Subsolo

A great reason to come to this subterranean space – one part flame red boudoir, one part dark, moody bar – is to check out the uncompromising Spanish wine list. It comes with tasting notes that mean you don’t have to be a wine buff to make a great choice – I loved the 2006 Castro Martin Albariño ($85/bottle $18/glass) described as ‘pear and honey with a tingle on the tongue.‘ While not every dish from head chef Jacqui Gowan excels ‘ the Crumbed Meatballs with Manchego and Romesco ($19/$24) were intensely salty ‘ there are some stellar tapas options like Lamb Cutlets ($18/$25) with minted fig salsa on chickpea puree. A great sharing option is the Ensalada a la Española ($19/$25) which includes garlic calamari, tasty Manchego and exceptional smoky chorizo. Vegetarians (and carnivores) will enjoy the superb Pimientos Rellenos ($17/$24) stuffed with goats cheese and pine nuts. More substantial offerings include a menu of charcoal spit-roasted Portuguese Espetadas including King Prawns wrapped in Spanish Jamon ($34); and a better-than-most Paella ($33) brimming with chicken, chorizo and seafood. The prawns and scallops were impressively moist, and the cast iron pan had the prized crust.

Subsolo
Basement, 161 King Street, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9223 7000
Spanish/Portuguese $$$$