# Teach Me How to Eat in a Tapas Bar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298 "2009-11-04T17:34:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/21 "2009-11-05T19:47:56Z")
> [@](#): > > In a very prim, proper, and professional setting a colleague suggested we take a group of visiting clients out to lunch at a tapas bar. I thought she said “topless”. She then asked me if I knew any good ones. (I kept a perfectly straight face and insisted I didn’t.) But you knew a couple of places that were pretty casual on their dress code and BYOB policy. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/22 "2009-11-05T22:39:49Z")
Be sure to wash it down with lots and lots of sangria. Ordering it by the pitcher is standard practice when we go out for tapas. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/23 "2009-11-06T05:33:13Z")
Hm. I guess around here in Missoula tapas is a bit more high-class than it is in Spain; The Silk Road, our only tapas bar, is more like a restaurant with a bar attached that focuses on wines and local microbrews. The food is pretty damn good, though, and the menu changes seasonally. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/24 "2009-11-06T12:35:16Z")
Here’s the Wikipedia entry on tapas: > **[Tapas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas)** > > A tapa (Spanish pronunciation: \[ˈtapa\]) is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across the globe, tapas have evolved into a very sophisticated cuisine. In some Central American countries, such snacks are known as bocas. In parts of Mexico, similar dishes are called botanas. It appears that in Spain, tapas bars are really bars. The tapas are just something to accompany the drinks. Outside of Spain (or at least in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada), tapas bars are restaurants. The tapas are the main item being served. The drinks are just something to accompany the tapas. Also, HeyHomie, just to make things clear, when you sit down at a tapas bar (in the U.S.), your server will give you a menu of tapas (and perhaps of full meals also, if they do them) and a drink list. You order a first round of tapas (or a full meal, if that’s what you want) and drinks. If you’re still hungry when the server comes by again, you order another round. Repeat as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/25 "2009-11-06T15:53:58Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > How do they enforce that? If you order a round of beer, they bring you crap; if you order a bottle of house wine, you get some yummy stuff; and if you order expensive cocktails you get really awesome tapas? I was in Spain about 9 years ago, and you paid for each Tapa, but the fee was pretty small, maybe 140 pesetas each tapa with the seafood ones being more expensive. It was bar food. We ate them standing up and were drinking more than we were eating. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/26 "2009-11-06T16:11:06Z")
I’m a big fan of ordering 1-2 tapas per person and going with a group (maybe 5-6 people, so you can have a good-sized group but still be able to talk to everyone). Wine goes really well with most tapas, too. We usually order a bottle for the table, but if you have lots of people, you might want two or just to order by the glass, depending upon individual tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/27 "2009-11-06T16:14:37Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > How do they enforce that? If you order a round of beer, they bring you crap; if you order a bottle of house wine, you get some yummy stuff; and if you order expensive cocktails you get really awesome tapas? My experience (about three years ago) was that when sat at the bar with your first beer, you would get something pretty measly to eat - maybe a couple of ‘potato croquettes’ or something. Then if you hang about drinking more, and especially if you are amiable to the bartender, your tapas items increase in quality into delicious snacks including cured meats, little fish and all sorts. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/28 "2009-11-06T16:17:12Z")
There’s a pintxos place a couple of blocks from here. They don’t open until noon, and I like to be back at my desk by then; so I haven’t tried them. Smelled great the one time I walked by while they were getting ready to open. [Here’s a menu](http://www.txoribar.com/pintxos.html), which will give you an idea of the prices, types of snackage, and presentation. ---
**Author:** ![Recliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/29 "2009-11-06T17:20:19Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > In Spain, it seems much more affordable—most places will give you a pretty decent sized portion (3-4 portions would make a substantial meal) for around 3 or 4 euros each, depending on the type of tapas you order. > > When I have gone out for tapas in USA it is seems WAY more expensive than Madrid or Barcelona would be for a similar amount of food. > > (of course, it is all dependant on where you are specifically at, I am sure there must be some reasonably priced tapas places around, but the ones I have visited were pretty expensive for what they offered) Definitely my experience. Tapas in Spain are just a part of the culture; in the US, its a Big Fancy Deal. That said, this generally means you’re going to get some good quality ingredients, but I do miss the concept of being able to go into most any bar and…get little plates of food. Hmm…tapas dive bar? ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/30 "2009-11-07T03:50:07Z")
The best place to go for tapas is Granada, Spain, because there the tapas are FREE. Yes, I said FREE. When I lived there back in '01/'02, a drink cost about $1.25 and came with a free tapa. If you knew the right places to go, you could get really good food. One place near my house was in a basement with lots of seating and had a tapas menu with fifty different dishes on it. Another place actually served a whole tomato and jamon sandwich, fries, and alioli with your drink. Yet another place was good for lunch with friends because they served large portions of food, a different dish with each round of drinks. First round calamari and coleslaw, second round hamburgers and fries, etc. Of course, most other places including the U.S., your tapas are not tied to how many drinks you order. You just order whatever you want and share, kind of like dim sum or a Japanese izakaya. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/31 "2009-11-07T04:57:15Z")
> [@Pyper](#): > > The best place to go for tapas is Granada, Spain, because there the tapas are FREE. Yes, I said FREE. When I lived there back in '01/'02, a drink cost about $1.25 and came with a free tapa. If you knew the right places to go, you could get really good food. One place near my house was in a basement with lots of seating and had a tapas menu with fifty different dishes on it. Another place actually served a whole tomato and jamon sandwich, fries, and alioli with your drink. Yet another place was good for lunch with friends because they served large portions of food, a different dish with each round of drinks. First round calamari and coleslaw, second round hamburgers and fries, etc. > > Of course, most other places including the U.S., your tapas are not tied to how many drinks you order. You just order whatever you want and share, kind of like dim sum or a Japanese izakaya. Apparently several Spanish regions/cities typically give free tapas to drinkers (Madrid supposedly has a lot of bars that fly this way, but I didnt find any of them) while other areas require the patrons to buy them, as is the norm in Barcelona. I didnt mind paying, as both the tapas and the drinks (at least wine and beer, if not cocktails) were very reasonable and at the end of the night a euro or two as the tip for the evening was more than enough to please the bartenders. I have gone to a couple of “tapas” places in the USA (once in San Francisco, once in DC) and it was a disappointing experience both times. I dont like spending 8 or 9 bucks for a tiny plate of calamari or a few marinated mushrooms. Tapas bars are a staple of Spanish culture and (when in Spain) are a great way to socialize and enjoy an evening eating and drinking like a local. In the USA, it just seems like a good way to spend a pile of money on overpriced morsels… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/32 "2009-11-07T06:07:35Z")
Buy one of everything. Double up on what you liked. And you people wonder how fat people get that way. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298/33 "2009-11-07T06:11:52Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Was that [Jaleo](http://www.jaleo.com/) on 7th Street NW? I’ve been there 2 or 3 times, and it’s great fun, with interesting food. Jaleo is good, but their olives that come as a snack are horrible. They marinate them with onions, completely ruining the olives. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-me-how-to-eat-in-a-tapas-bar/516298.md?page=1)