Porta Tapas Bar may be located in Chester, but takes its inspiration from the bustling atmosphere of tapas bars that you find across Spain. Whilst the menu has a focus on simplicity and a laid back atmosphere, you will be delighted with the high quality of the food and drink available. The tapas bar is owned by Ben and Joe Wright, brothers who were born and raised in a village nearby. The duo pursued exciting careers before deciding to take the business plunge together back in 2006. Reservations aren't taken at Porta Tapas Bar, and groups of all sizes are welcome.
There are always daily specials displayed on the boards around the bar, but you can expect to find gordal olives, sweet pickled guindilla chillies and salted Valencian almonds on the menu. Other tapas dishes include marinated carrots, toasted coco bread with tomato and garlic, and a Spanish omelette with potato and onion. If you want a classic Spanish tapas experience, try the fried patatas bravas with aioli, the croquetas del dia, and picos de Europa blue cheese with caramelised walnuts, sultanas and honey.
The charcuterie boards include lomo, chorizo and salchichon iberico, and other meaty favourites include the roasted chicken wings with mojo rojo and smoked rosemary honey, along with pork skewers stacked with chorizo and tossed in a ras-el-hanout dressing. If you enjoy seafood and fish, try the grilled whole wild Atlantic prawns with ajillo dressing, and yellowfin tuna ensaladilla with Cantabrian tuna belly potato salad.
Some specials you can expect to find include txistorra con piperada, braised ox cheek in Pedro Ximénez with parsnip purée and butter beans with ibérico pork scratchings.