by Café Sevilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar
Nestled in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is a wonderful Spanish restaurant. My husband and I enjoyed our lunch on the outdoor patio at Café Sevilla — a tapas bar, restaurant, and nightclub — which felt true to its claim for an authentic Spanish cultural experience (though at the time of publishing, I still had yet to visit Spain to verify this claim).
We started with red sangria, a classic house-made recipe, which was truly the best that I have tasted. It was light and fruity — balanced in flavor without being overly sweet or tart — and perfectly refreshing on the warm, sunny Southern Californian day.
We then shared a small traditional Paella Valenciana. The seafood variety (mussels, clams, calamari, prawns) tasted extremely fresh and clean. These delicious morsels from the sea combined perfectly with chicken, sausage, and toasted saffron rice, served in a small paella pan. My husband, who is not typically a fan of mussels, enjoyed them in our paella.
Our bread pudding was served with fresh berries and also in a small paella pan. Although I would have preferred for the center of the bread pudding to have a more custard-like texture, which would have contrasted well against its toasty edges, the ingredients and flavor were delicious. Paired with a cappuccino, it was a nice end to our meal.
Overall, we enjoyed good service. Our server was attentive and friendly; each order came perfectly timed; we felt neither rushed nor delayed. The decor felt authenticly Spanish in a relaxed ambiance that encouraged a leisurely dining experience expected in Spain.
On our next trip, I would like to take my family to enjoy their weekend three-course, two-part Flamenco dinner show (for kids over 10). Or throughout the week, they feature live musical acts, such as enticing Spanish guitar. Next time you’re in San Diego, I recommend you try Café Sevilla. Let me know what you think (especially if you’ve traveled to Spain).
Flamenco dancing is a thunderous, soulful, sometimes melancholy dance that originated in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Watching these dancers expose their emotion and passion through their strong and precise motions is not only beautiful, but extremely moving. –Café Sevilla
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