Bar Vini

 
Elena's Spanish tapas Bar and Restaurant.

Glasgow Dining Destination #1 

90 Old Dumbarton road 

@elenastapasglasgow

https://www.elenastapas.com/

Hi everyone and welcome to my first blog post! Over the next few weeks i will be visiting and reviewing restaurants from great variety of cuisines in and around Glasgow, and posting them on this blog. I hope you enjoy what you find here!!

I recently paid a visit to Elena's Spanish tapas Bar and Restaurant for a Friday evening out with some friends. The self-proclaimed "Authentic Cantabrian Dining" location is the perfect spot for a genuine Spanish meal and atmosphere. 

Situated right next to Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the location is easily accessible via Kelvin hall subway station. 

The  family run Glasgow restaurant, owned by Elena, a native of Santander on the north coast of Spain, is sure to make you feel as if you have walked in right off of the streets of your favourite Spanish town. 

Elena's provides a vast and comprehensive, but not overwhelming menu which caters to all needs. Thanks to the extensive menu there were ample options for my vegan and pescatarian friends who joined me.

We began the night with a large jug of sangria. In addition to this there was an interesting and diverse range of cocktails. Some of those sampled included a Cava mojito, Caipirinha, Tinto Verano, and of course, Elena's Blackberry Sparkler. 

All of which we rated highly.

Upon arrival, we were provided with a complementary Tapa- which is common custom in Spain- of deep fried courgette with a red wine reduction.

We enjoyed it so much that we ordered more to go with the rest of our tapas later. 

It has to be said that the tapas - commonly referred to as 'Raciones' in this case, are much bigger than your typical sized dish. 

On ordering, the waiter was more than happy to talk us through the menu and clarify any queries we had.

We were advised to order 2-3 tapas between 3 of us due to the greater portion size and that we could always order more as we went along.

In the end we ordered 8 tapas, which was more than enough.

However I wouldn't have ordered any less as it was great to enjoy such a variety of dishes. 

Dishes ordered included:

• Pulpo a la gallega
• Patatas bravas
• Calamares
• A cheese platter (including Manchego, Goats Cheese, Brie and Blue cheese)
• Mushroom and Spinach Croquetas
• Gambas al ajillo
•  Pimientos de Padron

The stand out dishes for us had to be the Courgette with  red wine reduction and the Croquetas. However I also feel the need to give a special mention to the Pulpo a la Gallega, which is a typical Galician dish of octopus on a bed of boiled potatoes, topped with paprika and olive oil.

Without a doubt the dishes provided at Elena's echo that of what you would experience in Spain.

It has to be noted that you can also simply ignore the extensive tapas menu, and stop in for perhaps the most Spanish of dinners some sangria and a paella for 2.

With regards to the service, at Elena's, the staff, many of whom were Spanish made us feel right at home and were happy to accommodate all requests.

The service was prompt and efficient, and food came within no more than 15 minutes of ordering.

Tapas come when they're ready, therefore providing a staggered arrival of dishes. Ideal for those who have opted to order a lot us as we never felt overwhelmed by the amount of food on front of us.

There was a friendly and sociable atmosphere at this authentic Glasgow restaurant.

In contrast to generic chains, typical of a restaurant in Spain, the  focus is not on expensive design and decor but instead on providing high quality, good food. Therefore enhancing the authentic, Spanish vibe.

I have also been informed that there is often live music at the weekends, which is sure to improve the atmosphere even more. 

  With regards to the pricing at Elena's, it is very reasonable with dishes ranging from £3- £40

 Although at first glance it may seem slightly overpriced, once you see the size of the dishes you will realise you are certainly getting your moneys worth.

Elena's is the perfect location for a a group night out, with some food and drink of an excellent standard, I without a doubt recommend this trend Glasgow restaurant and will certainly be back. 

Food-  9/10

Service-  9/10

Menu-   9/10

Value for money-  8/10

Atmosphere-   8/10