I was specifically looking for a tapas bar because we weren't particularly hungry and just wanted a…read morefew small bites alongside a good glass of wine. On the wine front, Gata absolutely delivers. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, and it's the kind of place where one glass quickly turns into two because there are simply too many interesting options to pass up.
Unfortunately, the food didn't come close to matching either the quality of the wine program or the price point.
We ordered the deviled eggs, which turned out to be hard-boiled eggs sliced in half with a piece of ham placed on top. When you order deviled eggs, you generally expect, well... the eggs to actually be deviled. We mentioned our disappointment to the bartender, who was wonderful, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. The explanation was that this is simply their interpretation of deviled eggs. Fair enough, but it wasn't an interpretation that worked for us.
Ironically, the standout dish of the evening was the pigs in blankets, which is not a sentence I ever expected to write about an upscale wine bar. They were delicious, but they also raised the question of why the rest of the menu wasn't reaching the same level.
Looking back, we realized we were the only people actually eating while everyone else was there for the wine. In hindsight, that should have been the clue. I only wish someone had mentioned that before we made the trip over expecting a tapas experience.
Gata has so much potential. The atmosphere is lovely, the wine selection is excellent, and the staff were fantastic. If the small plates eventually rise to the level of the wine program, this place could be truly special. Until then, I'd absolutely recommend it for drinks, but probably not for dinner.