La Tasca
Having only eaten tapas a handful of times, I was looking forward to eating in La Tasca last night at the Trafford Centre.
I have recently become vegetarian and with an existing lactose intolerance, I was anxious that I might not be able to eat anything from the menu. I checked out what was on offer before we arrived and I was pleasantly surprised at the vegetarian choice available. Given that in most restaurants, there are usually only two or three offerings, La Tasca boasts a massive 21 variations for the vegetable lover.
We were served by John, who brought us some drinks and gave us plenty of time to choose our meals from the extensive menu.
He advised us on how many portions to order per person; reviewed our choices and agreed that would be enough to share- about 3 per person. He also told us that, if we were hungry for more that we could order extras.
He kindly asked the kitchen to provide us with bread to start with cheese on one half and none on the other, which suited us both while still being able to share the dish.
The restaurant looked very impressive with décor that transported us to an authentic Spanish eatery. The walls were lined with colourful tiles, there were terracotta pots dotted around and the mismatched brightly painted furniture, gave it a very relaxed and informal feel. There was a candle in a wine bottle on each table making it intimate and romantic- perfect for the loved up couple- and a partition of barrels, labelled with Spanish wine offered some privacy from the two areas of the restaurant.
The food was served in small clay ramekins, and although it didn’t look massive when it arrived, it was deceptively filling.
We had Oven Baked Sharing Bread For Two, topped with roasted peppers, cheese and onion (half and half) to start.
This was followed by Paella Verduras (vegetable paella), with seasonal vegetables- mushrooms, peppers and peas, Beetroot, Carrot and Butternut Squash Salad, A Festival of Mushrooms, sautéed in garlic butter and white wine and Pollo Marbella- Chicken breast, cooked with chorizo in a white wine and cream sauce.
All of the dishes were cooked and presented to look and taste like the traditional foods you would be offered abroad- particularly the paella, which was more than enough for two or one main meal for a hearty eater!
The restaurant is great for people who like to share or prefer to have their own selection of food. There is so much flexibility with the menu- it’s for big eaters and small eaters, as well as people who have a gluten intolerance, or like me want something without meat and dairy.
Unlike many restaurants that are clearly trying to turn over as many tables as possible in a night- there was no rush in La Tasca. We were assured that we could take our time choosing our food, drinks and when to pay the bill. It made a lovely change from other venues where you feel the pressure to eat and move on.
Given that is was only a Wednesday night; it was extremely busy, which is testament to its quality and atmosphere- a great place for people to meet up after work, or for a special occasion. With free parking, the Trafford Centre is the perfect location for a meal out without having to battle with the bustle of the city centre.
I would recommend this restaurant to anyone- even people who are cautious when trying something new- as the dishes vary from those with sauces and accompaniments to ones that are less complicated.
John was wonderful- he put us at ease and made sure that we enjoyed our experience. There was a lot of choice where the drinks were concerned, including the signature sangria and the dessert menu offered many variations depending on your palate. Unfortunately we were so full we could not manage a desert or coffee, however we saw the Sharing Shurros- doughnut twists, served with fresh strawberries and marshmallows, plus a rich chocolate sauce for dipping arrive at the table next to us and it looked very impressive indeed!
Thanks to John and the rest of the staff for making our date night so chilled out after a stressful day. The ideal place to enjoy good food and unwind.