1 Clifton Heights,
Triangle West,
BRISTOL,
BS8 1EJ
The ViewBristol Review
A well known tapas chain which has a good stab at giving you an evening out with a hint of Spain.
The Venue
La Tasca nestles at the bottom of the Clifton Heights, which is an eyesore block of offices and shops, and this gives the restaurant an initial corporate feel. The facade features attractive wooden doors and wooden panelling which surrounds the building’s large windows. Look up and you will see a terrace full of tables which has a real buzz about it in the summer months.
Inside, La Tasca is dimly but atmospherically lit. Bright furnishings, bold patterns and lots of pillows give a rustic, provincial feel which is pleasingly novel and enticing. The interior is large and features many hefty sized tables surrounded by cushions where customers can lounge around informally and share their tapas. Smaller tables are also available for couples.
The Atmosphere
There is a fun, communal atmosphere which is only helped by the Spanish music. Staff are laidback but attentive and there is none of the stilted English style of dining which makes you feel that you should have your meal then leave abruptly. Instead you can order sporadically and eat bits and bobs right through the evening, punctuating the dishes with buckets of sangria.
The Food
Although it's hard to make the eating of tapas a boring activity, that doesn’t mean it's a failsafe. Overall, the tapas at La Tasca is a little salty, overly rich, and the dishes don’t complement each other particularly successfully. Seafood is good, though a tad overindulgent as it mostly consists of deep-fried prawns, fish or squid (£4 to £5).
There's plenty of chicken and meat, mostly cooked with heaps of garlic and paprika. Vegetarians may enjoy the decent-sized list but it is a little deceptive; many potato dishes taste like each other (patatas bravas is £3.25 for a small). Meat meals, including paellas (£19.95 to share), are more considered and consistent, but once again they're recklessly seasoned and just too salty.
The Drink
Spanish wines are the order of the day at La Tasca. The house white is the Condesa de Leganza (£3.45) which has a light, lemony fragrance to it, but there is also a plentiful list of red wine, rose, cava, champagne, sherry and beer.
Most people opt for the sangria which is £3.15 for a glass of the classic version, but also comes in other varieties, including a cava, fruit and spirit mix (£4.45 a glass) which is citrusy, heady and exciting to drink.
The Last Word
A decent tapas restaurant serving rich, overly flavoured food. However, it makes up for it by being a fun and novel place to eat out.
La Tasca has been reviewed by 4 users