Every night, the Gambetta district rushes over to the beautiful Galerna (dark hardwood floors, bricks, a windowed kitchen) to get their hands on the excellent tapas made by Spanish chef Iñigo Ruiz Rituerto (ex-Jourdain) and his Canadian partner Raphael Hinton (ex-Square Gardette). The night we went, their graphically pleasing Hispanic miniatures had everyone in good spirits: crispy yet tender paella arancini with squid ink mayo; plump baby squid filled with broccoli cream and caramelized onions; a stunning kokotxa (hake cheeks) with piquillo peppers; intensely flavorful roasted figs served with ricotta and a jelly made from patxaran (a Navarrese sloe gin). At lunch, expect tamer options – eg.: hummus with piquillo peppers; hake steak with roasted butternut squash and chimichurri sauce; crème brûlée. // R.deC.
FEELING THIRSTY? Kasia Kucharczyk offers up the best in Iberian libations: a rijoa from La Bicicleta Voladora (€6.50 a glass), a Valencia white from La Casa Benasal (€27 a bottle)…
PRICE: Set menus €17-20 (lunch), tapas €2-13 (dinner).
