Xunta Tapas Espana

Xunta Tapas-Espana
392 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell
973-226-0733

Hours: Lunch: Mon–Sat, 11:30 am–3 pm. Dinner: Mon–Sun, 5–10 pm.

Price: $$

Style: Warm and modern, this BYO has dark wood floors and deep saffron walls decorated with handsomely framed photographs of Northern Spain taken by the owner. Tables are well spaced and chairs are comfortable.

Don’t Miss: The kale and beet salad is enticingly dressed with apple-cider vinegar, olive oil and agave nectar. There is no hint of bitterness in the crunchy kale, and the beets are perfectly bite-size ($8.50). Spanish spicy potatoes—a superb side dish—comes with what looks like Buffalo sauce but is more complex and rewarding. The baked surface is lightly crunchy, the inside downright creamy. Take care not to make a meal of it ($7.25). Also excellent are grilled, whole sardines, moist and flavorful under a crisp skin ($9.75). Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce and garlic-sautéed spinach ($14.25) makes a hearty and affordable main course. For dessert, the almond-lemon torte is moist, delicately tart and crunchy, well worth ordering ($7).

Heads Up: All meat, poultry, seafood and vegetable dishes on the extensive menu can be ordered in large or small portions. Portions are generous, even the tapas. There are lots of gluten-free options.

The Scoop: Carmen Mendez, a native of Galicia, Spain, opened Xunta barely a year ago. She issues warm welcomes, helpful dish descriptions and suggestions worth a listen.