soup, so much so that she ate it all and it pretty much filled her up, although she tasted and gave thumbs up to the garlic shrimp and clams in green sauce. If you like to finish your meal with coffee and dessert, I recommend ordering one less dish than we did. We couldn't finish everything, and left stuffed to the gills. Although, maybe getting drunk on a couple pitchers of red sangria was partly to blame.

Even with a reservation, we had to wait about 15 minutes in the crowded, smoky bar area before our table was ready. So, that's something you always need to be prepared for when going to one of the most highly recommended Spanish restaurants in the Ironbound. However, the staff is obviously used to having a packed house. It doesn't seem to faze them and the service is efficient yet solicitous.

[jwjojo]

We ate here last night for a Bday dinner after reading reviews here on egullet. I have to say that this was a big miss. Very disappointing. We started with shrimp in garlic sauce and chorizo. I only had the shrimp, which was just okay. Entrees: Shrimp stuffed with crabmeat (waiter rec)...bad. Dry, tasteless, overcooked. Paella, decent. Arroz con pollo...greasy, but passable (I just threw away the leftovers as it was too greasy sitting overnight in the fridge). Other two entrees did not try, but was told "just okay". The Sangria was a bit tasteless, but gave me a good headache later. I hate that The service (except for the bad advice) was very good. Never going back. I worked with a Brazilian couple who live in the Ironbound today, and I told them about my meal, and they said that it is known that Casa Vasca is not good quality in the community. They would not go there. They did tell me of 4 other restaurants to go to, Fornos being one of them.

[Jason Perlow]

That has to be an aberration. I can assure you Forno's is not an improvement over Casa Vasca.

[pete ganz]

We ate here last night for a Bday dinner after reading reviews here on egullet.  I have to say that this was a big miss.  Very disappointing.  We started with shrimp in garlic sauce and chorizo.  I only had the shrimp, which was just okay.  Entrees:  Shrimp stuffed with crabmeat (waiter rec)...bad.  Dry, tasteless, overcooked.  Paella, decent.  Arroz con pollo...greasy, but passable (I just threw away the leftovers as it was too greasy sitting overnight in the fridge).  Other two entrees did not try, but was told "just okay".  The Sangria was a bit tasteless, but gave me a good headache later.  I hate that   The service (except for the bad advice) was very good.  Never going back.  I worked with a Brazilian couple who live in the Ironbound today, and I told them about my meal, and they said that it is known that Casa Vasca is not good quality in the community.  They would not go there.  They did tell me of 4 other restaurants to go to, Fornos being one of them.

←

Have you ever tried the Spanish Tavern? I think it's one of the best places in the Ironbound for Spanish/Portuguese cuisine. Very good octopus, garlic shrimp, and caldo verde. I agree with Jason that Fornos is nothing special.