On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars, Basque [Edit]
1612 Commonwealth AveWashington Street (Green)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Loading...
Tasca does weekly deals in their email newsletter. You owe it to yourself to either be on that list, or know someone who is.
What you get for that weekly deal is a 3 course dinner for $16. Also, inexpensive pitchers of delicious sangria. The options available in the three courses vary by week. I went last night, and it was fantastic! I had a chicken and corn chowder, and an amazing braised beef that was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever eaten. And the portion was quite substantial! I expected, for the price, to get minimal food, but I was totally stuffed by the end of the entree.
Though, somehow, through sheer force of will, I managed to choke down the Spanish flan. I know, I know, it *was* pretty heroic. But I don't like to brag.
Anyway, all the food was fantastic. The bread basket came with a garlic chickpea mash, it seemed. And was awesome. I definitely recommend coming here. Parking was kind of a pain, though apparently they have valet.
I love the diversity of the crowd here. I dig that there are, ahem, say mature (...well, into their fifties or sixties at a guess) couples that dine at tables right next to sorostitutes that sit across the room from yuppies on dates.
And here we find ourselves in the middle of it all. With the hustle and bustle of servers attempting to squeeze past the narrow paths between seats gracefully in their own way. The space is a cauldron of activity just waiting to boil over into disaster with a mistimed chair scootch, or maybe an arm raised at just the wrong moment as pitchers of sangria are passed across tables. Shockingly, nothing untoward occurred during our brief time here - a testament to the agility and attention of the servers, perhaps.
Having just come off a superior culinary experience in Miami, I'm not ready to rave about the food offerings here. Oddly, the gambas al ajillo were less savory than I remember the same dish being in South Florida. The tuna on a bean salsa served with wasabi mayo was inventive, but not awe inspiring. And my perennial favorite, the patatas bravas, were executed acceptably. Pleasant enough - just uninspiring.
The six dollar valet, however, is worth every penny - good luck finding parking around the neighborhood during prime dining hours. Just be prepared for a wait, since there appears to just be the one poor soul working by himself. What a hero.
I want to get all Honey, I Shrunk the Kids so I can move onto (into?) their flan. Cool and creamy and lightly sweet with the perfect touch of caramel - it would be like a house I could nibble on all day. And I would never tire of it.
Hansel and Gretel stay away.
Me encanta Tasca.
Tasca is great, the atmosphere is warm and inviting and the people are nice and the…
Read more »
I've been here twice in the past month, and I'll definitely be back soon for some more of that duck and mushroom ragout. So delicious!
The first time I went, I did not make a reservation and wow, was that a mistake! Our small party of two put our names in and waited for about 20 minutes, which wasn't too bad. The bartender and hostess were passing out some sort of appetizers to all the people who were waiting, which was very thoughtful. When we did sit down, our table was basically in the kitchen and it was HOT and LOUD. However, our duck was fantastic (I could have licked the plate), as was the goat cheese fritters and half-pitcher of sangria.
The second time I went, I made sure to make a reservation, which was completely unnecessary! There were about 3 full tables in the entire place. The duck wasn't as good the second time around, but the mushroom ragout was absolutely superb - and I think that I might have actually licked the plate. On top of the duck, the mushroom plate and the sangria, we also had the goat cheese empanadas, which were also tasty.
Both times I've eaten at Tasca, we had our food in no time at all and our waiters were always around for anything we needed.
The only thing that kept this place from 5 stars, was the poor sangria. You can't present a great tapas restaurant and not have good sangria.
That said, the food is delicious. Especially for the price.
We started with the portabella mushrooms which were over a salad. They were pretty much perfectly cooked, and a great choice. This also included pieces of toast with a roasted red pepper sauce on top, awesome.
Had the spanish tortilla, which was a bit too heavy on the potato side, but delicious nonetheless. I wish spanish tortillas were more common.
Had the goat cheese empanadillas. They kind of reminded me of crab rangoon. Which thus means, delicious.
Finally, had the peppered tuna. The combination of the black pepper crust and the sauce on top was great. This dish was probably one of the more unique ways I've had tuna, and very well executed.
I'd come back here, but I'd definitely shoot for a bottle of Cava over a pitcher of Sangria.
I've been to Tasca few times for dinner and always satisfied except the drinks; we've had the sangria but was bad.. bland and warm..
I've had.. goat cheese empanadas, sizzling shrimp in garlic sauce, seafood paella, filet mignon over scallion potato cake, and grilled brie cheese. Overall, the food is very tasty especially I love their paella :)
but I can't stand on the sangria... When I had a dinner at the first time, the sangria was very bland and unfortunately they gave us warm sangria..no ice...so we got the new one. Next time I had a dinner with my family and my dad likes sangria so we ordered again...what a bad mistake.. we got the bland and warm sangria again. I love their food but I can't love their sangria.
but again, their food is very delicious:)
I've been to Tasca twice. Excellent food both times. You really can't go wrong with any tapas dish here. However, the second time was with a group of 5 people. We had a reservation and, despite showing up on time (maybe even a few minutes early), we waited 20 minutes to be seated, while large parties without reservations were being seated ahead of us.
It's a shame; they have great food, but I would probably take my chances trying a new tapas place just to avoid the hassle.
So, I'm docking Tasca a star for our table not being ready despite the fact that we had made a reservation and our entire party (5) showed up on time. We couldn't squeeze in by the bar to wait and had to stand in the hallway by the door for 20 minutes. I understand waiting 5-10 min, but 20 is pushing it.
But the food was 4-star worthy -- decent portions for a tapas place (the 5 of us split 5 dishes and that was enough for us) and a lot of appetizing options to choose from. We got the serrano ham, which came with a large portion of salad, a chicken and spinach cannelloni, beef short rib and potatoes, a pasta dish with seafood (this was the only one that was almost too small to share), and a creamy mushroom dish. Everything was pretty damn delicious.
The sangria was not the best I've ever had, but definitely on the better end of the spectrum. Not too sweet and with the right amount of booze. 2 pitchers for $19 is reasonable, too.
Next time, I won't attempt to come on a weekend evening during prime dinner hours. I can imagine the experience is great on a night when it's not jam-packed.
FANTASTIC restaurant. I'm a huge fan of their pre-fixed 3-course menu available Monday-Thursday: you get to select an appetizer, an entree and a dessert all for $16 - and these are delicious, high quality dishes! The menu offers a great selection to choose from including lamb, duck, steak, various fish - all prepared with great sides. Even better, they make changes to their menu almost every week so you can try something new every time!
If you sign up to be on their email list (you should!) they send you their pre-fixed menu every week, weekly deals, AND for your birthday month, you get a coupon for $10 off, a free bottle of champagne and free valet parking! I went for my birthday and had a great time - the meal was AMAZING. (Definitely make reservations though - it can get really crowded!)
As for ambiance, the restaurant is dimly lit with paintings lit up on most of the walls. I've been there when it's less busy and nice but when it gets crowded, it can also get pretty loud... may depend on the night you go.
Service: Great! Every time I've been there the wait staff have been very friendly and go above and beyond in helping us with whatever we needed.
Only downside I can think of is that parking is a PAIN. You pretty much have to do valet parking.
great food, and they have live music some nights
Tasca is one of my favorite restaurants in Brighton. I used to go when I lived in the area and last night it didn't disappoint. Eight small plates for three people didn't sound like a lot but everything was deliciously filling.
I don't remember everything we got but my favorite is always the gambas (garlic shrimp). We also got peppercorn meatballs, steak, a mushroom dish, tuna, and two cheese dishes that I loved. One was the brie with apples and raisins - so good. And the other was goat cheese enchiladas in a sweet pepper sauce.
The atmosphere at Tasca is always cozy. The lighting is low - really low but it's great for dinner with friends or a date night. I definitely suggest getting the sangria (though last night it did seem uncharacteristically watery) and I even like the bread and hummus they bring out to start the meal.
The only issue is parking. I never had this problem when I lived within walking distance but last night in the rain, it was a challenge to find street parking nearby that wasn't resident parking. I think they might have Valet though so that might be an option for you.
I can't stop going here. I know. I know.
The service is spotty and mixed - sometimes people are awesome! Other times you suck. But I'm like a person who wants to be punished, punished for loving your fried brie, your somewhat spotty sangria, that awesome dessert that has this weird oreo like aspect to it, and your ridiculous shrimp garlic thingy. Ridiculously good, that is. Oh and for not saying, no, everytime I ask for a break refill (alot).
Thank you for making me hate myself for going. 3 stars for self-mortification.
I have tapas places I've tried that I like far better, but a solid 3 stars goes to Tasca. You could've gotten 4 stars, Tasca...but your sangria misses the mark by a mile. Yuck.
Some plates I find highly delectable:
Setas al jerez: Portabella mushrooms in a cream demi-glaze with roasted garlic tostados
Brie a la plancha: brie with apple and raisin chutney on a baguette
Costillas de ternera: beef short ribs over scallion mashed potatoes
Canelon de pollo: Chicken and spinach baked in a canelon
It can get pretty crowded and the tables are a little close together (which is typical of most tapas joints around here in general), however, the decor is nice (dark, romantic) and they have some tasty tapas.
No only is this place always a safe and satisfying choice, they are also creative and budget friendly.
I love starting my meal here with lots of sangria, bread and homemade spread (can never get enough). Most of the tapas I find tasty although I wouldn't say spectacular, but again, very easy to eat. My favorites are Ossobucco de cordero Fall off the bone sangria braised lamb shank with root vegetables over scallion mashed potato, Asado de cerdo Char grilled pork loin over a rosemary infused white bean ragout with braised mushrooms. Although I am sure there are many other dishes I like, such as some shrimp and fish things, I leave it up to you to try them yourselves!
The $16 pre-fix are always a great way to save money and get to know this place, I love how they update the menu once a week and they give you so much food for what you pay (it's like paying one meal but getting two).
However, as most diners there, I am not a huge fan of the dark and crowded dining room. It's rather chaotic and uncomfortable... which often is forgotten after a jug of sangria... but I wouldn't mind seeing some improvements.
I came here ready to order 6-8 tapas. But then I noticed that everyone had huge plates of entree-sized food on their tables. Tapas are HUGE here. You don't get those teeny plates of 4 pieces of chorizo. You get the real deal here. AND each dish is priced at about $8 which is a good deal for what you get. So I guess technically, it's affordable enough where you can still get 6-8 tapa dishes. But then you'd be a pig.
The only downside is that their sangria was a bit too watered down for me. But apparently, if you sign up for their email list, you often get coupons where you can get a bottle of wine per couple for $5. Or something crazy.
PS: watch out for parking. it gets crazy on commonwealth and it's mostly resident permit parking only on the side streets.
Hey Tasca,
I came back last Sunday for the $5 blood-orange sangria-- it was great! However, the only other notable thing wasthe apples and brie plate. The patatas bravas were SO hot (temperature-wise) and tasteless, the mussels were terrible, and the goat cheese empanadas were way over-herbed.
Also, the server was a real wise guy. Our white table cloth was covered with stains from the previous guests, and when we asked him if he planned to change it, we got a flat-out 'no'. How do you have a sign for dress-code and then expect us to eat off of soiled table clothes (and we came at 6 pm before any rush started)?
FIX YOURSELF BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
Dear Tasca,
We became friends in 2005, before you were so wildly popular and busy every night. Your…
Read more »
wouldn't have made it here if not for groupon and happy yelp reviews. which were right about the portions. you can fill up without spending loads. went for tapas.. duck confit w/ braised cabbage(looked/tasted more like chicken), ensalada tasca, seafood linguine, roasted pork belly, tortilla española, seared tuna, calamares fritos, braised beef ribs&mash and mussels. a lot of food between 2 hungry dudes.
but i wasn't digging the dark, dated, cava-ish interior. and the area was really quite dead. in sum, food was decent but not worth a drive back.
Fried goat cheese is an amazing thing.
Went here with my brother last week and have to say that the food was pretty solid and reasonably priced. We got 4 plates and a pitcher of sangria and it was $42 bones.
That being said the downfalls were, (1) the sangria tasted like shit and (2) the bartender was kind of a dbag.
All in all i give'r 3 stars, leaning towards the 4th. It's worth giving it a go and I'm sure i'll make it over again at some point for a round two evaluation.
Be careful if you are driving here, unless you don't mind doing valet. It is very tricky to find parking.
The ambiance of the restaurant is lovely - warm, romantic, and in most areas dimly lit. However, our table was smack in the center of everything with a bright light above us. Not ideal, but probably one of two-three tables like that.
The food was tasty for the most part. The goat cheese fritters and chicken spinach canelon were favorites, as was the "tres amigos," three kinds of sausages with flatbreads. Stay away from the petit filet with steak fries, not so tasty and was served at what seemed to be room temperature. Must have been waiting in the back to be brought out for a while.
The sangria is OK, not as flavorful as others I have had, but decent. There was a fruit fly in mine, which could be tough to avoid with a fruity wine beverage, but nonetheless a bit less appetizing.
Overall, I wouldn't rush back, but would go if invited by someone who wanted to try it.
I came here with my boyfriend a few weeks ago and I'm looking forward to going back! I fell in love with tapas when I was living in San Diego. Anyone who ever goes there should check out Costa Brava in Pacific Beach. Since I moved back to the Boston area, I have been trying to find a substitute and this is the best I've come across so far.
We walked in with no reservations on a Friday night and weren't shocked to find out there would be substantial wait. However, there were two open seats at the bar, so we pounced. The seating at the bar gives plenty of space to eat, even with the many plates that come along with eating tapas. The bartender was very friendly. When I asked for his advice in deciding between two red wines, he poured me a generous sample glass of each. Free wine is a great way to start a meal. I forgot what I chose, but it was good!
Four out of the five dishes we shared were great. Neither of us cared much for the "Tortas del Cangrejo," the crab cakes. We actually didn't finish them, which is unusual for us. However, the escargot were soaked in garlic butter and delicious. The "Jamon Serrano y Queso Manchego" was generously portioned. Instead of a pre-assembled, bruschetta-style serving, it came as a pile of nice greens in a tasty vinaigrette, covered in slices ham and shaved manchego, with toasted bread on the side. Probably my favorite version of this dish that I have tried. The solomillo was great - well cooked filet and flavorful red-wine sauce. We both liked the "Asado de Cerdo," the pork loin, a lot, but there were so many other wonderful looking options on the menu that I would probably try something new before I order it again. And like any good tapas restaurant, the bread was great and they refilled it quickly when we finished off the first basket!
I wasn't crazy about the "Crepe Helado" we shared for dessert, but he loved it. It was described as "cookie ice cream" in a crepe, but it sure seemed like so-so vanilla ice cream. The crepe was kind of crunchy/chewy. But the chocolate amaretto sauce was great. I would have loved it over really good coffee ice cream. Mmmmm...
I've been to this place 3 times now, and each time I've had a good experience. I'd recommend getting 3 items off the menu per person, which seems like the right amount for a decently hungry person.
Some of the portions are vary greatly in size from others; for example, the seafood pasta is a small meal in itself, while the escargot, although very good, could be eaten in one mouthful if grouped together.
There is one item in particular that I have to recommend, as it is one of the best things I've eaten anywhere. (Everyone else I've been there with agrees, and this is the one item on the menu we end up getting one per person). #29:
"Brie a la plancha Grilled imported Brie cheese with a homemade savory apple and raisin chutney and warm baguette "
Words cannot describe how good a bite of all of these plated items are together, you have to just try it yourself.
On the other hand, the one item i would not recommend is the garlic shrimp. I had this once, and i have to say it was rather tasteless, and I'm a huge fan of both shrimp and garlic.
Otherwise, everything else is great to above average...best food I've found at a restaurant in the Allston/Brighton area. The sangria is pretty good, although I can't say I'm a huge wine connoisseur, and the desserts have always made the people who order them happy (I've only tasted their ice cream crepe, and it was really good).
Lastly, fill out their evaluation form you get after a meal, and give them your real email address...They send out bi weekly specials, which are a decent deal, but also, on your birthday, they give you a coupon for $10 off the check, free valet parking (not including tip), and if you bring 6 or more people, you get a free bottle of Cava. Needless to say, this is where we went for my last birthday.
I really wish I lived closer to Tasca, because I really love this place!
They have some of the best sangria around, a great menu, and friendly service. The tables can be a bit close together, but not to the point where most people couldn't get around. My last visit here was for my birthday and it was a perfect choice.
Tasca is by far my favorite restaurant in the area. Each of their tapas is unique and delicious, and the weekly sangria specials are always fantastic. I have never had bad service there- the wait staff is always friendly and the atmosphere is perfect. I’ve never had something there I didn’t like, but a few of my favorites are as follows: goat cheese fritters, the black bean crabcake, and the sizzling shrimp and garlic. The roasted duck is also fantastic. Tasca also is very vegetarian-friendly, with more variety and selection than found at many restaurants. I highly recommend joining their email mailing list for great deals and promotions each week!
I used to go just for Tapas with friends and there were only a handful I really liked. Then I went again recently with my boyfriend and we got the $5 bottle of wine and both got the fixed price 3 course meals and our opinion of the place completely shifted! The entrees aren't as pricey as I used to think they were and they were amazing! We got the salmon and steak and both were cooked to perfection and huge portions. We had enough food for a second dinner of leftovers the following night, and will definitely continue to come back and take advantage of their deals!
The place does get crowded, pretty much any night of the week, so I recommend making a reservation. Super easy to do online!
I heart Tasca!
The food is great, wine list fab, and it has a cozy feel.
I would give Tasca a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the spotty service - sometimes I feel rushed, other times I feel like I have to go in the kitchen and get my tapas myself.
A word to the wise: Join the mailing list. I get a weekly price-fix menu and the drink specials, and you can walk in and request this special menu. And try the escargot, I know it sounds scary but it is a winner.
I recently visited Tasca after joining their mailing list. They do not require you to be on their mailing list to get their midweek specials (lately $16 for 3 course meals, fantastic!), but they let you know what will be coming up the next week in the email, which is pretty nice. For the 3 course meals, the appetizers were all appropriately individually sized, the entrees were larger than I had expected for the price, and the desserts were normal individual sizes. The appetizers were quite good. The entrees were amazing. The creamed spinach that came with my grilled beef top filet steak au jus over scallion mashed potatoes were...incredible. So were the carrots not listed in the dish, the mashed potatoes, and the beef. Everyone else really liked their food as well, with another person getting the Morrocan lemon chicken breast dish and another getting the veal dish.
The flan is eggier than I was hoping it would be, but then again that may be normal for flans, I haven't had one in years. The desserts were overall pretty good.
We also got a couple of tapas dishes. The bread was very useful in mopping up after the garlic shrimp were gone from the skillet, and the goat cheese fritters were delightful.
Nothing we ate here was any worse than "good." But really it was only the entrees that were truly great, which is why I'm giving this a 4 instead of a 5.
Oh, and apparently their sangria is excellent. I didn't partake, but the other people in my party all really enjoyed it.
Everything I had here was soooo good, including the sangria! I thought the sangria was delicious, and strong! Goat cheese empanadas were bomb, as was the thing we got involving ham, and the escargot, and that other thing we got... We went late so it wasn't crowded at all, split four things three ways, perfect amount of food and beverage before a night out :-)
There is valet parking, so don't be cheap and you'll have no problem parking :-P
I had never even heard of Tasca before the day my friend waved a 5$ sangria pitcher coupon in my face. Needless to say, that little coupon was the catalyst for something magical. The food was excellent, the space was sexy and dimly-lit, and it didn't make my wallet weep. Sangria pitchers were tasty, and we finished it all up with a flan that seriously redefined how I look at the custardy dessert. Five stars-- a truly unexpected surprise.
Insider tips:
I know... it's in Brighton. Try to overlook it.
Make a reservation!
31 little dishes on the menu-- don't be intimidated. Breathe. No pressure to pick just one.
Two to three dishes per person should do it, and sharing is a MUST in tapasland.
For the timid, there are regular-sized entrees.
Bring a date or some pals, it's fantastic for either.
Tasca is exactly that - 3 stars. A-OK.
In the plethora of tapas restaurants that have enticed me, Tasca lands right in the middle. I've certainly had better, but I've definitely had worse.
I'm surprised I haven't reviewed it until now, as I've been at least 3 or 4 times. It's a good stand by. Some of their dishes are phenomenal - my favorites include: Patatas Bravas, Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp), Solomillo (petit filet mignon), and Queso Frito (herbed goat cheese fritters). The rest are kind of hit-or-miss, depending on your tastes.
Parking can be challenging (go to the residential area of the brighton/border line off of Corey and park on the Brookline side), and the service is generally fine (though they don't always tell you what they're dropping off at your table, which I like when I eat tapas).
The prices are moderate, but the general experience reflects it. If you like tapas on a regular basis, it's probably a good choice. If you're looking to have a special (potentially romantic) night and eat hella good tapas, head to Toro or Dali instead and cough up a little extra $$$.
Romantic atmosphere, albeit a little bit loud and a tad crowded. But, the best Gazpacho I've ever had. A tapas menu 31 items long, plus an entree menu and really personalized, warm, friendly service equals an excellent dinner out. We didn't have to wait at 8pm on a Friday night and were back home 80 minutes later.
Excellente!
Romantic, sexy, and cave like, Tasca is a nice place to bring a date or, do what I did, go with a… Read more »
the atmosphere of the restaurant is great. they even have a live guitarist there.
my friends and i ordered 10 tapas between 4 people, and it was definitely enough to fill us up. i love how there is so much variety on the menu; there's something for everyone.
if you don't like salty food, this isn't the place for you. for some reason, i felt like all the dishes just had too much salt.
This place continues to excel.
Every single single dish mesmerizes me with its rich & delicious flavor. None of them were disappointment to me.
Price is quite reasonable contrary to the intimidating look of this place. And this often results over-ordering. According to the waiter who served us, 10 dishes would be adequate amount for the party of 4.
Entree menu is also available in case you come here alone or just two of you.
I think they have the best sangria in Boston. I was on the verge of collapsing after chugging one pitcher after another. It's very seductive and smooth, I must say.
More people would be fun, but coming to this place with a party of 4 is just right. Big enough to indulge many dishes and small enough not to wait for the table too long.
I am a simple guy when it comes to drinks. Guinness and Jameson - that's it. Hence I never like… Read more »
Great atmosphere, especially Thursday nights when they have a classical guitarist performing. The food is delicious and so is the sangria. Can be kind of pricey but well worth it for special occasions and the portions are large for a tapas place, so I am usually full on 2-3 tapas. The only thing I think they could improve upon is adding in some seasonal variety as I have seen other tapas places do because after going there a few times there aren't too many new things to try out. Also its a little on the dressier side especially later in the evening, and on a Saturday night make sure you call ahead for a reservation!
I don't love this place as much as some other Yelpers. I went here with a friend and it was ridiculously hot inside. We were sweating just sitting there. My friend mentioned this to the server and he opened the door about 3 inches. Thanks, dude--for nothing. I understand they have valet parking where they basically just take your car to the Whole Foods parking lot around the corner but if you don't do valet, it can be really hard to find a spot near this place and the servers said they often tow from the "regular spots" in the Whole Foods parking lot.
We had the sangria but I don't think it was anything to write home about and the tapas (we tried 6) were either amazing or just okay. We took home the leftovers and never ate them which is saying a lot.
All in all, I will definitely give this place another try...I'll just make someone else drive and make sure it is cool outside.
Albeit being overcrowded, Tasca provides good food & drink. I have been there twice in the past Month and am quite impressed. 6 Tapas and a pitcher of Sangria and you will forget that you are sitting in such a tiny space.
Must Taste:
5 Los tres amigos Grilled trio of sausages served with grilled flatbread, caramelized onions and Dijon mustard
29 Brie a la plancha Grilled imported Brie cheese with a homemade savory apple and raisin chutney and warm baguette
33 Tortas del cangrejo Pan roasted black bean crab cakes served with a fresh tomato and cilantro salsa
I go to Tasca about monthly now, if not more. They're always trying new things on the menu, so it never gets old. Actually, let's be honest, I could order the shrimp and the garlic infused chicken every single time, and it still wouldn't get old!
Check out their website and sign up for the mailing list, you won't be disappointed. You get an email weekly that usually has a coupon for a great deal on their sangria, and that weeks "recession" menu. A three course meal that won't hurt the wallet at all. I haven't done the three course meal, I've always stuck to tapas, but it always looks mouth-watering.
Disfruta! (enjoy!)
There are many reasons I love Tasca. I have been to Tasca many times and had wonderful experiences. After tonight's dinner and with an impending move, I may never go to Tasca again.
Maybe if I hadn't strayed from the usual (my standard orders: shrimp and garlic, leek quiche, eggplant napoleon--which is no longer on the menu--are always tasty) I would have had a better meal but I thought, hey, this is a high-end establishment, I can trust the chef to prepare Israeli Cous Cous and a nice roasted vegetable flat bread, right?
Nope.
To sum up the meal, here is what my roommate wrote on his comment card (he's a teacher):
A: #29, Brie on garlic toasts with raisin chutney (although the apple was bruised)(my addition, it took the waitress long enough to get us a new apple that the brie was no longer warm when we ate it, but it was good brie)
C: #11 Vegetable flatbread was a tasteless vegetable paste.
D-: #18 Cous Cous reminded me of rice-a-ronie from my grandma's house.
In addition, our Pastel Vasco, Tasca's signature dessert, was served cold. The first time we had this dessert, it was served warm; the cookie tasted like someone had made the dough for Oreos and warmed it in the oven, topping it with a decadent caramel sauce and bananas for the perfect combination. Not only was it cold, but it was colder in the center than the outside, a sign that it hadn't been left out of the refrigerator for long enough to equalize the temperature. Its still delicious cold (the doughy goodness of the cookie is incredible, its rich though, watch out!) but its an injustice to a phenomenal dessert like that to serve it in a less-than-ideal state.
P.S. We didn't drink tonight but I love the sangria here.
Love this place. Not only do the tapas allow an infinite combination of options, but the entrees are succulent. The stimulus menu allows for a discounted taste of some of the best options this place has to offer.
The goat cheese empanadas = awesome. Braised short ribs = amazing. meatballs = soo good. seared ahi tuna = to die for.
Creme brulee!
I've been to Tasca 3 or 4 times. The food is average. It's kind of like one of your standard chain restaurants (Cheesecake factory, California Pizza Kitchen, etc.) decided to do a tapas restaurant. About 90% of the desserts appear to be bought in, including this strange "cake" I had once with the texture and taste of mushy oreo cookies with banana paste on top (the name eludes me). The high note of the meal is always the flavored hummus served at the beginning of the meal with warm bread.
That being said, I'm bumping it up a star because I love the prix fixe menu. Because of it, I decided to bring my dad here for his birthday with my mom and brother. We had a really nice meal, and there was some classic guitar playing. 4 people eating for $80 (including tip) at a semi-fancy place is awesome as far as I'm concerned, although my mom's vegetarian curry was bland, and the thinner half of my fish fillet was so overcooked it was crispy.
The ambience is nice, although I've had mixed experiences with service. The first time I went, service was fine. The second time, the guy brought us two of the same tapas dishes and got upset at me when I said I didn't order another one, and the third time the lady was so attentive she seemed accusing (are you SURE everything is to your liking!?). Oh, and the tables are ALL wobbly. Every time I come, I get a wobbly table.
We went to Tasca on a Tuesday, and the place was lively. Nice atmosphere, tapas prices very reasonable. The tapas selection was wide and varied, and satisfied both me (vegetarian) and him (meatarian). Nice white Spanish wine. Wait staff helpful, positive, and efficient.
So why not more stars? Parking was a complete nightmare. I appreciate that that is not the restaurant's fault, but we drove around for 40 minutes trying to find a parking space. They do have valet parking, but we aren't big on valet. I think if we go again we might park near BC and take the Green line down to it.
Somerville, MA
Category: Spanish
Brookline, MA
Category: Tapas Bars
Brighton, MA
Category: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: South End
Category: Tapas Bars
Cambridge, MA
Category: Spanish
Some of my favorite dining destinations in or…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Food is the magic that relaxes me, puts a smile on…
nothing brings people together quite like a…
Restaurants where the conflation of good food and…
I'm a serial dater. I will admit it. I've been…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
