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| - I went back with a large group, and found a completely different restaurant. Actually, it wasn't so much that the restaurant had changed so much as the atmosphere now made sense. It was a Thursday night and we arrived at 7pm - early enough to beat the bar crowd. We were also seated upstairs, where the tables are a little farther from the bar, so that helped with the noise problem. But I think what really helped me was the realization that this is not the place for a quiet dinner; boisterous groups are a much better fit.
Also a plus, a large group means lots of pitchers of beer. That means trying four or five different brews. When a place has 25 beers on tap, you have to step up to the challenge.
There being ten of us, we had just enough to make the one-of-everything-for-$200 work. It made us all feel pretty swanky. Handling that many plates could be quite the ordeal, but with a couple of fun waiters the chaos was enjoyable. Some of the tapas, such as the cheese plate, are easily split amongst 10 people. But some are not. How do you share a house salad? Any ideas? I never saw how that was resolved, because a constant stream of food kept pulling my attention. The amount of food was just what the 10 of us could handle. The one-of-everything selection probably works for 10-12 Maybe 14 if you aren't too hungry. But there is nothing to stop a larger group from ordering the $200 deal and then adding extra plates of their favorites.
In the end, I probably tried two thirds of their plates. Some I loved (artichoke hearts, flatbreads) some I didn't (lamb popsicles) but I'll know for next time. Speaking of next time, I will certainly be back. I'll just know that this is a place best experienced with many many friends.
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