I'd been meaning to check out La Cita, a new tapas place, ever since it opened on Valentines day…read more2011, decorating its chalk menu board with kitchy hearts offering special priced couples menus (cue single woman gag reflex). I finally got around to eating here a few days ago with my best friends in town from the U.S. in tow, and it was love at first sight and bite.
You'll be charmed by the authentic feel of a cozy Spanish tapas joint, and if the weather agrees you can sit outside at one of the giant wooden barrel 'tables.' Inside, massive legs of jamon hang from the bar, earthy wall tones and Spanish themed décor add to the ambiance. Our server came over with the menu, hand delivered on a chalk board from table to table. It turns out that La Cita is a family affair, our waitress the aunt of the young couple that quit their corporate day jobs to open the joint.
The menu was divided into three sections, ascending by price. From column A, we sampled the Pan Tomate (bruschetta), Pan Jambon (ham and bread), Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes in spicy, creamy tomato sauce) and Omelette Espagnole (egg and potato fritatta). All were excellent, and reasonably priced at €2-4 each. From the sea, there were mussels and calamari, and an Iberian cheese plate to finish the meal. The seafood and cheese were slightly more expensive at around €6-8 per plate, but made up for the extra price in quality and larger portion sizes.
And what Tapas meal would be complete without a pitcher of Sangria? We ordered a liter of the red stuff, full of juicy alcoholic fruit, not too sweet, and at €8, a steal to get the three of us happily buzzed.
When the bill came, we had our attentive server split it in three, and my jaw nearly dropped that the total bill for 8 tapas plates, a liter of booze, and 2 hours of enjoyable dining came out to €15.80 per person, the price one could expect to pay for an entrée at most of the "restos" in Aix. Before leaving out server came by to wish us a great rest of our vacation and a safe return for my visiting friends, sealing in my 5 star review for La Cita, and guaranteeing that I will be visiting again.