not as enthralled as in previous visits. we took out-of-town family to cúrate on a saturday night and generally enjoyed our dinner, but, sad to say, we were less enthralled than we've been on previous visits.
perhaps it's nitpicking, but this is not an inexpensive spot (our dinner for six with tax and tip was around $280) and it is one that aspires to the highest standards.
here were a few minuses to dinner tonight:
* the kitchen was out of both trout and one of the spanish hams. since these are specialties of the restaurant, being out of these items was surprising.
* thebardidn't have rye -- huh, what's a hipbardoing without rye these days?
* several of the tapas dishes seemed ordinary -- most notably the croquetas de pollo (chicken fritters), potatas bravas and chocolate mousse. the fried squid was greasy.
* our waiter was the biggest disappointment. i didn't pay that much attention to him, but several in our party were very put off. he slammed down water and dishes, leaned on our chairs, reached across us to place items on the table, and most distressingly, occasionally seemed to slur his words. the waiter seemed more interested in upselling us on the wine and getting us to order more than the very knowledgeable waitstaff we've had on previous visits.
on the plus side, the atmosphere was great and many of the tapas were excellent.
overall we enjoyed the evening, but frankly a recent meal at zambra (a long-established spanish tapas restaurant in asheville) was a better experience with better food.
i hope that the owners of cúrate are not spending too much time collecting accolades rather than running their restaurant. i hate to see local restaurateurs let early success go to their heads.
-----20 aug, 2012-----
i want to go back for more, more, more. now i understand what the buzz on cúrate is all about! this restaurant on biltmore avenue just south of pack square has been open over a year, and my wife has eaten here, but i put off going, thinking "oh, just another tapas place." how wrong i was!
what a delightful experience it was to have dinner here. everything we ordered was at a minimum tasty and well prepared, and some of the small plates -- the gazpacho ($5), the iberian ham ($11), the eggplant with honey ($6), the fried calamari on bread ($6) and the chocolate mousse with raspberry sorbet and hazelnut praline ($6), among others -- were absolutely fabulous. even the home-cured olives (three or four different kinds, $4) were special.
there are about three dozen small plates on the menu, not including desserts. i'm told that about 80% of the menu stays the same, though seasonal and special dishes are added.
i have to go back soon to try more, more, more.
the restaurant was full (and this was a sunday evening), and the crowd seemed to be having a great time. on friday, the only reservation we could get would have been at 5 or 9.
service was understated but prompt.
there's an interesting list of spanish wines, most moderately priced, and a nice selection of cocktails. i had a cuba libre ($9) with mount gay rum and fresh lemon, served with an individual coca-cola in a little 8 oz. bottle.
the restaurant is long and narrow, with high ceilings and exposed ducting, and we were seated in the small room at the back, which was a little quieter than the main room or the seats at the bar, but it offered a nice view of the main dining area. others have said they like sitting at the bar, to watch the chefs cook and be at the heart of the action, but note that thebarstools don't have backs.
if there's a downside, it might be that the women's restroom gets backed up, and a line forms waiting to get in. some female customers give up and just go to the men's room.
dinner for two, with two cocktails and one glass one wine, plus a shared dessert and one single espresso, came to $106 with tax and tip. well worth it.