Ravintola Bar Tapasta
Uudenmaankatu 13
Helsinki, Finland
http://www.marcante.fi/tapasta/index.html
Continuing my exploration of tapas places in the various cities I go to, I fell in love with a @LonelyPlanet recommendation for Helsinki: Bar Tapasta.
Located just off the #6 trolley line, Bar Tapasta is a hole-in-the-wall place with good food and good sangria.
Whenever I go, the bartender usually suggests I sit at the bar. After my first Sangria, right about when I order, they've realized it's not a big evening and offer to move me to a table. Given that the place is non-smoking, I don't mind either way.
Chorizo and mushrooms. Their chorizo is quite good and spicy.
Patatas Bravas!
Grilled lamb, and this was just fantastic. If I ever see lamb on the menu at Bar Tapasta as an entree, I'll get it. These little lamb chops were perfectly seasoned.
A trio from another visit: Tomato soup, chorizo, and grilled chicken. The soup was tasty. I'd had the chorizo on previous visits, so I knew it would be good. I was a bit dubious about ordering the grilled chicken, since all too many places dry it out, but it was juicy, marinated in lime juice and spicy.
Crema Catalana!
The sangria is recommended. They do it either by the glass, half-pitcher, or full pitcher. I find that three tapas (like above) a half-pitcher of sangria, and Helsinki's solid public transit make an excellent meal.
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