Dexter D.
Yelp
We were invited to a belated birthday dinner. We looked forward to a wonderful Spanish meal of Tapas and Paella.
L Campo does not take reservations and seating is first come, first served. We were seated outside. At first, I was concerned that it might get cold because I didn't see any heaters and I had left my jacket in my car. We lucked out because the weather held and there was no wind.
Menus were presented and we were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. We got the bubbly stuff and one of us ordered a Coke. We verified with our server, Duda, that one Tapa and two Entrees would be the right amount of food.
Heirloom Tomato Toast - 3 - It was fine, but we were comparing it to a Tomate con Pan that we had had in London a couple of years ago. That one was made with toasted homemade bread, rubbed with fresh garlic, then rubbed with ripe tomatoes imported from Barcelona and drizzled with olive oil.
Patatas Bravas - 2 - In a Chinese restaurant, one can expect differences in flavors and textures from dishes with the same name because of regional ingredients. There's no reason for this to be different in Spanish food. I prefer "dry" potatoes served with an Aioli and/or a Bravas Sauce. This one was too wet with Bravas Sauce and the Aioli Sauce was only served after we were asked if we wanted it.
12+ Month Jamon Serrano - 5 - Perfectly yummy.
24+ Month Jamon Iberico - 5 - Even yummier. We had experienced both meats in Barcelona but our hosts had not. I asked if we could possibly order a split plate and pay the difference but alas it was not possible because these items were portioned in advance. These Jamons come from different breeds of pigs raised on different diets. Compared side by side, you can choose your preference based on flavor and texture.
Baked Cauliflower with Romesco Sauce - 4 - Was good. There are so many variations that I can't decide what style of Romesco Sauce I prefer. I think that next time, I'll order the sauce on the side so I can decide how much to use.
48-Hour Beef Short Ribs - 5 - I'm not sure that Beef served without the bone can technically be called a Short Rib even if it's the meat from between the bones. However, the beef is delicious. Even more delicious is the broth and Spanish Beans that come along in the pan. Be sure to order Bread and Butter to go with it. The Bread will also come with Olive Oil but it's really not needed. Spread some of the soft butter on the bread and then spoon some sauce and a bean onto the bread. You can even add a shred or two of the beef if you want to go crazy.
Seafood Paella - 5 - Although the rice was lacking the Socarrat that we were expecting, the flavor of the rice was phenomenal. When we placed the order, we were asked how we wanted the rice, I said crispy. Duda offered Crispy or Extra Crispy. I then asked for Extra Crispy. When done correctly, the rice cooks to the bottom of the pan and provides an extra bit of texture and flavor without being burned. What was served barely stuck to the pan. Zero Socarrat. Very disappointing, especially since we had been asked how we wanted it.
Churros - 4 - Two of us ordered Churros for dessert. They were out of Milk Chocolate so we both got the "Dark" Chocolate. The flavor of the Churros was good. These were skinny Churros, and I prefer fat Churros because there's more of the soft center, which the Chocolate Sauce seems to adhere to better. In Barcelona, the Dark Chocolate Sauce was much darker and substantially thicker, almost like a chocolate pudding. If you tipped the container, it would move slowly like lava.
Cheese Flan with Housemade Jam (Covserve?) and Cream - 4 - Good flavors.
Baked Rice Pudding - 4 - I found it interesting to have a rice pudding that didn't seem to be made up of grains of rice. I looked it up online and discovered that rice pudding sometimes doesn't even contain rice although some may grind the rice into powder before cooking for a smoother texture. This is a new concept for me and I'm going to have to try it again. Flavor wise, it was good.
