L.A. Gets a Tapas Bar

When you walk into Tasca, 6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 465-7747, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ve wandered into a Mexican restaurant. It has that familiar rustic look, with murals and lots of wrought iron.

But if you walk up the ramp to the bar area, you get a different picture. Handsome hams rest regally in silver servers; others dangle from the ceiling. On the bar are cases filled with delicious looking dishes-cold omelets, codfish croquettes, plates of sliced sausages and cheese. Los Angeles finally has a tapas bar.

Tapas, for those who’ve missed the latest trend, are little snacks served in Spain in lieu of meals. The idea is to sort of munch around until you’ve had your fill. That can be an iffy proposition here--the quality seems to vary quite dramatically from dish to dish. But prices are reasonable (a couple could eat quite a lot of food for $25), the service is pleasant and there’s a full bar.