The original Spanish work was first published in Bangalore Mirror, this is a version translated for the blog. 😉 In a fortnight, the more popular namesake does battle with the Spanish in the Champions League final, but this a slightly more peaceful affair.

So, if ever, depending on your interests and inclinations, a Salvador Dali or Penelope Cruz or Enrique Iglesias or Fernando Alonso has set your heart racing, and you would like to go beyond that and reintroduce Spain to your heart via your stomach, El Tablao, specialising in Spanish cuisine, is a place to be considered.

El Tablao is on the road from Sony World junction  to 1st Block Koramangala, above Reliance Jewels (on your right) . Here’s a map. There are enough side roads for parking to be a non issue. I was also told that valet parking was coming soon.

Though food is our focus, the ambiance is worth a note. The only way you’ll realise that you’re still in the concrete clutches of Koramangala is if you’re sitting on the glass-ed side of the restaurant that overlooks the 80-feet road. Tastefully done, the restaurant’s interior is stylish and has a colonial tone that complements the theme. Under the shadows of chandeliers and torches, you can catch glimpses of matadors, bull fighting and the paintings of Spanish masters as you listen to the Gypsy Kings, lounging on benches whose hardness is mercifully minimised by the usage of cushions.

Despite the starters, with many vegetarian options and a smaller ‘Charcuterie’ section, the menu clearly focuses on tapas. There are more than 30 dishes on that front, spread over seafood, chicken, meat and vegetarian options. There are a few salads to choose from, and then there’s Paella. In addition, there is also a ‘South of Border’ section consisting of Mexican dishes. The clear numbering ensures that you don’t have to wrestle with the Spanish pronunciations. You can take a look at the menu on Zomato. El Tablao also boasts of a wine bar with red and white wines, champagne and, of course, there’s Sangria.

We began well with the slightly spicy Piri Piri potato wedges, served with garlic mayonnaise and tomato salsa dips. Rafael, my Spanish guest, was completely in love with the Seleccion de Embutidos Curados — slices of Serrano ham, salami and chorizo., though I felt the typical Indian palate might find it a tad too uni-flavoured. The Brocheta de Pollo con Pimientos y Cebolla — marinated chicken breast served on skewers was delicious too.

In the main course, the fluffy Tortilla Espanola — Spanish omelette with potato and onion was a favourite. But the hit of the day was the Paella de Mariscos, the seafood paella with squid, king prawn, mussels, fish, green beans, asparagus, peas, red peppers, made extra special with the rice that seemed to have been cooked in fish stock. You’re informed beforehand that the Paella takes a minimum of two to tango and requires about 40 minutes of waiting, but it’s worth it. Rafael said the only thing it lacked was a squeeze of lime, but that was quickly remedied. The Paella de Carne, however, could not match up to its illustrious seafood counterpart, and proved to be a bit bland. The dessert section was also quite a disappointment, especially since most of the options were among the commonly available set.

The service was a tad careless to begin with, but they soon redeemed themselves with their promptness. We dined on a lean weekday evening, and Sachin, the owner, could be found visiting every table and graciously enquiring about the service.Though not exactly wallet friendly, the uniqueness of the cuisine and the ambiance do justify it.

In summation, a distinct cuisine set in a wonderful ambiance ensures that you’ll have a great dining experience. Buen provecho!

El Tablao, Lotus, 612/1, 80 Feet road, Koramangala, Bangalore – 560034 Phone: 41410124