"Old Town" Does No Good for "New" Tapas Spot
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyday was Friday? Well supposedly the tropical island of Eivissa evokes the type of energy where every night out seems like a Friday night celebration. Eivissa, the Catalan name for Ibiza, is known for its summer club parties that attract a ton of tourists and a lot of publicity. It’s no wonder why the owners of the new tapas restaurant Eivissa are attempting to bring that same type of energy to Old Town. The concept sounds cool, but can the new kid on the block pull it off? Maybe for partying, but not so much for the cuisine.
The best thing about Eivissa are their “Islas Baleares” cocktails and “Chupitos” (infused shots). Their standard red sangria is infused with vanilla beans and Ceylon cinnamon for a warm, spicy taste. But after the alcoholic beverages nothing else is memorable, except for their Pinxtos, a unique mixture of morsels on toasted bread. The “Salpicon Aioli”, consisting of different seafood was the winner in this category. Their classical tapas are just average and be sure to order more cocktails to help wash down the dry ”Croquetas De Jamon”. The “Carnes-Meats” section featured a duck and asparagus dish. My advice is to take the asparagus and leave the duck. The dessert menu featured a tart, rice pudding, and a chocolate churro, but I was too disappointed with the service to move on to the next course. Oh, did I mention service? Two words sum up the service. Not good. The communication or lack there of with the server was frustrating. There was no explanation of the menu and dishes were slower than normal to arrive at the table, despite a sparse lunch crowd. The restaurant is nicely designed, but a return visit is necessary to determine the vibe. Eivissa is not a first choice for tapas, but their fabulous drinks may have the Old Town folks sipping libations on their patio throughout the summer.
Eivissa is located at 1531 N. Wells St. Log onto www.eivissachicago.com for more information. Check out Fete Select TV for more restaurant reviews and an inside look into Chicago’s newest and hottest restaurants.Labels: bloomingdales chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dc crenshaw, eivissa chicago, fete select tv, ibiza, infused cocktails, old town, tapas valencia, wells street
South Loop's Taste of Spain
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Chicago's South Loop has had a gradual makeover within the past 10 years. South Wabash has its own restaurant row with hot spots galore lining either side of the street. A new restaurant, Tapas Valencia on South State Street once housed a big sports bar, but the venue recently changed hands and is hoping to attract local customers to taste their version of Spanish cuisine.
Like most tapas places Tapas Valencia boasts a full menu of hot and cold dishes, including soups and salads. However, the satisfaction factor is hit or miss. The small plates that were considered hits or pretty good flavorful dishes were the "Pimiento con Pollo", imported sweet peppers stuffed with chicken salad; the"Pato con Setas", a grilled duck breast on sauteed wild mushrooms and the"Cazuelita de Pollo", featuring a chicken breast casserole with vegetables and cream of pimiento. Tapas that were very average and not that impressive were the "Zarzuela de Mariscos", a casserole of shrimp, clams and scallops and the "Tostadas de Salmon Ahumado", which was a basic smoked salmon and caviar plate. Their version of lobster bisque also missed the mark. The dessert menu has about ten different selections and the standout was the "Tarta de Pera", a pound cake with pear served with caramel sauce and ice cream.
Tapas Valencia is housed in a pretty big space and had an industrial feel that wasn't very inviting. The service was a little shaky, but picked up throughout the evening. Their wine list is extensive and highlights wine from various regions in Spain. Wine flights are available to try along with specialty martinis and red or white sangria. The restaurant may not be a target destination for north siders, but is a good spot for the neighborhood and adds another dining option to the South Loop.
Tapas Valencia is located at 1530 S. State Street in the South Loop. Log onto www.tapasvalencia.com for more information. Watch Fete Select TV on www.efete.net to get and inside look at the newest and best restaurants in Chicago.Labels: chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dc crenshaw, fete select tv, nbc chicago street team, sangria, south loop, south state street, spanish cuisine, spanish wines, tapas valencia
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyday was Friday? Well supposedly the tropical island of Eivissa evokes the type of energy where every night out seems like a Friday night celebration. Eivissa, the Catalan name for Ibiza, is known for its summer club parties that attract a ton of tourists and a lot of publicity. It’s no wonder why the owners of the new tapas restaurant Eivissa are attempting to bring that same type of energy to Old Town. The concept sounds cool, but can the new kid on the block pull it off? Maybe for partying, but not so much for the cuisine.
Post a Comment
<< Home