The DC Traveler

So Many Tapas Choices in DC

by Jon on January 3rd, 2008

With the New Year upon us, it’s time for many people to start living up to that New Year’s resolution of losing a few pounds. And it’s especially challenging if you frequently dine out at any of DC’s great restaurants. 

But one possible solution, courtesy of The DC Traveler, is to go out for a meal of tapas.  If you order just a plate or two at a time, not only will you have a very relaxing meal, but you’ll probably eat less, and perhaps keep at least one of your resolutions this year.

The history of tapas is clouded with many stories as to how it originated, but one of the most entertaining relates to the King of Spain, Alfonso the 10^th.

After he recovered from being ill, during which he was required by his doctor to take small bites of food washed down with wine, he decreed that no wine could be served at any of the inns of the Castile region in Spain, without being accompanied with something to eat.

Other stories include the creation of a small snack for farm workers during their long days in the fields or the need to keep flies out of a glass of wine by topping it (Tapa means “lid” or “cover” in Spanish) with a piece of bread with meat, fish or cheese on top.

Yet another story tell the tale of a tavern owner that discovered that if cheap wine was paired with the powerful smelling cheese, it could disguise the taste of the poor quality wine. I guess “Two-Buck Chuck” is not a new thing. 

In Spain, tapas is traditionally an early evening “snack” or after work “bar food”, designed to hold you over until you sit for a more formal dinner, usually served between 9:00 and 11:00 p.m.  However more recently,  sampling many different plates of tapas has become a dinner substitute for the traditional two or three-course meal; allowing diners to sample a wide variety of dishes.

Here’s a list of some of the tapas restaurants in DC:

• Jaleo - Downtown, Crystal City and Bethesda. One of DC’s favorites.
• Bambule - 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW.  Check out my recent review of Bambule and don’t miss the gypsy guitar shows on Friday and Saturdays nights.  It’s some of the best live music in DC. 
• Bardeo Wine Bar - 3309 Connecticut Ave. NW.
• Las Tapas - 710 King St., Alexandria, VA. One of DC’s more affordable tapas places. 
• Meze - 2437 18th St. NW. Check out the tango lessons on Mondays, Salsa lessons on Tuesdays, and belly dancing lessons on Sundays.
• Mezza Luna - 1140 19th St. NW. Not really Spanish tapas, more of a mezze (small plate) restaurant.  Check out the 10 happy-hour tapas specials at just $4.00 each (weekdays 4-7 p.m.).
• Taberna del Alabardero - 1776 I St. NW. Classic Spanish food and tapas.  Also has a happy hour special with 50% off all tapas weekdays, 3-7 p.m.
• Zaytinya - 701 Ninth St. NW. One of my favorites places to dine in DC. They serve great Mediterranean tapas/mezze.  I’ll be writing a full review of Zaytinya in the next few weeks.

All restaurants listed are located in Washington, DC, unless noted.

images - Flickr, except the Meze bar, courtesy of Meze
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POSTED IN: Food & Beverage, Great Activities for a Date, Lunch Hour Fun, Sound Like a Local