Tapas?
 

We have enjoyed tapas restaurants here in the states (usually end up spending way too much money) and I was looking forward to eating many of our evening meals in Tapas bars. When I read yesterday's article in the NYT about tapas in Granada I was a bit taken aback. The article suggested that rather than ordering the tapas from a menu, one orders a drink and the waiter brings you whatever tapas is "on tap" that evening. This concerns me because a)I'm not much of a drinker and b) what if one doesn't like the dish the waiter brings?

so I'm wondering if this is the way it is done throughout Spain, and also, can anyone enlighten me on how a "tapas crawl" works? Again, being a one drink a night kinda girl, is it expected that one will order a drink at each stop on the crawl? I have a bunch of questions but it probably makes sense to let those of you who live there or have visited explain it to me. thanks

I have not been to Granada, but in every other place I have been in Spain, I chose my own tapas from the bar (in Spanish, in English, and by pointing). Just order what you want to drink--no one will care that it is not alcoholic.

I think you order a drink and get a free tapas included - not of your choice. You can still order whatever you want from the tapas menu and pay for it.

Just ignore the free tapa idea, which is common in Granada and elsewhere in the soouth but not universal in Spain. Order what you want to eat, and order a drink or three, or not.

A crawl fora tourist just means going from place to place, usually seeking out what the bar is known for (they are tapas bars or, more correctly, just bars, not tapas restaurants)

More or less like this: Enter bar, take a look at the board listing various drinks and tapas. Decide on one thing to eat per person (I usually order the tapas made to order, not those sitting on the bar) and a drink if you want one.
Squeeze up to bar itself, try to catch barmen's eye and place order.

Eventually you will get your order. Eat at the bar or, if too crowded, move away to find comfy placed to place plate/glass. When finished, go up to bar again to pay; repeat to bartender what you had to eat and drink and get bill and pay.

This is a general outline and your experience may vary. Try not to ask a million questions of a busy bartender, try to pronounce correctly the names of what you want. Feel free to ask fellow bar-goers what is good in that place, or read up before you go, since certain places are known for certain dishes. but nothing is written in stone.

I can't edit this as preview does not work so forgive any errors.

Move on to next bar, or (before getting bill) prder more food/drink.

As others have indicated, you can order from the menu even in places where yiou get a free tapa with a drink (which isn't universal). But we did eat and enjoy our free tapas in Granada and Madrid. I can't think of any we didn't eat. But we often ordered more.

I will say this: I am not a big drinker at home. I often have less than one full drink. But I did drink more in Spain and went on a couple of tapas crawls. Ideally, you are drinking somewhat slowly as you chat with friends and eat. The point isn't to get drunk. So while I'm not encouraging you to drink beyond your comfort zone, you may find your comfort zone shift slightly while in Spain! We've been home for over a month now and I'm back to one drink or less.

You might try different drinks, too. I still don't care for sherry, but I really love vermouth. Another drink to try is Tinto de Verano, which is red wine mixed with Fanta or lemon juice. It's popular in hot weather. I got the sense that locals order this instead of sangria.

There are lots others. Just do search and see if anything sounds fun.

You can have so rather nice tapas in Granada and most places will offer you a different one with each drink you order.

Spaniards tend to more from one tapas bar to another, generally after having only one or two glasses of wine (usually a Rioja or Ribera) or a beer (Una caña) at each bar, but this is changing is some parts of Spain, especially in the North.

Tourist drink Sangria, locals, unless they are at the beach in Andalucia or Valencia, drink wine or beer. Basque, under the age of consent, drink Kalimotxo.

ahhh, that is so helpful. don't want to look like a hapless tourist lol. and I do actually love Sherry and el tinto de verano sounds lovely. gracias

I do not drink at all, and I always feel comfortable at a tapas bar. Forgot about the notion of how tapas is served in the US, it is not considered a meal. Most of the time people crowd around a bar. It is also a family affair, where you might see young children.

i am in a wine club here in the States and actually was tasked to do some research on this topic for a Spain Wine themed night. There is some historical evidence ( not universally accepted) that the word Tapas came from "top" or "lid" where in the old days of inns a cook would bring out a samples of whatever he/she was cooking in the lid of the pot used for cooking, and if the patrons found it palatable, they would order a course of that food, and if not, move on, or just stick with liquid nutrition. That is the origin of the current custom. Maybe 40, or 50 years ago one could go bar hopping in Spain and get full with only paying for drinks. Now the bars use the logic well described above. You do not have to order alcohol. In Europe a soft drink is a drink. BTW, do not overlook patatas bravas. A very simple potato dish, filling, and usually a good value, which, if prepared well, is very tasty and as it has good starches in it, may increase your alcohol tolerance and endurance.

That said, Spanish wines are very good and diverse. A bit of research into the Sp. wine industry and what wines are made in what regions is quite a fascinating study and will help you enjoy your tapas crawl immensely.

There are many tascas (tapas bars) where the people throw their napkins on the floor. And if you are lucky you will find an old-fashioned tasca where the people behind the counter keep track of how much eat and drink by marking on the counter with chalk. (Yes Robert, they still exist.)

While Spanish food is rarely spicy, one tapa that can be is patatas bravas.

There are also very hip tascas, if you are in Madrid there are two on Calle Libertad one is called Kelso y Manolo or Bocaito.

Tapas in Madrid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6QWF8T0BRA

>not universally accepted< that's for sure!

>And if you are lucky you will find an old-fashioned tasca where the people behind the counter keep track of how much eat and drink by marking on the counter with chalk.< There is only one that I am aware of, the original El Rinconcillo in Sevilla. There may be others, in some village somewhere, but I have yet to encounter them.

<keep track of how much eat and drink by marking on the counter with chalk>
Some places in Sevilla and Málaga where they still do this, for example in famous Las Columnnas in Sevilla and Antiguo Casa de Guardia in Málaga. For sure they keep it for the tourists, but both places are also very popular with locals:
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...ga-santa-cruz/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m.../421757/360734

And for excellent free tapas of your own choice with every drink of whatever (beer, wine, mineral water), go to Nerja by the Med (fairly close to both Granada and Málaga city). My favourite no fuss tapas bar in all of Spain is here, El Pulguilla, doesn't get better than this, an ice cold and crisp dry fino sherry for some 1,60€ and a free baby squid tapa directly from the grill. http://themaritimeexplorer.ca/2015/1...rawl-in-nerja/
El Pulguilla: http://mynerja.com/view/bars/cerveceria-el-pulguilla/

There was a tasca in Madrid that still does it, I should have written down the name.

lauramsgarden, also research plate/serving sizes. The menu may list tapas, half raciones and raciones (being the largest serving).

<<<And for excellent free tapas of your own choice with every drink of whatever (beer, wine, mineral water), go to Nerja by the Med (fairly close to both Granada and Málaga city). My favourite no fuss tapas bar in all of Spain is here, El Pulguilla, doesn't get better than this, an ice cold and crisp dry fino sherry for some 1,60€ and a free baby squid tapa directly from the grill.>>>

Thanks for that.....flying from Gatwick to Malaga @ 0545 tomorrow. Staying in Nerja for the first time,for 3 weeks. El Pulguilla here we come.

@LancasterLad, then I have to give you a few more recommendations, a great food scene in Nerja from excellent traditional tapas to gourmet. And a great event on May 20th, La Noche Blanca (Nerja white night).

In the high end I can recommend Oliva and Sollun: https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Rest...a-452419-41102
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Rest...n-227002-41102

And when it comes to tradional Spanish places, apart from El Pulguilla, I can warmly recommend these three which are close to each other a little up in the old town. Together with El Pulguilla, this would be my perfect Nerja tapas crawl:

La Puntilla, as genuine as it gets and a local favourite for decades: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...Andalucia.html
El Velero has got the best Málaga speciality Carne con tomate I've ever tasted: https://www.tripadvisor.es/Restauran...Andalucia.html
El Cangrejo is always full of locals for very good reasons: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...Andalucia.html

And La Marina is as good as you'll find a seafood freiduría in all of Andalucía. We have splurged here on many occasions, the freshest fish and seafood in all varieties. Fine tapas also, and they serve a great value three course lunch Menu del Día with wine/beer included for 8,60€: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm

And you can have one of the most famous paellas along the coast in Ayo's right on the Burriana beach. It has been served for lunch 365 days/year since 1969! Especially Sunday lunch is a favourite for groups of friends and families: http://www.ayonerja.com/chiringuito_en.html

AND May 20 is "Noche en Blanca" (white night) in Nerja. All musuems are free and open long into the night, dance and music in the museums, in the excellent little Centro Cultural de la Villa de Nerja theater and open air concerts in the Balcón de Europa and Plaza de España.
And Nerja knows how to celebrate!http://www.nerja.es/cultura/villaden...lanco-de-nerja

A fine concert programme in the local theater, flamenco, jazz, classical music etc. http://www.spainisculture.com/en/esp..._de_nerja.html