One Friday night, one of our couple friends invited us to
join what was initially their intimate dinner. Along with another couple, we
made it a couples’ night out—a get-together we do not have often. We headed off to Greektown (beside Rodeo) to check out this
Spanish restaurant, Tapas at Embrujo.
We got there at 7pm, just in time for the 7:30 show. We got
a pitcher of Sangria while we figured out what to get. Our friends got a variety
of tapas—from traditional jamon to some reinvented dishes like
duck confit and crayfish. Hubby and I
decided to get Paella de Mariscos
(could not resist!) and some JamonSerrano.
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| Sangria |
While we expected the paella to take 40minutes, the rest of
the tapas took a bit of time as well
to get to our table. Service
was very friendly, though. So, between the show and the good humoured staff, we did
not mind the wait. We also knew Chef Jose Salgado was preparing the food to order.
 |
| Jamon Serrano |
Our friends claimed the
tapas were good. The duck seemed a bit too fatty for me but the servings
for the calamares and crayfish were
substantial. The Serrano that Hubby
and I ordered was also nice, though I’m sure the Iberico would have been better.
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| Solomillo con tres salsas (Black Angus Sirloin strips with 3 sauces) |
The paella did
arrive after our friends were pretty much done with their tapas. It was a good sized dish and sufficiently packed with mussles,
squid and shrimps. The only thing was that it was quite “wet.” I prefer having socarrat (toasted bottom). I would say
that the paella did not wow me, but
it was not bad. It cannot compare to the ones we’ve had in Valencia.
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| Paella @ Tapas at Embrujo |
Dessert of Crema Catalan was just so so. It did go well with Hubby's poached pear, though.
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| Crema Catalan and Poached Pear |
The Flamenco show was energetic even with just one Flamenco dancer/singer
and a guitarist. The stage could not accommodate a bigger show. While
the Flamenco dancer did not have the castanets
and fans I was expecting, she gave us some pretty good clapping and stamping!
To do all that dancing, clapping and stamping while singing was already quite a
feat! The guitarist was outstanding, too. It was not quite the show we saw at
Sevilla, but it was entertaining nonetheless. The music, dancing and singing were good all
around. We also caught a bit of the next show at 9:30 and there was another
singer, making the performance a trio. They had more formal outfits this time, and
the songs were more dramatic.
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| Flamenco show @ Tapas at Embrujo |
There is a minimum charge of $30 per person on show nights,
but they have other specials as well. With tapas
costing a minimum of $8 (and as much as $18 for the Iberico board), 6 tapas and drinks are enough to satisfy and will make you hit the minimum tab. You get
to enjoy a show, too.
The night had all the right ingredients for fun—good food,
good friends and a show. And, it was a Friday night. What better way to set up
a weekend? Salut!
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