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| - Once upon a time, I ate my way through Barcelona. Even managed to see a thing or two, but mostly ate. Fast forward from then through every other meal I've had that claimed to be Catalan style tapas, and we can count on a few fingers how many got it right. After Jaleo, I can happily add one more to the count.
Not so subtly tucked away on the third floor of the Cosmo in what I call restaurant row for the God, you'll find Jaleo. This place was mobbed and lively. Not an open seat anywhere in the house, but we did manage to get seated on time for our reservation.
Service here was friendly and attentive, and our waitress made some suggestions of a few favorites to help the nearly impossible task of not over ordering. We had a few musts that had to be ordered as well.
Pan con tomate - seriously, the world's most simple dish that proves that with high quality ingredients and the right execution, a few simple ingredients can make a surprisingly magical treat. The bread here is imported from Spain, and the best comparison I can make of the light, airy texture with crispy nooks and crannies, is an English muffin (I mean this in the best way possible). The tomato is grated over the toasted bread and drizzled with a healthy dose of high quality olive oil and flaky salt. This is one of the best renditions of the dish I've had.
Jamon Iberico - not the super expensive guy, but the next one down. It's a full of flavor treat that any fan of salted, cured meats will appreciate. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the cured meats here.
Manchego - I like it when my cheese glistens, and this cheese was glistening. While there are probably more exotic bites on the menu, this is a classic that when sourced from the right place will always be good. Certainly don't mind the $6 price tag either.
Bocadillo de Cachete de Ternera - this one was a little disappointing. What you have here sounds so sexy on paper (wagyu beef cheeks), but really comes out like a pulled short rib slider. It's good, but forgettable at the same time, and not worth the $10 a piece or the room in your stomach.
Gambas al Ajillo - you'll both love this dish and hate this dish. What will you hate? The fact that the dish consists of 5 small shrimp for $18. First glance you wonder where the rest of the shrimp are hiding. What will you love? Eating it. It's absolutely fantastic. The depth of flavor they get from the super thin, flower petal thin slices of garlic and chili is phenomenal. You will be using the bread to get every last drop of oil. No judgement if you lick the bowl.
Rossejat Negra - this is really the dish we came for. It's fideos negra in all its glory. This was my single favorite dish in Barcelona (and at Jaleo) and I've only found one other place stateside that did it justice. The slightly oceany taste of the noodles and the super tender octopus pair perfectly together. You'll not leave a single noodle in the pan here. Just be warned, if you're here on a date, this will turn your mouth black.
Cod Bunuelos - not sure I can fairly judge these... we were more less stuffed by the time they came out. They were super light and crispy, with a very soft and creamy inside. I just don't think we could really enjoy deep fried creamy fish balls past the point of being overly full.
Overall, extremely pleased with the meal here and the quality of nearly everything we ordered. Top 3 items for me were the gambas, the pan con tomate, and the rossejat. At $188 post tax / pre tip for all of the food above and 4 drinks, this actually feels like a pretty reasonable meal in Vegas. This is a must return spot for me next time I'm in Vegas.
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