FOOD: CUBANA, SHEFFIELD

Combining classic Spanish style tapas dishes with South American flare and flavour…

Last year, Cubana Tapas Bar made the brave decision to move premises from their popular Trippet Lane venue to Leopold Square due to growing demand from diners.

The newly located two storey venue now sits in the corner of the central and sophisticated dining quarter of Leopold Square in Sheffield City Centre.

Downstairs is a spacious bar area whilst upstairs is a traditional taverna style restaurant.

We visit on a Friday evening and the restaurant is near to full at 8pm so we grab a drink at the bar while we wait to be seated. (Be sure to book a table to guarantee you can dine on time).

The Cubana waiters are in a league of their own entertaining diners with impressive cocktail flaring and salsa dancing.

We’re seated on the end of a long rectangle wooden table, alongside other couples and groups of friends. Cubana has adopted an informal dining approach – just like you’d find in most overseas tapas bars. We like it. It certainly adds to the already social and upbeat atmosphere.

Depending how hungry you are, the waitor suggests one or two tapas for the peckish or a maximum of five dishes for those who are famished. Choose from appetisers, hot and cold tapas, side dishes or if the decision proves too challenging, order from the set menu.

We opt for six dishes between two of us: Patatas a lo pobre (£3.55) described as lightly spiced potatoes cooked with onions peppers and garlic – but be warned, although moreish the spice was a little hotter than we expected; Res y cebolla (£5.75) – thinly sliced tender sirloin steak sautéed with sweet caramelised red onions; Pollo con guisantes (£5.25) – tender chicken breasts pieces cooked with smoked bacon, peppers and peas in a red wine and sweet potato sauce; Albondigas (£4.95) – Cubana’s famous meatballs made with fresh minced beef, coriander and onion served in a red wine sauce; Paella de mariscos (£5.95) – traditional Spanish paella with fresh seafood and saffron rice, sautéed in olive oil with a hint of garlic and fresh basil with optional chorizo sausage; and Calamares a la Andaluza (£5.95) – lightly fried fresh squid cooked to perfection.

The steak had to be the knock-out dish however the squid took a close second.

For the best way of sampling the best Cubana has to offer, choose from set menu one (£19.50pp) or set menu two (£23.50pp) and enjoy a share of more than ten dishes.

Our food bill (without drinks) came to £31.40 – more than reasonable given the plentiful portions and flavoursome food. Be sure to head to the downstairs bar following dinner for Latino music and salsa dancing. Go get your groove on.

Happy Hour

Order any two tapas dishes for £7.95 or £5 off the set menus available until 6pm every day.