Where's within easy bicycle reach on a Friday night? Someplace betwixt and between home and the Champagne Bar at Southsea Castle, where Mrs CdP was celebrating someone's birthday?
Talking of the Champagne Bar, I've not been to any of its iterations, past or present, but it's very popular with my wife's set, and interesting that 'fizz' has become the drink of choice for most of the women I know. I assume your actual Champagne's in the minority, with Prosecco taking the lead, although hopefully the much superior Cava is in the ascendent. Like everything, Cava varies in quality but it's generally well-tended at all price levels. Highly recommended is 'Stars' by Castillo Perelada, dry and perfect with food, complex too, but hard to find in the UK and typically £10 a bottle when you do.
This is by way of saying that we met up at Sant Yago tapas and cocktail bar in Clarendon Road, which was packed when I arrived with some really big tables well into the fiesta spirit. However, I managed to get a table for two 20 minutes after arriving, so we settled into a compact and bijou 4 square foot of eating space.
I love tapas. I love to eat tapas in Seville, and pinchos in Bilbao. I love Nicholson's on Calle Alberto. I'm even happy at La Tasca. But I really liked Sant Yago. Their relatively small tapas selection is actually a good thing, otherwise I dither forever and end up ordering everything I like. That's not to say its limiting, just that it's manageable. We ordered 3 dishes each - all at around £5 - and 'one for the table' (tortilla of course) Mrs CdP had grilled halloumi skewers and aubergine rolls, and we both ordered grilled steak skewers, which were flavoursome and very tender - definitely a reorder for next time. Besides the skewers I had a nice creamy potato and chicken stew and breaded calamari. While tasty enough the calamari weren't as tender as they should've been and this was the only dish that didn't quite make the grade.
The wine list is well designed, with two Riojas of distinction - the excellent Lopez de Haro tinto (£18) a stalwart of many a restaurant in Spain and becoming increasingly popular with the UK on-trade, plus the excellent Cerro Anon crianza (£23) from Bodegas Ollara, which is a more complex proposition. I went with the Haro as I'm a simple soul really.
With an atmosphere and space that allows for groups, foursomes and couples without anyone feeling usurped, terrific staff that remain unfazed and attentive, food that's obviously made on the premises, and some decent wines, Sant Yago is a go-to Friday night eatery from now on - after Mrs CdP's been to the Champagne Bar of course!
Sorry no pictures of Sant Yago, was too busy eating and talking.
| Stars is one of the best dry Cavas on the market |
This is by way of saying that we met up at Sant Yago tapas and cocktail bar in Clarendon Road, which was packed when I arrived with some really big tables well into the fiesta spirit. However, I managed to get a table for two 20 minutes after arriving, so we settled into a compact and bijou 4 square foot of eating space.
I love tapas. I love to eat tapas in Seville, and pinchos in Bilbao. I love Nicholson's on Calle Alberto. I'm even happy at La Tasca. But I really liked Sant Yago. Their relatively small tapas selection is actually a good thing, otherwise I dither forever and end up ordering everything I like. That's not to say its limiting, just that it's manageable. We ordered 3 dishes each - all at around £5 - and 'one for the table' (tortilla of course) Mrs CdP had grilled halloumi skewers and aubergine rolls, and we both ordered grilled steak skewers, which were flavoursome and very tender - definitely a reorder for next time. Besides the skewers I had a nice creamy potato and chicken stew and breaded calamari. While tasty enough the calamari weren't as tender as they should've been and this was the only dish that didn't quite make the grade.
The wine list is well designed, with two Riojas of distinction - the excellent Lopez de Haro tinto (£18) a stalwart of many a restaurant in Spain and becoming increasingly popular with the UK on-trade, plus the excellent Cerro Anon crianza (£23) from Bodegas Ollara, which is a more complex proposition. I went with the Haro as I'm a simple soul really.
With an atmosphere and space that allows for groups, foursomes and couples without anyone feeling usurped, terrific staff that remain unfazed and attentive, food that's obviously made on the premises, and some decent wines, Sant Yago is a go-to Friday night eatery from now on - after Mrs CdP's been to the Champagne Bar of course!
Sorry no pictures of Sant Yago, was too busy eating and talking.
