THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Arpa Tapas Wine Bar-Grill

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Arpa Tapas Wine Bar-Grill Restaurant Review:

Arpa, meaning “harp” in Spanish, focuses on small plates, chiefly coming from Spanish and Italian cooking traditions. The very supportive wine list focuses similarly on Spanish and Italian options, but adds a good measure of American wines as well, with many available by the glass. The inventive little dishes reflect authentic customs and take appropriate liberties with some. Our only quarrel is with the sweetness imbuing an otherwise reasonably true rendition of escalivada, a dish of peppers and eggplant that’s a Catalan classic. The tomato-enrobed white bean and chorizo stew is a happy cousin of Spanish “fabada,” and the cod fritters, made with frequently soaked and rinsed salt cod, are served warm against a cold onion marmalade, making an appealing contrast. Our favorite, however, is the mussels with a chorizo-infused broth and roasted garlic. The mussels are sweet and clean, and the broth is nicely supportive, not masking their good flavor. Chef de cuisine Sam Diminich sources vegetables and pork for the tasty pork tenderloin with onion confit from local suppliers. Numerous flatbreads and a pair of paellas also are offered.