Posts in Category: tapas
Sabbatical
Locals Only Art & Music pub reemerges with an avenue-worthy tapas makeover.
Atmosphere: A large open deck complete with a cozy corner fireplace invites you inside where deep, natural tones, wood flooring and exposed brick continue the welcoming mood.
Service: A lot of this crew shimmied over from LOAMP. Everyone is so genuine and pleased to educate first-time diners, entertain the regulars and start new friendships. The service as it stands is a little slow, but hopefully that will improve after a few weeks. Dining here twice since the opening one week ago, I have witnessed a few mishaps, but every step was taken to smooth out the situation and ensure the guests were pleased.
Booze: Full bar with a specialty of flavored mojitos served by the carafe, and a great bottled beer selection.
Food:
Kale Tzatziki | kale, bell peppers, cucumber and fresh herbs in a tangy strained yogurt sauce $ 5
Adobo Battered Mushroom Skewers | crimini mushrooms with a spicy adobo batter served on a bed of kale slaw and drizzled with wasabi cilantro cream $ 6
Scallop Wonton Tulips | topped with diced mango, red onion, wasabi cilantro cream sauce, and fresh herbs $ 9
Seafood Stuffed Shrimp | jumbo shrimp stuffed with a creamy blend of crab, salmon and scallops served on a bed of wild rice with crispy spinach and drizzled with adobo butter $ 11
Sabbatical is the perfect spot to people-watch on the avenue while enjoying a couple drinks, small plates and conversation. Something about it feels like home. Attention to detail is key in the jazzy new menu; both delicate and powerful flavors are blended to create beautifully plated harmonies.
I was recently introduced to the kale world and I didn’t enjoy it the first time around, yet I was intrigued by the tzatziki. This dip was definitely worth the chance: a twist on a classic chunky cucumber sauce loaded with peppers and salty kale. The mushrooms were extremely rich, which made them a great dish to share amongst multiple people. Very tasty but a bit heavy on oil. Big chunks of mango and sharp red onion beautifully complemented the sweetness of the scallops in the wontons; however, the scallops themselves were slightly overcooked. Unlike the seafood stuffed shrimp, which were wonderfully tender and pleasantly spicy.
Kudos: They offer a lot of vegetarian and vegan options! Live blues music from Late Night Saints on the deck every Tuesday @ 9PM.
Overall: I am pleased and refreshed to see a restaurant like this open along the strip. Having sampled nearly half of the menu, I remain unable to choose a favorite. My only complaint would be the portions on a few dishes; four wontons are perfect, plenty of crostini pieces are served with dips, but receiving only three shrimp (or meatballs) makes it difficult to share amongst a couple. I try to be fair, but cutting a shrimp in half is just plain silly. Gimme gimme more shrimp! That aside, Sabbatical remains a new favorite spot of mine, as I knew it would when the restaurant was merely a vision. Gather a group of friends and head over.
sabbaticalindy.com
921 East Broad Ripple Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Barcelona Tapas
Atmosphere: An array of brightly colored tiles and dark wood with exposed brick and pipes.
Service: We dined around 4PM on a Thursday, taking advantage of Devour Downtown, and ordered all five courses at once; the food came so quickly that we had to ask our lovely server to dial it down a bit. I would suggest ordering one plate at a time per person and sharing until everyone is satisfied. Although our food has always arrived quite promptly, this is not supposed to be a rushed experience, but rather a place to sip pitchers of sangria and appreciate the conversation of loved ones while enjoying a lighter meal.
Booze: Pretty decent sangria by the pitcher, a few spanish inspired cocktails and a full bar.
Food:
Queso de Cabra al Horno | baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread $ 7.50
Pincho de Maruno | pork tenderloin with curry mayonnaise $ 6.95
Coliflor | roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts $ 5.25
Setas Salteadas con Amontillado | sautéed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce $ 5.50
Solomillo con Cabrales | grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce $ 10.50
Capirote | our own warm bread pudding with caramel sauce $ 6.25
For years we have been dining at BARcelona, and I have always really enjoyed the food. It may not qualify as completely authentic Spanish tapas, but guess what? We’re not in Spain. I could go for some bolder seasoning on a few things, but that’s not to say the flavor is lacking, just toned down. They offer some awesome vegetarian and seafood dishes. One complaint is occasionally the meat arrives dry and overcooked due to the small pieces; this trip, our server specifically warned us of the medium rare temperature on the grilled beef tenderloin, yet it came out more medium well which was disappointing. The Rioja sauce and sautéed spinach that accompanied it (and many other dishes) was fantastic, however. Definite must-haves are the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread and the tres leches dessert — two items we order every time. (Unfortunately the cake was not included in our 2 for $30 Devour Downtown deal… but, the piping hot bread pudding was wonderful even as it cooled. The gooey caramel sauce began to recrystallize for a delicious, sticky treat.) I hope to someday try every dish at least once. It all looks very appealing walking by, but not filling up on the garlic bread and goat cheese proves difficult time and time again.
Overall: A little pricey for the portion sizes, but obviously this isn’t a place to grab a quick, cheap bite. Great location to gather with a few close friends, where everyone can discover a favorite and share. I don’t think I need to mention my many visits in the years to come.
barcelonatapas.com
201 N Delaware St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
