Most brunch menus feel like an afterthought — a few egg dishes bolted onto a dinner concept to fill weekend seats. Barcelona Wine Bar on Miller Avenue didn’t do that. Their Saturday and Sunday brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and gives you the full tapas menu alongside dishes built specifically for the morning, which means you can order olive oil pancakes with cinnamon butter and a plate of gambas al ajillo at the same time. Nobody is stopping you.
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Cafe Madrid has maintained a steady presence for decades. It serves Spanish cuisine in a way that feels deliberate and approachable, centered on tapas: small plates designed to be shared, sampled, and savored. Tapas began in Spain as simple bites served alongside wine or sherry, evolving over time into a style of dining that values variety, conversation, and the rhythm of the table rather than a single main course.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Set in the State Thomas neighborhood of Uptown Dallas, Si Tapas is more than just a restaurant—it’s a transportive experience that brings the warmth, flavor, and communal joy of Spanish tapas culture to Texas. Since opening its doors in 2009, this intimate and authentically designed eatery has remained a cornerstone for lovers of Spanish cuisine, thanks to its passionate founder, rich culinary vision, and unforgettable dishes.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
In the State Thomas neighborhood of Dallas, Si Tapas stands as a testament to authentic Spanish cuisine and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Since its opening in 2009, Si Tapas has offered a slice of Spain in the heart of Texas, bringing together traditional flavors with a touch of modern flair. The restaurant’s commitment to authenticity is evident in its menu, which features a variety of dishes sourced from different regions of Spain, ensuring a diverse and flavorful dining experience.
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by Steven Doyle
We love our tapas, and probably and remain a bit disappointed that the term is becoming a diluted with the use for anything small. Small plates does not equal tapas. Tapas are these marvelous plated dishes from Spain, and are basically snacks and small meals. Since dinner can be served as late as midnight in Spain, you might find yourself bar hopping and sampling a few items from an array of tapas the bar has on hand that evening.
Most likely you will be served several styles of olives, breads, a bit of slow cooked beef, battered squid, sausages or a tortilla de patatas. The more you drink the better the tapas become.
We do have lovely tapas in Dallas, and very much with traditional recipes. Not free mind you. but delicious none the less. This week we checked into Si Tapas. Continue reading
Filed under Food Truck, fun with food, restaurant news, Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
A night in Trinity Groves always compels me to make at least a pit stop into Casa Rubia, the kicked up tapas restaurant cheffed by James Beard nominated Omar Flores. Last evening was no exception. I sauntered in for a cocktail, but actually walked away with a happy belly full of crab. In this case it was three smallish soft shells that were perched so beautifully on my plate ever so lovely. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
I am pretty much out every night checking on the wining and dining scene in DFW, but do not always have my souped up Sony cam with me. Those are the nights I snap away using my cell phone and often share those pics with the good folks on Facebook. I have over 5,000 photos on my cell, and thought I should be sharing some of those with you. Look for future editions of Scenes From My Cell Phone.
This photo was taken at Casa Rubia in Trinity Groves last week when they were running a special called Polenta con Trufe y Iberco. Basically it is a bowl of polenta with an egg, a smattering of Jamon Iberco, freshly shaved black truffles, and an Iberco jus poured table-side. I pronounced that it was the best thing to hit my mouth in ages and was totally elated. I implored my Facebook buddies to drop in the next evening for an order of their very own, but alas they ran out of the Iberco jus. There was only so much to go around.
Last night I ran into Cody Sharp, the sous at Casa Rubia, and he informed me that I should stop by tonight where he would be serving the special once again. Seems a bone was freed and he was able to make another round of the Iberco jus. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
There are a few tapas restaurants in Dallas, but none hold true to the flavor of Spain as much as the new Casa Rubia does in Trinity Groves. The beautiful new restaurant cheffed by Omar Flores with Cody Sharp as sous is cranking out delicious and beautiful plates of authentic flavor. A recent visit revealed a heavenly paella served in the large paellera that easily serves a hungry gathering of four. Flores now makes what is possibly the best charcuterie board in the city, balanced perfectly on a rough-hewn wedge of wood.
On the menu is a version of Flores’ pulpa, as delicious but different that his octopus at Driftwood. The chef has the dish down pat and is a must order. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle
