Another place that has been on the "to try" list for a long time. Stef and I decided to catch up over tapas. We arrived on a hot evening just after 6pm and sat at the corner of a table towards the back. Plenty of room to hang jackets and bags and a good viewing point to watch everyone else.
The reception was warm and friendly. Drinks order was taken quickly, specials ran through and an order placed. All very efficient and done with a smile.
The reception was warm and friendly. Drinks order was taken quickly, specials ran through and an order placed. All very efficient and done with a smile.
We started off with some croquetes with jamon and cheese and these crispy golden balls were lipsmackingly good. We followed this up with a specials dish of eggplant relish on toasted bread. The waitress mentioned anchovy and we bothe love that salty little fish so opted for it. It was tasty and the eggplant relish sweet and jammy but a little light on the anchovy.
The Yelllowtail Kingfish pancetta with lemon oil was delightful. With the texture of air dried fish, the thick slices were fragrant with lemon and had that cured salty after taste that pancetta leaves in the mouth.
The Yelllowtail Kingfish pancetta with lemon oil was delightful. With the texture of air dried fish, the thick slices were fragrant with lemon and had that cured salty after taste that pancetta leaves in the mouth.
We had the mussels from the specials menu but unfortunately we didn't enjoy them. tehy looked good in the sizzling pan but the mussels and the sauce were very pungent. The mussels were incredibly fishy. I don't doubt they were fresh but perhaps just a very intense species? Either way, not our bag.
What was very much our bad were the grilled Northern king prawns with chilli salt that were sweet and fresh and oh so tasty with the chargrill BBQ thing going on.
The mushrooms with garlic cream were also good and there were a lot of them. Pork, morcilla, apple and lemon crumbs was a very rich dish reminiscent of cassoulet.
We ended things with the blood orange crema and burnt orange caramel that we shared. Citrussy, toffee, burnt sugary flavours softened by a silky cream. It's an intense dessert, far from light but a real power punch of a dessert.
Overall, I enjoyed the Bar Lourinha experience. Casa Ciuccio (sister restaurant) is my preferred but the feel at Bar Lourinha is less sit down meal and more convivial...casual even. I like it as a post work option....relaxed, buzzy, warm and welcoming.
What was very much our bad were the grilled Northern king prawns with chilli salt that were sweet and fresh and oh so tasty with the chargrill BBQ thing going on.
The mushrooms with garlic cream were also good and there were a lot of them. Pork, morcilla, apple and lemon crumbs was a very rich dish reminiscent of cassoulet.
We ended things with the blood orange crema and burnt orange caramel that we shared. Citrussy, toffee, burnt sugary flavours softened by a silky cream. It's an intense dessert, far from light but a real power punch of a dessert.
Overall, I enjoyed the Bar Lourinha experience. Casa Ciuccio (sister restaurant) is my preferred but the feel at Bar Lourinha is less sit down meal and more convivial...casual even. I like it as a post work option....relaxed, buzzy, warm and welcoming.
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