A hint of the sun and I’m immediately craving the flavours and climate of the Mediterranean. Thankfully, there is a restaurant in Edinburgh that can provide a thoroughly authentic Spanish dining experience without breaking the bank, and, for a frugal foodie, their 50% off Thursday Club is not to be missed.
Opened in 2009 by Dan and Greig, Tapa is a well-established favourite, just tucked away off The Shore. The concept is to bring Spain to Leith, drawing on the very best the country has to offer in terms of ingredients and recipes, and taking inspiration from both fine dining restaurants and informal roadside ventas.
On a suitably warm Thursday evening, the place is buzzing. The tapas offering is varied and inspired by different regions in Spain, with dishes ranging from a fiver for patatas bravas, up to £36 for a large platter of Iberian black pig products and Manchego cheese.
Understandably, the Iberian ham is not available on the 50% off offer, but everything else on the menu is, including the restaurant’s range of Iberian pork steaks.
Dan explains the motivation behind the deal:
"We started The Thursday Club in June 2022 as our way of giving back to the customers that had supported us through lockdown – be that by generously buying a Crowdfunder voucher for a future experience or by visiting our Pop Up Paella Shack, La Bodega de Tapa.”
"It's an incredible deal that we genuinely love because it contributes to an evening in which the restaurant is redolent with that seductive Spanish bar experience – the hustle, bustle and animated conversation, all conducted over incredible food and drink- that's so evocative of many of our trips to Iberian peninsula!"
From the meat options, we choose the Carrilladas, beautifully tender and rich slow-cooked Iberian black pig cheeks with crispy kale and manchego cheese & truffle oil infused polenta, and the Secreto, chargrilled pork steak, well-balanced with Salsa de Romesco (an almond, roasted garlic & tomato sauce from Catalunya). From the veggie section, we add Espárragos y Cebolletas, earthy and lightly charred asparagus spears & whole spring onions.
The fish options all look good, but I can’t see past the Fritura de Pez Sapo (panko encrusted monkfish with mojo pico, a paprika sauce from the Canary Islands), the Prawn and Squid Ink Croquetas, and Sea Bass Ceviche with fresh coriander, red onion, mango & pomegranate. The first two are very tasty but the ceviche stands out, the flaky, tender fish bursting with bright, zesty flavours and perfect for summer.
As usual, we have over-ordered, but thanks to the Thursday offer, this indulgent feast comes in at less than £20 per head.
Every dish is well-balanced and transportive – you can almost feel the sea breeze from the Med. This is compounded by the drinks list, a range of well-chosen cocktails, sangrias, beers, Spanish gins and wines, many of which I have never seen before. However, it is the sherries that really evoke holidays in Andalucia, and we pair an exceptional, specially sourced Pedro Ximenez with an excellent Tarta de Queso de San Sebastián to finish.
For a taste of Spain without getting on a plane, I strongly recommend a visit to Tapa.
Tapa - 19 Shore Place, Edinburgh, EH6 6SW - 0131 476 6776
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