In the heart of Downtown San Diego a piece of Spain thrives within the Gas Lamp District. At first glance Cafe Sevilla seems like an ordinary cafe, but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover.
Once you’re inside, the space opens up full of lovely reds, oranges, and yellows. This lovely establishment also turns into a nightclub in the evening with a full bar.
This is a Tapas bar, which is a popular cuisine in Spain, so the portions are small. The upside is that you get the opportunity to try more dishes on the menu.
I started off with the Seville House Salad which comes with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar. Each bite was a lovely melody of tartness and the goat cheese was like velvet in my mouth. This is my favorite type of cheese and I’d welcome it in my salad any time.
Another appetizer we shared was the empanada with chorizo and manchego cheese. Manchego cheese is made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of manchega sheep. The dough of the empanada was very flaky and light. But it was lacking in cheese.
Next up we had fresh baked bread with two sides: garlic yogurt sauce and tomato sauce, olive oil and oregano. It was a great combination and a delight to eat. I personally would have eaten the whole loaf and ordered more as my entrée. It was that delicious.
Now for the actual entrée we shared the Traditional Paella Valenciana. This came with mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, scallops, chicken, and grilled sausages. With all of the delicious appetizers, splitting a single entree was enough to feed two people and keep us both full.
I must mention the fish in California is the best Ive had. The mussles were the biggest I have seen in any dish. Best of all, the rice did not taste like fish. Now that I’ve been spoiled with good and fresh seafood, my expectations has skyrocketed.
Even after having such a huge meal I wanted to try the desserts. Since I was on vacation, I ordered two: The Flourless Chocolate Cake with Macerated Berries, Caramel Gelato, and the Almond Florentine, as well as the Leche Frita which is fried custard, cinnamon sugar dust and dulce de leche sauce. Out of the two the chocolate cake was my favorite, not only because of its rich flavor but because it had more to offer in both quantity as well. The fried custard was a bit bland and the portion was tiny.
This Spanish Cuisine was a wonderful experience and is the great spot for visitors and locals alike. Check it out!
