Tucked away in the Victorian arcade in the idyllic Yorkshire town of Ilkley, La Casita offers traditional Spanish tapas-style dining in a bright but cosy setting. The Victorian arcade is based just off Ilkley’s Church Street and houses a number of small shops and boutiques over two levels. Once you head inside, if you head up the stone steps you will find La Casita on the first floor.
The restaurant features two dining areas; the first is on the mezzanine, right underneath the central glass ceiling of the building. With foliage dangling from above as well as an indoor lamppost and wall-mounted lantern providing light, this area gives the impression of being outdoors. Whereas the second dining area is more traditional, featuring red walls, stripped-wood tables and a large window looking out over the street.
When it comes to the menu, the dishes are split into meat, cold meat, vegetarian and fish, with a suggestion of 4 or 5 dishes to share between two. There is also a short list of classic appetisers to begin with. Tapas dishes vary from sobrasada Scotch egg, apple puree and mustard, to seared tuna loin with a ginger and soy dressing. Vegetarian dishes include a traditional Spanish tortilla with sweet potato and a garlic aioli, as well as spiced cauliflower and chickpea fritters served with mint yoghurt.
There are plenty of sides available too including patatas bravas, as well as a separate selection of Spanish cheeses. If you’re coming in for lunch, you can pay £8 for a main course sized dish or £10 with a drink. On the last Sunday of every month La Casita also offers an all-you-can-eat deal where you pay just £20 per person and can have as many dishes as you want.
A decent drinks menu accompanies the food and has a particularly impressive selection of gins, as well as a whole espresso martini section.