La Tasca in Arlington Heights: Our New Favorite Tapas Restaurant (Chicago Area Restaurant Review No. 48)

We felt like tapas and wanted to try somewhere new, so we chose La Tasca in Arlington Heights. It was a great choice. The first thing that struck us when we entered was the decor. La Tasca is in a faux historical building with large rooms and high ceilings, so it feels spacious and relaxed (although it could get loud if somewhat more crowded than it was when we were there). The atmosphere in the main dining area is friendly, if not overly authentic.

We started with a bottle of really good Spanish wine, Conde De Valdemar, which was fruity with a chocolate undertaste similar to Godiva dark chocolate liqueur. Even Steve, who usually struggles to finish one glass, really liked this. Every dish, except the desserts, was exceptional. Particularly noteworthy was the garlic potato salad, which is a staple at most tapas places, but which was tremendous here. Also, the smoked salmon rivaled that at any top-notch seafood restaurant. Our other cold tapas was a smoked Spanish meat and cheese plate. We loved the cheese, although the meat was only so-so. Next time we would definitely order only the cold cheese plate.

The hot dishes also were excellent. The baked goat cheese and tomato sauce was tasty, though Lisa still likes Wildfire's better because this was a bit salty for her. The tomato-flavored baguette with fresh tomatoes was delicious. Finally, the beef tenderloin, which is often weak at tapas restaurants, here was as good as everything else. The meat was top quality and the sauce was excellent.

Desserts were a bit disappointing. Steve's rice pudding was far too thick and gummy (which is too bad because rice pudding is usually only good at tapas places). Lisa ordered a chocolate mousse dish reputed to be dark chocolate, but which was more like bland milk chococolate, so she didn't care for it.

The bathrooms both were unisex and were fairly clean, but the particular type of floor made them appear less clean than they were and ruined the effect. Also, the door had a heavy metal handle that opened from the inside, which Steve did not like because he imagined millions of bacteria teeming on it.

The total bill was about $140, with a bottle of wine, and would have been about $100 with wine by the glass. The dishes were served at exactly the right pace, which is difficult to do at a tapas restaurant. We had just enough time to eat without feeling rushed, but weren't kept waiting long between courses. This is definitely worth the trip to Arlington Heights. Also, the area is a pleasant one to walk in on a nice night.

Our ratings for La Tasca, 25 W. Davis St., Arlington Heights, Illinois:

8 of 10 Steak Knives and 2 of 3 Bathroom Brushes