Restaurant of the Week: La Zarza

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La Zarza

At La Zarza, an enchanting den of dark wood, candlelight and exposed brick, you'll find pretty people exploring the latest in Argentine/Spanish cuisine. Add a downstairs lounge, a DJ who plays global, techno sounds, and sangria in flavors like guava, strawberry and peach, and you've got a fun, intimate new East Village option. Doe-eyed twosomes and groups of friends filled up every single wooden plank table on a recent Friday night. From Jorge Rodriguez's extensive menu we were happiest with sweetly battered calamari ($8), bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds ($8) and beef empanadas ($6). The grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce ($20) was tangy and juicy and devoured quickly. Other choices disappointed, like soggy, not-hot-enough goat cheese croquettes ($5). Scallop ceviche ($8) was oddly paired with popcorn. Short ribs ($8) were overly drenched in sauce. For dessert, the panqueques ($7) -- caramelized dulce de leche crepes -- were so rich I didn't go back after one bite. Despite these few culinary setbacks, La Zarza is a good spot to grab a light bite and a few yummy Spanish-inspired drinks before hitting the town hard for a night. Or if you are anything like the model at the bar we spotted making out with the band Elefant's sexy Argentine lead singer, Diego Garcia, it's a good place to end it. La Zarza, 166 First Ave., (212) 477-1111