El Mesón Restaurant & Tapas Bar

When I’m in the mood for flavor—I’m talking hand-in-the-air, culinary truth—it’s dinner at El Mesón. It’s unassuming from the outside. One might even miss it when driving past its corner location a block north off the plaza. But once I’m inside and the little plates start making their way across the table, I’m transported.

Flavors simultaneously old and new: tapas just like they’re serving tonight in Madrid and Barcelona. Seafood so fresh I want to shake hands with the fisherman. Wines so Spanish I feel like I just stepped out of the confessional, and paella so robust that I find it difficult to share the generous portions. Did I mention live music nightly and a full bar… can anyone say date night?