kika tapas

spanish tapas and wine? â¡si, por favor! a representative of tapena wines invited a couple local bloggers to try some of their wines over lunch at kika tapas in cambridge. kika tapas, which opened last december, is owned by the proprietors of dali , one of my favorite spanish restaurants. so, i certainly had high expectations for this restaurant. and overall, my expectations were met and i would recommend that my readers check it out. the restaurant has more of a modern, hip look and the curved booths are very comfortable. it has a different ambiance than dali, but still is appealing. much of their food menu is similar to dali, with plenty of tapas, but they offer some different dishes as well. in addition, they are open for lunch, and serve bocadillos, sandwiches, for lunch. tapa prices generally range from $5-$10. their wine list has plenty of spanish options, and they serve authentic sherry as well. plus, you will find a variety of cocktails, beers and sangria. the pã£o de queij

first time tapas experience- found worth.
there are vegetarian options on the menu

cauliflower and broccoli fritters were too good.
rice with beans were ok.
something mushrooms dish - most weird tasting preparation i ever had.

slow service. ok food. drinks are good but expensive.

august 11, 2012 tags: boston , tapas by colleen last week, i met up with my friends and fellow-bloggers katie , erin , and noelle for an after-work dinner at kika tapas in kendall square. i had been very curious about kika after hearing the comparisons between it and dali , and didn’t know what to expect after my last not-great dali experience. we lucked out with a beautiful night, allowing us to sit in their lovely outdoor patio. clearly, kika’s kendall location and the availability of outdoor seating are a huge draw – especially for the after-work crowd. we settled in and ordered some drinks, and our waitress was patient with us as we spent too much time chatting and not enough time deciding what to eat. now, as for the food? like dali, i thought it was very hit or miss. we ordered 8 tapas total plus a dessert, which worked out to be the perfect amount of food and allowed us to try a lot of the menu. there was nothing particularly wrong about the salmon ceviche (except maybe needing

unique tapas and incredibly knowledgable staff (especially in regards to food allergy considerations) the tapas at kika will certainly introduce you to exciting blends of flavors. some items i was impressed with...pork with fois gras, eggplant with goat cheese rolls, scallops, mussels, and the plato mixto. sharing a small paella and ordering a few tapas for the table is a great way to enjoy kika. the paellas take 20-30 minutes to prepare, so plan to order it quickly as you arrive.

overall, i loved kika tapas and am excited to have them in my work neighborhood. i see many lunches, drinks, and dinners happening here. its perfect for groups, friends, or even a date (although careful with all the garlic!).

the last dish wasn't something i've ever noticed at any other tapas restaurant, but it sounded really intriguing. the revuelto de esparragos y camerones is a warm dish of sautéed shrimp, asparagus, scrambled eggs, and fried bread. had the bread not been a little too fried (i.e., slightly oil soaked), this dish would have been amazing. the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and each time i took a bite of one with a sliver of garlic, i was reminded of my most-favorite tapas dish: gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), which i'll be trying when i return to kika tapas.

enough to satisfy your sweet tooth for days, if there’s one thing that stands out at this new tapas joint it’s the dessert selection. if i thought you could handle it, i would have included a photo of their tres leches cake which is definitely to die for but i didn’t want to send anyone into a total foodgasm frenzy, especially if you’re reading this at work. that would be awkward.

we went there with a large group of people for tapas. the food was great. their meatballs and their crostini with goat cheese were exceptional. the seafood paella and their mussels were also quite good. definitely worth the trip.

good service, decent tapas. had dinner at the bar last night. the tapas was mixed- some good, some bland. the bar staff was really friendly and service was prompt. the atmosphere is strange - its a bar and restaurant but it's very brightly lit.

i will likely go back.

perfect spot. i went on a friday night and the restaurant wasn't exacly busy but it was just before christmas. our tapas were excellent, the paella was good but slightly salty. our service was great and the host staff friendly and upbeat. the bar was a cool vibe to it. check it out if yourare in kendal!