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Having eaten in many tapas bars on
mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, we were looking forward
to seeing whether Ortega, the fairly new tapas bar in the
Theatre District, was as authentic as it claimed. The original
meaning of 'tapas' is 'a lid' used to keep the flies out of
wineglasses a piece of bread was the first 'lid.’ Now Tapas is
typically lots of small dishes that are brought to the table as
they are cooked in waves rather than all at once.
Décor
Described on their website as a
"Tapas Cantina"; the décor within this restaurant has an
eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional styles with a heavy
Spanish influence as you would expect, but what was unexpected
was, the Gaudi-esque wrought iron bulls majestically used to
screen off the bar area (makes a difference from concrete cows)
the kitsch lampshades depicting Spanish imagery, the stylised
prints of couples doing the Tango and the dark wood floors.
Ortega is able to cater to the needs of both romantic diners
with intimate tables for two, or the for larger parties with
more open seating areas.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere was very lively
and something that you may find in any traditional restaurant on
the streets of Barcelona. It was almost like stepping off the
streets of Las Rumbles. The music was not your normal foot
stamping, guitar strumming flamenco style but with a modern feel
which enhanced the whole dining experience. The music was played
at a level where the clientele could easily hold a conversion
without resorting to shouting at each other.
Food
On arrival we were greeted by
the welcoming aroma of herbs and spices which made my taste buds
tingle in anticipation. We started deliberating over the menu
with some fresh crusty bread with aioli ,which for us simple
folk is a traditional creamy garlic mayonnaise dipping sauce
£1.95 and some olives marinated in paprika and garlic £1.95. My
companion who is partial to a jug or two of Sangria (£12.50 for
2.5 pints), described this as one of the best he had tasted and
that it was full of the things that you would expect - not a
diluted version that some Spanish restaurants serve.
After spending some time not
being able decide what food to order, Sandi the manager
suggested we try the tapas and recommended the Clasico Sharing
platter £20.00 which included Ortego's 7 best selling Tapas. The
Tortilla Espanola, chunky portions of Spanish omelette was
lightly seasoned and cooked to perfection. We also sampled the
Lentejas con chorizo - a lentil stew, the Chorizo - a spicy
Spanish sausage sliced and socked in a olive oil, the
Champiñones al ajillo - sliced mushrooms in a delicious creamy
sauce. And there was more! The Brocheta de pollo - lightly
spiced diced chicken on skewers with peppers and onions. Gambas
pil pil which was simply large garlic king prawns - simple but
delicious. Patatas bravas which is diced potatoes in a spicy
tomato sauce. We did have some crusty bread left and couldn't
help but use it to mop up the remains of the spicy oil from the
Chorizo. The best thing about eating tapas is that you share all
the dishes reinforcing the social dining experience as well as
experiencing a mix of mouth-watering taste sensations.
Moving onto our main courses
(there are a surprisingly good number of selections on offer) we
chose to share a the Ortega House Paella £9.50. A speciality
dish which was full of all the things that you would expect -
chicken, chorizo, prawns, mussels, mushrooms and peppers. The
paella was served in the traditional way – the pan that it was
cooked in. The rice was brilliantly cooked and the chicken was
succulent. The seafood was just right and the whole dish was
held together with a rich spicy sauce which definitely had the
authentic taste of Spain. Try this dish and you will not be
disappointed
At this point we needed a break
but for you the reader we moved swiftly onto desserts. My guest
and I went our separate ways this time. He chose the Crema
Catalana £4.25 which is a traditional custard dessert with a
crispy caramel top. This was a very light and refreshing dessert
and almost palate cleansing dish which proved the ideal dish to
end the meal. I on the other hand had to go for the Tarta de
chocolate £4.50. This is definitely one for the chocolate
lovers, a dessert consisting of rich layers of milk, dark and
white chocolate mousse on a crispy biscuit base finished off
with some fresh pouring cream. I did grudgingly allow my
companion to have a little taste and we both agreed that it was
simply delicious. Whilst my companion was still enjoying the jug
of Sangria I decided to finish my meal off with a simply
delightful cappuccino - the coffee was the right temperature and
the milk had being frothed to the correct thick and creamy
consistency.
Service
I was pleasantly surprised on
our arrival. We were greeted at the door and shown to our table
and all of the waiting staff smiled as they passed. The
restaurant was fairly quiet at this point but as the evening
progressed the restaurant started to fill. The staff
effortlessly managed to cope with the busier times and never
once compromised on a high standard of customer service.
The restaurant also has a large
bar area where you can relax with a drink after work or enjoy a
night out sampling the delights of a Sangria or San Miguel with
friends. An extensive wine list compliments your meal or you can
choose from a range of draught or bottled beers.
The restaurant is located in a
forgotten corner of Central Milton Keynes near to the theatre
district but is well worth a visit. There is something to suit
everyone's budget. The even offer free meals for kids under 10
at the weekend as long as there is a paying adult who spends a
minimum of £10.00 on food. Ortega gets the basics right serving
very tasty, freshly-prepared food, giving you a true taste of
Spain.
I will definitely be retuning to
taste more of what Ortega's tantalizing menu can offer. |
