Bebida

REVIEWED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
It looks modest from the street, but inside it’s cosy and comfortable with recycled timber tables and cushioned benches, and lots of agreeable clutter. There are Spanish posters and other mementoes on the dark red and deep yellow walls, and some suspended from the ceiling. There’s even a small blackboard with a question of the week. The mood is casual and the food is easy-going on both the palate and the pocket. No big servings here, this is tapas country. The small Spanish dishes are ideal to snack on while enjoying a drink.

Try the little meatballs, or the small red peppers stuffed with goat’s cheese. Weekly specials are written on a board. The soups here are always hearty and good – roast pumpkin and red lentil, for example. But the menu is diverse, including Canadian French toast and a hearty breakfast. Locals call in during the day for a chat and a snack, or a thoughtful coffee and a read of the paper. There’s a surprising range of teas and tisanes (served in pots), and a decent wine list at very fair prices. From Wednesday to Sunday there’s live music on Thurs and Sat nights and there’s a great courtyard, too.

Rita Erlich