03.05.08

CHICAGO, IL

TAPAS TIME

Dreaming of Barcelona? For a little taste of Spain in Chicago, head to Mercat a la Planxa, the Windy City’s latest restaurant and bar, opening this week in the historic Blackstone Hotel.

Chef Jose Garces, a Chicago native and owner and chef of Tinto, our favorite Spanish eatery in Philadelphia, goes back to his Midwestern roots and turns out a wide array of tapas dishes from cut-to-order charcuterie and cheeses to fresh seafood, steaks and chops, all inspired by Spain’s Catalan region. There’s also a large selection of meats and seafood (bluefin tuna, prawns, organic Uraguayan filet mignon…) served “a la planxa” or grilled-to-order, like restaurants in Barcelona.

Mix and share small plates like pulpo con patatas, Spanish octopus, confit potato and smoked paprika, and mar i muntanya, slow cooked short ribs and diver scallops with shaved Parmesan and artichokes, with friends over drinks (there’s a nice selection of Spanish wines) or combine them to create a full-on dinner. The décor is modern and distinctively Spanish with an iconic hexagonal motif (derivative of architect Antoni Gaudi’s colorful mosaic tiles), giant illustrations of vibrant street life and bare light bulbs dangling from above.

We say: bring on the sangria!