Cova Tapas Y Sangria: Tapas, Racion and More Sangria

Sunday, July 15, 2012
What better way to chill and catch up with friends than to visit a Spanish tapas bar... And this is exactly what we did last week as my pals and I visited the new tapas bar along Jupiter Street, Cova Tapas Y Sangria -- a joint venture of Tatyana Guevara and Patrick Hesse, both of whom after graduating from Enderun College, trained at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona before returning to Manila to finally open their own modern Spanish tapas bar.
Cova Tapas Y Sangria

Although I admit that I'm a hearty eater, surprisingly, tapas or the appetizers and snacks in Spanish cuisine, appeal to me. Maybe it's some of the influence the Spanish has passed down to us, or maybe I just simply love pica-picas. But whichever it is, I'm sure anyone who'll walk into the bar will find themselves amused by the unconventional yet aesthetically-drawing modern cave-like design of Cova Tapas Y Sangria.

Cova Tapas Y Sangria Dining Space

The stylish cave of tapas and sangria may not house more than fifty guests. But if you've made a reservation for the night, I'm sure you'll definitely enjoy lounging in the cozy bar space which gives off a very relaxing vibe with its dim ambient lighting, light-colored caving-in walls and ceiling, and sleek modern black furniture -- the perfect pair for light yet satisfying tapa (good for one to two people) or racion (good for three to four).

Huevos Cabreados P260

To start off our evening snack, we had the Huevos Cabreados (P260) -- a plateful of shoestring potatoes, chorizo bits and sunny-side up egg, drizzled with Spanish pesto and outlined with spicy brava sauce. Although this item seems simple, the subtle breakfast flavors will definitely wake up your senses. Mix this plate up, and I'm sure you'll love the harmony of soft, crunchy, savory, spicy and a little hint of tang in this dish.

Pintxo de Queso Frito Tapa P180 Racion P360

We then sampled the Pintxo de Queso Frito (Tapa P180; Racion P360), fried Gruyere cheese topped with caramelized onions, sitting on a bed of honey, balsamic cream and Spanish pesto. Being a cheese lover, I fell in love at first bite -- slightly crispy on the outside and gooey, cheesy and nutty on the inside. And when dipped onto the sauce, prepare your palate for a beautiful blend of salty, tangy, sweet and earthy flavors.

Cap I Pota Tapa P250 Racion P500

Next we had was the Cap I Pota (Tapa P250; Racion P500), a stew of tender yet still quite chewy ox tripe and cheeks, flavorful jamon and blood sausage, tangy tomatoes and sultanas, and crunchy pine nuts, which resembles the traditional Spanish Callos. If you love savory tapas like me, then I bet you'd also fall in love with the sweet, meaty and nutty flavors of this dish which is best paired with a warm serving of rice or toasted bruschetta.

Ravioli de Rabo de Toro Tapa P240 Racion P480

We then got to sample the Ravioli de Rabo de Toro (Tapa P240; Racion P480), deep-fried pockets of ox tail, foie gras and shiitake mushrooms, on a bed of ox tail jus, balsamic cream and Spanish pesto. Though a bite from the ravioli already gives off a meaty, savory filling, dipping it onto the sauce even takes the ensemble up a notch.

Espuma Bacalao P380

It may look like a dessert item, but this is actually Espuma Bacalao (P380) -- a glass filled with layers of salt cod foam, potato, olives, garlic confit and bits of cod at the bottom. The blend of cod and espuma (foam) made the dish salty yet airy and mouse-like in texture. And just like how I enjoyed my first taste of espuma, I've found myself digging in on this glass of modern appetizer yet again.

Crema Catalana P200

For dessert, we had the Crema Catalana (P200), the Catalonian version of crème brûlée with a slice of orange and topped with some silver dragées. Unlike the classic crème brûlée, the custard of this dessert is softer, less firm and quite mushy. It took me a few spoonfuls before I got used to its texture which is the very opposite of the firm yet soft, and smooth crema I'm used to. However, I definitely dig the sweet and tangy flavor of this dessert, as well as my favorite cracking caramelized layer.

Cova Red Sangria 500ml P447 1L P895 Summer Peachy White Wine Sangria 500ml P447 1L P895 Summer Peachy White Wine Sangria 500ml P447 1L P895

Of course, a visit to Cova Tapas Y Sangria wouldn't be complete without trying its best-selling sangrias, both of which are made from imported Spanish wines and chopped fruits. And while I expected the Cova Red Sangria (500ml P447; 1L P895) to be a strong blend of a fruit punch, I was quite surprised that it was very sweet, fruity and milder on the alcohol. However, it was surprisingly the exact opposite for the carafe of Summer Peachy White Wine Sangria (500ml P447; 1L P895). A single sip will definitely give off a strong alcohol flavor albeit being equally fruity.

THE VERDICT

Although I'm not a regular drinker, I definitely enjoyed pairing Cova's sangrias with their flavorful traditional and modern Spanish tapas. Every item we got to try assured us that we are in the right bar -- a perfect place to enjoy good food and catch up with friends while enjoying a cozy and laid back atmosphere. So if you're like me who's not much into loud and dark bars, then Cova Tapas Y Sangria is definitely the perfect destination.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5


Cova Tapas Y Sangria, Jupiter Street
22 Jupiter St, Brgy Bel-Air
Makati City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 478-9700
Facebook Page

38 comments:

  1. Ang ganda ng interior. Wow, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganyan. I've been to Enderun College once and had taste of their catered food. I can say na panalo talaga! Magagaling ang graduates nila!

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    1. This is actually my first time to taste something from an Enderun graduate.. :D True, magagaling nga sila! ;)

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  2. I want to explore more into Spanish cuisine too. The dishes look delicious! :) The prices are not bad too. :D

    http://www.dekaphobe.com/

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  3. I love Spanish food. That restaurant is amazing and everything looked wonderful!

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  4. I'm missing their Patatas Bravas! :) A must-try in Cova! :)

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    1. Definitely! :D Actually, I've been craving for the Patatas Bravas even up to now.

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  5. I love the interior! it's amazing! and I am almost certain that the foods are equally superior! Crema Catalana looks yummy.

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  6. The interior makes the place look mystical, but not in an eerie sort of way. This post reminded me of Ilan (Top Chef Season 2) whose expertise is Spanish cuisine. :)

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  7. I keep looking at the restaurant's cave-like interior. Really interesting! But the food looks yummy as well.

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  8. First time to see a dragee. I had to google it to find out what it was. It looked so pretty on the Crema Catalana. The most appetizing dish for me seems to be the Cap and Pota since I'm a huge fan of callos and it seems similar to that. Hehehe I have yet to explore the various menu items in Spanish cuisine. Would love to explore it some more :)

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  9. wow!! lovely place sis Sumi! <3
    akala ko gumawa ka na review ng wine. hehehe.. the first time I read "Sangria" it reminded me of a wine kase. hihihihihih :D

    Nice photos by the way!!! <3

    xoxo
    Rhea Bue (Styles & Writes)

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    1. Thanks sis! Anyway, it's somehow a beverage review na rin since we tried the red and white sangrias of Cova.. :D

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  10. Fine dining talaga. I like the interior super ganda.

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    1. This is actually not fine dining, just an elegant and cozy tapas bar.. :)

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  11. I wish I have all the money to try those yummy foods!

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  12. Nice ceiling, the place looks romantic.

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  13. Your food shots just keep getting better and better. So inspired just by looking at them.

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  14. Your food shots make them more appetizing! Love the interiors too!

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  15. ay wow i like this place. would take the fiance here for a fancy wine night/ so romantic :)

    Rovie, The Bargain Doll

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  16. The place looks cozy, di yata pwede little girl ko dito. Haha and the fried gruyere looks tempting!! ang pretty nung crema catalaña, with dragees pa.

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    1. I don't think Cova's a nice place to bring kids.. ^^ It's a bar kasi.

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  17. I like the cave like ambiance plus the tapas would be an excellent meal/snacks.

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  18. Overall rating of 4.5 is not bad ha:) I luv the restau's ambiance and the foods make my mouth water:)

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  19. i bet it's not all about food experience but as well with the ambiance. truly the place can affect taste buds. but with that kind baka nakakashy kumain.lol hehe

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  20. Woah. Their price is actually reasonable. And infairness, ganda ng place ha.

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  21. i love this foodie blog.. :) and your photos are great. makes the place and the dishes more interesting... :)

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  22. The place really looks classy. Ask ko lang kung may high-chair dyan for toddlers?

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    1. I'm not so sure, but I think they don't. Cova's a resto bar kasi, not sure if the place is child-friendly.. >.<

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  23. Wow!!It looks so great the place very cool then, the foods looks delicious.

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  24. Nice... I would recommend this to my friends here in Kuwait and sa iba pa nating OFW, para naman pag uwi may pupuntahan silang bago sa panlasa..Thanks.

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  25. wow , from the resto's interior to the prep of the food--seem everything is good. I need to get ataste of this place ... thanks for sharing ...

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  26. So COVA has great foods, it's a place for commoners.

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  27. waaaa.aa looks great and the interiors - breathtaking.. looks expensive though.. but I will try this one out...

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  28. Oh wow!!! Looks super yumm!! Great shots!

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  29. The foods look soOoo yummy(and quite expensive.haha)! And the interior is so cool! :)

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  30. I love what they did to the interior! Looks different from most of the restaurants here in the Philippines. Will definitely try this out with my friends over the weekend. Hopefully the weather allows us to do that.

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  31. Aw.. so many new places to dine and be merry but most are far from me.. Hope I can visit this place too!

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