
Hola!
Yes, not the El Bulli (where I hope to make it one day) but the Surry Hills version. This was our third attempt at securing a table at El Bulli. The first went wrong when I tried to book for Mr NQN and I. They told us that they don’t take bookings but if we want to come by around 6pm-7pm we could get a table. Not wanting to eat quite that early we didn’t. The second time we turned up at 7pm only to be told they were fully booked yet they could take booking for tables of more than 2. This time we managed to secure a booking but a) it would have to be at 6:15pm and b) we would have to give the table back at 8pm. Apparently during a Saturday night, they do three sittings!

Mr NQN and I walk in on time mindful of the 8pm pumpkin time when Cinderella has to give back her glass slippers. Inside it is all warmly lit with orange tones. Candles with huge wax drippings underneath them glow and there’s wood all around (and I’ve kept the light in the photos as is to convey the lovely orange shade). There’s even a wooden menu at some tables and when I enquire about this the maitre’d jokes that is is for naughty customers with a wink. When I drop it and make a kerfuffle (ok you knew clumsy me would do that didn’t you?) he wags a finger at me. My phone beeps and it’s Teena and Philippe and they’re running 10-15 minutes late. Then a minute later Gina and Hot Dog text us and tell us they’re 10 minutes late. Arrrgh Cinderella!

We take a look at the menu which tells us how tapas originated in the South of Spain as a result of a glass of sherry accompanying an outdoor meal. To keep the fruit flies out of the glass they placed a small plate (a tapa) over the top and added some small tasty morsels of olives, ham etc on top of that. The menu is quite detailed with the usual tapas items (there’s nothing experimental a la Bodega). Fittingly given the story of the origins of tapas, the alcohol list is extensive and much larger than the food menu with five Spanish beers and one Argentinian beer.

Almendras Tostadas -Toasted seasoned almonds $6.50































