Walking into the new Tapas Downtown Restaurant & Bar, I was taken back to the simple, small plates of a favorite restaurant in San Francisco, Ramblas, an incredible tapas restaurant and bar that serves traditional Spanish tapas, sangria and most of all, atmosphere. Ramblas is one of those restaurants where you can visit with friends over drinks and incredible food for hours.
Walking inside Tapas Downtown I felt that energy of a real treasure in our community. I was greeted enthusiastically by a hostess who clearly loves her job and this establishment. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and most important, INFORMED of the restaurant’s offerings.
The restaurant is as beautiful as it is comfortable. You can sense the care and creativity in the decorations and menu choices.
We started our meal with the lamb skewer tapas. The lamb was sublime; tender, not over-cooked, and seasoned to perfection. The accompanying homemade pita bread was soft and flavorful.
Tapas Downtown offers several wines and beers on tap. I enjoyed a lovely chardonnay, and my companions both had Tecate, a light Mexican beer that suits many of the menu choices perfectly.
Our table ordered the torta, burger and the steak sandwich.
The burger is not what people may expect, which is great. Instead of the usual bun, this burger is served between two pitas, adding a different take and flavor to an American standard.
I found the torta to be fantastic. A thick slice of this traditional Spanish quiche is served with a nice side salad of mixed baby greens dressed in a light tarragon vinaigrette. European quiche and tortas are traditionally served cold, which is my preference. If you like, request that yours be served warm.
The hit of the lunch was the steak sandwich. Tapas Downtown has a winner in this open-faced sandwich with grilled onions and red peppers. The sandwich, like the burger, is served with sweet potato chips that were light, and a nice alternative to fries.
Of course we had to sample the dessert. Right now the restaurant serves one choice, a tres leche cake with a cayenne chocolate glaze. The cake was moist and light, and the glaze with the cayenne was a nice transition. My only suggestion would be to use a different brand of chocolate in the glaze. The flavor of palm oil used frequently in chocolates overwhelmed the cayenne for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tapas Downtown and hope that everything I saw in my visit will keep this treasure around for years to come.
Salud!
(Editor’s note: If you’re new to tapas, traditionally they’re small Spanish appetizers, or little plates of food. Tapa means lid, or cover, in Spanish. Tapas Downtown is at 1257 Oregon St., formerly Oregon Street Tea Company. It is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Call 530-247-7299 for reservations.)
Andrea Charroin was a trained baker and pastry chef in San Francisco before she and her family moved to Redding nine years ago. After falling in love with Redding’s downtown, Andrea and husband Westley opened a little pastry shop, Rene-Joule Patisserie, across from the Cascade Theatre. For the three years Rene-Joule was in business, it was renowned for making everything from scratch, using the best ingredients and keeping with a seasonal menu. To this day, Andrea is asked about her Marathon Bars, Orange Twists and sourdough bread. Copyright 2008 Andrea R. Charroin. Visit my blog at bakerslove.typepad.com.
