THE SCOOP ON A SPANISH BISTRO OPENING THIS SUMMER IN LITTLE ITALY

A taste of Spain is arriving in Little Italy this August, delivered by a new restaurant that will convey traditional Spanish cuisine while bringing attention to distinct and regional Basque, Galician, and Catalan dishes.

Barra Oliba will replace La Taqueria Tijuana at the base of the Instrata Apartments building on Kettner Boulevard. One of the taco shop’s co-owners, Eduardo Bustamante, is also part of the team behind India Street’s Crudo Cevicheria & Oyster Bar, a Baja-styled seafood spot and member of the Eater 38. His partner in this project is Ernesto Casillas, formerly a founding partner of Zibaris Hospitality Group whose standout restaurants Tijuana include the brunch-focused Mantequilla, Ziba Mediterráneo, and Saketori-ya, a popular Japanese izakaya with two locations in town.

With a long bar and exposed kitchen, the Little Italy restaurant plans to incorporate Japanese techniques into how its chefs prepare and present fresh, local seafood. The menu will include a range of tapas along with larger plates like paella and arroz meloso, a creamy rice dish.

Everything will be designed to pair with a wine list that’ll represent Spain’s vast designated wine regions, from historic Rioja to the Tempranillo-laden Ribera del Duero and Priorat in Catalonia.

2024-07-02T20:59:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd