(Photo: Jaime Cone)
Marcha Cocina opened its second location last week on Avenue C between 7th and 8th Street, bringing to Alphabet City the Latin-influenced Spanish tapas and light, airy atmosphere that made the restaurant popular at its Michelin-approved Washington Heights location.
(Photo courtesy of Marcha Cocina)
When last we caught up with owners Marcelo Crespo and Jairo de la Paz, it was February and they were in the process of getting their liquor license. Now that the weather’s right for the restaurant’s signature flavored mojitos or one of its other fruity tropical drinks (“jack + pina,” anyone?) the newly renovated bar is ready to deliver.
(Photo: Jaime Cone)
The location formerly housed Cafe Combodge, and Arcane before that, and now sports whitewashed brick walls and blue track lights on the stainless steel bar, signaling that no one should mistake Marcha for your run-of-the-mill Spanish tapas joint. “We’re more modern, more youthful, chic,” said de la Paz. “It’s not dark like most tapas places.”
(Photo: Jaime Cone)
(Photo: Jaime Cone)
The menu includes chicken and beef skewers ($9), a variety of croquettes, including a croqueta platter with goat cheese, mushrooms, chicken and plantains ($10), and 11 different types of tapas ranging from bacon-wrapped dates to sautéed organic spinach with raisons to beef meatballs. And if you’re hungry and don’t share well with others, there’s a $28 lobster or $25 skirt steak with cheese fondue and fried yucca with your name on it.
Marcha Cocina, 111 Avenue C, nr. East 7th St., East Village; open Sunday-Thursday from 3-11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 3 p.m.-midnight.
