Despite facing hell and high water during the pandemic, the Upper West Side’s favorite restaurant was able to relocate and keep their doors open to the public. Pan-Latino restaurant Calle Ocho has long been a favorite for brunch, bottomless sangria, cocktails, and a variety of delectable specialty plates influenced by Cuban and other Latin influences. It is widely regarded as one of the finest restaurants on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
For more than 20 years, Calle Ocho has been elegantly inhabiting the Upper West Side under three different roofs, most recently on 106th Street and Broadway. The restaurant is known for its innovative and bold flavor combinations for a price that will not offend your wallet. Most menu items at Calle Ocho will not exceed $35.
This restaurant’s dishes are inspired by Cuban, Peruvian, Dominican, Spanish, Venezuelan, and Costa Rican, and Puerto Rican cuisines, specifically, which offer innovative distinctions on conventional dishes. Ceviche variations, shrimp, and Cuban skirt steak are all common options on the menu.
Because it has been around for more than two decades, patrons often frequent the restaurant. General manager Luis Piedra told NYC Tastemakers that customers who visit the restaurant enjoy its overall ambience and environment.
“The atmosphere, the lively music when they come in projects a good attitude,” said Piedra. “Not to mention that the food is great.”
Calle Ocho’s food ranges from steak to seafood, each dish tasting different, but with a unique quality that keeps you wanting more from Puerto Rico-born executive chef Giovanni Ventura.
Personally, the Puerto Rican rum glazed shrimp paired with avocado mash and crispy onion is my go-to meal, reminding me of my homeland. This with a mojito makes for the best meal one could ever ask for.
Well aware of their fame for sangrias and brunches, Calle Ocho hosts a “Boozy Brunch” where, with the purchase of a $35 brunch, customers will receive a selection of sangrias for free during the weekends between 11 am-3 pm.
“We want to make it festive,” said Piedra about Calle Ocho’s Boozy Brunches, “where people can come out and have fun with their friends.”
Since the pandemic, restaurants have had to open up outdoor spaces for customers to be able to enjoy their food and drinks at a safe distance from each other and restaurant staff. Though this seemed to be an issue for a lot of restaurants in the New York City area, this only made Calle Ocho stand out more than it had before. There’s nothing better than Latin food, a sangria, and a bit of sun or moonlight shining on your face.
To experience this yourself, you can pay a visit to Calle Ocho and taste their famous brunches, dinners, and sangrias at 106th Street and Broadway.
