20/5/2022: For our 44th anniversary we went to this sweet little restaurant that had rave reviews in pertinent websites. It's owned by a wife and husband team. Raphael, the husband has an unusual and engaging style. He gets down to eye level so he is not looking down on you. Raphael passionately describes their unique dishes like an paleontologist discussing microscopic fossils but with a wry sense of humor. Making a decision was tough. We wanted everything but we settled for a pumpkin soup with ginger/mango, grilled Spanish sausages on a fried log of garbanzo beans & polenta. Topped with a delicate cream made from manchego cheese, I could have said it was my favorite. That is until I tasted the next dish, soft shell crab on top of steamed seaweed with dots of Kimchi aioli. For dessert we opted for two "deconstructed" dishes: a key lime pie and a Black Forest brownie cake. We were openly and shamelessly moaning in public.
La Barra de Zapata is a charming, little gem, but don't let its size fool you. It's big on imagination, attention to detail, and an essential desire to please their patrons.
Reservations are advised. read more