Located at 6 Church Street, Wrexham LL13 8LS with a contact number of 01978 362264, Lisbon Tapas offers a menu consisting of small plates ranging from £5.75 to £9.95, mains from £14.95 to £26.95, and pastel de nata priced at £4.10. In addition, their wine selection starts at £19.95 per litre.
Sometimes, the charm of a place surpasses everything else. Even though some of their bread may resemble the low-GI bread sold at supermarkets and the presence of red pepper hummus on an ostensibly Portuguese menu may seem odd, these doubts can easily be forgotten due to the overall positive experience. Lisbon Tapas, located by the grand entrance of St Giles’ church in Wrexham, is a small restaurant that offers a warm welcome and aims to ensure a pleasant time for its guests. The restaurant ambiance features silent video walking tours of Lisbon playing on TV screens, and their house white wine is served in chilled carafes, reminiscent of classic dining experiences. To top it off, they even provide a complimentary shot of liqueur at the end of the meal.
As the host of BBC Radio 4’s Kitchen Cabinet, a renowned food-themed radio programme, I have the wonderful opportunity to explore various restaurants across the UK. With 26 episodes recorded annually in different locations, I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively and discover hidden culinary gems. These journeys present a unique challenge of finding suitable dining venues for a group of around eight individuals. We prefer a laid-back atmosphere and do not appreciate waiters reciting the menu as they serve the dishes. Additionally, budget considerations and dietary restrictions play a role in our decision-making process.
Over the years, I have come to view this challenge as an opportunity to uncover exceptional restaurants that may not gain mainstream attention. Manning’s in Truro, Persian Cottage in Middlesbrough, and Toot in Plymouth are just a few examples of the delightful finds we have encountered during our travels. Now, I have stumbled upon Lisbon Tapas, a charming establishment run by a friendly gentleman with a well-groomed beard and twinkling eyes. The restaurant offers a delightful house wine called “Port Valley Wine” at an affordable price of £19.95 per litre. While the origin of this wine remains a mystery, its crisp and dry taste satisfies our palate perfectly. The owner offers us the choice of handpicking our own dishes or allowing him to select approximately 75% of the small plates for £25 per person. Without hesitation, we opt for the latter option.
The initial dishes fall under the category of “comfort food after a long day.” These include chunky bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, reminiscent of the late 90s when we felt sophisticated dipping bread in this manner. We also indulge in brackish black olives and red pepper hummus paired with green beans deep-fried in a crispy batter and sweet chilli sauce. The latter dish gives off a vibe similar to the sweet chilli lake at The Botanist. However, our focus quickly shifts to the seafood dishes, as the Portuguese are renowned for their expertise in this area. We indulge in a bowl of small clams steamed open in white wine and garlic, releasing their flavorful juices into the broth. The clams are best enjoyed by sucking them directly from their shells, with the chunky bread providing a perfect accompaniment. Prawns are also served with heads and shells intact, swimming in a rich, rust-colored broth infused with smoky paprika. As we savor these dishes, we eagerly await a plate of fried potatoes drenched in a savory tomato sauce, as well as salt cod croquettes, which boast a dense and springy texture. Finally, thinly sliced pork belly, grilled to perfection with both crispy and translucent fat, offers a delightful conclusion to our meal. Considering the exceptional seafood options, our future visits will likely involve a combination of seafood appetizers followed by grilled options such as charred chicken and chorizo skewers, meaty ribs, or flavorful steaks.
For dessert, Lisbon Tapas offers pastel de nata, a delectable treat consisting of sweet custard and flaky pastry crumbs. It is impossible to resist taking a bite, even if it means getting crumbs on our attire. At this point, the owner expresses his fondness for our group and presents thimble glasses filled with a cherry liqueur. The deep, dark color of the liqueur, accompanied by a cherry containing a stone, delivers a delightful burst of liquor that evokes memories of romantic holidays. We certainly appreciate this gesture.
By the cash register, a blackboard sign expresses gratitude to culinary legends such as Escoffier, Auguste, César Ritz, and Savoy for dignifying the restaurant industry. While these names may seem grandiose for a humble Portuguese establishment in north Wales, they all share a common thread of hospitality and caring for guests, which Lisbon Tapas effortlessly embodies. We left the restaurant feeling grateful for the warm welcome and excellent service we received.
News Bites:
– Bistrot Pierre, a French restaurant group, has introduced a loyalty scheme called Club Bistrot Pierre. By spending £1 at any of their 17 restaurants across the UK, customers earn 5p in “Bistrot Pounds” that can be redeemed against future bills.
– The team behind Barshu, a groundbreaking Sichuan restaurant, will be opening a new café called Eight Hundred Flavours, focusing on the coastal Qingdao region of China. The café will be located in London’s Chinatown and will offer dishes such as steamed fish dumplings, fish fillets with noodles, and various skewers.
– Dishoom, a beloved Indian restaurant, is expanding its presence with a new venture called Permit Room in Brighton. The location, situated in the heart of Brighton’s Lanes, will provide a bar-like experience rather than a traditional restaurant setting. Dishoom has already been operating a dark kitchen in Brighton for deliveries since 2020.
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