Si Tapas and Spanish Cuisine opening in Uptown Dallas in old Watel’s space

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Si Tapas and Spanish Cuisine is a new Spanish/tapas place opening next week in the old Watel's space in Uptown Dallas from Ildefonzo Jimenez.

Jimenez is a longtime local restaurateur who helped start the tapas trend in Dallas when he helped found Cafe Madrid. He also owned, among other things, the Spanish/tapas place Hola! on McKinney Avenue that closed in February 2008.

The restaurant did a soft opening last week, confirmed chef Jose Luis Lopez.

The concept came together when the space became available after Watel's closed two months ago. Jimenez was still running Minibar at the Hotel Palomar (formerly Brut) but it served no food and its previous identity as luxury champagne bar Brut made it a hard sell during the down economy; Minibar closed nearly two weeks ago.

Si Tapas will have some of the same tapas dishes served at Hola! but with an expanded menu, Lopez said.

"We'll have some of those dishes because people ask for it, but we're also going to have main courses, it'll be an expansion from Hola," he said. "And the look is different -- more refined."

They're still putting together the finishing touches but the opening is imminent:

"We hope to open next week, hopefully Tuesday," he said.

(Thanks to K.P. for the "tip", haha.)

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Anonymous

Oudekerk, says:

Looking forward to trying this place.

Doesn't Eats blog have access to directory assistance? Or a car?

Anonymous

6 months, 1 week ago
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adkim, says:

Excellent food. Head and shoulders above all the tapas joints in Dallas. Asparagus wow'd me. Firm, crisp, perfectly seasoned. The rice came with a fried egg. I nearly cried upon seeing the glistening protein. This simple rice dish made this restaurant slide into the tops 5 of my rotation list. Ended up paying for two items I did not receive...the mussels and the chorizo (whom i asked the server to bring me his favorite one of the three to choose from). Stupid alcohol.

Anonymous

6 months, 1 week ago
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abcd0123, says:

When Cafe Madrid first opened, it was great. While the service was never great, the portions were life-size. On a recent visit, however, I noted that the portions had shrunk considerably. I loved the calamares and gambas al ajio. But the portions had been noticeably reduced. So my conclusion is that I need to "shop around" for Spanish food. I like a place that is not stingy with its portions. Afterall, going out for Spanish fare is not like going out for a hamburger, pizza or a taco. Spanish food is very special and often too expensive to dine on regularly.

Anonymous

6 months ago
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abcd0123, says:

By the way, not everyone knows where WATEL'S used to be. So it would be great if the writer told us apporximately where Watel's is or was. Better yet, where is the new Si Tapas Idelfonso is opening. Gracias!

Anonymous

6 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

abcd123, all you have to do is click the first link in the story, the one that says "Si Tapas and Spanish Cuisine" to get all the vitals: http://www.pegasusnews.com/r/34/14697/