Eros World Tapas Bar
I attended Eros‘ media event today to find out what they’ve done to the old Pie Bar place and to find yet another reason to whine about tapas. Tapas, a Spanish invention, have been giving restaurateurs yet another reason to offer small plates at exorbitant prices. I once went to a Spanish-themed one on Peachtree Parkway (which has now closed and I don’t wonder why) where their (miniature) tapas’ prices ranged from $10 to $15. I mean, for that price, I can get a full-sized entree somewhere else!
cool light fixtures
Simply put, the place is beautiful. I just love the the toile-covered hanging lamps. Very chic. And original. The three-sided bar, which is the focal point, is expansive yet welcoming. There’s a tented patio outside where you can dance to DJs showcasing their music after 10PM from Wednesday to Saturday.
Now for the tapas… I came to whine but was impressed instead. Priced from $2.50 with nothing over $8, most items are $4 and $5 (except for the Paella For Two which will set you back $20). Serving sizes are substantial — a good value in today’s economy. And the taste? Absolutely delicious. Chef Rafael Mendoza, who took helm at the Fishmonger Seafood Grill for over a decade before coming to Eros, offers a wide range of tastes influenced by Mediterranean, Spanish, Italian, African, Asian, and even Southern cuisines. As a result, the menu is a mish-mash of different flavors, yet blended together by a culinary round-the-world tour of sorts.
The Spanish Potatoes was a winner: greaseless, deep-fried potatoes lightly seasoned with salt and spicy paprika then served with a side of spicy remoulade. It’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s a more flavorful alternative to french fries.
The Chicken Kabob was another pleasant surprise. They came in these big chunks, skewered, then grilled. You can clearly taste the yogurt-curry marinade in the tender meat. It’s spicy and very appetizing.
Possibly the most lackluster among the bunch, the Bang Bang Shrimp was another spicy item but still interesting, nonetheless. Similar to the sweet-and-sour-shrimp, their version is tempura-battered then fried to a golden crisp. I would’ve liked it to have a tad more of sweetness (perhaps a drizzle of honey) to balance the saltyish marinade. Anyway, points there for the texture.
The Chorizo Lollilop was really outstanding with its kielbasa sausage (as the server informed me — he possibly didn’t know what it was or they were out of chorizos that day), dates, and bleu cheese all wrapped in bacon then skewered together. I thought it was gonna be just another pork overload but the salty-sweet combination of flavors were perfectly balanced. It was really good and unique.
I really liked the vibe here. It’s another hip place to meet friends for drinks. And I was really impressed that they actually have good food — inexpensive yet high quality. Finally, a success in the tapas concept.
Insider tip:
Opens to the public on September 12.
Website should be up an running in a week.
Valet parking available.
The scoop:
Eros World Tapas Bar
2160 Monroe Dr. NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
404-549-2433
Open 7 days a week, serving dinner and late supper
Kitchen remains open until close
Sunday-Tuesday: 5pm-Midnight
Wednesday-Saturday: 5pm-2am
Technorati Tags: Eros World Tapas Bar, tapas, Pie Bar, Cheshire Bridge, Chef Rafael Mendoza, Fishmonger Seafood Grill
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2 responses so far ↓
1 lal // Sep 13, 2008 at 3:25 pm
The Chorizo Lollilop is made of kielbasa? Are you sure? That sounds awful. I could see it with real chorizo, but kielbasa? I would be pissed if I was expecting chorizo and got kielbasa.
2 Nikki // Sep 28, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I had the Chorizo Lollipop last night, it was most certainly chorizo and absolutely delicious. Eros is quite a place, the environment is conducive to a romantic dinner but the patio can also serve as a Friday/Saturday night hot spot. Loved it! Cheers!
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