Picaro

Sangria and Paella Rule at This Old School Tapas Restaurant | Eater SF

"San Francisco’s first Spanish restaurant beat the tapas craze of the early aughts by a mile, opening in 1982 with al fresco seating on one of the Mission’s main thoroughfares and a wide array of Iberian dishes. The tapas keep fans returning: try the patatas bravas ($8.25), a small plate of potatoes coated in a nacho cheese–orange spicy sauce, and the tortilla, a thick omelet of onion and potato, at $9—both humble yet effective renditions of go-to dishes. On the large-format side, there are six paellas: the cheapest option, the vegan hortelana ($30 for two), comes with spears of asparagus scattered through a ring of artichokes and lemon wedges, while the spacious digs make a six-person order of the inky black paella de arroz negro with peas and shrimp tossed on top a terrific option for a big group. Stopping by for affordable sangria and wine, like so many places throughout Spain itself, is the move; happy hour runs 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with fruity cups of sangria at $4.50 and a pitcher at $15. In a city stuffed with Instagram-friendly environs and overly attentive staff, this is a cut of an older cloth, drawing diners across economic bands when you want to work through luxe, plentiful food on the low. Insider tip: there’s a small back patio; when it’s sunny, dining at the table out here is like sitting on a back alley while traveling those tried-and-true pilgrim pathways of the Camino de Santiago." - Paolo Bicchieri