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I love a good tapas restaurant – especially when I’m dining with friends! But I must be honest - my reasoning isn’t as altruistic as you might think. Sure, the whole sharing vibe is crazy awesome but the real reason I love tapas is because there’s no food envy! Too many times I have ordered something at an eatery only to realise that I should have ordered what my dining buddy ordered. And, since I continue to make the incorrect choice about who I spend my time with no one ever seems to be willing to swap with me or at the very least, share! But when you are tucking into tapas there’s no such thing as food envy because everyone is in the same boat – we can all avoid the rather dodgy looking beef dish together while simultaneously savouring the joys of the yummy calamari strips. Luckily for me, and my friends’ sanity when dining with me, I have discovered the joys of Vicky Cristina’s – a brand new tapas restaurant which offers Joburgers a great vibe and delicious food with a generous dollop of Spanish flair.
If the name Vicky Cristina’s sounds a little familiar to you then you have probably spent some time enjoying the good life in Durban. The Spanish-themed franchise originally started in Durbs and has now arrived in Joburg to show us Highvelders just what we have been missing out on. The new spot calls the oh-so-popular Colony Centre home and is ready to offer all of Joburg a good time with the Vicky Christina dining area and the chic watering hole, Conquista Bar, which comes to life when the dinner forks and side plates are retired for the evening. I absolutely love the decor of the spot – especially the subtle touches from the movie of the same name staring Catherine Zeta Jones. Black and red walls with red face brick accents are softened by dark wood panelled ceilings, beautiful chandeliers, antique mirrors and framed screenshots from the film. Downstairs lurks a rather generous private bar and dining space which can be used for private parties and intimate dining affairs with friends and family.
While the restaurant is Spanish-themed in its decor I do like that they are upfront about the fact that they do not claim to be the final word on Spanish cuisine and culture, but rather that they aim to provide South African diners with a delicious tapas menu featuring their interpretations of classic Spanish fare as well as local South African dishes. All I can say is: the food is absolutely yummy! Diners can choose from delights like Cocas (Spanish flatbreads) with various toppings (such as salami, olives, mushroom, sweet pepper, onion, beef, Chorizo, ham and more), more substantial mains dishes (such as steaks, duck breast, pork shank and more), salads and, of course, tapas. My dining buddy and I decided to give the tapas a shot and after a few dishes we were left wanting more and more!
We sampled the Crispy Calamari (baby calamari in a crispy coating - R49), Grilled Chicken Skewers (Grilled Chicken Spiced with Cumin & Paprika - R49), Chorizo and Potato (Grilled Chorizo with Sautéed Potato & Onion – R49) and the Paella (served with traditional Spanish Saffron rice and prawns, calamari and chicken – R84). The Paella and the chicken skewers were my favourite of the selection; I loved how tender the chicken was and the sauce it came in was absolutely divine. The Paella, while not exactly traditional Paella was right up my alley! I must also comment on the portion sizes – we were quite surprised that those four plates were enough to feed two grown women (with leftovers) so be careful that you don’t order more food than you can handle when you go. After our feast I decided to tuck into a delicious dessert of Figs with Nougat (hot spiced figs over almond nougat with ice cream – R44) and my friend the Chocolate Lava (chilli chocolate lava cake with ice cream – R54). My fig and nougat dessert was a fabulous choice and I highly recommend it to those with a curious palate. As for the lava cake it was beyond decadent and is a must-try for chocolate lovers. And, while you’re there don’t forget to try their Sangria (R109) or Margarita (R129) by the jug.
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By Crystal Espin
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