SquareMeal Review of Ibérico World Tapas
Silver Award
Located beneath Nottingham’s historic Galleries of Justice, this super-slick, effortlessly stylish venue has all the right ingredients for a night out. Whether you’re in for some post-work socialising or a hot date, Ibérico is a cool customer with its rustic-chic blend of Moorish tiles, leather sofas, mirror-backed frescoes and vaulted ceilings. Get things started with a glass of txakoli (the fruity sparkling white wine poured from a dramatic height), while contemplating a menu that mixes classic Spanish tapas with contemporary Asian-inspired dishes. Charcuterie and cheeses are a fixture, but the full line-up might run from lamb tartare with black garlic, pickled radish and sourdough via mushroom carpaccio with truffle sauce and pickled mooli to grilled mackerel with ajo blanco, grapes and tarragon. Pans of seafood paella suit those who are famished, while desserts offer anything from churros and hot chocolate to macerated strawberries with yuzu yoghurt and sorrel. Livewire staff are well up to the job. A casual sibling, Bar Ibérico, is at 17-19 Carlton Street, Nottingham NG1 1NL.