I fell in love with Spain after I spent a semester in Valencia. 3 of my favorite things are tapas, paella, and sangria!! Tasca is right around the corner from me and I am a frequent visitor. I love going with a few people, 2 or 3, and ordering a variety of different tapas. I say 2 or 3 people, because if there were more I definetly would not be able to have seconds of my favorite tapas!
Now I do have to say the Sangria here is a little fruity than in Spain but much much much better than most places in Boston that use way too much fruit juice. Also, make sure to ask for the $5 pitchers!! (And $5 bottles of wine on some nights) This is a little secret not everybody knows about.
First, bring your own dinner rolls. They serve a bread basket with an amazing white bean spread. I've eaten by the spoonfuls when I forget my gf bread, it's that good! It is also accompained by a small plate of fresh Spanish olives, makes me feel like I'm back in Valencia.
The Gambas al ajilo (Sizzling garlic shrimp) served in a mini skillet and is still sizziling when it arrives at the table. Great flavor but tiny shrimp, even though there were a lot.
I also love the Atun salteado - perfectly prepared slices of rare peppered yellow-fin tuna over a mixed bean ragout in a saffron Dijon ailoi. Not a big fan of the beans but the tuna melts in your mouth.
The duck confit is a stand out. It is a small, petite duck breast and legs that are so juicy and moist, very well seasoned, with a nice size portion of a cider-spiced red cabbage and apples.
Two of my all time favorite Spanish tapas, and staples all across Spain, are the Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelette) and Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy tomato and garlic aioli. Not the ''Omelette" is nothing like the American omelette. It is full or potatoes and onions and about 3 inches thick.
I could go on and on about every dish, but I won't, I will leave some surprises for you. In addition to the tapas I just raved about I also recommend:
- Jamon Serran and Queso Manchego (Cured Spanish Ham and Cheese)
- Steas Ronan (portabella mushrooms)
- Solomillo
- Brie a la plancha (baked brie, apples and raisin chutney - also one of my favorites)
- Mejillones (mussels) Very Typical of Spain
- Salmon ahumado (smoked salmon - again, I loved this)
For entrees I've tried the Grilled Salmon, cooked to perfection but a little too much sauce, I would ask for it on the side if that is possible. Don't get me wrong, it is good, just too much. And sauteed spinach is one of my least favorite things, and theirs is extra oily (gross). I've also tried their Paella, both the Seafood and Valencian style, which has chicken, chorizo and duck. I prefer the seafood over the meat, the chicken was a bit dry, but the Seafood Paella is out of this world, and huge portion sizes. I love it! Definetly have to get this, it's even big enough to split, especially after eating all those tapas....
Zarzuela de mariscos (top) and Sefood Paella
Other entrees I recommend:
-Pato asado (roast duck legs)
- Zarzuela de mariscos (seafood in a lobster-tomato broth, bring some bread for dipping!)
So by now you are thinking come on there has to be something she doesn't like! And there is. I did not like the Patatas aioli, it's just a fancy name for a potato salad with garlic mayonaise, onions and capers. Stick to the patatas bravas.
Also dissapointing was the Pulpo Gallega - octopus - a traditional dish from Galicia (Northwestern Spain). This was also one of my favorites in Spain and I was unimpressed by their version; it was a little undercooked and way too oily. I also did not like the Carne tartara (tatar of beef), even though my boyfriend loved it. Rare beef was never my thing anyways.
They also have a 3-course prix fixe "stimulus" deal that is very reasonably priced during the week.
Gluten Free Menu Items
Ensalada Tasca
Organic greens, tomato, and olives tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. no crutons
Gazpacho (Chilled piquant tomato and cilantro soup) No Croutons
Sopa del día (Homemade soup of the day) No Croutons
Pulpo a la Gallega
Octopus served on olive oil sautéed potatoes with smoked Spanish paprika
Patatas alioli
Potato salad with garlic mayonnaise, red onions and capers
Boquerones
Marinated fresh Spanish white anchovy filets over tomatoes and red onion
Jamon Serrano y Queso Manchego
Cured Spanish ham and shaved Manchego cheese, no tomato toasted crostinis
Carne tártara
Tartar of beef tenderloin topped with a wild mushroom and shallot duxelle served with cornichons and chopped egg, no crostini
Setas Ronan
Roasted portabella mushrooms with shaved manchego, capers, red onion in a sherry
vinaigrette without roasted red pepper toasts
Pincho de pollo y chorizo
Grilled chicken and chorizo skewer with peppers and onion in a spicy chili sauce
Tortilla española
Traditional Spanish potato and onion omelet
Gambas al ajillo
Sizzling shrimp in garlic with chili pepper
Char grilled pork loin over a rosemary infused white bean ragout with mushrooms
Patatas bravas
Fried cubed potatoes in a piquant tomato sauce and garlic aioli
Confít de pato
Fall off the bone succulent roasted duck leg served over braised red cabbage &apples
Solomillo
Petit filet mignon (3oz) served without a red wine sauce with mushrooms
Escargots baked in traditional herbed garlic butter with cognac
Carpaccio de atun
Sesame crusted pan seared tuna over a black bean & mango salsa with wasabi
aioli
aioli
Peppered yellow-fin tuna over a mixed bean ragout in a saffron Dijon aioli
Brie a la plancha
Grilled imported Brie cheese with a homemade savory apple & raisin chutney
served without the grilled baguette
served without the grilled baguette
Mejillones
Fresh mussels steamed in a white wine tomato broth with garlic and onion, served
without grilled herbed crostinis
Salmón ahumado
Smoked salmon served on a potato pancake with red onion, capers & dill crème fraîche
Entrees
Bistec de ternera
Grilled 12oz top filet steak over garlic mashed potatoes with a red wine jus and creamed spinach (no creamed spinach allowed!)
Salmón a la plancha
Grilled filet of salmon in a white wine basil sauce over spinach and mashed potato
Paella de mariscos
Shrimp, scallops, mussels & calamari with saffron rice cooked in a lobster broth (individual portion)
Filete de cerdo al rioja
Dijon mustard and herb crusted roasted pork tenderloin served with a mixed bean ragout and spinach over a scallion potato cake in a red wine shallot reduction
Pollo al jerez
Oven roasted boneless breast of chicken stuffed with chorizo, Manchego cheese and spinach without sherry mushroom sauce
Pato asado
Roast duck legs with braised red cabbage and apples over scallion mashed potato with blackberries
Filete de buey
Grilled 10oz Black Angus filet mignon over a scallion potato cake and vegetables no cognac and green peppercorn sauce
Zarzuela de mariscos
Shrimp, scallops, mussels & calamari in a zesty lobster and tomato broth without garlic toasted crostinis
Paella Valenciana
Chicken, chorizo and duckling in saffron rice with roasted red peppers and peas (individual portion)
Pescado del día
Chef’s daily fresh fish special (Check with manager about sauce/breading)
Location: 1612 Commonwealth Avenue Brighton, MA 02135. Green B line to Washington St. t Stop
Website: http://www.tascarestaurant.com/
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