Brought to London by the Salt Yard Group, Opera Tavern is a buzzy tapas bar and restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden designed to transport guests straight to the bustling bars and restaurants of Spain and Italy. The space spans two levels: downstairs, discover striking prints, a stylish bar, counter seating and a communal table, while upstairs the main dining rooms offers a warm ambience conducive to a convivial and relaxed atmosphere.
Head chef Pavlin Karantatski and his team have created a menu of exciting Spanish and Italian-inspired tapas plates, using the best seasonal ingredients for maximum flavour. The menu is divided into charcuterie, cheese and snacks to start, followed by fish, meat and vegetable-based dishes.
Start things off with the likes of padron peppers, flatbreads with herb butter, Marcona almonds as well as a selection of cured meats and cheeses. Main tapas plates, meanwhile, might include crispy Iberian pork belly with apple and morcilla, aubergine parmigiana with fior di latte, and octopus carpaccio with puntarella salad. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, which includes churros with citrus mascarpone and chocolate sauce.
The drinks menu includes an extensive list of regional wines and Mediterranean-inspired seasonal drinks, from Spritz’ to long drinks. There are plenty of classics to choose from – think Negronis, Sangria and Aperol Spritz – while seasonal creations include a Padron Pepper Margarita, made with padron pepper infused olmeca tequila.
Do note that set sharing menus are available for groups of a minimum of eight people, perfect for larger gatherings and celebrations. Or, if you simply can't decide what to eat, there is also an exploratory tasting menu which includes a selection of hand-picked dishes by the head chef himself.
The Salt Yard Group now includes five restaurants across London, all of which celebrate Spanish and Italian food and drink.