The front of the shop is a deli of sorts, selling things such as olives, honey, oils, and other products from the Iberian peninsula. In the back of the shop is a small cafe-style restaurant, serving a select set menu which was £13 for 2 courses and dessert, as well as a list of about 15 tapas, a full wine menu, lots of lovely coffees and hot chocolate, and other treats as well. This review mainly focuses on the restaurant half of this shop.
The service was quite good. We split a half-liter of sangria which was a solid amount for the two of us. My friend did the fixed menu without the dessert, and off of it, he chose the plate of Iberian meats (chorizo, salchicha, and jamon iberico) and a roasted paprika chicken with mashed potatoes. I chose two tapas: a plate of queso manchego and the paella with chicken, chorizo, and morcilla (blood sausage). My paella didn't actually come with any morcilla, which was fine as I'm not really a big fan of morcilla! Before the food came out, we were served small helpings of olives (two of which were filled with a garlic clove) and a basket of bread. The olives and bread were both fresh and tasty.
The plate of Iberian meats was huge, and my fiance had a hard time finishing it. The jamon iberico was very delicious and not too salty, though he didn't particularly care for the chorizo. Next, I had the queso manchego plate. 3 of the 4 large slices were quite good, although the fourth (which I think must have been aged differently) was a bit strange tasting. The paella was absolutely fantastic. It was very light, and when topped with the lemon wedge provided, the flavors all came together quite well. My friend really enjoyed the paprika chicken and ate all of the potatoes. Each of the plates (including the tapas) were quite big, and we felt very satisfied upon completion of the meal. I also had a cafe con leche to go, too.
Overall, for our meal with sparkling water, sangria, and 2 plates of food each, we paid about £29 which, compared to many of the restaurants we saw in Aberystwyth with less enjoyable food, was quite cheaper. The wait staff were all quite helpful, and our waiter even spoke to us a bit in Spanish! I told him that as a Spaniard, I was really impressed with the food here. Sure, some things could be a little better, but this was definitely the best food we ate in Aberystwyth, and the atmosphere was just wonderful. If we ever return to the city again, we will be sure to stop by! read more