When my friend asserted that the Spanish tapas here were the best food she's had in Hong Kong, I couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow. Like any sceptic, I visited La Paloma to verify her bold statement for myself.
While I may not endorse her statement, I did relish several of the tapas that we ordered. My favourite tapas were most certainly the following:
1. TERNERA Y FOIS GRAS ($35/pc): Talk about the most exquisite mouthfeel ever! The crisp yet airy baguette formed the perfect cushion for the decadent wagyu beef and foie gras--both of which melted on impact with the roof of my mouth. It's true that I couldn't discern the two toppings once eaten, but hey, it was a helluva delicious bite.
2. SALMON TNT ($30/pc): Like its name suggests, this was an explosion of flavour. The chipotle cream from the puff pastry gushed out as I bit into it. Paired with the smoked salmon and salmon roe, it had just the right amount of saltiness and freshness to balance out the heaviness of the cream.
3. SARDINILLAS ($65): This was a surprise contender. I expected it to be overly salty from the sardines and black olives, the latter of which I am not particularly fond of. However, the salmorejo (a puree of tomato and bread) worked wonders in the tin: it elevated the briny flavours of the sardines, while adding some richness for the salt to cut through.
The other tapas that we ordered did not stand out quite as much to justify their price. The Squid Ink Croquetas ($30/pc) were hot and well-fried, but the flavour of the squid ink was muted. The Patatas Bravas ($70) unfortunately tasted like potato wedges with melted nacho cheese to me. The Bacon Con Queso ($30/pc) was rather plain as well. The Chorizo ($120) and the Ensalada de la Casa ($90) were both flavourful but could've been served as larger portions. Critiques aside, I still think these tapas were tasty overall. I also ordered Fino Fino Philipino! ($88), which delivered on its promised fruitiness, but left only a hint of the alcohol.
Moving on to the ambiance of La Paloma, it has a very sensual vibe to it with its dim lighting (accented with fairy lights), wooden accents, and intimate seating arrangements. With Sexy Tapas in its name, it only seems fitting that the allure would extend to the restaurant itself too. I reckon that it's an incredible place to impress a date or a significant other, family members, or in our case, hungry friends. Just be prepared for some splurging if you want variety. read more