Eat My Words: We review Bar Iberico, Nottingham

Should you be a big fan of tapas like me, January is now the perfect month to treat yourself.

When I spotted Bar Iberico, in Hockley, Nottingham, was running a 20% off promotion throughout January, I knew I had to take advantage of this.

I was sure it would be good, as the tapas bar has been in the Michelin guide since 2018.

So, with my closest friend in tow, who I get to see less often than I would like, we set off for a perfect girls’ evening of tapas and wine, set in a beautiful yet relaxed restaurant.

Despite it being a very cold and rainy Monday, the eatery was still busy, and after a brief wait we were seated at the bar — although we were also offered the alternative of waiting for a traditional table — which was plenty spacious and comfortable for the pair of us.

We were offered water — tap, still or sparkling — on being seated by a friendly waitress, and the tap water we selected was brought swiftly in a nice carafe with ice.

Then we perused the drinks menu, and wine was of course the order of the night. I opted for a small glass of Koster Wolf German Riesling — which if food and drink writers are to be believed is making a real comeback — while my friend had a medium glass of Viña Edmara Chilean Viognier.

Both were very enjoyable to sip at — especially when they were accompanied by a delightful selection of tapas.

We opted for a staple bowl of mixed olives, my absolute favourite padron peppers — which I am duty bound by my taste buds to order whenever they’re on the menu — hot mini chorizo with red wine, honey and butterbean hummus, pork belly with red cabbage, quince glaze and miso crema, and manchego churros with truffle allioli and honey.

Wow, was pretty much all I could say as the dished appeared on our table.

One thing to note is the dishes arrive as they’re ready, rather than at once, but there was not much wait between them on this occasion.

Savoury churros were not something I’d particularly considered before, but they were sensational. The serving of crisp churros with a generous coverage of grated manchego, and the lovely allioli dip, was an ideal size for two to share. The combination of flavours was beautiful, a great balance of sweet and savoury which felt decadent but not too rich.

The padron peppers were different than any I’d ever had before, with the addition of Japanese seven spice, and I couldn’t get enough of them with their slightly crisp gilled skin, juicy pepper and a slight spiciness.

The pork belly absolutely melted in the mouth (and on the fork it was so tender) and was extremely flavourful, while the chorizo was another perfect balance of flavours.

All of the dishes felt like aptly-sized portions to share between two, and filled us up so much that we didn’t polish off all the olives.

There was no room for pudding after that feast — although the sweet churros were tempting — but I couldn’t resist a mocktail I’d spotted in the drinks menu earlier.

Blending mango, ginger ale, chilli, lime, and grenadine, the Fiebre Del Mango was the perfect after dinner treat, the slight burn of the ginger and chilli, with the tart lime and sweet mango gave it a great taste, which almost mimicked the feeling of drinking a strong cocktail.

It was also served in a very appealing manner, with a lime wedge and round of chilli pepper to top its beautiful sunset colours.

I would definitely recommend Bar Iberico to anyone who likes tapas, especially with a twist, and the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxed yet classy night out.

Out of five:

Food: The food was decadent, well presented, flavourful, and interesting. It came promptly and was a good eating temperature each time. The proportion of dip to churros was good, and the portions were big enough to share between friends. It felt like real traditional tapas but with interesting twists on some dishes. *****

Drink: Our wines were lovely, and my mocktail really hit the spot, and they were all served in attractive glassware. With a good mix of fun mocktails, non alcoholic options, cocktails, beers, wines, spirits and more, there’s surely something for everyone on the menu. *****

Decor: The dining space was warm and welcoming with soft lighting and comfortable chairs, and mixed luxurious fittings with hints of industrial design. All in all it felt like a place you wouldn’t be out of place getting dressed up for, nor turning up in more casual outfit. However, the toilets were a bit messy and needed a refill of toilet paper in some cubicles which was a little bit of a let down compared to the rest of the place. ****

Staff: The staff were smartly presented, attentive and polite. They checked back with us throughout the meal, brought the dishes promptly and cleared empties away as we went to give us more space. *****

Price: Our meal for two cost £61.88 including a discretionary 10% service charge — which the menu says is split between the staff and I felt they’d earnt. Overall it is not the cheapest, but not overpriced either. I think you pay for what you get — good service, lovely decor, and amazing food. With the January discount it only improves. ****

Have you had a great meal? Share your own Eat My Words reviews or tell us where to try by emailing: news@newarkadvertiser.co.uk