Being an avid fan of Tapas Teatro, it is hard for me to ever go elsewhere for tapas. However, Baltimore magazine’s annual best restaurants issue recently listed the Fells Point establishment as one of the city’s top tapas places, immediately piquing my interest. Although I don’t alway rely on the magazine’s reviews, I’ve found that they’re usually pretty accurate. So, why not give Tapas Adela a try?
The Fells Point restaurant, located on the corner of Broadway and Thames, is appealing from the outside, fitting into the surrounding colonial-esque architecture of the neighborhood. It was a nice night, so all of the outside tables were full. Inside the restaurant, the low-lighting and red-painted walls make for a dramatic setting.
Tapas Adela is smaller and a bit quieter than Tapas Teatro, but just as tasty. I was drawn to the sangria, which has always been one of my favorite Spanish drinks. Tapas Adela offers red, white and champagne sangria, available by the glass or pitcher.
The menu is divided into Verduras (vegetables), Mariscos (fish) and Carnes (meats). We started off with the Plato de Comenzar, a charcuterie and cheese plate. At the same time, we enjoyed a basket of the restaurant’s thin, crispy bread covered with melted Manchego cheese and a light tomato sauce.
Next, we ordered the Albondigas, lamb and beef meatballs. To accompany, we ordered the Croquettes de Queso, filled with Manchego cheese (you can never have too much Manchego) The savory combination of the meatballs with the croquettes was incredible.
Another tapas plate that stuck out was the Calamari Fritos, with lemon saffron aioli. Watch out for the jalapenos, they’re spicy! Next time, I will try the Fabada Asturiana, a stew of Chorizo, blood sausage, Pancetta and white beans.
Tapas Adela is a solid restaurant that stands alongside Tapas Teatro, Pazo and Mezze in Baltimore. However, the hardest part about eating tapas is that I never know quite how to order. For me, it takes several visits to find the best flavors and combinations on the menu, which is fine with me. All the more reason to come back!
