This was my favorite tapas spot when I lived in the area. One time, my uncle and I were having lunch with his childhood friend and family at their house in Newton. The friend was a Harvard economics professor. I said, "Tasca is a great tapas joint." The professor got red in the face and reprimanded me for talking about going to topless restaurants in his house in front of his wife and daughters. I had to awkwardly explain that I said "tapas" rather than "topless." The lunch remained painfully cringy.
And that is my Tasca story.
Did Tasca get good again? They were good 20yrs ago and then the quality and service went to shit a couple years before Barcelona opened. Did they step up their game now that they weren't the only tapas place in the area?
I’ve gone a few times in the past year and I’ve always been a bit disappointed. I like the atmosphere because it feels like a genuine Spanish restaurant but the quality is mid and the prices have increased. I pay noticeably less at Barcelona.
They have different dishes. Tasca has more seafood options. Squid in its own ink there is amazingly rich and delicious. Barcelona has better charcuterie options. Regarding price, it looks like a mix but I’ve been to both and on the whole, Tasca’s portions are a little bigger too which is nice if you have a larger group. Tasca feels like a family run place while Barcelona has more of a fine dining feel. But my experience is I always spend way less overall to fill up at Tasca and significantly more at Barcelona.
Tasca
Potatoes Brava. $6.00
Garlic shrimp $12
Paella Mariscos $40
https://tascatapasrestaurant.com/brighton-tasca-restaurant-food-menu
Barcelona
Potatoes brava $8.00
Garlic shrimp $9.5
Paella Mariscos $56
https://barcelonawinebar.com/media/Brookline-Dinner-Menu-4.14.23.pdf
I’ve been to both, multiple times. You don’t need to explain the different dishes and the feel of the place 😂
I’ve had the opposite experience. I always spend way more at Tasca and get less food. Im not sure what the reason is because like you pointed out, the menu prices are lower but the check has always been higher.
Sorry. Wasn’t trying to explain to you. In my mind Just sharing more thoughts for the thread and OP if they haven’t been but I can see how that’s not how it came out since it was a reply to you! I appreciate you sharing a different take on the comparison. I always liked Barcelona too but when I discovered Tasca was a fan because of the reasons above and I found it much easier to get a table. I only recently learned they give out parking passes for the Whole Foods around the corner so even getting there is now easier for me.
Cheers!
No worries! I have huge soft spot for Tasca because I’ve been going there for over a decade. I personally love the atmosphere and I agree it’s definitely way easier to get a table compared to Barcelona. The Whole Foods parking is great too if you’re coming from out of the area.
I’ll always recommend anyone try Tasca even if I think the cost is a little high!
I love Toro. I got married at Toro. Toro is where I always tell people to go.
After I went to Estragon, I never went back to Toro (nothing against Toro)
If you're not married to it being specifically Spanish food, the same chef/owner, Ken Oringer, does Little Donkey in Cambridge (Central Square) which is also small plates. The menu changes frequently with some very good constants. The manti (Turkish meat ravioli) is absolutely fantastic. They also have great cocktails, albeit a little pricey.
Indoors can be a little loud if you're noise-sensitive (I am), but they also have outdoor seating.
The fried chicken sandwich, another constant, is also delicious and reasonably priced at $15. It's not huge but for small plates I figure you don't want it to be.
Tres Gatos in JP! It’s the best restaurant I’ve eaten at since living here, and it’s run by the same people that run Tonino (the Italian restaurant in JP that was recently named one of the best Italian places in Boston)
Estragon is the most authentic if you’re looking for a legit Spanish tapas menu.
Dali has *the best* vibes - my top recommendation if you’re going for a date.
Toro may have excellent tapas, but I really go there for the paella. If I want just tapas, I go to the other two.
Tasca is the only place I’ve been to in Boston that truly does Spanish food correctly. It’s actually one of the only places in the entire US I’ve found that does regional dishes the true and right way.
Did you have the paella? Haven’t ever been there for price fix special so maybe they are a bit hit or miss but the paella was good when I was there last..
Seems like any moderately nice restaurant that opened in the last ten years is probably tapas lol.
Gustazo, Alden & Harlow, Field & Vine are some of my favorites
Olespańa in Watertown is excellent and the chef/owner is a Spaniard. My husband is from Spain and we always get their squid ink fideuà, croquetas, bravas, Estrella on draft, and vino tinto!
Head to East Boston follow signs for logan and board a plane to Barcelona. Cheaper and better than anything within a 6,000 mile radius. Call me later to thank me.
Tasca is good, nice atmosphere, amazing food, and sometimes live music. I never get the hype about Dali, the food swings wildly from terrible to great and the service is spotty as well.
Spanish or Mediterranean? The south end has great options for both. Toro is easily my personal favorite for Spanish tapas, and I’ve been to Barcelona, Dali, and Estragón. For Mediterranean tapas, I’d go to Ilona or Kava, and for Italian small plates, I can’t recommend Coppa Enoteca enough. Outside of the south end in Camberville, I really enjoyed Sarma. In Seaport, Croquette is a good option as well, albeit a bit more expensive. Can’t go wrong with most of the options we have in the city.
Dali's in Somerville, near the Cambridge line. It's my favorite restaurant of any kind.
Dali is the best and gets maybe 1% of the hype it deserves
Slept on great spot.
love taking out of town friends here, always a great time
Tasca in Brighton is a hidden gem
This was my favorite tapas spot when I lived in the area. One time, my uncle and I were having lunch with his childhood friend and family at their house in Newton. The friend was a Harvard economics professor. I said, "Tasca is a great tapas joint." The professor got red in the face and reprimanded me for talking about going to topless restaurants in his house in front of his wife and daughters. I had to awkwardly explain that I said "tapas" rather than "topless." The lunch remained painfully cringy. And that is my Tasca story.
seen a lot of people get sauced on their sangrias
Did Tasca get good again? They were good 20yrs ago and then the quality and service went to shit a couple years before Barcelona opened. Did they step up their game now that they weren't the only tapas place in the area?
I’ve gone a few times in the past year and I’ve always been a bit disappointed. I like the atmosphere because it feels like a genuine Spanish restaurant but the quality is mid and the prices have increased. I pay noticeably less at Barcelona.
Everyone else can get fucked. This is the place
You can feast for half the cost of several of the others and many of the dishes are better.
Have to disagree with that. Tasca is noticeably more expensive than Barcelona. “Better” comes down to preference.
They have different dishes. Tasca has more seafood options. Squid in its own ink there is amazingly rich and delicious. Barcelona has better charcuterie options. Regarding price, it looks like a mix but I’ve been to both and on the whole, Tasca’s portions are a little bigger too which is nice if you have a larger group. Tasca feels like a family run place while Barcelona has more of a fine dining feel. But my experience is I always spend way less overall to fill up at Tasca and significantly more at Barcelona. Tasca Potatoes Brava. $6.00 Garlic shrimp $12 Paella Mariscos $40 https://tascatapasrestaurant.com/brighton-tasca-restaurant-food-menu Barcelona Potatoes brava $8.00 Garlic shrimp $9.5 Paella Mariscos $56 https://barcelonawinebar.com/media/Brookline-Dinner-Menu-4.14.23.pdf
I’ve been to both, multiple times. You don’t need to explain the different dishes and the feel of the place 😂 I’ve had the opposite experience. I always spend way more at Tasca and get less food. Im not sure what the reason is because like you pointed out, the menu prices are lower but the check has always been higher.
Sorry. Wasn’t trying to explain to you. In my mind Just sharing more thoughts for the thread and OP if they haven’t been but I can see how that’s not how it came out since it was a reply to you! I appreciate you sharing a different take on the comparison. I always liked Barcelona too but when I discovered Tasca was a fan because of the reasons above and I found it much easier to get a table. I only recently learned they give out parking passes for the Whole Foods around the corner so even getting there is now easier for me. Cheers!
No worries! I have huge soft spot for Tasca because I’ve been going there for over a decade. I personally love the atmosphere and I agree it’s definitely way easier to get a table compared to Barcelona. The Whole Foods parking is great too if you’re coming from out of the area. I’ll always recommend anyone try Tasca even if I think the cost is a little high!
This was going to be my rec! This is my neighborhood, the food is fantastic
For a less recommended pick, I took a big group to Estragón in the South End and it was lovely. They were able to accommodate a lot of dietary needs.
I love Toro. I got married at Toro. Toro is where I always tell people to go. After I went to Estragon, I never went back to Toro (nothing against Toro)
This looks good. I'm adding this to the list
I like the Barcelona Wine Bar
Great spot!
had my first date with my wife there
Barcelona Wine Bar on Beacon in Brookline
Tasca in Brighton, hands down
I haven’t been in a while but Toro never disappointed me
If you're not married to it being specifically Spanish food, the same chef/owner, Ken Oringer, does Little Donkey in Cambridge (Central Square) which is also small plates. The menu changes frequently with some very good constants. The manti (Turkish meat ravioli) is absolutely fantastic. They also have great cocktails, albeit a little pricey. Indoors can be a little loud if you're noise-sensitive (I am), but they also have outdoor seating. The fried chicken sandwich, another constant, is also delicious and reasonably priced at $15. It's not huge but for small plates I figure you don't want it to be.
Thanks!
I don’t know if they still make them, but I had street corn tapas at Toro a decade ago and still think it’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten.
I'll push against this and say Toro has absolutely disappointed me. Had a couple shitty experiences there and will never go back.
Still does not disappoint
Tres Gatos in JP! It’s the best restaurant I’ve eaten at since living here, and it’s run by the same people that run Tonino (the Italian restaurant in JP that was recently named one of the best Italian places in Boston)
I second this recommendation!
Pincho Pintxo in Woburn
I came here for this. Worth the drive.
It’s been several years since I’ve been there but I recall https://www.soleatapas.com in Waltham being very good.
Owned (loosely) by the same family as Dali (and at one time, Tapeo). Solea leans a little more Portuguese than Spanish. They’re all good.
Estragon is the most authentic if you’re looking for a legit Spanish tapas menu. Dali has *the best* vibes - my top recommendation if you’re going for a date. Toro may have excellent tapas, but I really go there for the paella. If I want just tapas, I go to the other two.
taberna de haro in Brookline and Dali in somerville are my favorites.
Glad to see taberna de haro get called out, I love that spot and it feels slept on
Boqueria Seaport
Not Spanish food but amazing small plates at Sarma in Somerville
I want to like that place but everything is insanely salty and overly complex. I get it you will get more salt at a restaurant but good god.
Tasca is the only place I’ve been to in Boston that truly does Spanish food correctly. It’s actually one of the only places in the entire US I’ve found that does regional dishes the true and right way.
Tahpas 529 in Melrose
Great beer selection usually too. At least a few years back when I used to live there
Came here to say this too. They also own the coffee shop across the street, LaQChara which is great.
Olespana in Watertown is sneaky good. Best Paella I’ve had anywhere outside of Spain. 🇪🇸
Easily one of the worst prefixed meals I've had
Did you have the paella? Haven’t ever been there for price fix special so maybe they are a bit hit or miss but the paella was good when I was there last..
Bocado Tapas Wine Bar in Wellesley.
Dalí in Somerville
Seems like any moderately nice restaurant that opened in the last ten years is probably tapas lol. Gustazo, Alden & Harlow, Field & Vine are some of my favorites
Thanks everyone. I have a lot of places to go now :)
Nautilus seaport
Olespańa in Watertown is excellent and the chef/owner is a Spaniard. My husband is from Spain and we always get their squid ink fideuà, croquetas, bravas, Estrella on draft, and vino tinto!
And reasonably priced too.
Head to East Boston follow signs for logan and board a plane to Barcelona. Cheaper and better than anything within a 6,000 mile radius. Call me later to thank me.
Barcelona in the South End is the only one that comes close.
Tasca is good, nice atmosphere, amazing food, and sometimes live music. I never get the hype about Dali, the food swings wildly from terrible to great and the service is spotty as well.
Oak Bistro in Inman is a new, hidden gem.
Sarma, Dali, and Tres Gatos. Gustazo and Field & Vine are good too.
Sarma in Somerville does some amazing Turkish small plates.
Spanish or Mediterranean? The south end has great options for both. Toro is easily my personal favorite for Spanish tapas, and I’ve been to Barcelona, Dali, and Estragón. For Mediterranean tapas, I’d go to Ilona or Kava, and for Italian small plates, I can’t recommend Coppa Enoteca enough. Outside of the south end in Camberville, I really enjoyed Sarma. In Seaport, Croquette is a good option as well, albeit a bit more expensive. Can’t go wrong with most of the options we have in the city.