I held off a while to write this review as the food was exquisite so I just didn't want to write a few lines. We were 9 adults and a child out for a pre wedding night meal (we had a few pre and quite a few post wedding night meals) so we ordered quite a lot of different tapas to share.
One of our nine had researched this place before we arrived in town and he picked most of the dishes for us to share.
Every dish was flavour elevated so take patatas bravas or simple fried potatoes. The potatoes were spiced right on point, the piquant pica de collons sauce was stunningly full - flavoured, dusted with paprika and fresh chives.
The croquettes too were fresh made. Here again the flavours wowed especially the jambon. Often these dishes are pre prepared in many places, maybe even factory made and frozen, then fried on site, left on plates under glass until a customer orders them, at which point they are microwaved, or put simply poor-tasting awful 'food' that gives tapas a bad reputation.
We had charred artichokes in exquisite grassy tasting light green olive oil and the powerfully flavoured garlic tomato bread. The tomato bread dish is so simple and cheap - slice and toast baguette, rub a garlic clove over the the toasted top - think the bread sandpaper and rub the clove so it goes on mushy, then similarly rub over a tomato bruising it so it goes on mushy.
Now the Spanish will glug olive oil over the flavoured bread as I did and I sprinkled good salt too and wow five natural ingredients that never see factory processing and the taste is amazing but you can leave out the oil and salt which I would discourage.
We had sardines, scallops, anchovies and octopus as well as pork bao buns (Chinese tapas!) and time and again the flavours hit you. Nothing was sub - par here. A great chef who thinks their dishes through in a restaurant that looks basic from the outside so much so you are likely not even to notice it.
One note about Spain and Portugal - they will sell you fish from cans in restaurants with pride - the menus will say 'from the can'. Often prized expensive fish is canned to preserve taste and freshness. I bought a small ring-pull can of blue tuna belly at €27 in Bilbao. Butter is sold in tins in Japan as it's not popular so it's kept fresh.
The only dish I could be critical of was the Queen Scallops as they were overcooked and the picture shows it. In fact given the stunning quality of everything else I was surprised that the chef served them rather than starting again with focus.
I can't recall the dessert we all opted for (except for the child) because as soon as the waitress mentioned booze nothing else had a chance but I don't see it on the menu as it was booze laced and none on the menu list alcohol. It too was a flavour experience as once again the deep rounded balanced taste punched you in the mouth as wow.
The restaurant was full and the place was buzzing. The staff were great and kept busy all night as additional tapas were being ordered once folks began to sample their food.
We had copious wine and beer with a few cocktails and it was one of the booziest fun nights I can remember in a very long time but exceptional company and exceptional food can have this result. What a night. Seriously if you are anywhere close to here don't miss the opportunity to treat yourself. No need to thank me. Now who says that these days Mmnn read more