THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Solera Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Solera Restaurant Review:

Beautiful blown-glass pendants, bright Gaudi-like mosaics and an assortment of tapas make a trip to Spain appear closer than you’d expect. Enter Solera, the inspiration of Josh Thoma and Tim McKee, the dynamic duo behind La Belle Vie. Located next door to the Orpheum Theatre, this is the place to experience the Spanish tradition of sharing small plates. The menu’s seasonally changing hot and cold tapas include the authentic as well as the innovative. Fried spring onions are fresh and lively with lemon aïoli, while chorizo-stuffed dates with smoked bacon allows interesting sweet, salty and smoky nuances to intermingle. On the cold side, octopus ceviche warms up with hot pepper and cumin, and deviled eggs with blue crab and cumin raise the humble, old-fashioned picnic favorite to new heights. Choose the manchego cheese and membrillo (quince paste) if you are sitting prettily at the bar while sampling the many sherries on the list. Equally impressive is the wine list, compiled by Bill Summerville, arguably the city's top sommelier. During the summer months, the beautiful people escape to the Moroccan-themed rooftop bar to catch an under-the-stars glimpse of the Minneapolis skyline.