There are traditions that help open and close seasons. For us, Tapeo on Newbury bookends the warm weather season. When we have one of those perfect, warm, breezy Spring days when you long to sit for an hour of more on a Newbury Street patio--we head for Tapeo. And, we try to get in one of our last fall farewells to outdoor eating there.
Maybe it is the sunny, Spanish note they hit with their approach to food or the wine list or the tapas but Tapeo seems to be a warm weather place.
On Sunday, after spending a couple of hours inside we agreed it was too fine a day to be working and headed to Newbury Street to find a table and bottle of sparkling wine. Tapeo had both and thus, on June 1, we toasted a new month and the beginning of the outdoor dining season.
The menu offered a few changes since our last visit when we closed out the patio season last fall. We decided to start with one of Ed's favorite salads, Ensalada Mixta (Mixed Greens, Hearts of Palm, and beets) and the Gorditas (Prunes Stuffed with Goat Cheese & Wrapped in Bacon.)
These were followed with a new shrimp dish in place of my old favorite grilled shrimp with heads on. The Gambas con Gabardina (Saffron-Batter Fried Shrimp with Mojo Sauce) was very good. As you'll see in the photo, I ordered the Mojo sauce on the side. That way we could decide how much to have and the shrimp would stay crisp.
We also had the Costillitas de Vaca (Beef Short Rib in Rioja Wine Sauce) which was wonderful and with a braising sauce that was so good that Ed cleaned up every bit of it with bread.
We still had some wine when we ran out of food so we ordered dessert, the Churros con Chocolate. We were not enthralled by them. They were an excuse to have some chocolate sauce but not a great dessert. Having said that, there are few desserts that we love. Desserts always sound and look better than they taste.
Details:
Tapeo
266 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-4799
MBTA: Green line, Copley, Prudential or Hynes Stations
Other members of this restaurant family:
http://www.dalirestaurant.com/
Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar
415 Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 661-3254
http://solearestaurant.com/home/
Solea Restaurant & Tapas Bar
388 Moody Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 894-1805
Other opinions:
