If the Three Tenors had collaborated in a restaurant instead of “Nessun Dorma”, they could have founded the new and popular tapas in Barbados.
Instead, three well-known Italians on the Barbados restaurant scene collaborated to make a beautiful meal together. Located on the new boardwalk on the south coast, Tapas occupies the two-level space that Aqua once had. It is one of the most impressive beachfront locations on the island.
Tapas offers an elegant space, quite posh and, on this island known for its expensive meals, reasonable prices. Four of us will order every tapas dish we like (and then treasure our favorites when the waiter brings them) and still have spent less than $ 100 US for the table. Along with a good bottle of white wine, dinner is a real bargain in Barbados. (And trust me, paradise is not cheap).
Barbadian tapas restaurant owners
The trio of Italians behind Tapas is made up of Alfredo Giovine, from the wonderful Mama Mia; Franco Parisi, former executive chef of Lone Star; and, from Dolce Gelato, Franco Diamanti, who makes the best ice cream in the Caribbean, at least that’s what my sweet tooth tells me.
I met with Alfredo one night and asked him why, without publicity, Tapas has been doing so well since opening in mid-August. As Norah Jones ‘music mixed with the soft music of the waves in the background, Alfredo told me that he believes both Barbadians and tourists were hungry for something new and affordable and that word of mouth keeps the place full’ almost all the nights.
I’m pretty sure Franco, Franco, and Alfredo were born with the restaurant gene. The food is effortlessly good, rare for a restaurant that just opened. The place feels good too; if you are a local, it is a place “where everyone knows your name” and if you are a guest of our island, you will quickly feel at home.
With his strong Italian accent, Alfredo told me: “The restaurant is my home. I feel like people come to my house. At 17, I work receiving tourists at the port (in his hometown in southern Italy). All in home to eat with my mother and father. “
The food in the tapas
If you are in Tapas for tapas, you will start the night eating tapas and end up eating tapas, without stopping until you are full.
But you can also order the full dinner menu for a more traditional dining experience. Starters range from a light and satisfying Beef Carpaccio in Arugula Salad ($ 11.50US) to the adventurous Pan-Fried Goat Cheese in a Panko Crust (with pumpkin, delicious!) ($ 11US) to a hearty Parmigiana (layers of baked eggplant, tomato and parmesan cheese) ($ 9.50US).
I haven’t had New Zealand’s Rack of Lamp (with warm olive pepper salad and spicy potato wedges), but friends who have raved about it ($ 28US). I have had the catch of the day, local fish like king fish, flying fish, snapper, mahi mahi (which we call dolphin here), taken from the sea just a couple of hours before blackening or grilling as you wish . and accompanied with mango sauce. Is that a tropical paradise meal to remember?
I don’t know about you, but it’s enough to make me explode into song.
If you go
Tapas: Hastings Main Road, Highway 7, Christ Church, Barbados. Phone: 246-228-0704. Call ahead to reserve a table by the sea. Otherwise, walk-ins are more than welcome. All major credit cards are accepted.