La Vasca Deli

"Judging by the crowd here, your grandparents probably already know about this vetted viejito spot. The Spanish deli next to Versailles is where your abuelo and his retired friends disappear every Friday around lunch only to return smelling like fried chorizo. It doubles as a tiny market and even smaller restaurant, where tortilla españolas are shared in a cramped room surrounded by more wine than you could drink in 100 lifetimes. Call ahead for reservations—eight out of the 10 tables are usually reserved by big groups sharing a whole cochinillo you need to pre-order a day in advance. Your abuelos are right to keep La Vasca Deli under wraps. Maybe they’ll let you join them if you’re cool enough (and can keep a secret)." - mariana trabanino, virginia otazo

"When your dad and his retired friends disappear every Friday around lunch, they’re probably at La Vasca. The Spanish spot next to Versailles doubles as a tiny market and even smaller restaurant, where tapas are shared in a cramped room flanked by TVs playing soccer and more wine than you could drink in 100 lifetimes. You’ll have to walk past the deli counter full of cheese and round the corner by a shelf of tinned mussels to find a table (and there aren’t very many). So call to make reservations because eight out of the 10 are usually reserved by regulars, families eating tortillas, and groups of older gentlemen sharing a whole cochinillo you have to pre-ordered a day in advance." - virginia otazo, mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer

"When your dad and his retired friends disappear every Friday around lunch, they’re probably at La Vasca. The Spanish spot next to Versailles doubles as a tiny market and even smaller restaurant, where tapas are shared in a cramped room flanked by TVs playing soccer and more wine than you could drink in a 100 lifetimes. You’ll have to walk past the deli counter full of cheese and round the corner by a shelf of tinned mussels to find a table (and there aren’t very many). So call to make reservations because eight out of the 10 are usually reserved by regulars, families eating tortillas, and groups of older gentlemen sharing a whole cochinillo you have to pre-ordered a day in advance. La Vasca feels like a neighborhood restaurant you’d find in Spain. The food is simple, but delicious—like their fried chorizo bocadillo or pulpo a la gallega. There’s also a rotating list of entrees that range from roasted pork butt to lamb chops, but we love the seared bacalao that’s served with a garlicky herb oil and patatas panaderas. Your dad and his friends are right to keep this place a secret. But you should definitely crash one of his viejito lunches and treat him and his friends to a bottle of Priorat wine, great tapas, and crema catalana. Food Rundown photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Chorizo Bocadillo The bread is crispy, airy, and soaks up all the juices from the smoky fried chorizo. That’s it—no sauce, no cheese. It doesn’t need it. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Tortilla Española You can order an entire tortilla days in advance for parties and family dinners. But you can get two slices at the restaurant for $11. It’s as thick as a brick, not too wet (or dry), and comes with two dollops of garlic aioli. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Pulpo A La Gallega Octopus is on every Mediterranean menu from Homestead to Sunny Isles, but you’ll rarely see boiled octopus. La Vasca’s is simply boiled until the color turns a deep purple. If you’re still not sold on the delights of boiled cephalopod, you can also get it grilled. photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC Tarta De Santiago We’d happily join an old pilgrimage and walk a 30-day journey to eat this almond cake. Famous for being a special treat at the end of El Camino De Santiago De Compostela, the one at La Vasca is luckily much closer, moist, and served with a scoop of fluffy almond ice cream on top." - Virginia Otazo