Emma Tapas Dining in Finnieston, Glasgow
Named after the wine region in Spain, Rioja in Hipster-friendly Finnieston is competing with the likes of The Gannet, Ox and Finch, Porter & Rye etc…as a result this is not your usual tapas experience. The concept is: modern tapas, fine-dining tapas or tapas with a twist (take your pick).
There’s a full page of the menu devoted to tapas you’ve possibly not come across anywhere else plus a page of traditional items for the wary but you won’t find bullfighting posters or castanets on the walls here, instead a wine rack reaches up to the ceiling where lampshades and even a shoe are hanging. This is quirky hipster Finnieston after all.
In addition to the wine there’s a small selection of Spanish beer, Spanish-influenced cocktails and jugs of Hugo (elderflower and cava) and “posh” sangria. We decided on the latter (£19.50) which was very refreshing and lacking the oomph of sangria elsewhere.
Bread and olives served in a piquant onion mixture were pretty tasty.
Pan a la Catalana with lots of garlic, heaped tomatoes and olive oil on thin slices of crusty white bread and beside it a meat platter with a sweet floral chorizo, Iberico style ham and a herby Spicy salami (like German sausage).
The salmon tartare was something different. Very colourful, the guacamole could have been colder for our liking but it was still a distinctive, well-presented dish.
Sea bass ceviche. Big chunks of fish and not the usual thin strips, mixed with avocado, baby sweet corn and aromatic pink peppercorns and some lime. A good introduction to ceviche – the fish was meaty but didn’t taste raw. The peppercorns provided a buzz along with the lime.
Patatas bravas. Little baked potatoes covered in spicy paprika and sea salt. MMMM, THE BEST patatas bravas Mrs Foodie has ever had. Served with sour cream and a very nippy paprika dip.
A cubed potato filled with chorizo and pork belly. Pretty unusual and very tasty.
Oxtail with mushrooms and foie. Extremely meaty and tender. Parsnip crisps (would make a tasty bar snack) and juices which begged to have some bread dunked into it.
Suckling pig, chorizo and compote. Like pork belly fat – layers, one of fat, one of tender meat, with a crisp salty crackling skin. Perfect.
We were stuffed, but we took one for the team and ordered a Crema Catalana (a Spanish Crème brûlée for those who don’t know).
Torches la cave ‘Goyesco’ Amontillado Sherry. A pale amber sherry with a fig/dried fruit aroma but a bit too sour tasting for Mr Foodie so he swapped with Mrs Foodie’s Crema Catalan liqueur.
The Crema Catalana had a cracking sugar topping, once crunched past letting your spoon dip into its smooth and creamy pudding. Mrs Foodie was very happy.
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Overall
Friendly and helpful service, we asked for help decided which of the modern tapas to try and we were talked through the menu. The ambience was relaxed with a Bonobo CD playing and football on in the background (all the Spanish games are being shown) which wasn’t intrusive but there if you wanted to watch it. The food was certainly on another level from your average tapas chain and from what we have had in Spain itself. The bill came to £81 for two including drinks. Toilets are downstairs and could do with some TLC.
TL;DR
+ fine dining tapas
+ helpful service
+ helpful service
+ chilled music
+ another good restaurant choice in Finnieston
+ another good restaurant choice in Finnieston
– basic toilets
Location
Rioja 1116 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8TD
Transport
Located within walking distance of Exhibition Centre Railway Station.
First Bus: 2, 3, 77 all pass nearby.
Rioja (FKA The Round) (98244), Glasgow/Lanarkshire Reservations
We dined as guests of Rioja and Fred can testify that it did not influence our thoughts. He would have been right in there to the plate of ceviche and the oxtail.
Came across Rioja almost by accident on a business trip last month. Persuaded my wife that tapas was needed for our evening meal and we were not disappointed. A wonderful dining experience, we started with a small selection and ended up sampling the majority of the menu!
Excellent food and wine, recommended.