Pre-party Tasca

Pre-party eats should have their own category defined as "small plates that will fill you up in case there is NOT food and not too heavy that you'll either fall asleep or have to limit your party grazing" - how hard is that to find?

This weekend, we had a party in Allston - a place I am none to familiar with, so did some research on pre-party dining options in that area. Settled on a little tapas place on Brighton Avenue called Tasca. Easy to walk into at 7:30 (always a plus) and sat down at a crammed little rickety table for four. While our service was far from good, the food was a nice option for our pre-party noshing. The plates are small (I mean, they are tapas) but they are hearty enough that sharing is easy and you don't need to order two of everything in order to get a taste. We ordered these six to share, though I've highlighted our favorites: patatas alioli, Gambas al ajillo, albondigas, caracoles, calamares fritos, empanadillas de queso de cabra.

Even if you love garlic, the gambas al ajilla is the most garlicky garlic dish I think I can remember. Word to the wise - NOT a date item. You'll be holding onto that "no kiss" rule a little while longer, if you do! The albondigas are these special little meatballs in a creamy, green peppercorn sauce topped with fried potato crisps - delicious. I hoped to love the goat cheese empanadas, but they were not crispy, but chewy and tough to cut or bite into. Sad day for the dish, because we all love goat cheese. The peppers they were served with were lovely, crisp and sweet in a perfect (though nontraditional) relish.

Service overall stunk - the food runner was the nicest one, refilling water glasses and bringing us more bread. Where was the server? In the bathroom reapplying her makeup.

Well, you win some and you lose some. I'd probably call this one a tie.

[care to make a case for Tasca? post!]