Tapa Barra y Restaurante
This restaurant has ceased trading.
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–10pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 10 (and sangria by the glass)
- Private dining: Up to 20 covers
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Live music, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Spanish/flamenco music
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 50
- Open since: 2010
Tell us more about this place.
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the 2011 edition.
This newly opened eatery on Hanover Street is sister to Robert Scobie’s successful Tapa in Leith. Soft music suits the charming red-walled space where pictures of bulls and matadors hang on the walls. Images of the restaurant’s make-believe patron, the toothless and smiling Abuela Carmen, are stamped on the menu. From noon until four-thirty, guests can enjoy seven tapas for a tenner, which is plenty for two. Tapas are divided into fish, meat and vegetarian, the last of which contains the most options. A tower of soft goat cheese lies on a bed of carmelised onions sweetened with Seville orange marmalade. Plump croquettes contain a melting centre of ham and cheese. Thick breaded squid rings arrive with a homemade aioli. And for pudding, a wobbly crème caramel goes down smoothly. A wide range of Spanish wines, liquers and beer are on offer, including glasses of tangy sangria with chunky fruit. The front of house staff march endlessly from the kitchen to the dining area, effortlessly delivering the correct dishes to each table. Though the ambience in the evenings is a bit mellow for some, this will change once more folk know of its existence. High point delicate sauces and healthy portions
- Low point: teething stage
Reviews of Tapa Barra y Restaurante (97 Hanover Street, Edinburgh)
- 2. Edinburgh2LondonExpress, Edinburgh – 16 June 2011, 8:18pm
Tapa Barra y RestauranteReport -
I was sceptical about visiting the Hanover Street branch of Tapa- on account of the fact that I love its Leith branch and was worried, as so often happens, that the second restaurant does not achieve the standard 's set in the first, but as the menus are exactly the same and my partner is an adventerus type we decided to go for it.
We arrived at 7.30 on a Friday night and were offered the choice of the restaurant, never good sign on a Friday night, however ,within 15minutes the restaurant was packed. Its is as near choreographed in its operation as a restaurant can be- with one waiter bringing a massive tray of food from the kitchen and ploncking it down whilst the other waiters gravitate in its direction eager to pass you the food. This gives the restaurant a real bustle and is typical of many tapas bars I have visited in on my travels.
The Hanover Street Tapa is not as illustrous as its sister- gone are the expansive white wash walls and there is no floor to ceiling bull fighting posters- however, as I reckon that it would be nearly impossible to find another venue as atmospheric as Leith- what they have decided is to create a real city centre tapas place. Don't, then, be put off by comparisons to its older sister- it got its own unswerving personality and with the food being just as good as Leith I reckon it must be putting series pressure on the bigger operations in the Edinburgh tapas market!
- 1. Loulabell, Edinburgh – 26 October 2010, 10:17amTapa Barra y RestauranteReport
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I recently purchased a “Groupon” deal of six tapa’s and a bottle of wine for £18 so thought why not give this place a go. I am not normally a fan of tapa’s as you normally need at least six of them and even then you’re not quite full but thought, its such a good deal it doesn’t really matter.
Given the above my expectations were very low, but the restaurant was great, the portions were really big so much so my friend and I couldn’t even finish everything.
There was one waiter who was just weird to the point of being creepy but I wouldn’t let that put you off as the other waiting staff were very nice. I will definitely be going back.
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