Best Tapas

In Spain, the main meal of the day is a late lunch typically served around 2 or 3 p.m. and followed by a siesta. Clearly, it's a country that has its priorities straight. With that in mind, Americans would be wise to treat tapas as they do in España. Order a dozen different dishes and gorge yourself on a smorgasbord-style meal if you must, but Spaniards appreciate the value of having just a snack with a glass of wine as a way to bridge those interminable hours between lunch and a light dinner, or between dinner and a long night of drinking. Ocho understands. The tapas at this tiny Ballard restaurant are mostly just a few bites each, meant to sate the bellies of drinkers lounging in their intimate bar or, in the summer, on their sun-soaked patio. The food is both traditional (gambas al ajillo, prawns in a divine garlic sauce) and inventive (pancetta-wrapped, blue cheese-stuffed dates with balsamic reduction), and the bartenders pour some of the finest cocktails in town. Stick to the Spanish rule of thumb-one tapa per drink-and both your wallet and waistline will thank you later. KEEGAN HAMILTON 2325 N.W. Market St., 784-0699, ochoballard.com

Source: Seattle Weekly

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