The Edinburgh Blog

For some time now I’d heard reports of people making the journey to Leith on the number 22 bus and after disembarking heading straight to Tapa. This is Leith’s first tapas bar, which has opened in the premises vacated by Bar Diesel. We’ve visited Tapa on a number of occasions and have been impressed each time. However, last Sunday was by far the highlight, when we experienced Tapa’s £10 lunch for 2. A sure sign of the quality and value of Tapa’s food was a group of Spanish visitors on the table next to ours - they were in a celebratory mood at the end of their meal; demonstrated by the copious amount of alcohol they were consuming from Tapa’s large Spanish selection.

Let’s start with Tapa’s unbelievably good value lunch. This offers six tapas dishes and a salad for two people. It’s available 12pm - 5pm every day. A large complementary bowl of bread is also included. We ordered the lunch and were taken aback by the amount of food. Tapa’s chef selections for two were:

• Patatas Bravas - well cooked potatoes with a moreish spicy tomato and mayo mixed sauce
• Fresh cod in batter- lovely chunks of white fish in an accomplished batter
• Spanish meatballs in traditional tomato sauce - really good quality, lovingly made meatballs
• Omelette - two thick slices of perfectly cooked Spanish omelette with a potato filling
• Spanish ratatoullie - a good mixture of onions, peppers and courgette
• Squid rings - served in a light batter, these were crisp and fresh to the taste

As the menu described this as a “light lunch” we also ordered paella (£4.75), from the specials board. If we had known the lunch for two was anything but light we wouldn’t have ordered the paella: it wasn’t needed. But we struggled through, as the paella was better than most Spanish restaurants would serve - although I would have liked it to contain a little more chicken and prawns.

The first time we visited Tapa was really just for a drink and to check the place out. Their Cava (4.70 a glass) and a selection of bottled beers from their Spanish range all went down a treat, with my particular favourite beer proving to be Estrella Damm (£3 a bottle). We did get tempted to try one of Tapa’s tapas dishes though, the Berenjenas Con Miel (£3.95). More simply this was fried aubergine in a light batter drizzled with honey and it was absolutely delicious! As the waiter himself said - “good choice”.

We enjoyed Tapa’s fabulously simple broad beans and ham on our second visit, which has proven to be my favourite dish. Also Tapa’s prawns served in a sizzling garlic olive oil and their meatballs were very good. As should be the case, Tapa’s friendly staff were happy to fetch more food when required, rather than having to place one huge order.

It’s also worth noting the great job Tapa have done with the interior of this restaurant. Bar Diesel never got it quite right and the bar felt a little empty and chilly, due to the main door opening directly onto the street. Tapa have combated the entrance problem, by installing a glass porch which makes a massive difference. The rest of Tapa is simply decorated, but it expertly portrays a laid-back feel, which means you really feel comfortable and happy to spend time in the restaurant.

Tapa is an excellent tapas bar / restaurant for any meal or for just drinks and a snack. However the outstanding value of the £10 lunch for two is without doubt and this is surely the best way to assess Tapa for yourself. Their lunch is surely one of the best value and most delicious to be enjoyed anywhere in Edinburgh. Very highly recommended.

Tapa is located at Wishart’s Warehouse, 19 Shore Place, Edinburgh EH6 6SW
Telephone: 2021 476 6776