First Look: Tavernita
By Molly Durham in Food on Feb 2, 2012 8:00PM
We've waited, you've waited, we've all waited for Tavernita. Now it's officially open and serving up kegged cocktails and Spanish small plates.
Ryan Poli's menu is designed to encourage sharing (our favorite way to eat). Small bites like the flatbread Escalivada (eggplant, red peppers, hazelnut romesco and goat cheese), meatballs with wagyu beef and pork belly bocadillos (sliders) are tiny treats for your taste buds that you might have a problem actually sharing. Kegged cocktails come in more exotic forms, like the Turista with hornitos tequila blanco, preserved cherries, grapefruit, black pepper syrup, lime and bbq bitters. But some more classic drinks also come on draft, like their twist on the gin & tonic, the Jay & Tay, with plymouth gin, lime, and house-made tonic.
The interior is sleek but comfortable and the small bites pack lots of flavor. The Barcito area has a laid back feeling and serves both red and white sangria, as well as a wide variety of other drinks. Standing tables surrounding the bar seem perfect for small plate sharing during happy hour.
Good luck getting a table, they're already looking sparse on OpenTable. While the space is big, it's sure to fill up now that the wait for the opening is over.
Tavernita is located at 151 W. Erie.