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2010-04-13 18 views
星期日忽然抽起條筋想食西班牙tapas,一家三口過海去試下呢間慕名已久的tapas bar.可能係週日關係加上時間尚早,去到只有2名客人.不過之前週五六晚經過見到全場爆滿,所以唔擔心入錯黑店前前後後一共叫了十多款不同tapas,可以話全部好食,特別係48月黑毛豬火腿,蒜片蝦,煮大蜆,脆豬腩肉,釀紅椒都好好味,只有焗牛肉丸唔得(太騷).連3杯drinks埋單加一後$875,唔算平不過食到正宗tapas可以接受啦.唯一問題係全場坐高腳吧凳,坐得唔舒適同唔耐.
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星期日忽然抽起條筋想食西班牙tapas,一家三口過海去試下呢間慕名已久的tapas bar.
可能係週日關係加上時間尚早,去到只有2名客人.不過之前週五六晚經過見到全場爆滿,所以唔擔心入錯黑店

前前後後一共叫了十多款不同tapas,可以話全部好食,特別係48月黑毛豬火腿,蒜片蝦,煮大蜆,脆豬腩肉,釀紅椒都好好味
,只有焗牛肉丸唔得(太騷)

連3杯drinks埋單加一後$875,唔算平不過食到正宗tapas可以接受啦.

唯一問題係全場坐高腳吧凳,坐得唔舒適同唔耐.
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2010-04-11
Spending Per Head
$300
Level3
30
0
2010-03-29 21 views
it's been almost 6mths since my last visit; it used to be one of my go-to places for bar food but this time around, food quality dropped significantly across the board. patatas bravas completely lacked the browned, slightly chewy skin i had liked, while sauteed mushroom was very bland. tortilla was also a disaster - the egg/potato fell apart as soon as my fork cut into the omelette, taste wise it was very flat, the potato too soft and not seasoned enough.the young chef who always cooked for me w
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it's been almost 6mths since my last visit; it used to be one of my go-to places for bar food but this time around, food quality dropped significantly across the board. patatas bravas completely lacked the browned, slightly chewy skin i had liked, while sauteed mushroom was very bland. tortilla was also a disaster - the egg/potato fell apart as soon as my fork cut into the omelette, taste wise it was very flat, the potato too soft and not seasoned enough.

the young chef who always cooked for me was not here tonight, instead there was an older chef (i suspect he used to work at chinese restaurants judging from the way he cooked). can that be the difference?
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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5
2010-03-16 14 views
Been craving for tapas so went to this bustling little tapas bar on Hollywood.Most of the clientele here are westerners. Ratings of this place are quite high so were my expectations.First of all the seating was quite uncomfortable. I particularly placed a booking hoping for a pair of seats facing the cooks so we can see all the action, but instead we were placed at the end of the bar, where we were facing the wall.Another thing about eating along a bar table is that it's quite hard to eat and ta
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Been craving for tapas so went to this bustling little tapas bar on Hollywood.

Most of the clientele here are westerners. Ratings of this place are quite high so were my expectations.

First of all the seating was quite uncomfortable. I particularly placed a booking hoping for a pair of seats facing the cooks so we can see all the action, but instead we were placed at the end of the bar, where we were facing the wall.
Another thing about eating along a bar table is that it's quite hard to eat and talk to the person beside you at the same time.

Food served at this place was definitely overrated. Signature dish, roasted pork belly and spicy fried shrimps, I am sorry to say we Chinese definitely do a better job executing the same dishes. I would say it's ok, nothing worth raving about. I would pick Boca, Ole, even El cid and Mijas over this place any day, for the food, the comfort level and the ambiance.

Sorry tapeo, I won't be heading back any soon.

喺何里活道嘅, 多數鬼幫襯. 食物一般, 招牌菜燒豬腩同椒鹽炸蝦, 個人認為中菜做得好過佢好多

service:
service was so so and as usual the asian servers seem to be diverting all their attention to the westerners
啲賓, 泊籍侍應如常地專照顧西人

seated opposite the wall despite reservation made well in advance
訂了枱還是要面璧

Food
- olive and garlic, ok 蒜頭欖油橄欖 with bits of lemon有啲檸檬粒. 一般. 講開橄欖, 都係drop嘅最好食
- ham, can't remember what ham we had, probably 12 months Iberico, nothing special, not very oily nor aromatic 冇咩油份鹹香嘅西班牙火腿
- goat cheese tomato salad羊奶芝士蕃茄沙律this was a joke, i mean can you spot the measly bits of goat cheese in the picture? I couldn't, they were so well hidden LOL!
羊奶芝士呢??!!! 少得可憐呀!!!
- fried spicy shrimps, with the shell on, the shrimps weren't fried well enough, shells aren't crispy making it a bit hard on the month. 椒鹽炸蝦, 炸得唔夠透, 啲殼好"參"口
- signature dish招牌燒豬腩roasted pork belly, another signature dish, yes it was crispy, crispy as it was, that was all you can say about this dish係燒得香脆, 但就係得個脆, 啲肉, 雖然間住肥膏, 但唔juicythe meat wasn't succulent, it was salty but at the same time bland, very one dimensional得鹹味, 食落好寡
- white wine clams, very hard to mess this dish up好難衰嘅一味
- mixed mushrooms, ok i guess, not much skill required 炒什菇亦係新手都難唔倒
- grilled sardines, what made this a bit more special was it was served on a bed of middle-eastern style bean paste very similar to hummus. I was puzzled about this "marriage", thought this place serves Spanish. 沙甸燒得香, 但唔夠新鮮, 一放冷少少就腥 Anyway I wasn't to excited about the hummus-like paste. 仲有, 唔知點解放喺堆豆醬上邊...

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Been here 3 times in succession with 2 dinners and 1 lunch and thought I will put this on record - when Tapeo's head chef is actually cooking the meal and not his team of Nepalese or Chinese sous-chefs (not being racist here, just pointing out the fact), the quality takes a quantum step up across the board, no wonder me and my friends haven't really been back after 2 occasions, as the execution of the dishes previously weren't done with enough care in half of the dishes and it was over-priced fo
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Been here 3 times in succession with 2 dinners and 1 lunch and thought I will put this on record - when Tapeo's head chef is actually cooking the meal and not his team of Nepalese or Chinese sous-chefs (not being racist here, just pointing out the fact), the quality takes a quantum step up across the board, no wonder me and my friends haven't really been back after 2 occasions, as the execution of the dishes previously weren't done with enough care in half of the dishes and it was over-priced for the mediocre quality food in their dainty portions. Fortunately my latest venture here showed me how good this place can get on certain days!

*******************
Mini Gazpacho:

This was refreshing and chilled.

Caperberries (Large):

Again Tapeo ran out of their Spanish imported Piquillo Peppers and I guess Japanese substitutes won't do? This would pair perfectly with a Cava or a Dry fino/manzanilla apart from the Jamon's, although I ordered a white Spanish wine that day.

Gambas Al Ajillo:

Garlic Prawns cooked with a bit of chili flakes, paprika and garlic pieces. This was a disappointing dish and I remembered the same from a previous visit. It was very olive oil oily, which I don't mind if it was bubbling hot and aromatic, but in this rendition it was missing that aroma from both oil and prawns or even garlic. It just didn't felt fiery or bold enough to be true to its Spanish authenticity. A mildly boring interpretation?


Crispy Pork Belly with Quince Alioli:

When cooked by the headchef, this was amazingly addictive. Without the overly hard crunchy crackling suffered before, nor the slight meat dryness, this time it was perfectly re-heated in the pan from its pre-roasted form. The quince paste with alioli mayonnaise is a little too sweet for the saltiness of the pork and could have had more garlicky taste, I suggest eating them separately as being equally enjoyable!


Chorizo & Spinach Tortilla:

This has obviously CHANGED from its previous guise. The size nowdays is 2 sizes bigger by default despite a similar price. The inside is more moist and with angular cut potato chunks. Due to the larger skillet this is cooked/baked in, it seems to have trouble holding its shape properly, but looking past this slightly 'watery' flaw it has improved tremendously in taste.

Duck Breast with Pear Puree, Pedro Ximenez, Spice and Gravy:

This was slightly an anti-climate similar to the prawns above. The Duck meat was slightly too chewy, non-crispy skin also failing to melt in your mouth. The sweet sherry reduction and the pear pieces & puree with a bit of spice and savoury gravy was a very balanced act. I honestly think this dish has a lot of potential, if only the duck was done more perfectly tender. Fingers crossed for next time.

Apple Tart:

Expecting the Santiago Almond Tart from its looks, this was indeed an apple tart for lunch. Quite good.

********************
No photos from the night meals, sorry.
Its not practical to expect the best chef to cook for you all the time, but amongst the Tapeo and Mrs Jones group, etc, I do find that certain chefs in the kitchen need to be trained to a more consistently higher standard.
That's certainly what me and my friends found at BOTH venues on prior occasions and what's keeping us away from returning on a more regular basis, but having seen the TRUE POTENTIAL of this place now, we wish it could keep it at this enviable level everytime. I guess they don't need my comments nor my business anyway haha since they're so busy, but do remember, I pay for my meals. Regardless, the prawns dish should really undergo some tweaking as it has room for improvement.
Shot Size Gazpacho! Appetising..
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Spanish Caperberries are a Necessity...!
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Garlic Prawns Needs Reformulating. Tortilla @ Back
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Good: Chorizo-Spinach Tortilla slightly too Wet
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Pork Belly Amazing this Day, but not on Others..
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OK: Sauce and Garnishes Good. Duck is Tough!
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Narrow Baked Appled Tart
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Lightly Refreshing Casa Solar Viura.
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(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Recommended Dishes
Shot Size Gazpacho! Appetising..
Spanish Caperberries are a Necessity...!
Good: Chorizo-Spinach Tortilla slightly too Wet
Pork Belly Amazing this Day, but not on Others..
Narrow Baked Appled Tart
Lightly Refreshing Casa Solar Viura.
  • pork belly
Level1
2
0
2010-01-25 15 views
I walk by Tapeo everyday after work on my way home. I've been wanting to go there for some time already. Finally, I went there for dinner last Friday. I like the atmosphere and didn't mind the "backless" stools. But I was not very impressed with the food in general. I think 3 out of 6 tapas that I ordered were too salty. May be they want their customers to drink more wine? I think tapas in general should have very strong flavors ... but adding a lot of salt to it doesn't make food served on a sm
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I walk by Tapeo everyday after work on my way home. I've been wanting to go there for some time already. Finally, I went there for dinner last Friday. I like the atmosphere and didn't mind the "backless" stools. But I was not very impressed with the food in general. I think 3 out of 6 tapas that I ordered were too salty. May be they want their customers to drink more wine? I think tapas in general should have very strong flavors ... but adding a lot of salt to it doesn't make food served on a small plate "tapas"...

I had: Seared scallops (scallops were nice, but don't know why they added these overly vinegrette-y mushtooms on top and ruined the dish), 36-months jamon (can't really go wrong w/ this one), chorizo tortilla (this was a bit salty), crispy pork belly (the skin wasn't crispy enough but the sauce was a nice surprise), ham croquetas (this was the one that wasn't salty and was just right --> very creamy filling), and finally meatballs (good sauce and it tasted fine, but c'mon ... I don't know if meatballs really qualifies as a tapa)

Hope others will find this useful. I think I will go back there for the tortilla, croquetas, and give the Roast Chicken a go (didn't try it this time.) But the other stuff that others raved about on this site ... just aren't worth it.

For u drinkers out there, they have a nice selection of affordable & drinkable wines by the glass.

Our bill came out to $800 for 6 tapas and 4 glasses of wine. Reasonable ... but just a bit salty ...
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2010-01-22
Spending Per Head
$400 (Dinner)
Recommended Dishes
  • Ham croquetas
  • Tortilla
Level2
10
0
2009-12-15 8 views
It has been two weeks since we were there for dinner. But I still long for the crispy pork now. Plan to go there to sample it again (maybe during the Christmas weekend?!) Some of the food we had (sorry, it has been a while that I cannot remember exactly what are the name of the dishes): crispy pork belly, octopus, prawn, monk with rice, duck breast, tortilla, and desserts - rice pudding and churros.Definitely love the pork belly, it's very nicely roasted almost like the Chinese roast meat. Not t
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It has been two weeks since we were there for dinner. But I still long for the crispy pork now. Plan to go there to sample it again (maybe during the Christmas weekend?!)


Some of the food we had (sorry, it has been a while that I cannot remember exactly what are the name of the dishes): crispy pork belly, octopus, prawn, monk with rice, duck breast, tortilla, and desserts - rice pudding and churros.

Definitely love the pork belly, it's very nicely roasted almost like the Chinese roast meat. Not too fat, just nice with a little fat and lean meat together. There is also some yummy sauce to go with it, too!

Personally, I am not a big fan of octopus. We order it because it is highly recommended by the waitress, and my friends seem to like it. Surprisingly, it is really tasty and not so rubbery as the normal cooked octopus.

Another favourite of mine is the monk with rice. Fish tasted great and the rice is very delicious! I would have another serving if my friends did not stop me.


On the other hand, duck breast and tortilla were a bit disappointing. It is not that they do not taste good but they were just nothing special.

Lastly, love the desserts. Haven't had rice pudding for a long time because I haven't found anywhere in HK which serves it. Churros are served with chocolate sauce - very yummy and not too sweet too!

Services were not bad but not very enthusiastic.

The setting is like a bar. Customers need to sit around the bar area (there is no separate table). I think there are only about 30 seatings. Reservation is recommendated.
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2009-11-28
Type of Meal
Dinner
Recommended Dishes
  • pork belly
  • monk with rice
  • rice pudding and churros
Level3
77
0
要找處輕食地點與好友談點事,看過食友們在這裡拍下的靚靚照片,就給自己個藉口試試這裡的西班牙Tapas。五至七點半的時間有Happy Hr 套餐,伯伍拾圓包兩款Tapas 及一杯飲品,對西班牙菜認識不深,幸好菜式不複雜,想吃的西班牙薯仔蛋餅Tortilla、蒜油浸蝦Gambas Pil Pil 在「餐紙」不難找到,惜人少只能選四款小品,想了想就叫個「Can't Resist」的西班牙脆豬腩Crispy Belly with Qunince Alioli 最一款是招呼朋友的火腿煮大蜆Clams, Ham and Sherry。蝦是煎過再淋上蒜片油,蒜片光鮮靚仔,蒜油香味自然不會好得那裡,幸好蝦肉新鮮爽嫩,味道親民易入口。火腿煮大蜆,簡單但很有市場價值一味,蜆是本地蜆,少肉但難得無沙好吃。招牌的西班牙脆豬腩,五十元兩件當然不會是西班牙豬,兩層肥兩層瘦的腩肉入口鬆軟,脂肪半融化的甘腴是幾難另人抗拒的,伴以豆蓉加上芥末做的甜酸醬,蘸以豬腩肉吃,當然美味。埋單$300,是經濟又吃得滿意的Happy Hr。日子雖難過,但談了大半句鐘,心情也好多了,高興的接過手信,是一塊精美的芝士板,謝謝好友的美意。
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要找處輕食地點與好友談點事,看過食友們在這裡拍下的靚靚照片,就給自己個藉口試試這裡的西班牙Tapas。

五至七點半的時間有Happy Hr 套餐,伯伍拾圓包兩款Tapas 及一杯飲品,對西班牙菜認識不深,幸好菜式不複雜,想吃的西班牙薯仔蛋餅Tortilla、蒜油浸蝦Gambas Pil Pil 在「餐紙」不難找到,惜人少只能選四款小品,想了想就叫個「Can't Resist」的西班牙脆豬腩Crispy Belly with Qunince Alioli 最一款是招呼朋友的火腿煮大蜆Clams, Ham and Sherry。

蝦是煎過再淋上蒜片油,蒜片光鮮靚仔,蒜油香味自然不會好得那裡,幸好蝦肉新鮮爽嫩,味道親民易入口。

火腿煮大蜆,簡單但很有市場價值一味,蜆是本地蜆,少肉但難得無沙好吃。

招牌的西班牙脆豬腩,五十元兩件當然不會是西班牙豬,兩層肥兩層瘦的腩肉入口鬆軟,脂肪半融化的甘腴是幾難另人抗拒的,伴以豆蓉加上芥末做的甜酸醬,蘸以豬腩肉吃,當然美味。

埋單$300,是經濟又吃得滿意的Happy Hr。

日子雖難過,但談了大半句鐘,心情也好多了,高興的接過手信,是一塊精美的芝士板,謝謝好友的美意。

More snap-write@
http://foodxfile.blogspot.com/2009/09/3.html
材料所限,蜆是很一般。
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豬腩肉肉嫩有油甘,是真的很難Resist!
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豬腩肉肉嫩有油甘,是真的很難Resist!
  • 西班牙脆豬腩
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2009-10-24 5 views
Follow Geoff's Twitchen: http://geoffstwitchen.blogspot.com/ Follow Geoff's Twitchen Fan Page on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Geoffs-Twitchen/128763959419?ref=tsWandering around Wyndham Street can always turn out to be quite a fun activity during lunch hours as there are restaurants in each & every single block with busy executives munching & drinking their way at speed of lightning to make their way back to office by 2pm. Typical lunch, I was doing my usual patrol around the hood an
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Follow Geoff's Twitchen: http://geoffstwitchen.blogspot.com/

Follow Geoff's Twitchen Fan Page on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Geoffs-Twitchen/128763959419?ref=ts

Wandering around Wyndham Street can always turn out to be quite a fun activity during lunch hours as there are restaurants in each & every single block with busy executives munching & drinking their way at speed of lightning to make their way back to office by 2pm. Typical lunch, I was doing my usual patrol around the hood and I decided to pay a visit to this little spot TAPEO which is not the easiest place to notice.

What appealed me was that first of all, something about Open Kitchens that really excites me as I love the smell of fresh food being grilled, cooked, deep fried, sauteed etc and a team of chefs preparing all the food for the diners. Tapeo is a very interesting. Look at the wonderful photos below and especially the very smokey photo of the mackerals being grilled, for me, that is the best part of culinary adventures is to see professional chefs doing their magic! At Tapeo, whatever you order, the chefs will prepare all your orders in front of you (aside from the desserts) and the only downside is that the ventilation system must be improved as I left the restaurant with a very strong smell of grilled food which is not the best!

First of all, I want to share with you all the best part of the meal which was the Jamon Serrano - a dry cured Spanish ham served raw in slices also known as Mountain Ham. Traditionally, the hams are trimmed & thinly sliced, best served in room temperature. Do not be mistaken with the Jamon Serrano with the Jamon Iberico as it is an entirely different breed and Jamon Iberico is also much more expensive. Originally, the Jamon Serrano was meant to be for "tasting" but somehow, we ended up finishing the whole platter as the taste was purely savoury & divine. For $98 per platter at Tapeo, this is not a bad deal at all

Now, on the rest of the meal, want to share with you the best part of the meal:

Pulpo a La Gallega - Gently Confit Octopus with Capers & Paprika - This is one of the 10 dishes to try when you are travelling in Spain and is Galicia's signature dish. The octopus was slowly braised for 3-4 hours and cooked & reheated in virgin olive oil with a mixture of Spanish sea-salt, paprika & capers. This was my favourite dish of the day as the it is very difficult that the texture of the octopus is so tender & chewy and it was a special dish at Tapeo. (See recipe - http://gospain.about.com/od/fooddrink/ss/topspanishfood_2.htm)

Lamb with Tomato & Spices - Grilled Lamb with Cayenne Pepper, Paprika & Chilli - The lamb is slowly grilled and is served in skewers along with halved cherry tomatoes. The flavour of the spices was extremely fragrant and the flavour of the lamb is alsy very strong. The combination of cayenne pepper, paprika & chilli gave this dish an extra kick for sure and this is a perfect snack to pair with an ice-cold beer after-work. Despite the positive side of this dish, priced at $68 for 2 skewers, perhaps 2 more skewers shall justify.

Crispy Pork Belly with Quince Alioli - Slowly roasted pork with a Quince Garlic Mayonnaise - This was also a typical Spanish Tapas served and watching the fat slab of the pork belly being slowly roasted was a good source of entertainment. The flavours & the smell coming from the open kitchen is something that every foodie should be drooling over. Never have been a big fan of Pork ever in my life but since it was highly recommended by the chef, I gave this dish a shot and to my surprise, I enjoyed very bite of it asit wasnt extremely oily & fatty that I thought it would be. The pork belly was extremely crispy which was the best part of it. The Quince Alioli - in simple terms - an apple garlic mayonnaise which to my palate was a good pairing with the pork belly but for a garlic lover like myself, my advice for Tapeo is, please more garlic as the garlic mayo isnt very garlic flavoured.

Other dishes which we also tried out was the Gazpacho - cold Spanish Tomato based raw vegetable soup which as originated from the southern region of Andalucia. a very refreshing cold "soup" to start off your meal for sure especially in the heat of Hong Kong. The bread basket was also very fresh & warm and the mix of warm bread & ice-cold Gazpacho provided an interesting chemistry.

Chorizo & Tomato - Sauteed in sherry vinegar, parsley & spring onions. I have never been a fan of Spanish Chorizo as the texture is far too similar to the Chinese Dried Sausauges (Lap Chuen 臘腸) therefore I am definitely not too keen on this dish. The sauce of the dish was tasty and best for your bread dipping and my recommendation is more parsley should be chopped & used in this dish for a stronger intensive flavour

Manchego Cheese & Honey - This should have been a starter in the traditional Spanish cuisine but however, I decided to eat this as a dessert. Manchego Cheese is a sheep's milk cheese, produced in the La Mancha region of Spain. Normally aged for 3 months or longer, this cheese has a very sharp taste, slightly salty but not too strong, similar to a feta cheese. Traditional method in consuming Manchego Cheese is to serve on toasted bread with drizzled olive oil - AHHHH -- these Spanish people do know how to eat like a king! Cheese & Honey pairing is a interesting pairing but again, I normally prefer my cheese with some form of carbs therefore this dish can be improved if some sort of bread or crackers are served together.

It was a very plesant experience to have a relaxing lunch in the middle of Central. Friendly & courteous service and it definitely has that home-feeling especially staff tries to strike a conversation every now & then. Food is hearty & very well presented with good flavours especially the open kitchen is a joy whilst you are waiting your food. However, the ventilation system must be improved and should also consider about enlarging some of the portion sizes as the Hong Kongers may find the portion size a little too small even though it is meant to be a Tapas. Aside from two minor issues, I do recommend this venue to my readers and I shall also revisit this place duly!

Happy Eating!
Geoff
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2009-10-16
Spending Per Head
$100
Recommended Dishes
  • Tapas
Level3
30
0
2009-10-16 11 views
tapeo, a spanish word that means "art of tapas", is your friendly around-the-corner bustling bar-restaurant that is definitely no place for the uptight pretentious diners who worry about smoking their cashmere coat. i've always done dinner/drinks at tapeo and it's my first time having lunch here, so it'd be interesting to see if there is any difference.tapeo belongs to a F&B group that also owns mrs. jones (which serves very nice homey italian food, to be reviewed later), frites, and box thai. t
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tapeo, a spanish word that means "art of tapas", is your friendly around-the-corner bustling bar-restaurant that is definitely no place for the uptight pretentious diners who worry about smoking their cashmere coat. i've always done dinner/drinks at tapeo and it's my first time having lunch here, so it'd be interesting to see if there is any difference.

tapeo belongs to a F&B group that also owns mrs. jones (which serves very nice homey italian food, to be reviewed later), frites, and box thai. tapeo kitchen is headed by chef aiden harley burn, who previously worked at the michelin-starred adare manor in ireland and tom aikens in london. it features a list of exclusive spanish wines and 36-month old jamon, andalusian pigs fed only on acorns. the restaurant is open-kitchen style with about 20 rooted bar stools (think sushi bar), so you get to watch the action while waiting for food.

orange gazpacho: there is nothing more refreshing in summertime than a cold gazpacho - blended tomatoes with cumin, cucumbers and cantaloupes. the gazpachos i usually have do not use cantaloupes, whereas the orange gazpachos at tapeo use a high mix of cantaloupes, which gives a sweeter taste and creamier texture (like pumpkin soup).

salad: sliced carrots with onions and cabbage

sauteed mushroom: this is one of my favorites at tapeo (besides patatas bravas). it smelled so good that i almost didn't want to eat it so that i could keep inhaling. it's a tasty dish with mushroom sauteed in garlic.

Prawns: prawns sauteed with onions garlic and red pepper. a very flavorful dish and prawns were actually quite crispy!

Duck breast: second time ordering this dish and it was very much overcooked... again.

rice pudding: a delicious arroz con leche with the right amount of lemon to take away the distinctive milk stink and just a dash of cinnamon to bring out sweetness but not too arrogant.

we also had the classic tortilla and chicken catalan style, but shamefully i was carried away in our conversation and forgot to take photos. the tortilla was very homestyle and had a slightly higher mix of egg than normal, so overall it was not as starchy. the thyme gave a very nice aroma. the catalan chicken was very tender and juicy, but it was NOT catalan style at all... i couldn't taste any wine.

one thing i like about tapeo is its consistency - the dishes that i like never disappoint me e.g., sauteed mushroom, patatas bravas, pork belly (it's very fattening but who cares - it has a nice crisp skin and very tender meat), tortilla. on the other hand, dishes that the restaurant never masters in show up bad everytime i give it another chance e.g., duck breast, grilled sardines, and almost any fish dish on the menu. usually if you stick to fried food in this restaurant, you will not be disappointed. it is not an authentic spanish tapas, rather it's like a mix of italian/australian cooking style bar food with spanish names. but if you are looking for nice bar food and good vibe, this is definitely a go-to restaurant.

another word about service - everyone from restaurant manager to chef to servers are nothing less than extremely friendly and helpful. even during peak hours when the place was bustling like a NYSE trading floor, the staffs will try to strike a conversation (i guess they are bored too?) and make their customers feel at home. after your first visit, your face is remembered (a waitress even reserved my favorite seat!) and will be welcomed like an old friend.

original post with pictures: http://randomnomad.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/tapeo/
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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2009-07-03
二月十二‧冷雨夜 之前來吃過一次午餐,感覺上是可以再來一次,就約多幾隻腳來吃,一早預留了餐廳後邊的位置,免卻人來人往之礙,切合吃tapas的輕鬆隨意。 選了生力生啤,大好星期五,喝口啤酒,確實是比較順意。 一行8人,是個吃tapas的好人數,可以吃多幾款東西,先來兩款風乾火腿,白豬腿及黑豬腿也要了來吃。切得一「忽忽」的,有點失望。吃起來,白豬軟熟一點,黑腿則較有咬口,味道亦層次豐富,雖然賣貴一倍,但始終一分錢一分貨,還是黑毛豬腿好吃得多; 也來幾味海鮮。沙甸魚煎得都夠香口,連骨也可以一起吃掉;魷魚味道不錯,蜆也美味,沒有沙的,鮮美可口;Ham Croquetas也是大家都喜歡吃的一味,這裡卻做成金黃色的「炸蛋」,奶油及火腿味道濃郁,是十分好吃的一味;也來一客Tortilla及燒豬腩,是上次吃過的菠菜血腸tortilla,兩者皆好吃; 吃tapas當然不會飽肚,酒過二巡,大家決定再轉去下站,去吃布丁是也。 埋單一千多,雖然第二次來,食物水準是比預期中要低了一點,但在忙碌完一周的周五,可以跟朋友們吃吃喝喝,不錯。 等齊幾位朋友,冒著大雨,朝蘇豪進發。有興趣看足本食評及全部的食物相片,請來我
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二月十二‧冷雨夜

之前來吃過一次午餐,感覺上是可以再來一次,就約多幾隻腳來吃,一早預留了餐廳後邊的位置,免卻人來人往之礙,切合吃tapas的輕鬆隨意。

選了生力生啤,大好星期五,喝口啤酒,確實是比較順意。

一行8人,是個吃tapas的好人數,可以吃多幾款東西,先來兩款風乾火腿,白豬腿及黑豬腿也要了來吃。切得一「忽忽」的,有點失望。吃起來,白豬軟熟一點,黑腿則較有咬口,味道亦層次豐富,雖然賣貴一倍,但始終一分錢一分貨,還是黑毛豬腿好吃得多;

也來幾味海鮮。沙甸魚煎得都夠香口,連骨也可以一起吃掉;魷魚味道不錯,也美味,沒有沙的,鮮美可口;Ham Croquetas也是大家都喜歡吃的一味,這裡卻做成金黃色的「炸蛋」,奶油及火腿味道濃郁,是十分好吃的一味;也來一客Tortilla及燒豬腩,是上次吃過的菠菜血腸tortilla,兩者皆好吃;

吃tapas當然不會飽肚,酒過二巡,大家決定再轉去下站,去吃布丁是也。

埋單一千多,雖然第二次來,食物水準是比預期中要低了一點,但在忙碌完一周的周五,可以跟朋友們吃吃喝喝,不錯。

等齊幾位朋友,冒著大雨,朝蘇豪進發。

有興趣看足本食評及全部的食物相片,請來我的網誌:

www.gourmetkc.blogspot.com
火腿是tapas必選的一味
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半開放式廚房,可以見到廚師在忙碌工作
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喝啤酒的好時光
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鮮美的蜆
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(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Recommended Dishes
火腿是tapas必選的一味
半開放式廚房,可以見到廚師在忙碌工作
喝啤酒的好時光
鮮美的蜆
  • Ham Croquetas,Tortilla,燒豬腩,蜆
Level4
165
0
間中便有craving想飲sangria. 見開飯這兒好評多,便與友人訂位一試.還好有訂位,原來餐廳細小得很,酒吧式設計. 起初一踏進餐廳,本貓還以為分酒吧區及用餐區. 待被帶到吧枱近末端,才知已一眼看盡全場. 加上open kitchen而抽煙系統一般,勁油煙.到坐好後二話不說立即叫sangria,誰知店長物體說sangri只在星期日供應!簡直晴天霹靂!但見假期前夕,其他地方未必有位,便既來之則安之吧.便由店長介紹一些果味重的白酒.二人點了:1.garlic prawns: 蝦雖不大,但新鮮味道好.2.tuna & potato salad: 醬汁非一般mayo,帶點微辣,好味!3.clams in sherry: 鮮而味美.4.pork belly: 炸得脆脆但肉質香,配蘋果蒜頭mayo,一流.5.chorizo & spinach tortilla: 肉腸菠菜薯仔餅,夠香口.6.jamon iberico 10g: 油香足,味道不用多說.7.bread + olive oil+ white wine x4 glasses地方小(只適合2-3人)油煙勁份量亦的式,但食物質素的確好.
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間中便有craving想飲sangria. 見開飯這兒好評多,便與友人訂位一試.

還好有訂位,原來餐廳細小得很,酒吧式設計. 起初一踏進餐廳,本貓還以為分酒吧區及用餐區. 待被帶到吧枱近末端,才知已一眼看盡全場. 加上open kitchen而抽煙系統一般,勁油煙.到坐好後二話不說立即叫sangria,誰知店長物體說sangri只在星期日供應!簡直晴天霹靂!但見假期前夕,其他地方未必有位,便既來之則安之吧.便由店長介紹一些果味重的白酒.

二人點了:
1.garlic prawns: 蝦雖不大,但新鮮味道好.
2.tuna & potato salad: 醬汁非一般mayo,帶點微辣,好味!
3.clams in sherry: 鮮而味美.
4.pork belly: 炸得脆脆但肉質香,配蘋果蒜頭mayo,一流.
5.chorizo & spinach tortilla: 肉腸菠菜薯仔餅,夠香口.
6.jamon iberico 10g: 油香足,味道不用多說.
7.bread + olive oil

+ white wine x4 glasses

地方小(只適合2-3人)油煙勁份量亦的式,但食物質素的確好.雖人多但招呼仍不錯,特別欣賞店長夠細心,難怪客人不絕.可惜是晚欠缺sangria....

此為遲來的生日飯,所以本貓可以不出分文(埋單$7xx)... hehe

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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2009-06-30
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61
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2009-06-08 5 views
My friend loves spanish tapas, we went to this place last Saturday for celebrating her birthday. The place is tiny and only has a long bar table. We reserved for 2 seats at 8pm. When we arrived, we took the last 2 seats and did not have to wait. We started the night with 2 Rioja, red, it was fruity as expected and went well with the food we ordered later. It took us a few minutes to go throught the menu, everything looked very delicious, at last we ordered the following:- Sauteed Mushrooms- Extr
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My friend loves spanish tapas, we went to this place last Saturday for celebrating her birthday.

The place is tiny and only has a long bar table. We reserved for 2 seats at 8pm. When we arrived, we took the last 2 seats and did not have to wait.

We started the night with 2 Rioja, red, it was fruity as expected and went well with the food we ordered later.

It took us a few minutes to go throught the menu, everything looked very delicious, at last we ordered the following:

- Sauteed Mushrooms- Extremely tasty, it's a mixed of mushrooms and garlic, the aroma is strong and the taste is distinct.


Braised Lamb- 2 small lamb kebabs, the lamb was very juicy and tender.


Pork Belly- The skin is crispy and the honey mayonnaise is tasty. However, we found the meet is a bit too dry. To us, it's only OK.


Fried Sardine- very classic dish of tapas, the Sardine is quite fresh and with the special garlic and peper souce, the souce spiced the taste up.


Bread -- not very special, but it tastes good if you dipped them into different sources.

Squid -- Very tender and tasty! One of the best I evered had. A must try item!


Frankly, the food is good and will go again. However, I think I will even go a bit earlier next time because at the end of my dinner, which was around 9pm, people started to come in and waited around you... I felt a bit uncomfortable. However, their service and food were really good so we finished up fast.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2009-06-06
Spending Per Head
$300 (Dinner)
Recommended Dishes
  • Sauteed Mushrooms
  • Squid in Galic Source
Level4
My friend and I were looking for tapas in Central and we chanced upon this very open and welcoming place. And the coolest part is, you get to watch your food being prepared, which is pure entertainment in itself.We took advantage of the $150 for 2 tapas and a glass of wine offer which ends at 7pm ( we arrived at 6:55pm). The house white was easy on the palate and went down well with the light dishes we ordered.We tried the octopus which came in a light and seasoned olive oil dressing, the octopu
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My friend and I were looking for tapas in Central and we chanced upon this very open and welcoming place. And the coolest part is, you get to watch your food being prepared, which is pure entertainment in itself.

We took advantage of the $150 for 2 tapas and a glass of wine offer which ends at 7pm ( we arrived at 6:55pm). The house white was easy on the palate and went down well with the light dishes we ordered.

We tried the octopus which came in a light and seasoned olive oil dressing, the octopus was meaty and fresh, not chewy at all unlike some squidy counterparts served in your average restaurant. The palm heart salad was very refreshing, it was something we've not tried before, iand came across as a hybrid between chinese bamboo shoots and artichokes. The salad was accompanied with fresh herby greens, fennel and orange slices. The grilled lamb chops were artfully done in front of us, and boy was it done to perfection, juicy tender but not bloody (as requested by my friend). Finally the duck breast was served with a balsamic dressing and some sweet tasting condiment which we never figured out what it was... should have asked the waiter.

Speaking of the waiters, they were all pleasantly friendly and cheerful. Normally you can order bread with olive oil, but since we didn't, they automatically gave us fresh crusty bread (with refills). Aw. And prompt refills of lemon-flavour cold water (no insistence on bottled water at all). And when we politely declined the churros because we were quite full, out came a plate of churros with chocolate sauce on the house!

It was mildly noisy when the restaurant filled up, but it was more background noise and one wouldn't need to shout to be heard. Only probem is if you come in and there're no seats, you'll just have to stand around and wait.
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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2009-04-22
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$160 (Dinner)
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34
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2009-05-10 17 views
We wanted to try the various Spanish wines there were on offer - me, the rioja freak lol, got my wish with the navajas crianza and a white montecillo. The red was impressive with its oaky taste, the white had character but was somewhat "muted". As with a lot of bars in Hong Kong, they were not generous with the pouring which was quite disappointing given that these wines are relatively cheap. Food portions also suffered the same generosity problem, with only 2 pieces of pork belly and sardines s
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We wanted to try the various Spanish wines there were on offer - me, the rioja freak lol, got my wish with the navajas crianza and a white montecillo. The red was impressive with its oaky taste, the white had character but was somewhat "muted". As with a lot of bars in Hong Kong, they were not generous with the pouring which was quite disappointing given that these wines are relatively cheap. Food portions also suffered the same generosity problem, with only 2 pieces of pork belly and sardines served per dish (around $58 to $68 range) and the extra portion being an additional $30 a pop.

Food (in order of yummiliciousness):

(1) Pork belly - best of the evening, succulent and crispy at the same time

(2) Sardines - Grilled to a nice perfection with some chillies and still with a hint of moisture.

(3) Tortilla - we had the chorizo and spinach and it fell apart a bit but was tasty.

(4) Lamb - on skewers with halved cherry tomatoes, they had some pesto (?) on it. Very much bit-size.

(5) Gazpacho - nostalgic value for me, it was refreshing but smooth enough for my taste.

(6) Chorizo - I am usually not a fan but it did not have the over-saltiness and was good with bread.

(7) Clams - I am not a big fan either but they had a nice rich creamy taste although the portion was pitiful.

(8) Green pepper salad - worst of the evening, the portion was inhospitable lol and unappetizing.

I had booked a table but there is none in the tiny premises - it would have been nice if the staff has explained that place only had a bar (this I knew from reading one of the reviews on OR). The bar seat was not too comfortable, the leg room between the end of the seat and the bar was very short, there was nowhere to hang your bag and I got a bit of a sore lower back from it sitting there for 2 hours.

Service was mostly of the no-nonsense type, although the french-italian manager tried to make some convo, but otherwise the bar staff were very busy, and started to clear our cultlery and place mats once we stopped ordering for a while towards the end. We felt that they were in a hurry to clear us out for the people waiting behind.

Overall, an OK experience since the wine was the main focus for me. A place try if you are curious about Spanish wine and food, but in terms of comfort and ambience Uno Mas is probably a much safer bet.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2009-05-08
Spending Per Head
$320 (Breakfast)
Recommended Dishes
  • pork belly
  • sardines
  • chorizo and spinach tortilla
Level3
75
1
2009-04-13 5 views
Came here for lunch - because it was a public holiday today they did not offer the $100 lunch set, but normally you can get soup (gazpacho),2 tapas & dessert for just a red note (plus service charge) superb deal indeed! tapas are prepared right infront of you as soon as you order so hot dishes are always served still sizzling hot. We first had the squid (pulpo a la galega) which was tossed in a delicious olive oil with hints of paprika, topped with just the right amount of parsley. The squid it
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Came here for lunch - because it was a public holiday today they did not offer the $100 lunch set, but normally you can get soup (gazpacho),2 tapas & dessert for just a red note (plus service charge)
superb deal indeed! tapas are prepared right infront of you as soon as you order so hot dishes are always served still sizzling hot.
We first had the squid (pulpo a la galega) which was tossed in a delicious olive oil with hints of paprika, topped with just the right amount of parsley. The squid itself wasn't the sweetest to be found, but was tender & easy to eat with a good crunch.
Then arrived the sauteed mushrooms which smelled GORGEOUS while they were being cooked - so gorgeous that the taste didn't quite match up with the smell even though it tasted pretty good anyway. Maybe worth an order just for the aromatic experience
I then had the crispy pork belly which also smelled great and was extra tasty dipped in the quince aioli that came with it.
The chorizo & spinach tortilla provided a nice portion of starch in the meal - because the bread was not of very good quality. I regretted ordering the plain bread (which came with olive oil) after the first bite. However the clams cooked in sherry, probably my favourite tapas today, were plump and flavourful. The little pieces of ham complimented the clam's sweetness very well and I almost wanted to drink the garlic-y sherry-based sauce. Indeed I did consume as much of the sauce as I could by dipping that bad quality bread in it - the bread wasn't so much to regret about after all.

Had a good lunch here, will come again!

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chorizo & spinach tortilla
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squid
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sauteed mushrooms
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pork belly
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clams in sherry & ham
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(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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Date of Visit
2009-04-13
Spending Per Head
$160
Recommended Dishes
chorizo & spinach tortilla
squid
sauteed mushrooms
pork belly
clams in sherry & ham
  • clams in sherry sauce