Tapa Thursdays: La Dalia

I have the secret to getting a table at some of Seville’s hottest dining spots.

Go during a big football match. Really.

I have to admit that I was a bit disheartened when I wound up at La Dalia at 10pm midweek. There was no buzzing chatter or the cacophony of cutlery banging against plates. In fact, the only other people in the restaurant were the two members of the wait staff.

But at least I got a table right away.

La Dalia has received pretty good reviews of late, as the small bar is close to the Alameda and is yet another gastro pub offering spins on Spanish favorites. What I liked about the menu is that it (mostly) strayed from typical offerings in fusion and gastro places – no risotto here, but wild boar, an offering of cheeses and baked fish fashioned with chutneys and beans.

By the time H showed up, I was pretty decided on the few dishes I’d like to try, though many didn’t come in tapas form. We settled on duck and apple croquetas, morcilla de arroz with pisto and a fried quail egg, and a mini ox hamburger with foie gras for each of us, plus our requisite beers.

The croquetas and morcilla came first, and I was already making a mental note to come back and try more. But the hamburgerseso, sí, a gastrobar staple, was topped with cheddar cheese, which effectively killed the flavor of a well-cooked meat.

In lieu of one last tapa, we decided on dessert. In hindsight, we should have chosen another dish. The apple pie was doused in strawberry sauce, which cut the entire flavor of the apple and cake, and the brownie was dry. 

La Dalia wasn’t a total washout, but I won’t be running back there any time soon. I didn’t think the staff was especially friendly, either, but they could have just been bummed that they were missing the big game.

Los detalles: Calle Trajano, 44, right off the Alameda. Tuesday to Saturday 1:30 to 4:00 and 9:00 to 11:30. Closed Sunday and Monday dinner.

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About Cat Gaa

As a beef-loving Chicago girl living amongst pigs, bullfighters, and a whole lotta canis, Cat Gaa writes about expat life in Seville, Spain. When not cavorting with adorable Spanish grandpas or struggling with Spanish prepositions, she works in higher education at an American university in Madrid and freelances with other publications, like Rough Guides and The Spain Scoop.

Comments

  1. Apple pie drenched in strawberry sauce? That sounds rather odd.
    Kaley recently posted..So You’re Dating a Spaniard—ZoëMy Profile

  2. Ha, I like your tip for scoring a seat at a top-rated restaurant! Also, the duck and apple croquetas sound delicious and just exotic enough without going over the top. Yum!
    Cassandra recently posted..Falling in Love with the Spanish DiminutiveMy Profile

  3. Shame it didn’t meet your expectations, but it sure looks tasty in the photographs!

    We always say that when there’s a big game on it’s the best time to go to the supermarket – never seen the aisles so empty!
    Catherine recently posted..Photo Essay: The Gardens of ApelternMy Profile

  4. Always to be honest in your reviews, the food looks delicious and at the same time did lack something visually to make you go wow. Thanks for sharing otherwise Cat
    noel recently posted..4th Street in BerkeleyMy Profile

  5. Duck and apple croquetas sound really tasty, but I’m not sure about apple pie with strawberry sauce. Going during a fútbol match is a great tip – all the ‘normal’ restaurants are usually much emptier then!
    Jessica (Barcelona Blonde) recently posted..A Springtime Stroll Through the Parc de CervantesMy Profile

  6. The beer is sooo beautiful to look at! :)
    Jonny Blair recently posted..Backpacking in Beijing: Top 5 SightsMy Profile

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