La Taperia Cafe & Restaurant

La Taperia - Tapas on Green Lanes

Long known for its wealth of Turkish restaurants, Harringay's Green Lanes has till recently lacked somewhat in its culinary diversity. Over the last year or two however, things have begun to change and the newest kid on the block is La Taperia, a tapas restaurant and bar about 100 metres north of The Salisbury.

If a tapas bar gets it right then there's many a great evening to be had, settling in for a lazy session of little plates and carafes of Spanish wine.

We all know something about tapas, but, byway of a little diversion, do you know where they came from? Apparently, the word tapas is derived from the Spanish verb tapar meaning to cover. According to American cooking bible, The Joy of Cooking, the original tapas were the slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips. This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry. The meat used to cover the sherry was normally ham or chorizo, which are both very salty and activate thirst. Because of this, bartenders and restaurant owners began creating a variety of snacks to serve with sherry, therby increasing their alcohol sales.

Nowadays anything can be tapas - paella, croquettes, ham and cheese on toast, truly anything. All tapas dishes tend to be snack sized, but beyond that it's open season. It doesn't even have to be Spanish - in Granada there are a number of Morrocan bars that offer cous cous, falafel and kebabs as tapas. 

Back in Harringay, the opening of La Taperia a couple of months back, means that you can now kick back and try a range of tapas right here on our high street. The menu covers about four dozen dishes, including many of the classics such as Gambas al ajillo, Croquetas, Tortilla,  Albondigas, Patatas bravas, Calamares a La Romana and of course Paella. There's also a desert menu, a full selection of drinks and a great range of cocktails. 

If you're not too knowledgeable about tapas, the friendly and knowledgeable staff will be delighted to help you choose.

Paella

Cuerno Vegetariano (Pepper stuffed with vegetables and topped with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce)

Gambas Al Ajillo (Garlic Prawns)

Chorizo Al Vino

Tortilla

Calamres a La Romana

Champinon Relleno

Queso Ahumado a La Plancha ((Fried goat's cheese with honey & nuts)

Creme Catalana

Torta de Santiago (Almond cake)

Definitely worth a try out. Drop in for just a coffee, a drink and have snack, if you feel like it. Alternatively, go along with a crowd of  friends for lunch or dinner.

Read locals' views about La Taperia here. 

La Taperia Restaurant & Tapas Bar

3, Salisbury Promenade, Green Lanes, Harringay N8 0RX

020 8809 3997

This page is sponsored by the business owner.