Even though I’ve never been, Spain is a happy place for me. I mean that literally, in the way that self-help gurus tell you to find your happy place. When things get hairy, I mentally transport myself to a sun-soaked patio and a table filled with chorizo and sangria. On especially bad (or good) days, I actually go to one of Vancouver’s Spanish restaurants and pretend.
I haven’t been to the Latin Quarter in some time, but I do have fond memories of long evenings spent drinking sangria in front of large, breezy windows or tucking into a meal before doing a spot of dancing. This time was a bit different, as my sister and I were looking for a quick bite pretty early in the evening. We ordered a grilled eggplant salad and the brie and mango quesadillas that were on special, along with a pitcher of sangria.
The grilled salad was nothing special, but done perfectly. Slices of eggplant and tomato covered over with feta and a balsamic reduction are all the right flavours to appetize. I was wary of the quesadilla, because it seemed too easy, too overdone, to put two such trendy ingredients in a standby appetizer, but in fact in was delicious. The salsa was an added burst of flavour.
Moving on to some hot, heavier tapas, we ordered an old favorite, albondigas, and the mariscos combo, which I have not had before. Spanish Meatballs are practically a tapas must. Served in spicy tomato sauce, with potatoes they are warm and comforting and usually express their inherent “Spanishness” enough to take you out of your element. Here, not so much. They tasted pretty much like meatballs in tomatos sauce. The mariscos combo was a beautiful dish. Scallops, mussels and clams arrived artfully arranged in their shells after having been cooked in a white wine and garlic broth. Unfortunately after dismantling the shellfish, this also disappointed. There just wasn’t enough flavour.
All in all, I was bored with the food. Blame it on being fresh back from New York, blame it on the early hour and lack of live music (which would have started later), blame it even on the English street traffic outside the window that insisted on reminding me I was still in Vancouver. The service was attentive and charming, the atmosphere was lovely as usual, but the food was just bland. I will go back(although not for a while) and hopefully by then they will have found either some inspiration or the spice rack.
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Latin Quarter
1305 Commercial Drive
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La Bodega is great for Spanish food. I’m dying to get to know El Patio, in Yaletown. I think there must be three or four more Spanish restaurants in Vancouver.
I love Spanish food. After having walked by Latin Quarter a number of times, I finally took the plunge — very disappointing! I enjoyed El Patio, but the ownership changed and the quality went down. It’s now closed, as did Nickie’s & Lola’s in Gastown (bad location). I’ll have to re-visit La Bodega; it’s been a long time. I think that’s the only other Spanish restaurant in Vancouver, which is too bad. That represents an opportunity, though. How about not giving us another West Coast tapas or small plates joint, but real-deal Spanish?
will do! there is Senova in Kerrisdale that I’ve been meaning to try for a while. Or La Bodega soon.