Tabaré

I’ve been here a few times and really enjoyed the food. I like how pared down the menu is and the cocktails are tasty. Unfortunately my impression has changed after having dinner here the other night. We ordered the churrasco, which came brimming with oils (usually a good thing). The waitress accidentally poured most of that down my boyfriend’s white t-​shirt. Mistakes happen so we were very understanding, but she proceeded to act as though nothing had happened. Didn’t bring us the soda water & napkin we asked for (hoping to salvage his shirt) and also didn’t offer anything comped, which one would expect if a restaurant ruined your clothing. Very disappointing service.

Someone fly me to Uruguay because the meal I recently had here was one of the best I’ve had in a long time.
Octopus casserole and skirt steak.
That’s it. This is what you are ordering when you sit down in their cute little backyard garden.
Order these two things and come at happy hour for half off drinks. You will be so pleased with yourself that you’ll be buying a ticket to Uruguay with me. We’ll eat together in harmony.
I came here recently with a good friend and we had their outdoor seating all to ourselves, ordered a couple of delicious drinks from their specials menu. We were already happy. Then the octopus casserole and our empanadas came out. Just a sniff and we knew if was going to be something great. We ordered two empanadas, one with cheese and one with beef. Both were super flavorful and filling and the octopus was just perfect and so so so cheesy. Ahh you need this in your life.
We then split an order of skirt steak. Great idea by us. It was so tender and the oil was just dripping off (we didn’t mind at all). I’m not even a huge steak fan and I LOVED this.
I can’t wait to come back for brunch and will be back for happy hour any time I’m in the area. Tabare is a must try.

Nice atmosphere, great customer service, awesome food!
I even ordered same dish twice!

This is a very small although cozy setting. We arrived early and sat at the bar for drinks. The bartender was crazy chill and conversational. So much so I asked him to whip up anything he liked for my date and I. He came up with 2 different amazing drinks. Veryyy Tasty! For dinner I had the pasta. And my date had a steak. Both hit the mark on flavor! We were very pleased. I’d definitely make a return trip here.

We were looking for a good cozy place and we found it ! This place is really good the food and the drinks are great !!

I must say I probably had the best skirt steak ever at Tabaré. It was DELICIOUS and the chimichurri was amazing! For appetizer we got the grilled octopus, so good! My boyfriend got the chicken and it came with perfectly crisp sweet potato chips. I didn’t have any alcohol so can’t comment on the drinks. Service was good but could’ve been a tiny bit faster. We had to wait a while until somebody saw us so we could ask for the check. However, the ambiance is so relaxing that we didn’t even mind waiting. It’s a great place for a romantic date but we also saw a group dining too. There is outdoor seating in the back so I’ll definitely come back once it gets warmer! Overall I totally recommend this place and will be back for the skirt steak!

This is one of the better meals I have had in Williamsburg. Just fantastic. First, you walk in and are greeted by smiling faces, both working there and other guests. Great start! Second, you notice the place is sexy, just working the dim lights and great tunes. Third, you will make note of the fact that there is an outdoor space and you will come back when the weather permits. Fourth, your server who is dead sexy himself and smiling for days, will drop a half-​price drink menu during happy hour (including select bottles of wine) and you will order one of those because… why not? Fifth, the food you will order will range from Damn thats good to hottt damn thats great. Churrasco is a must (as well as a to-​go box because you could eat the whole thing… but dont, its huge). Finally, your date will smile and be excited about the fact that it wont crush either of your wallets as you walk out stuff, pleased and ready for the next trip back to enjoy the garden or patio in the front.

My daughter made reservations for here. We got there early today for mother’s day. I didn’t know the restaurant would be serving brunch only. I wasn’t feeling too great but I toughed it out. They sat us down right away 15 minutes before the reservation time, that was nice.
The food
Appetizers– order of empanadas– one chicken, one beef it came with a spicy type of chimmichuri sauce– really good, but small. I could have eaten just that. The filing was flavorful and the sauce had just the amount of spice and herbs. Yum!
Churasco (skirt steak) cooked to a perfect medium, the flavor was excellent, it eas juicy, tender and has the perfect amount of salt. Steak doesn’t need a lot spices when cooked perfectly. It came with a sunny side up egg on top, some baby greens and a side of home fries that were seasoned with fresh rosemary. Also chimmichurri on the side.
Chivito– filet mignon sandwich with black forest ham, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, olives, lettuce & tomato on a soft bun. Served with fries and garlic aioli. The only thing I didn’t like was the olives on the sandwich. I like olives but not on my sandwiches. But they were easy to just pick off.
This place is very trendy, cute, and the décor was nice as well. It seemed like it was run by a family. It’s on a quiet residential block. They have outdoor seating in the back and one table in the front. The waiter could have been a little better but one guy who seemed to be the manager was more attentive.
I’d go back.

wonderful little place! the décor inside is so charming and cozy. the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. i came here with a rather large party of 7. the place is small. however we had reservations so seating was a non issue. its a romantic and very dimly lit setting. the wine we had was great (Malbec) which paired perfectly with my steak. Yes its as good as they say it is. The empanadas were also pretty amazing. I wish they could expand their menu and see what other deliciousness they could come up with. but i’m definitely a fan. Will be back.
=)

+1 sweet corn soup and a delicious steak sandwich
+1 perfect sangria
+1 cute (tiny!) space with a back patio
+1 nice waiters

Came here for dinner. Great ambience and excellent service. The place is very cute. I sat at the bar, since I arrived early, I started with a glass of their sangria (was ok) then when we moved to a table we started with their spicy margaritas (loved).
Our waitress was very sweet and helped out with recommendations. We went with everything she suggested. Started with the Empanada’s, one beef and one cheese, both were delicious. Then we went with the grilled Octopus, although not my thing I did have one bite and it was definitely tasty. We then shared the steak, it was one of their specials for the evening. It was so good, cooked perfect at medium and had the best flavors.
They only take Amex or cash so go prepared.
Overall a great evening. Thanks!

This may be the first time I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy Uruguayan cuisine, and if Tabaré is any indication, I’m eager to enjoy more of the country’s offerings. The restaurant is styled warmly, with dark wooden accents and a sprawling bar area, in spite of a relatively small restaurant space. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks were sublime. I had a sandwich with fresh cuts of meat and cheese on what seemed to be something close to a brioche bun. Excellent. Will return soon.

Loved this cute little spot. Perfect for a date, of course we got the famous skirt steak, empanadas (the cheese one was my fav) and i loooved the minestrone soup. Their fresh bread and olive spread was amazing too.
My bf had the first cocktail on the menu list– it was really tasty, but i would say they dont make them very strong. Only on his 4^th one u could actually taste the alcohol.
The menu is very precise & small. (i wonder if they change/​add new things seasonally)
Our waitress was really sweet, so was the rest of the staff, very attentive!
I would def recommend this place.

Love the attention this side street gem gave to its decoration. Every corner of the restaurant felt like it was graced with plenty of attention.
The menu however was a bit disappointing with very minimal choices but surprising and bold in taste. The skirt steak was big enough to share since we had 2 appetizers.

Skirt steak was great. Loved the beef empanadas. Cocktails were good but not the best. Service was great. Ambience is romantic and very worldly. Only downside is they do not take any major credit/​debit cards. Cash only or use your American Express. There is also an ATM across the street at the mini market.

Note to Self: Dont skip breakfast the day after ordering the skirt steak from Tabare. Your stomach will for sure hate you. Seriously, that skirt steak tho. Juicy, tender, savory, mouth watering. Everything you want and enough for 2 to share.
My second favorite dish was hands down the Octopus casserole. It was cooked to perfection. And im somewhat of a octopus snob, coming from Astoria, and it being on every menu. The Empanadas were bangin as well. Soft crust and meaty inside, plus that sauce.
Tabare was a nice surprise. It lived up to expectations especially for a Valentine dinner. So why not 5 stars? Tabare definitely deserves 4 and a half. However im rounding down because of 3 things. The cocktails were just OK. The dessert was a slight miss (two cockies stacked together with chocolate mousse) and last, our steak came out and was given to another table that ordered after us. The restaurant apologized and gave us free champagne, but we still waited almost a half hour longer for our new steak. It ruined the flow of our dinner. Luckily it didnt taint how much we enjoyed our meal. So 4 stars for now.

Had a Reservation in this restaurant for a valentine’s day celebration with my girl friend. The space is small, tiny tables and is packed. Sign of great restaurant usually like typical of Williamsburg restaurants. When we came, greeted with host and proceed to our table. We came like 6:30 and the next hour line is already formed. What a place. They took our coat in conscience to save some spaces so we agreed. Did not knowing that at the end we have to find our own coat hung with others and you know who put it there and i dont know where is it. Lol
We proceed with some drinks a margarita and some fresh strawberry cocktail. A bit strong but its great! We ordered steam muscle and chicken liver for appetizer. The muscle sauce was okay and the liver was great.
Main course we ordered the famous skirt steak and a lobster dish on valentine menu. I wish more sauce at skirt steak and saltier like a cute salt and pepper shaker will do. The best part is crispy baked potato. Not sure how they do that but i was amazed. Crunchy outside soft inside, well done!
My girlfriend had a lobster with a creamy sauce mixed with cheese like on flat pie plate form accompanied with fried cube potatoes with assorted edible flowers. The lobster is delicious but the sauce is too creamy like after the fourth or fifth spoon it become too creamy taste.
We didnt order any dessert because we were to full
Overall its a busy tiny Uruguayan restaurant food is okay great place for date night. We loved to find a hidden gem in Williamsburg. But maybe we will pass on this one. But you should try it at least once.
By all meaning its depend on your taste. We may come back but not in short time.

The waitstaff were wonderful and patient with our large group. The food was delicious and the ambience was great. I loved the rustic feel of the menu and the décor. We ordered the blood sausage appetizer which was amazing and great portion for two. Also ordered the breaded chicken which had bomb sweet potatoes chips that were lightly fried and just crispy enough to not feel guilty. The salmon was alright, had a nibble of the octopus appetizer from a friend which was very flavourful but wished there was more octopus. Pricey but pretty happy with this choice for dinner tonight. :)

I guess My expectation was too high. I ordered kale salad from special menu, octopus and the steak. Kale salad was good, nothing special. The octopus was okay. Too many potatoes. And the steak! When i saw the picture of the steak,
My expectation went up really high. But the sauce was salty and the steak was little bit hard to chew.

Absolutely loved this place! We went here for dinner on my birthday and had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was really relaxing and comfortable, the lighting was dim and warm. The music was played at a low volume, so talking to each other wasn’t a problem and the noise level was a nonissue because we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Really friendly waitstaff that accommodated to all our requests and then some. We arrived there just before Happy Hour was over, so we took advantage of the affordable, yet extremely delicious drink specials. We forget the names of the drinks, but they were all very tasty (The sangria was amazing). While we were finishing our first round, we decided to start with the empanadas, which were fantastic. They were served in an adorable, tiny tray, and fried to flakey perfection. For our main courses, we ordered the octopus ravioli with squid ink sauce, and a duck grapefruit special. The ravioli was complemented perfectly by the salty, flavorful sauce and interestingly textured mushrooms. Since it was my first time eating duck, I was extremely apprehensive about what to expect, but as soon as I took my first bite, those apprehensions were quickly put to sleep. The taste was savory and the texture was light, and the grapefruit gave it a fresh taste. After we undid our belts and cleaned the squid ink off of our hands, we decided to order dessert. Reading the menu, I noticed they had alfajor, a south american dulce de leche cookie, and had to try their take on it. It was my girlfriends birthday, so they put a little candle in the middle, which was a very nice touch. As impressive as the presentation was, eating the towering delicious masterpiece was about as difficult as a game of jenga, and soon resorted to just using our hands to dissemble the messy goodness. Always a plus– a restaurant that cares about their bathrooms. Cool décor and very clean. Overall great place and we can’t wait to come back!!!
–Jonny and Zoe

This place is really great. We went there for the first time tonight and loved it! We started with a few empanadas which were very tasty and a couple of glasses of sangria. Our entrees were equally as delicious. I got the chicken cutlet which for a simple dish was well-​prepared and my fiancée got the crazy sandwich that had filet mignon, ham, bacon, egg and cheese on it! Oh yeah, and the olive tapenade… mmmm.
The atmosphere is nice but it’s a pretty small space that depending on where you’re sitting can make you feel really cramped.
In any event, we’ll definitely be back!

Tabare was sitting in our bookmarks list for just the longest time, so happy we were finally able to go with our group. Gotta get the skirt steak! Somebody in the group must get it, as it is the highlight of the meal for us and easily the best dish at this restaurant.
Now that we got that out of the way, everything about this place was great. Very intimate ambience, very nice people, very good food. We had everything from the skirt steak to the mussels to a simple salad and everyone enjoyed their items. Of course we had some sangria along with the meal, which were smaller than we anticipated so we had two pitchers for our party of 7. Even the bread offered at the beginning is delicious with just the right dip to accompany.
The skirt steak is tasty, well seasoned, correctly cooked and big enough to share between two small eaters or one voracious appetite. Crispy on the outside, and tender once bit into, there are no complaints about this skirt steak.
We were glad to have visited this place and we would definitely come back but with just the two of us.

Absolutely wonderful cozy place.
Loved everything there!

Definitely a cross cultural date spot. Great food. Half off happy hour cocktails.
Super recommend it. Ask the waiter to explain the food.

I love to find places like this one ! Very small but such a warm
atmosphere and good vibe.
The staff was very friendly and helpful
The food was to die for. We started with some empanadas that were sooooo fresh that were melting in our mouths and some were filled with chicken and some others with tuna and it came with an oil sauce that you could add on, that made it even more delicious. Those empanadas are a must !
And the main dish was the steak with potatoes, argula salad and a chimichurri sauce on top of the steak (thats a green sauce made out of parsley, garlic, oregano& olive oil)
I have to say that the meat was cooked to perfection and the whole dish tasted very delicious and fresh.
I’ll definetly go back again !

This was an amazing restaurant to randomly find! Everything was fantastic –service, food, and drink. The only beer that I had heard of going in was the xingu black (great beer by the way) but I tried the «day of the dead» beer and it is my favorite hefeweizen now.
The people serving us were extremely nice and helpful.
I had the cheese and chicken empanadas for an appetizer and was told that the cheese were the best –they were, but both were delicious. I then had the special of the day that was shrimp and octopus with vegetables which was tasty. The dessert was awesome too: It was a cookie, chocolate marshmallow dessert that was soooo good and she even brought us an espresso amaretto drink to try.
Wonderful ambience, people and food!!! Worth a try.

This place was just ok for me. The ambiance is really good though. ⁵⁄₅. The service was excellent too.
I think the chicken empanadas and the skirt steak were both good. The fiancée had some apple salad that she didn’t really like but they switched it to something else for her for free which we appreciated.
Overall would I trek out to Williamsburg for this restaurant? Probably not. But I do think it’s a cool place to hang out if it was closer.

Really nice intimate space with amazing food and impeccable service at Williamsburg!
THE SERVICE:
We went to St. Anselm first (since a lot of people recommended it) but the waiting time was over an hour (and it was already 10:30pm). So we decided to search on Unilocal something nearby and ended up at this restaurant that was prettier, with better music but not so loud as the first one. The waitress was from Argentina, the bartender was Venezuelan and the manager or host (or another waiter) was from Uruguay (not sure of his job title but he treated us like guests at his home and made us feel like part of the family).
THE VIBE:
This is the perfect spot for a date (they have a back side that is more intimate) but also great for groups or drinks at the bar.
THE FOOD:
We order red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) and the skirt steak with salad, potatoes and chimichurri. It was DELICIOUS!
PLUS: Their meat is hormone and antibiotic free. It was perfectly cooked, very soft and tasty.

Stumbled upon this place on date night a couple of months ago. The atmosphere is very casual and romantic with a small space and dim lighting. It’s not too loud so conversation is possible.
Food:
— Empenadas: we got the chicken & beef ones. Both were totally delicious. They are home made and you can tell. The crust is flaky, buttery, sweet and hot. The filling is juicy and tender. Overall perfection. Dipping sauce is awesome also
— Churrasco: great steak dish. The chimmichuri sauce on top is zesty and tangy. Beef is grass fed, juicy and cooked perfectly medium well. They give a pretty big portion for the money you pay. The potatoes that come with it are eh but the arugula salad is great with a light dressing
Unfortunately another cash only spot but what can you do. I highly recommend this for a date night or small dinner

Tabaré has the distinction of being one of the few Uruguayan restaurants located in the city, and its location within Williamsburg has certainly contributed to its success. Started by two friends, Diego Perez-​Olave and Ramiro Lescano, with roots in the South American country, the restaurant provides a respite for those who don’t wish to travel to Queens in order to get a bite of Uruguay.
We wandered in one weekend evening when the two-​hour wait at a nearby establishment altered our initial plans; thankfully, Tabaré was just a few blocks away. The space has a somewhat discombobulated ambiance, thanks in no part to the slightly misaligned wood walls, the variety of antique pictures and trinkets across the room, and the tightly squeezed tables and seats, most of which are placed in a straight line against one side of the room.
We were quickly seated and attempted to look through the menu in the dim lighting. It’s not particularly daunting, as some might assume, as there are notes of Latin American and Italian cuisine readily sprinkled throughout, and many of the dishes are modernized, upscale versions of their inspirations. There’s a selection of starting plates, like several tempting varieties of their homemade empanadas, a ricotta ravioli, and grilled octopus, available. However, as we were short on time, we ordered exclusively from the mains.
I was lured in by the Chivito Completo, one of the most impressive sandwiches I’ve yet to encounter. It’s an amalgamation of any and all ingredients that one could think up to place inside a sandwich — filet mignon, bacon, ham, bacon, a fried egg — with the requisite caramelized onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. It’s an impressive vertical feat, with seemingly countless layers of protein and vegetables precariously balanced between two substantial halves of bread. Needless to say, it’s also delicious; there’s an edge of tang thanks to the addition of Spanish olives and a fragrant sweetness from the roasted red peppers and aioli. With a helping of fries on the side, this sandwich is both a feat to eat and finish, but it’s well worth the effort. Of note for the true carnivores: Tabare also offers an excellent Churrasco, a 10 ounce skirt steak that’s served with an addictive and aromatic chimichurri sauce, with duck fat (!) potatoes and a house salad on the side.
I also have to give a tip of the hat to the service here. Not only are they attentive and welcoming, but it is the only establishment to date where our server offered his own cellphone as a flashlight when he observed me juggling my DSLR and iPhone flashlight [1]. That, ladies and gentlemen, is more than enough reason to visit Tabare; the excellent food is just an added benefit. ;)
–
[1] Good photographs require effort, people!
[2] Hit the ATM before visiting, as they are Cash Only.

In my opinion this was a solid 4 star establishment which provided great food, solid service in a warm, cozy, and romantic setting. I had the pleasure of sampling the grilled octopus casserole, cheese and tuna empanadas, and the skirt steak entrée. All the dishes tasted great however the skirt steak stole the show. Although a tiny bit on the greasy side, the steak was both succulent and tender. The steak was served with a tasty chimichurri sauce which enhanced the flavor profile greatly.
I would recommend Tabaré for your next date night or your next get together with a couple of close friends. If you go, definitely try the skirt steak and don’t forget to bring the cash as it is a cash only establishment.

Pros:
* Beautiful décor especially at evening time where you feel like you’re in a grandma’s hundred-​year old cabin: there’s so much personality and warmth that you want to stay there all day.
* Loved and recommend the Cacerola De Pulpo And Habas (perfectly grilled octopus casserole, lima beans, paprika lemon, aioli), Fontina Cheese and Spanish Tuna Empanadas and Churrasco (10oz. juicy and tender skirt steak local, pasture-​raised, hormone free, all natural prime beef, chimichurri sauce, duck fat potatoes, and house salad). The Cheese Empanadas were the better of the two, and reminded me of those in Argentina!
Con:
* Cash only. Only closest ATM is around the corner in a pretty sketchy grocery store so I recommend you having cash ready when you dine here.
* There were way too many lima beans to grilled octopus in the Casserole– this needs to be reversed to make it feel like it was worth getting this dish… which is already small in the first place.

Wanted to try more restaurants down at Williamsburg so I stumbled upon this place on Unilocal with pretty good ratings and reviews on their food so I decided to give it a try! Came here with friends and made reservation incase it gets crowded on a Saturday night!
Walked in to this place which was smaller than expected so luckily i had a reservation! The inside was candle lidded, dark and romantic feeling. Great for date night out! Service and staffs were great. They greeted, smiled and check on us here and there.
Onto the food now. We ordered the rib eye, skirt steak, grilled octopus, homemade black spaghetti, and homemade ginocci. Their rib eye was so flavored, thick and juicy! It goes in your mouth so deliciously especially paired with a glass of wine or beer! The skirt steak was OH MY JUICY too! I love it! It was a big piece of steak! The grilled octopus was very delicious but it was smaller than expected. As for the two homemade dishes, it wasn’t my cup of tea. It was very simple and plain. Though it was their uniqueness of food, but nothing wowing! Stick to their top 3 must haves rather which are the skirt steak, rib eye, and octopus!