Tapas Garden

As I love to travel and have been spending extensive time in Florida, I feel that the least I could do is comment on it. The Clearwater, FL area is beautiful and well-traveled by tourists. Beautiful beaches (though not as white or pristine as Florida’s northwest beaches) run along the Gulf coast boasting bright green water and soft sand. Though I have my favorite beaches and parks in the area, I want to focus on something that I know quite well, food. I have a passion for food and am quite picky about not only the food but the ambiance, the air, that the restaurant provides. A recent find of mine (that does appear on the top spots in the Clearwater/Indian Shores area) deserves some dialogue.

The Tapas Garden and Wine Bar at Indian Rocks Beach is an interesting mix of Florida and Latin flavor. When I hear tapas, I think of the tapas I ate in Spain, jamon and olives. These are quite simple options and that is what I like about cold tapas. Though marinated olives were an option at Tapas Garden the ham was not which is slightly upsetting because there is little better than Spanish or even Italian hams and salami. The food that I could order however was good. In true Spanish fashion I ordered paella. It was good but too salty for my general taste. Though I opted away from the standard seafood paella mine was filled with chicken, vegetables, and chorizo. The chorizo really added the necessary flavor and for a split moment I felt the warm Spanish sun on my face—well, I was also sitting outside on the patio.

I was eating at a pleasant table facing the street. Though loud trucks distracted me from time to time from my enjoyment (especially when one of them was backing up—beep, beep, beep) I liked the light breeze, the sun, and the feeling of vineyards enveloping me. The restaurant also has a seating area on the side which is the garden seating. It appeared nice when I walked through and a little more peaceful but not as interesting for people watching. I would opt for the front patio unless quiet or romantic accommodations were necessary.

Tapas Garden blended American tastes by adding a pizza (with a thinker crust) to the menu, the local Cuban population by including the infamous Cuban sandwich, and several of the classic dishes of Spain. I liked the food for its vibrant flavor, characteristic of Spanish food, and the comfort of sitting on their patio. However I believe that the accommodations for diverse palettes limit its ability to be a true tapas restaurant and also the pastel colored floral décor was disappointing for I like the punch of the beautiful bright blues and yellows and oranges of a cliché Spanish restaurant.