The buzz: Another Michelin-starred chef, this time it’s Nandu Jubany, carves out a piece of the small plates pie with a modern Spanish-meets-Asia tapas place in the cool and slightly grungy Hongkong Street.
The vibe: Convivial, boisterous and spilling with in-the-know trendy people. Between the conceptual décor with gargantuan hanging heads, concrete walls, dark metals and wooden furnishings with red accents, it’s the cool new place to hit up for after-work drinks and communal weekend dinners.
The food: Gastronomic Spanish tapas-meets-fusion Asian touches. Former Foodbar Dada chef Jordi Noguera carries Jubany’s vision with classic dishes like creamy and gooey mushroom croquettes ($8); prawns in a garlic and white wine sauce ($18) and black paella with seafood and garlic mayo ($22). A standout is the octopus Galician-style ($22): simply prepared with paprika atop crushed potatoes. Their fusion dishes include prettily-plated items like grilled scallop with bonito stock and soy caviar ($16) and the addictive watermelon “gazpacho” with charcoal-smoked olive oil ice cream ($12). Don’t miss their tongue-in-cheek burger dessert made with chocolate mousse and white chocolate buns.
The drinks: Made by superstar bartender Dario Knox (formerly of Catalunya) and are cheap compared to some cocktail bars around town. All the tipples are conceptual and categorized into flavor profiles. There are easy drinking options like the Madame Butterly ($13) made with gin, lavender-honey infusion, rose and lavender water, crème de mure and lemon: a twist on the Aviation; or heavy-hitters like El Vermouth de Dail ($15.50) with bourbon, chocolate and grapefruit bitters, Antica Formula, Aperol, homemade vermouth bitters and citrus smoke.
Why you’ll be back: It’s too hip to miss but the superstar team translates Jubany’s playful vision well. It’s also an affordable and easy option for food or a quick after-work drink with friends.
