REVIEW: Albariño Tapas, Broadstairs
“…we tried to make it our mission to sample as much as we could from what is an extensive menu”
Albariño Tapas (@albarinotapas ) has been a part of the Broadstairs culinary scene since 2011.
Inspired by the love of Albariño wine during many visits to Spain, Steve and Steph aim to mix authentic Spanish ingredients with the best local produce.
It has a cosy, Medi feel, with sunshine yellow walls, a handful of tables, open kitchen and counter seats, while there’s even a mini deli selling cheese and ham, as well as the cans of olives, wine, tinned fish and olive oil adorning the shelves.
On our visit, there were a few of us and we tried to make it our mission to sample as much as we could from what is an extensive menu that’s enticing at every turn. In typical tapas style, all dishes are cooked to order and arrive when they’re ready, with a hard-working team of two offering a seamless service.
From the vegetable-led section we had the blistered and salty Padrón peppers dipped in aioli (£8), along with the flavoursome Medjool dates, stuffed with soft goat’s cheese, almonds and sweet honey (£8.50). We, of course, also had the potato pavé in salsa bravas (£8).
An olivewood board of cured Iberian meats and cheeses (£24) was complete with picos de pan, guindillas and quince jelly. From the fish section, we adventured in the octopus leg, mojo picon (red pepper sauce) with olive oil potato, lemon and salty capers (£18), as well as the traditional red gambas, wine garlic, parsley and lemon (£16). The star of the show was the seafood caldoso, with its broth of clams, shrimp and mussels on a bomber rice (£14).
From the meat selection, you can’t not have a crack at the Iberico ham croquettes (£8) and textbook beef and pork meatballs in a sweet sofrito sauce (£9.50).
Finally, the Iberico pork loin schnitzel, with red and yellow peppers in a green herb picada (£14) and the melt-in-the-mouth beef shortrib, with roasted carrots in honey mustard (£16), were stunning additions.
For those looking for a midweek option, Wednesday night is paella night, while there is also a tapas takeaway menu, which is surely a rarity. Brilliante!
