2Taps Wine Bar

If the waiter at 2Taps tells you that a table should free up in about 15 min and suggests that you could have a drink and wait – don't believe him. We got our seat after 45 min to an hour, thankfully with a drink in hand (stand at the bar while your sangria is being prepared, and you'll get a nice amount of alcohol in it).

The good thing was that the food that came made up for the long wait. Their pan fresco was an assortment of breads – including a very delectable garlic bread – accompanied by two delicious pestos and olive oil with balsamic vinegar. The cinnamon spiced lamb and potato tagine arrived just before we started on the last slice of bread – a good thing, as the dish was a rich, sweet and spicy stew. A must try is the serrano ham salad with rocket, melon, pear and walnut – I loved the combination of flavours, particularly the strong burst of sweetness from the pear.

 

We ordered the half Paella Valencia, which turned out bigger than we'd expected as it was piled up high and chock full of ingredients. The rice had absorbed all the essence from the meats and was irresistible, but unfortunately the prawns, chicken and sausages were a tad overcooked, while some of the mussels weren't very fresh.

While we had a good meal – even with the disappointing meats in the paella - I think it might have been due to a lucky choice of tapas. The table next to us had ordered many things which we didn't and their tapas didn't appear as appetising. The tiger prawns, for example, came in a small ramekin and judging from their size probably weren't even tiger prawns.

That said, I'm quite keen to return to 2Taps on a week night – I believe they have a deal where you get two tapas and a glass of wine for £10.95. I think they're worth another shot, and with their extensive menu I'm certain there're more good dishes to be had.

2Taps Winebar
42 Waring Street
Belfast BT1 2ED

(Don't be put off by the unappealing website and shoddy photos of the restaurant interior – with the dinner lighting it had a warm, cosy ambience.)

Addendum (3 Jan 2014)

We returned some time in May 2013, taking advantage of 2Taps' deal which offered 2 tapas + a glass of wine for just £10.

Again, we ordered the serrano ham salad with rocket, melon, pear and walnut, which was just as good as before. The goats cheese wrapped in Serrano ham with fig relish was also delicious, and I particularly loved the piquant fig relish.

 

I don't particularly recall the mussels steamed in butter, cream and leeks, which is probably a good thing as if the mussels weren't fresh it'd have stuck in my mind. I do however, remember that the pan-fried sea bream on a bed of sweet onions and new potatoes was light and fresh, with the fish done just right.

Feeling the need to return to 2Taps again!