David K.
Yelp
Compared to the many other tapas bars in Barrio Santa Cruz, the menu at La Bartola was compact, innovative, and globally-influenced, with a number of off-menu "chalkboard specials". We started with Humus de Trufa (truffle hummus), a smooth purée of chickpeas and tahini laced with aromatic truffle oil, sesame seeds, dried tomatoes, and crunchy chips. The Tataki de Salmon was a grilled salmon fillet topped with bonito flakes and served with a beet mayonnaise. The salmon was cooked to a perfect melt-in-the-mouth consistency, and the artful plating with the purple mayonnaise was particular memorable.
The Arroz Rojo Thai was a dish of Thai red rice layered with aromatic chopped vegetables (including onions, peppers, and squash) and served with a creamy, slightly spicy romesco sauce. The Chipirones con Verduras were simply grilled squid tubes and tentacles served over stir-fried chopped vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. And for a modern take on a Spanish dish, we ended with the Carrillada Ibérica, a traditional stew of pork cheeks, but the tender meat in this version was served over a super creamy, cheesy potato parmentier purée that took the flavors to the next level! My favorite items here were the hummus, salmon tataki, and carrillada, but every dish we tried was delicious, beautifully presented, and the tapas sizes came at an unbelievably affordable price (especially for the quality) and were perfect for sharing!