The NYC Foodie and his family had a really good meal on his birthday, March 1st, at Fishtag, Michael Psilakis' new Mediterranean tapas joint on the Upper West Side. Ironically enough, this restaurant got a zero star, "fair" rating, from Sam Sifton of the NY Times, the next day. I disagree with his review. Everyone in my family enjoyed the food here, because the food is good! You can't always believe what you read.

Some of the best bruschetta I had eaten is from Fishtag. Both the bruschetta with grilled prawn, feta, and spicy chiles ($11), as well as one with Jonah crab and sweet and sour eggplant ($10), we excellent. There is a lot going on with this bruschetta, but what is going on tastes great. Order them!

Sea urchin crudo in ocean water ($14) will satisfy all you sea urchin lovers out there.

Smoked octopus ($13) with chorizo, pomme puree, mushrooms and lemon, was fabulous.

Spicy paella soup ($14), came with cockles, bouchot mussels, prawns, bay scallops, chorizo, orzo. It was a joy to consume.

Grilled branzino stuffed with headcheese ($26) was definitely a unique dish. Although it didn't blow my mind, I loved how it opened up my culinary horizon.

Sheep milk dumlings ($19), with Jonah crab, aji amarillo peppers, and sea urchin fonduta, were delicate and really nice.

Trofie (Ligurian "Gnocchi) ($19), with ragu of braised sepia and short ribs, tomato, smoked mozzarella, and ricota salata, was sweet and great.

So get your Mediterranean tapas on at Fishtag. You can't believe everything you read, sometimes you need to form your own opinion. Yes, a lot of the dishes have a lot going on, which may seem unfocused. But, if in the end, it tastes good, that's all that really matters.

Fishtag
222 W. 79th St. (bet. Amsterdam and Broadway)
New York, NY 10024
212-362-7470