SUMMATION: Very enjoyable and pleasant experience with outstanding service and food.
NAME ETYMOLOGY: The Galician (Portuguese)
REVIEW: Parguera Pirate review #412 had had to be badly cut down for Yelp. For the complete review, see TripAdvisor.
OWNEr/chef: Juan Miguel S. Vieites
CHEF: Juan Miguel S. Vieites
GREETING: Excellent once inside. From the outside, with no one in the parking lot at 7 pm, they appeared closed. However, a tacky little "open" neon sign in their window encouraged us.
LAYOUT: Rather rough parking lot, with steps or ramp up to a cement platform obviously left over from a former user. Two, low steps up to the door. Short hall, and the dinning room, service bar and private entrance to kitchen on back right, metal door to bathrooms on back left. Eight tables for 2, 4 for 6, and 1 for 8. Tables were not crowded together.
DÉCOR: Cozy and inviting, proper intimate illumination, wooden furniture, polkadot tablecloth (reminiscent of flamenco dancer costume), small, flimsy paper napkins, and inexpensive prints on the walls.
SPECIALS: Listed on weekly blackboard, which they place on a chair at your table when you are ordering.
WINE: We had a white, which was okay, and a red, which was good.
DRINKS: They had Sprite Zero.
WATER: Tap water in tall, heavy plastic, dimpled carafes. Good-quality, short, pressed-glass glasses.
MENU ITEMS: Mostly tapas, just a few full meals, but there are more in the specials.
WAITSTAFF: They were simply superb with quick service, genuine interest and consideration, not overbearing, polite, and even unperturbed with our behavior. They wore black tee-shirts with the logo of the restaurant and black pants.
APPETIZERS: Tapas we had were Tigres rubio (steamed large, Green-tipped Mussels with spicy sauce), which were very good (larger and better than the ones we had in Spain); Chorizos al Vino (Spanish Iberian, cured, smoked sausage slices sautéed with wine sauce), which was good, but not very intense; Esparragos, Salmón ahumado y Mayonesa (fresh, white asparagus, smoked salmon, and mayonnaise), which was excellent; Piquillos Rellenos de Morcela (roasted, red, sweet mini-peppers [Not Padrón Peppers] stuffed with blood sausage), which were okay, but nothing special (their cheese-stuffed ones received good reviews); Camarones la plancha a la Ajillo (Whiteleg Shrimp sautéed with olive oil and garlic), which were very good. They had white anchovies.
ENTRÉE: Parrillada de Mariscos (grilled shellfish, or Mariscada) with Norvegian Lobster, Whiteleg Shrimp, Freshwater Prawn, large and medium Bay Scallops [H], large Blipped Mussels, and a large Common Octopus tentacle. Presentation was excellent. Excellent flavors, textures, and each correctly cooked. Dish more than enough to serve 2 with samples for others.
SIDES: Cooked very small cubes of potatoes [not Placa de Galicia], baby carrots, yellow onion, and very small green asparagus tips were very good..
DESERT:
(I) Their Crema de Catalana was much like French Créme Brulée, but with lemon zest and cardiman (should have been cinnamon), and was very good and ample.
(II) Their fresh strawberries in yogurt were drizzled with chocolate. The yogurt would have been better sweetened.
COST COMPARISON: Perhaps a bit more expensive, but worthwhile for the quality and service.
BILL: Some members of our party asked for separate checks only after the meal was over. Remarkably, the waitstaff complied without complaint or comment. Separate checks must be requested before the meal and only with permission. The waitstaff were very kind, considerate, and incredibly accommodating.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
(I) This shrimp is on the Green Peace Red List.
HEALTH:
(I) There are 2 small steps going in and coming out of the restaurant. The bottom step is camouflaged. They do have signs warning about the steps. I warned everyone in our party as we left, but someone still tripped.
(II) Two of their 3 deserts were relatively healthy fruit dishes.
MADE IN THE USA: Their stainless was made in Brazil and their bowls in China.
COMPARISONS: Better shellfish than we had in Spain quite recently.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CUSTOMER:
(I) If you butt gets tired, like mine, use one of their chairs with a cushion. My wood-bottom chair became uncomfortable. I found an unoccupied chair with a cushion and switched them.
MERCHANT:
(I) Change those steps in your entrance for a ramp or something. They are too dangerous.
REVIEWS: rated Very, Very Good, 4.46/5, 46 reviews (Tripadvisor); Very Good, 4.25/5, 4 reviews (Yelp); Very, Very Good, 4.5/5, 34 public ratings (FaceBook)
HISTORY: They opened in 2013 in a nearby location, but this proved too small. They opened in the present site 6 months ago. read more
