Waiters in red jackets, windmill murals painted on the walls, scenes from Don Quixote depicted in moving puppetry along the ledges - El Quijote mixes that fine blend of one part camp, 2 parts charm, and 3 parts amazing service & food.

Make sure to get a booth in the main room, even if you have to wait for one. Its here you'll score the best view of the dimly lit, cavernous restaurant, last decorated in what I assume was the 1950s. El Quijote is the oldest Spanish restaurant in Manhattan, and proudly boasts so on the first page of the oversized, red leather menu you are presented with when seated. Inside the menu - a cornucopia of meat and fresh seafood dishes - something to satisfy nearly any tastebud. Fresh steamed clams swimming in garlicky green verde sauce, twin filet mignons surrounded by bacon and topped with manchego cheese, roasted cornish game hens or even traditional paellas. I have tried bites and nibbles of nearly everything they offer, but its the lobster we come to El Quijote for.

Broiled or steamed, stuffed with crabmeat or served with simple drawn butter, El Quijote is a lobster lovers dream come true. I went all out this visit, and settled on a broiled shellfish platter (paradilla) of clams, mussles, shrimp, scallops, and a crabmeat stuffed 1.5 pound beauty.

All elegantly served to me by a charming young man, who wheeled our selection out on a rolling cart.

We started the meal with my husband's favorite, broiled Spanish chorizo.

And ended with a mouth-watering piece of cheesecake. As it really was my birthday this visit, the red-jacketed waiters gathered around me as I blew out my candle, singing a hearty rendition of "Happy Birthday...Miss America". They do it that way every year.

El Quijote
West 23rd Street
Manhattan, NY