It is always nice to see a restaurant that doesn't take themselves too seriously. From the eclectic…read moreand funky decor to the creative use of mirrors and dentures for plating, Spoonik manages to strike a great balance of high end and playful.
The decor is kinda nightclub meets your living room, with book shelves, colorful statues, a bit of Aztec art, dayglow, and flashing lights for effect during the meal - it's an assault on your senses. Seating is family style, which can make for some great conversations with neighbors. When you arrive, they take each table on a tour through the kitchen, introducing the staff and doling out a couple of small bites to start off the meal.
The menu isn't really up for debate. Everyone is served the same items. We actually never saw one, and may never remember exactly what we had, although the staff does explain the dishes once they are served. Compared to other similar gastro-style restaurants, the pricing is very reasonable, as is the additional wine pairing option. One of my biggest complaints is probably with the wine pairing though. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the local options served, they were brought out haphazardly and not exactly one to one with each course. As a result, we were never really sure which wine went with which dish, nor if we should try to save more for the next plate. Simple to remedy, but I think would improve the overall experience.
As for the food, it was bright, colorful, and they definitely implemented some unique techniques. The items overall were a bit hit or miss for me, with some having more show and less flavor than I would prefer. Again, I didn't have a menu, so working solely on memory...My favorite was an assortment of shelled seafood (oysters, clams, etc.) served with different preparations. They were fresh and each one had a great flavor. There also seemed to be a couple of dishes inspired by Central and South America, like a mini arepa. Being from Miami these were more familiar, and I tended to prefer the items that were more authentic to Spain, like a traditional Catalan soup with shell-shaped noodles and meatballs, which a fellow diner told us is typically served around the holidays. Also, one of the dessert courses was a chocolate item dusted with edible gold pop rocks that was a lot of fun.
Throughout the entire meal, the passion of the staff was evident (sometimes erring on the side of overzealous), and the chefs clearly paid a lot of attention to detail. Definitely a different from your average Fideuà restaurant or tapas bar for those looking to try something new.
