Fodor's Expert Review La Barraca Valenciana

Though ostensibly a Spanish restaurant, by name and by the long list of Spanish tapas like tortilla española, croquetas, and patatas bravas, everyone comes here for the tortas, the classic Mexican sandwich. They are among the best in the city, many with Spanish touches like serrano ham. There are standards like the secretaria (pork leg, chorizo, and cheese), and specialties like the blanc y negre (blood sausage and white longaniza sausage), but perhaps the most popular are the bacalao (salt cod), calamar (chopped baby squid in chimichurri sauce), and vegetariana (a hearty stack of roasted eggplant and melted cheese). The small, stylish café has a long selection of artisanal Mexican beers, and may be the only tortería in town with a wine list.