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| - My last experience was a tapas place was nearly 12 years ago - small, expensive plates, with slow service. I haven't been inclined to try it again.
As a result, I wasn't expecting too much heading to Ibiza, but I was pleasantly surprised with the food. As I pre-gamed the menu selections, I was annoyed that the prices were rather high. Honestly, a $16 tapas plate in the 'burgh is rather extravagant - and when I compare that price to Ken Oringer's Toro, that restaurant offers foie gras or lobster tail for the same price.
The quantity of food, though, was very generous. Of course, you then wonder if you really doing tapas when you can't finish your plate. But, hey, this is America, man, where bigger is better, and the more the merrier. We only had 4 dishes - Mussels, Chorizo, Artichoke Fritters, and a cheese plate - but they were more than enough. The mussels were in a lemon-juice broth, which wasn't as flavorful or rich as those at Park Bruges, but the mussels were big and juicy. The chorizo was a large plate, and when you combined the saltiness of the chorizo, the sweetness of the raisins, and the crunch of the pine nuts and spinach, each bite was a burst of flavor.
I thought service was very good and attentive, although we did eat a bit earlier. While our server was okay, another table behind us had a waitress who gave great detail and explanation of the dishes. When you're trying tapas for the first time, you really hope for some guidance, especially with such a large variety of dishes.
I actually think that this place would be great for a date - granted your date is willing to try new and different foods. If not, perhaps that's your hint to move on! Who wants to date a square?
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