A Spanish Afternoon at Oye Tapas & Grill

Callos, Gambas and Paella, each one classic Spanish favorites. But there's more to Spanish cuisine, much more...

Chefs Joseba Sola, Juan Montel, and Tanya Dizon recreate the comforting and vibrant flavors of Spain as well as modern inventive takes on traditional Spanish cuisine at Oye Tapas & Grill. In one afternoon, enjoy and rediscover both the traditional and modern at Uptown Mall's newest dining destination...at Oye Tapas & Grill.

Each meal at Oye Tapas & Grill starts with a bowl of freshly-baked bread served with their signature Majada Sauce,  a Spanish staple made with a flavorful herb and lemon blend (for more on Oye Tapas & Grill, see my earlier post, Tradition and Innovation: Tapas with a Modern and Contemporary Spin at Oye Tapas & Grill).

Start with Oye Tapas & Grill's Sopa de Marisco (P 225), a hearty and rustic seafood bisque topped with a thin and crisp pastry shell bursting with the tart and bold briny notes of fresh seafood with every sip...

...followed by the Gambas al Pilpil (P 510), the popular Spanish tapas with plump and succulent fresh Pacific shrimps served sizzling in nutty olive oil, garlic and spices. It's the little details that make these dishes special, from the bright notes of the ocean in the Sopa de Marisco to the fresh shrimps of the Gambas al Pilpil that delivers an audible snap with every bite. The blend of garlic, herbs and olive oil layers the fresh shrimps with clean yet rich notes, with the freshness of ingredients delivering all the flavors. One bite and I recalled my first ever visit to Oye Tapas & Grill when Chef Juan Montel explained the secret behind their dishes with a simple culinary principle, that "sharpness comes from freshness." It's a philosophy that is carried over to all of their signature dishes, both traditional and modern, at Oye Tapas & Grill. 

Oye Tapas & Grill is also at a culinary crossroad where both tradition and modernity converge with its creative expression of Spanish cuisine.  The Lengua con Salsa de Pimiento Verde (P 375) is one such example with its contemporary spin on the traditional Spanish dish. The comfortingly familiar dish is transformed with tender braised beef tongue draped with a thick and creamy green pepper sauce topped with crisp onions and fresh spring onions laid on sliced potatoes.

The distinct notes of the fork-tender, almost buttery soft beef tongue come through capped by the creamy flavor of the mildly sharp pepper sauce. The pepper sauce adds the finishing touch with its smoky hints, followed by the clean and fresh flavors of the spring onions for a delicately balanced finish. It's a lengua dish unlike any other, and that's what you can expect at Oye Tapas & Grill. 

The elegantly plated Calamares Rellenos de Chorizo (P 375), with fresh baby squid stuffed with chorizo, is a colorful palette of vibrant flavors. The mildly crisp baby squid delivers a briny sweetness kicked up by the sharp notes of chorizo combining both texture and flavor in one dish. Slide the baby squid in the creamy duo of sauces, including squid ink, for even more flavor. Oye Tapas & Grill offers a variety of tapas, so go ahead and try them all. A Spanish feast, after all, is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace with no rush. 

And that's just for starters. The Little Plates at Oye Tapas & Grill are ideal for sharing, offering everyone tasty bites before the mains. The savory mains at Oye Tapas & Grill include the Carilleras con Salsa de Vino Tinto (P 545) with fork-tender beef cheeks laid on creamy mashed potatoes drizzled with red wine sauce, a satisfying meal in itself. The tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth beef cheeks deliver a savory richness that line your palate, tempered by the sharpness of the olives. The creamy mashed potatoes draped in the rich red wine sauce complete the dish.

The rustic Callos al Estigo Gallego (P 590) is another flavorful option at Oye Tapas & Grill, a Galetian-style beef tripe stew with blood sausage, chorizo, chickpeas and bell peppers. Served with Milagrosa rice or fresh-baked bread, callos is one of those comforting dishes I've enjoyed through the years and Oye Tapas & Grill's version is up there high on my list. With rice or bread, the Callos al Estigo Gallego just takes you back with its comforting home-style flavors.

Moist, fluffy rice infused with the flavors of the various ingredients, Oye Tapas & Grill's Paella Mixta Valenciana (P 350-5" Paellera) topped with fresh seafood including succulent clams and creamy aioli is a fitting finale to your Spanish feast.

A squeeze of lemon brings out all the richness and flavors of the dish, and one more bite tells you maybe you should've gone for the larger paellera.

Cap your Spanish feast with Oye Taps & Grill's indulgent Tiramisu Deconstruido (P 250) with espresso-dipped lady fingers topped with ice cream and whipped cream served in a martini glass. Have a soothing cup of coffee or another round of Sangria, and your Spanish afternoon at Oye Tapas & Grill is filed in your head as another memorable dining experience.