Bar Pintxo

The new sommelier, Sam, at Bar Pintxo did an excellent job of suggesting a wine.

Rebisaca white wine

Happy hour at Bar Pinxto is a bargain!  We were there at 4:15 and again had the 6 Pintxos for $6.00. It was the same selection as previously, but still delicious and a tremendous bargain.

1. Tuna Concerve, Anchovie, Cornichon

2. Mejillones Escabeche (mussel and roasted red pepper)

3. Serrano Jamon, Monchego cheese, fresh tomato

4. Huevos Rellenos con Vinagreta Vasca (deviled egg with Basque Vinaigrette)

5. Mushroom Escabeche (house conserved mushrooms, 25 year old sherry vinegar, truffle salt

6. Chorizo Bilbao, Cherry tomato

Empanadillas filled with chorizo and caramelized onions

Seared Calamari with garlic, lemon, parsley, olive oil – a slightly different preparation than the last time, but a must order!

This is a split order so it doesn’t show Bar Pintxo’s plating – Duck breast, catedral lentils with Bilbao chorizo and smoked bacon – delicious

Bar Pinxto is a fun place for a late lunch/early dinner that is definitely a bargain.

Bar Pintxo

Happy Hour at Bar Pintxo is well worth going to – it starts at 4 pm. You get 6 Pintxos for $6.00.

Wine from their list

1. Tuna Concerve, Anchovie, Cornichon — 2. Mejillones Escabeche (mussel and roasted red pepper) — 3. Serrano Jamon, Monchego cheese, fresh tomato — 4. Huevos Rellenos con Vinagreta Vasca (deviled egg with Basque Vinaigrette) — 5. Mushroom Escabeche (house conserved mushrooms, 25 year old sherry vinegar, truffle salt — 6. Chorizo Bilbao, Cherry tomato – an incredible value and very tasty

Seared Calamari with garlic, lemon, parsley, olive oil – the calamari was cooked perfectly and the saucing was perfect for bread dipping

Orejas de Cerdo – Crispy Pig Ears, Horesradish Aioli – good

Cordoniz con lentejas y arandanos – grilled quail, lentils with Bilbao chorizo and smoked bacon, cranberry compote – this was on the dinner menu and well worth ordering – the combination of flavors was spot on, the quail was succulent and juicy and the lentils with the chorizo and bacon delicious.

We will definitely go again!

Bar Pintxo – Santa Monica

We haven’t been back to Bar Pintxo in quite some time so being in the neighborhood around 4 we couldn’t pass up the Happy Hour deal of 6 tapas for $6.00. The high tables have been replaced by low tables with chairs – much more comfortable and more conducive to dining rather than just snacking.

You can sit at the bar, or tables in the rear or outside on the patio.

The open kitchen

This is Joe Miller’s restaurant and he happened to be there. It was terrific to get reacquainted with Joe as we have known him for over 30 years when he was the chef at Brentwood Bar and Grill.

David Plonowski is the executive chef. We had a chance to chat and his philosophy of cuisine exactly mirrors mine – superior ingredients using precise technique and skill with a keep it simple approach – in other words let the ingredients shine.

Beer for John plus delicious olives

Wine for me

6 Pintxos for $6 – each one was delicious

Tuna Concerve, Anchovie, Cornichon

Mejillones Escabeche

Serrano Jamon, Manchego Cheese, Fresh Tomato

Huevos Rellenos con Vinagretta Vasca

Mushroom Escabeche

Chorizo y Tomate

Calamar a la Plancha – seared calamari with garlic, lemon, parsley, olive oil – the calamari was cooked perfectly and the sauce was perfect for bread dipping

I overheard Chef Plonowski have his sous chef taste a paprika sauce he was working on. Not being exactly shy, I asked for a taste. It was delicious and as a special treat the chef made the above dish. On bread from Spain, chickpea puree, smoked paprika sauce, red wine braised octopus, Pedro Jimenez reduction – what a treat.

Chorizo with crispy potatoes

We won’t wait so long to return to Bar Pintxo – it is definitely worth a return visit.

Bar Pintxo – Santa Monica

Joe Miller of Joe’s restaurant in Venice has opened Bar Pintxo just one block from the ocean. Don’t expect tapas that you would find in San Sebastian – it is an Americanized version of tapas. Bar Pintxo is a very small space with a bar and stools facing the open kitchen and a few high tables in back. I must say that the stools are very uncomfortable; this is not meant to be a long evening of fine dining, but rather a “small bite” place. At 4:30, it was packed.

At first we ordered wine/beer by the glass but the glass is a small tumbler that barely holds enough for a real drink.

A bottle of Casamaro Blanco was necessary and John had 5 small tumblers of Stella beer.

Our excellent server – Andee

Starting at 4:00 they have Happy Hour where you can order 6 tapas for $6.00 – a good deal.

1. Fresh Tomato, Garlic, Grilled Bread

2. Chorizo Bilbao, Cherry Tomato

3. Serrano Jamon, Grilled Bread, Oil

4. Huevos Rellenos con Vinagreta Vasca

5. Crimini Mushroom, Mushroom Mousse, Manchego

6. Tomato Conserve and Manchego

Our favorites were the egg (like a deviled egg), the mushroom and the chorizo

Gambas al ajillo – maya head-on shrimp, garlic, lemon parsley – quite good

Croquetas de pollo y jamon, fried bechamel, caramelized onions, chicken, jamon serrano

The inside filling of the croquetas – basically tasteless and mushy

Tortilla espanola, egg, potatoes, caramelized onions – this was OK, but basically too many potatoes to the ratio of eggs

Tacos Castellanos, on the left lamb with mojo verde and on the right pulled pork with Ximinez BBQ – both were excellent with a nod towards the lamb.

A fun casual place with decent food