MoVida - Casual but with a hint of exclusivity
There are many elements about MoVida that make you go to the effort of booking 1 month in advance (and that's for a Tuesday). The arty farty cool Hosier Lane location. The art deco settings inside. The great reviews about the food. I must say, I was mostly drawn to trying out the tapa on offer but today we learned about the "Racion" (larger tapa!)
It's a Tuesday night and the boy and I jammed the brakes on work at 6pm to make our 6pm reservation. The place was quietly buzzing at such an early juncture for dinner - people from work, groups of young people, and mature couples.
Our one and half hour eating experience was pleasant enough, punctuated by short bites of conversation between the waiters and the diners on either sides of our table.
Like, at one point, the snobby bespectacled waiter told the table of 5 next to us that expanding to 7 would not be possible because people need to book 2 months in advance, thanks. Luckily for them, their friends got a guernsey when the manager pulled over a spare table.
Despite getting attitude, that other table had it right - spanish food is for sharing and having to limit ourselves to 4 x tapa and 3 x racion was a struggle.
Out of the tapa, we liked:
1. the croquette (mmm, cheese)
2. roasted lamb cutlet (so flavoursome)
As for the larger racion dishes, our tastebuds spun out of control for the "air cured" wagyu beef served with a poached egg. But our fave was the rabbit meatballs with prawns.
The desserts - creme caramel and a hot chocolate ganache - acquitted themselves well. Fresh out of the oven, chocolate goodness oozing out and perfect presentation - yes, I had the ganache - recommendable.
This restaurant is great for couples wanting a casual but memorable night out, but I reckon the food and atmosphere call for a booking for more than 4 people going for the banquet.
