If you have ever been fortunate enough to travel to the Andalusian region of Spain and visited the Alhambra, you would easily recall the intricate and sophisticated tiling covering the walls and ceilings. If you are considering a trip soon and have the funds, make the trip to Granada (southern Spain). However, if you are saving or have a fear of flying, venture over to Spain Club in Itaewon. The designers of this quaint restaurant use Adalusian tiling to create an atmosphere of Iberian authenticity.
I’m known to frequently say, “You can’t eat ambience.” Fortunately, Spain Club offers the discriminating omnivore a large variety of tapas (appetizers) and entrées to choose from. The octopus in olive oil and the salads will satisfy the calorie conscious. The yolo (You Only Live Once) will be overjoyed with the garlic-tinged sizzling shrimp in olive oil, the scrumptious croquettes, and anything involving the holy combination of meat, cheese, and potatoes.
As an entrée the steak will satiate you, but you should have one of the three saffron-kissed paellas on the menu. You’re three choices include the traditional seafood, chicken and sausage, and one that is more Korean-inspired with an infusion of squid ink. Each paella is served in a hot skillet skillet, so fight the temptation to dig in immediately. In my experience a scalded tongue tends to be a downer. One additional warning is that the paella appears a bit more dense than it truly is. It is quite shallow.
Outside of Barcelona and summer rooftop parties, I tend to shy away from sangria. The sweet/sour ratio never seems to be quite right, but I noticed many patrons quenching their thirst with the red wine citrus-infused beverage. My party opted for the Sauvignon Blanc simply because we always do. FYI, it is the most reliable varietal sold in Korea. If we had not loaded up on the soft freshly baked bread, we would probably have had room for the elegantly described and presented desserts.
The servers were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the food. The average price of the tapas was about 12,000 won. While the tapas were small, as is tradition, they were filling. The paellas were between 20-30,000 won.
Good things come in threes and that includes dinner with friends. For a group of three, I recommend that each person order a tapas and then share one or two of the paellas. Spain Club is special enough for romancing, but casual enough for a friendly night out.
The Good:The yolo (You Only Live Once) will be overjoyed with the garlic-tinged sizzling shrimp in olive oil, the scrumptious croquettes, and anything involving the holy combination of meat, cheese, and potatoes.
The Bad: I tend to shy away from sangria. The sweet/sour ratio never seems to be quite right
The Weird: Andalusian tiling
Prices: 12,000 won +
Delivery:
You can order Delivery from Spain Club via Shuttle (셔틀). The prep time is 15 to 35 minutes.
Hours: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5PM–1AM
Phone: 02-795-1118
Address: 216 Itaewon-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Website: none
Directions:
