It seems as though Spanish tapas are the new trend in Montreal, but we’re not complaining. Bring on the paella! But of course, there’s more than just paella on the menu at this hot spot on Saint Denis, Ibericos.
It opened last year but flew under our radar, but we’re oh so glad we’ve finally discovered it. The two owners, Josep Ramírez and Chef Haissam Souki Tamayo (formerly of Tapas 24) are passionate about Spanish food and top quality ingredients.
Not only do they cook with incredible ingredients, but they also let you bring them home, with a small marché on the main floor of their restaurant. You can buy cheeses, Spanish rice, olives, and the classic “pata negra,” deliciously fatty ham from Iberica. All the products are imported from Spain, and you can definitely taste the quality.
We started with some cava and small bites, like a wonderful piece of melon and pata negra. The melon literally exploded in our mouths with flavour (share your secrets, chef!), and the pata negra melted in our mouths. Next, a mini lettuce taco with fresh fish and avocado. A perfect bite.
Upstairs, you can find another dining room where we had our meal. For those interested, it holds 50 people and is available for events! We started with an excellent charcuterie platter, with more pata negra and other tasty slices. All charcuterie are cut by hand at Ibericos; no machine has touched your meat!
To complement the cured meats, we got to try the simple yet delicious Pa Am Tomáquet, perfectly crisped bread with crushed tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil.
Next, some Buñuelos de Bacalao, cod doughnuts with honey and lemon: heavenly! The honey was just the right touch of sweetness to complement the tart lemon and perfectly cooked fish. Another incredible bite was the Croquetas de Rabo de Toro, oxtail and mushroom croquettes. These babies melted in your mouth in incredible meaty flavours.
Of course, the following course was the pièce de résistance, a giant paella. This paella was filled with mussels, shrimp, fish, and even chicken. It was perfect. We could definitely eat about 4 bowls of that.
For dessert, a sweet little bite: Kaffir Lime Mousse, served adorably in a half lime cup. The perfect marriage between sweet and sour.
If you’re craving Spanish tapas, Ibericos is the place to be! And if you don’t know what to order, take advantage of their $48 tasting menu and let the chef take you on a trip to Spain.
4475 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2J 2L2
(514) 845-4475
Photos courtesy of Ibericos.
