Located on Lee Lane in the heart of Horwich, which is quickly becoming a foodie haven, La Salsa is…read morean independent tapas and wine bar which has quickly gained the love of diners both local and visiting with its good quality food and service at a good price.
The main draw is the fact that La Salsa offers a menu of over 40 tapas dishes for just £12.95-£15.95 depending on when you go. For this one price you can eat as much as you like, for as long as you like. The menu has sections covering breads, olives, salads, meat, fish, chicken, charcuterie, and vegetarian, as well as a large drinks menu covering beers, wines, liqueurs and spirits, and soft drinks, as well as the occasional special cocktail and sangria jugs. There's a dessert menu too, but most people don't get that far by the time they need rolling out the door!
The way things tend to work are that after being seated and ordering drinks, your party will each tell the server two or three dishes (they're numbered too, so don't worry about brushing off those Spanish pronunciation skills you learned in school!), and the dishes are all brought together in small dishes, allowing you to graze, nibble, and share to your own delight. After finishing a "round", the waiting staff clear your dishes and take more orders. In essence you can try everything on the menu through the evening, as many times as you'd like! I particularly like their "Tapas De Pescado" (seafood), which are done very well. To be honest, all of the dishes are cooked perfectly and presented well, and I enjoyed all of the ones I've tried immensely. I've never NOT enjoyed a visit to La Salsa!
The venue itself is split into two storefronts, which originally had one unit as the main dining room and kitchen, and the other unit as a bar and lounge area, but with La Salsa's increasing popularity, the lounge area had to be fitted out as another dining room! The décor is traditional and rustic, with stripped wooden floors, chunky wooden accents and artwork, and partitions made from old wooden doors (!), and tall candles on both the tables and against the walls, as Spanish and Catalan music plays giving an authentic feel to the Spanish atmosphere, only spoiled slightly by the ceiling, which is office style Styrofoam ceiling tiles. But frankly who's looking up? There's more food coming!
The staff are young, friendly and hard-working. Due to how busy the venue can get, you can expect to order with and be served by several different staff members. Rumours are frequent that staff aren't allowed to keep their tips, and tips are kept by the venue itself. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but with how hard the staff work, I'd be disappointed if I found out if it was.
La Salsa doesn't have private parking, so you will have to use street parking, or one of the local free car parks within walking distance, but luckily both options are free.
I love La Salsa, and continue to go again and again, as do my friends, parents, in-laws, and anyone else I've introduced to it! If you try it yourself, I guarantee you will too! It's also nice to see that despite lots of local competition, including from restaurant chains nearby at Middlebrook Retail Park, La Salsa continues to thrive and gain in popularity. That shows they're definitely doing something right!
