Discovering the Essence of Ernesto's on the Lower East Side
Located at 259 E Broadway in the heart of New York City, Ernesto's stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking. This neighborhood establishment has carved out a distinct identity within the vibrant culinary landscape of the Lower East Side, offering a space where the rhythm of the city slows down to match the pace of a well-prepared meal. For those navigating the bustling streets of Manhattan, finding a destination that balances sophisticated technique with a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere is a rare pleasure. Ernesto's succeeds by focusing on the fundamentals: high-quality sourcing, a deep respect for seasonal transitions, and a commitment to the craft of hospitality.
The philosophy behind the kitchen is rooted in the belief that the best dishes are those that honor their origins while embracing the creative possibilities of the present moment. By maintaining a close relationship with local purveyors and farmers, the culinary team ensures that every plate reflects the current harvest, resulting in a menu that feels both timeless and perpetually fresh. Whether you are a local resident seeking a reliable spot for a midweek dinner or a visitor looking to experience the authentic spirit of New York dining, Ernesto's provides a setting that feels both intimate and expansive.
Key Highlights of the Ernesto's Experience
Commitment to Seasonal Integrity: The kitchen prioritizes the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that the menu evolves in harmony with the natural cycles of the year. This dedication to seasonality means that guests can expect flavors that are vibrant, balanced, and deeply connected to the region's agricultural output.
A Focus on Culinary Craftsmanship: At the core of the restaurant is a team that values the technical precision required to elevate simple, honest ingredients into memorable dining experiences. From the preparation of house-made components to the careful execution of traditional cooking methods, every detail is handled with intentionality.
An Inviting Neighborhood Atmosphere: Situated on E Broadway, the restaurant serves as a communal hub that captures the unique energy of the Lower East Side. The interior design and service style are curated to foster comfort and conversation, making it an ideal destination for those who appreciate a relaxed yet refined environment.
Thoughtful Beverage Pairing: The dining experience is complemented by a carefully selected beverage program designed to enhance the nuances of the food. By focusing on producers who share a similar philosophy of quality and sustainability, the restaurant offers a cohesive journey from the first bite to the final sip.
Beyond the individual elements of the menu, what truly defines Ernesto's is the sense of place it creates for its guests. It is a location that invites you to linger, encouraging a dining experience that is not merely about sustenance, but about the joy of sharing a table in a space that feels like a true neighborhood fixture. The balance of professional service and a warm, approachable environment ensures that every guest feels welcomed from the moment they step through the door at 259 E Broadway.
As the culinary landscape of New York continues to shift and evolve, establishments like Ernesto's remain vital by staying true to their core values. By prioritizing the quality of the ingredients and the comfort of the guest, the restaurant continues to be a meaningful contributor to the cultural fabric of the Lower East Side. We invite you to visit and experience the dedication to craft and community that makes this address a standout destination for food lovers across the city.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible seating
Service options
Outdoor seating
Onsite services
Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service
Great dessert
Great wine list
Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Hard liquor
Late-night food
Small plates
Wine
Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar onsite
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom
Atmosphere
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy
Upscale
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Parking
Free street parking
Paid street parking
Menus
DINNER
Gildas
Croquetas de gallina
Tosta de gambas
Nuestra tortilla
Croquetas de jamón
Pintxo matrimonio al ajillo
Txistorra
PALETA IBERICO CON CHIPS
ENSALADA MIXTA
BIKINI HEMINGWAY
MORCILLA CON PERA
ENSALADA NARANJA DE BACALAO
TARTALETA DE TXANGURRO
CALLOS DE JOAN
ESPARRAGOS BLANCOS
ARROZ MELOSO DE CONEJO
RAPE A LA PARRILLA
MENESTRA DE VERDURAS
CORDERO ASADO
BACALAO EN SALSA VERDE
MAGRET DE PATO CON SALSA OPORTO
ALBONDIGAS CON PATATAS FRITAS
DESSERT
CREME CARAMEL
TARTA DE QUESO
SORBETE DE NARANJA
PLATO DE QUESOS
Photos
Reviews Ernesto's
Judith Vasquez
30-05-2026
This excellent place somehow stays under most people's radar. The amount on your plate shows good value. I'm completely enamored with this restaurant! The staff showed good manners and I was completely satisfied. People who welcome food experiments will enjoy this spot. More
ESB NYC
30-05-2026
Grabbed an early dinner table on Resy after someone canceled. Nice room, lighting and music. Service was professional and nice. Everything was well prepared and tasty, fresh high-quality ingredients. Prices are pretty eye-popping $$$ for … More
Micaela O
30-05-2026
Beautiful decor, exquisite food and great service! Every time I’ve come to Ernesto’s the food has always been delicious! The menu changes with the ingredients in season, so every time I go I always find something new to eat. However, I do … More
Vikram Agadi
30-05-2026
It was my 2nd time here, and both times have been very memorable dining experiences. It’s always a good sign when a restaurant is focused on its unique point of view on a specific cuisine. You can’t get this type of Spanish food anywhere … More
s
30-05-2026
- Suckling pig meat is a little dry tbh.
- Tapas is ok but overpriced compared to same level of Spanish restaurant in town. … More
Ooni J
30-05-2026
What a great dining experience, it was our first time trying Basque cuisine! Quite pricey, but the food was so filling! The seafood dishes were especially excellent, as were the desserts and sweets (the ice cream sold from the cart outside … More
Dr. 2th
30-05-2026
It's not often that we come across a restaurant that so completely excels in each area of food, atmosphere, and service. Ernesto's was a spectacular experience all around. We sat at the chef's table/ kitchen bar and witnessed all the … More
Heather Furr
30-05-2026
The staff and atmosphere were lovely, kind and attentive. The food was good but like others have stated, just not as memorable as I had hoped for the price point. It was well presented but just lacked the flavor I had read so much about. … More
Peter Guagenti
30-05-2026
Ernesto's is a hidden gem in the Lower East Side. The menu is made up of exceptionally well executed Basque favorites complimented by a surprisingly well curated wine list and creative cocktails. Prices are quite reasonable for the quality … More
Annabelle Li
30-05-2026
Disclaimer: this review is based on the general Spanish food scene in New York City, NOT THAT IN SPAIN!!! TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STANDARDS!!!! … More
Glenn C
30-05-2026
Side notes- Prices aren't online, and the menu changes frequently. In general, as of a few months ago, the pintxos/bites are $14 to $16, the entradas/appetizers are mostly in the low or mid-$20s, and the platos/entrees are mostly in the $30s and $40s.
Anyway, I was at this dimly lit Basque restaurant a while back with a small group. The place got pretty loud eventually, and the service was friendly. As we were waiting, I had some time to kill and ordered a tasty vermut. In this case, it was the Lustao Blanco for $16 on the rocks with an olive. In terms of small bites/Pintxos, someone ordered the Gildas for $14 while waiting, and another person enjoyed the similarly tiny Croquetas de Jamón for the same price point. Speaking of prices, I am unsure exactly how much everything cost, and I can't find descriptions of everything I ate, so I'm approximating, which is why you'll see the "~" before each price point.
My entrada, or appetizer, was the Salmorejo de Atún for ~$25. Salmorejo is essentially a much thicker version of gazpacho, with olive oil, tomato, bread, and a few other ingredients. In this case, it was topped with plenty of raw tuna, cucumbers, and other greens. The cold soup worked surprisingly well with the high-quality fatty tuna, and I would order this again if I came back here. Another person ordered one of the appetizers as their entree, the Bikini Hemingway, which is a type of sandwich. In this case, it was ~$25 and was filled with txistorra, queso, shrimp, and pan de cristal. They seemed to like it but not love it.
My main dish/plato was, unfortunately, the Magret de Pato for ~$40, with grilled magret duck breast, port and foie sauce, and pomme purée. Unfortunately, a few pieces of the duck were a little chewy, especially the ones with more fat. The sauce was alright, tasting like a slightly above-average red wine demi-glace with a touch more richness and sweetness than usual. The pomme purée was good, being rich with a nice texture. Overall, I think a bit of acid would have helped as well. This was alright, and I would have appreciated some bread to mop up the remaining sauce. Another person thought the Bacalao for ~$35, which was topped with two shrimp in this presentation, was pretty good.
This place reminded me of Txikito in many ways. Both are a bit too pricey for the quality, with comparable food. For spending around $100, there are many other spots I would prefer, such as Casa Mono, El Pote, or a few others. If I were to go back, I'd probably just order appetizers. I'll leave the same score as the other restaurant, a bare 4/upper 3, and I would give a 3.5 if available.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Reservation
Reservations recommended
Noise level
Moderate noise
Group size
1 person, 2 people, 3-4 people, 5-8 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Diane Fulvio
30-05-2026
This was my husband and my second time at Ernesto’s. We were in the neighborhood and decided to stop in without a reservation. We happily sat at the bar (we prefer it anyway!) Our second time was better than the first! Our food was … More
Sintra Martins
30-05-2026
Fine if you’re looking to burn good money on underwhelming food.
For the price, I was disappointed. … More
Lily Yang (#99)
30-05-2026
Great service, good ambience, okay food that did not justify the price tag. Tables were too small for the size of the plates they like to use, I felt like I was playing a maze minigame every time I wanted to pick up my wine glass for a sip. … More
Spencer Nord
30-05-2026
We sat at the Chef’s Counter overlooking the back kitchen and had one of our better meals in recent memory. Super friendly, attentive staff with good knowledge of the menu. We started with cocktails, which were a step above the usual manhattan fare and designed to fit within the food menu. We started with the jamon croquettes that had a light, crispy batter and enjoyed the crab tarts as a compliment from the kitchen — a must get when we return. The Bikini Hemingway is simple yet refined with a perfect balance of sweet and savory and hits you with a perfect balance of textures. The Galician octopus is reminiscent of a classic pulperia in basque. The sauce work on the cannelloni was sublime, but the pasta was a bit under for my liking — only critique on an otherwise amazing meal. Nice dessert selection too!
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bikini Hemingway
Matthew Roulan
30-05-2026
Long time fan but finally visited for the first time on my birthday.
The staff was amazing and made for a really really fun dining experience, especially our server Matt and (please forgive me for not remembering) our beverage director who helped us pick out some lovely wine.
I was cranky when I came in and left extremely happy.
Delicious food, great vibe, and exceptional hospitality. I’ll be back for it all very soon.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Maria Yu
30-05-2026
Sat at the Chef’s counter in the smaller dining room. Very large and interesting wine menu with lots of Spanish wines! Love the smaller bites, I think the traditional options to start such as the tortilla, croquetas, and jamón are the best options over the mains. I would definitely come back to sit outside and enjoy some wine and smaller bites!
Price per person
$100+
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Noise level
Moderate noise
Wait time
No wait
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace, Counter seating
Sun Pal
30-05-2026
All style, no substance" describes this place best. The service has some great aspects—attentive water refills, napkin folding, smiling food delivery—but the true Basque hospitality is missing. You have to flag down the indifferent waitress, and their policy of ordering everything at once for immediate coursing screams "get 'em in and out."
Some dishes were rushed, like the crab tarts that went soggy quickly. The standout dishes were the incredible octopus with crispy peppers and tender meat, and the simple yet elevated artichokes with almond sauce (highly recommend getting bread to mop it up). The bland morcilla was disappointing, but they did graciously take it off the bill. Overall, a "meh" experience in a city with far better options.
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 2
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 4
Noise level
Loud, but you can still talk
Group size
3-4 people
Wait time
No wait
Recommendation for vegetarians
Somewhat recommend
Vegetarian options
Nothing is marked but you can tell by the description and staff know dishes and can help
Parking space
Difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free street parking, Paid street parking
Kid-friendliness
Not for kids unless they are teenagers very adventurous about eating
C. G.
30-05-2026
had the chance to sit down at the chef's counter for a great meal last night. service was spectacular. tried most of the menu and cant recommend the counter experience more. favorites included the short rib stuffed peppers, jamon croquetas, pintxo matrimonio (!!!!), bikini hemingway, and the duck confit.
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reservation
Reservations recommended
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Counter seating
michael rabiner
30-05-2026
This is a typical trendy Manhattan restaurant. Charming interior, great mixed drinks, delicious food but like all Manhattan restaurants expensive. You’ll drop $100 per person if you include drinks.
That being said the food and mixed drinks were delicious so absolutely no complaints. We walked in early and had no problems getting seating but I would recommend getting a reservation if you plan to eat later. The restaurant was quickly filling up.
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reservation
Reservations recommended
Group size
2 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area
Reviews Ernesto's