Jennifer B.
Yelp
GodMom sent me a link to this place saying, "Can we eat here?"
And if it weren't for that, I would have never learned about this place!
Sadly, she had to cancel last minute (she had an emergency) but with Hubbers talking about it for days on end, we HAD to go anyway.
Party of 5 (plus a baby and 2 pups), we came through for a Sunday FamDay lunch.
I haven't had Spanish cuisine in a long time - Hubbers had to remind me the last run we had was years ago somewhere in NorCal. So, I didn't really know what to expect.
I really like that the menus are already set with table settings, so we all got to go through it immediately, and by the time our server, Justin, came around, we were good and ready to go. I kinda let Hubbers and everyone else kinda take over the food ordering thing. We kinda just ended up sharing a little bit of everything family style.
PAN CON TOMATE: Simple but packed with flavor! It really is just a toast, but something about the tomato spread that takes it to a different level. Adding the chorizo butter makes it even better.
JAMÓN IBÉRICO DE BELLOTA: OMGAAARSSSHH, get this! They are generous with the amount of slices on the plate. Salt level is perfect. It's like a prosciutto but different! Delish!
IBERIAN OYSTERS: We ordered one for each of us. My first gazpacho flavored oyster. It's different from other seasoned oysters I've had. The oysters remained fresh while the gazpacho and ham served as good sidekicks! Yum!
PAELLA BOMB: So, we were curious about this dish because the sauce gets injected. (Love this concept, by the way!) Not only was it fun, it was also delicious. Good texture on the outside and true paella flavor on the inside. There's also an aroma to it with each bite! Me likey!
PULPO TELEFÈRIC: We have octopus fans on the table, so we decided to put in 2 orders immediately. So... octopus is kinda tricky to prepare. It requires precise timing, otherwise, it'll come out hard and/or chewy. They've perfected this dish not only with prep but also with presentation and flavor. It was tender and seasoned well and adding the truffle oil as well as potato puree made it excellent. We almost ordered a 3rd pate.
SPANISH MEATBALLS: This, too, was packed with tons of flavor. Placed on top of what looked like tempura flakes (which added texture, btw, so this was clever) and topped with sweet potato chip. There was a lot going on here. The only teenee snag? It was a bit dry for me. Otherwise, delish.
PRIME WELLINGTON: Like the paella bomb, we were also curious about this because instead of having a dip, the sauce is injected directly inside this pasty goodness. And goodness is what it really is. The dough is baked flaky. The meat inside with the sauce was exquisite. Even a small bite made the taste buds scream in delight. The potatoes were good palate cleansers. GET THIS!
TUNA TACOS: Okay, honestly... I'm not even sure how this made it to the menu. I didn't feel like there's anything "Spanish" about it (It tasted more Asian than anything.) Don't get me wrong: it was good, I just didn't feel like it fits. But I'm still glad I was able to try it, but nothing to call home about.
EMPANADAS: Great concept. Great presentation. Flavor was on point but dry. I'd rank it at "okay" because of that. The aioli didn't really help. It's one of those, "it's good but..."
PAELLA NEGRA: The ultimate pièce de résistance! The one true king of the entire tasting experience! We've all had our share of paella somewhere, but this is the only time we've seen it offered in squid ink. It was a must have. Hubbers opted for the slight rice burnt which added to taste and texture. They were generous with the amount of seafood on the plate. The squid ink added flavor. Rice was cooked perfect. We were all in heaven!
TRIO SELECTION DESSERT: Had a quick taste of the ice cream and a bite of the chocolate stuffed churro to cleanse the palate. Everyone enjoyed sharing this as well.
FOOD: 5,
SERVICE: 5, Justin should get a raise!
VALUE: 5. Quality and quantity. It really was worth it!
PARKING: Structures. Free for 90 minutes, then $2/20 minutes thereafter.
OVERALL: 5,
TIP: They do allow dogs in their pet friendly patio (front.) Interestingly enough, it was enclosed since it was a cold Long Beach day. Love that!
The whole experience ended up like an 11-course meal. We all left comfortably full and really satisfied.
And the presentation on both drinks and plates! They were seriously pleasing to both sight and palate!
What an amazing run! There are already talks of future visits! We will return SOON!