España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
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España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
España (Downtown Benson)
My wife and I made it to España (located in downtown Benson) for the first time ever. Not sure how we put it off so long, what a fantastic restaurant. We loved the whole tapas bar concept. And Big E would (assuming he hasn't already been there) be happy with it's smoke free atmosphere (including the bar). If you're not familiar with the tapas thing, the menu has about 50 cold and hot appetizer sized dishes from which you're encouraged to mix and match (everything from traditional chicken/beef/etc to calamari and snails). There are also a few entre dishes. Anyway, if you haven't been there before, I highly recommend it.
My wife and I made it to España (located in downtown Benson) for the first time ever. Not sure how we put it off so long, what a fantastic restaurant. We loved the whole tapas bar concept. And Big E would (assuming he hasn't already been there) be happy with it's smoke free atmosphere (including the bar). If you're not familiar with the tapas thing, the menu has about 50 cold and hot appetizer sized dishes from which you're encouraged to mix and match (everything from traditional chicken/beef/etc to calamari and snails). There are also a few entre dishes. Anyway, if you haven't been there before, I highly recommend it.
I AM SO FREAKING THERE.
For some reason, I can't figure out why we haven't made it to Espana yet (I don't know how to make the squiggly enya thing). Tapas are (is?) PERFECT for a large social outing. Just start ordering and eating.
The best restaurant in Baltimore was a tapas place that opened about 4 months before we left. We'll see how they compare. I now plan on getting there within the next few days.
A few questions:
1) Prices? Are they aiming for the high end experience, or fancy bar food?
2) Set up for big groups or is it more intimate?
3) Did you get shot at while in Benson? ;)
-Big E
For some reason, I can't figure out why we haven't made it to Espana yet (I don't know how to make the squiggly enya thing). Tapas are (is?) PERFECT for a large social outing. Just start ordering and eating.
The best restaurant in Baltimore was a tapas place that opened about 4 months before we left. We'll see how they compare. I now plan on getting there within the next few days.
A few questions:
1) Prices? Are they aiming for the high end experience, or fancy bar food?
2) Set up for big groups or is it more intimate?
3) Did you get shot at while in Benson? ;)
-Big E
Stable genius.
My wife and I ate for about $60 (excl. tax) which included 4 appetizer tapas' and 1 entre tapas, a margarita, and an outstanding fondu dip desert (we both left stuffed). When we were there, I would have described it as a festive atmosphere. There were a couple of large groups surrounded by a bunch of couples. It is a fairly small restaurant. You could get away wearing jeans, but most were dressed in a business casual attire.
Amazingly there's a 3 year old World Herald story link still active: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u ... nd=7528191
I should mention, reservations are recommended! We ended up sitting at the bar, which was fine in this smoke free setting.
If the World Herald story is still accurate, they indeed have a dancer on Thursday nights and a flamenco guitarist on Sundays.
I should mention, reservations are recommended! We ended up sitting at the bar, which was fine in this smoke free setting.
If the World Herald story is still accurate, they indeed have a dancer on Thursday nights and a flamenco guitarist on Sundays.
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A three years old link on OWH? Now that's a first.
http://www.espanatapasbar.com/index.htm.
http://www.espanatapasbar.com/index.htm.
Friday April 14th Latin Jazz Group
Friday April 21st Latin Jazz Group
Sunday April 30th Wine dinner"Tour of Rioja" six courses with six wines.
Hadley playing Flamenco guitar through the course. $60.00 per person
Friday May 5th Latin Jazz Group
(I guess I didn't look hard enough for that link, thanks Mark!)
Nice! Â One of Omaha's many 'hidden' treasures!
Judging from what we missed a week ago, I guess we were there on a slow night...
http://www.omahanightlife.com/viewartic ... icleID=110
Nice! Â One of Omaha's many 'hidden' treasures!
Judging from what we missed a week ago, I guess we were there on a slow night...
http://www.omahanightlife.com/viewartic ... icleID=110
Last edited by eomaha on Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Well - thanks for reminding me about España Jeff.
A friend told me about it a few months ago and I was going to test it out,
but subsequently erased that mental note a few seconds later.
I love the concept of a wide variety of appetizers. In many restaurant I will just order three appetizers for a meal.
BTW Jeff. Maybe you could create a new forum subject: Restaurants
For people who like fine dining - we could write reviews, critiques, recommendations or warnings about our many eating establishments.
A friend told me about it a few months ago and I was going to test it out,
but subsequently erased that mental note a few seconds later.
I love the concept of a wide variety of appetizers. In many restaurant I will just order three appetizers for a meal.
BTW Jeff. Maybe you could create a new forum subject: Restaurants
For people who like fine dining - we could write reviews, critiques, recommendations or warnings about our many eating establishments.
Restaurants? Reviews (in general)? or specifically Restaurant Reviews? I suppose a Restaurant section could draw news on new/closing establishments as well. I don't want to get too carried away with forum subjects, but sometimes it seems breaking them out actually motivates further posts. Thanks for the suggestion Mark.
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I have never heard anything but EXCELENT reviews!
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Living in the country of the birthplace of tapas, Spain itself, I have come to appreciate tapas quite a bit. It is a absolute necessity of life over here.
With that in mind, I have been to the restaurant Espana a few times. What a unique concept to bring to a restaurant. Spaniards generally eat tapas as an appetizer, just as their name indicates, but turning this idea into a full course meal is brilliant. I have said over and over that if this restaurant was located out west or even downtown, it would be a HOT HOT restaurant to go to, and it already is.
The best thing Spain has to offer is their traditions of music, food, and dancing. If you can go to a restaurant thousands of miles away from the real thing but still feel the same atmosphere, then that is truly a great restaurant. Espana provides that feeling. Two thumbs...wayyyy up!
With that in mind, I have been to the restaurant Espana a few times. What a unique concept to bring to a restaurant. Spaniards generally eat tapas as an appetizer, just as their name indicates, but turning this idea into a full course meal is brilliant. I have said over and over that if this restaurant was located out west or even downtown, it would be a HOT HOT restaurant to go to, and it already is.
The best thing Spain has to offer is their traditions of music, food, and dancing. If you can go to a restaurant thousands of miles away from the real thing but still feel the same atmosphere, then that is truly a great restaurant. Espana provides that feeling. Two thumbs...wayyyy up!
Right, this is not a new idea to the United States, but is certainly new to a city known for its many restaurants. I will say, however, that it appears the ownership is of actual Spanish decent, which makes this restaurant unique in its own respect. The Spanish may all love the same things, but you can go into 10 different Cervecerias and taste 10 different interpretations/differentiations of certain dishes. Not to mention, sangria is really a personal speciality for many Spanish as they take pride in how their own is unique from others.
Now if we could only bring back the Spanish nightlife to Omaha - now that'd kickass!
Now if we could only bring back the Spanish nightlife to Omaha - now that'd kickass!
No, it actually translates into "brewery." However, it is neither a brewery nor a beer store. A cerveceria is a tapas bar of sorts. It is a bar like atmosphere that serves tapas and beer/wine/liquour. Spanish go to these little places all throughout the day. For lunch, dinner, after dinner, before dinner. They play cards, they drink, they smoke, they eat...It is a perfect representative of Spanish culture.Big E wrote:Does cervecerias translate to beer stores?
-Big E
Cervecerias here are very local, meaning that the neighborhood is generally tied to the cerveceria. They are ALL OVER. I mean everywhere. It is amazing how they all survive, but it comes down to the fact they have a loyal clientele and they have been around forever.
We made it tonight. We'll be back. Holy smokes we'll be back.
Not much time right now, but for the most part that's at the top of the list of Omaha restaurants. Some dishes were freaking AWESOME, and some were just good bar food.
I certainly look forward to exploring the menu. Full review later.
-Big E
Not much time right now, but for the most part that's at the top of the list of Omaha restaurants. Some dishes were freaking AWESOME, and some were just good bar food.
I certainly look forward to exploring the menu. Full review later.
-Big E
Stable genius.
New owners, same tapas
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=3 ... d=10585166
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=3 ... d=10585166
NICHOLE AKSAMIT WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Bill Graves is selling España, the Spanish tapas restaurant he launched in Benson in 2003.
Graves said Thursday that local developer Bob Pelshaw and his associate Carlos Mendez, a former España employee, signed an agreement to purchase the restaurant and have begun the transition.
Pelshaw and Graves said the restaurant will keep its name, menu and staff. Pelshaw said the hours and pricing might be amended.
When the handoff's complete, Graves said, he'll take a vacation and work on plans for a new restaurant.
One restaurant concept he'd been working on wasn't right for the current economy, he said. But he thinks he "might do another restaurant in the fall or the spring" if he can find the right real estate.
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Review: A Spanish escape
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091009/E ... /710099882
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091009/E ... /710099882
Nichole Aksamit WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:This slightly older, wiser España, under new ownership since spring, offered a warm welcome, a table ready at the reserved hour, lower sangria prices, slightly larger portions on most tapas, helpful wine-pairing suggestions and a new ordering recommendation from convivial and attentive servers: two or three tapas per person, instead of four or five.
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Re: España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
Espana Benson location is closing in October.
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Re: España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
The owner (Carlos Mendez) and chef Benjamin Maides will be opening a "fresh culinary concept" in its place. Little Espana will remain open.Linkin5 wrote:Espana Benson location is closing in October.
http://www.espanaomaha.com/event/bye-by ... bye-omaha/
Re: España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
Was España not doing a lot of business?
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Re: España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
Last time I was there it had a crowd, just not as good as before. We decided to stop going there as it stopped serving lamb and other favorites.daveoma wrote:Was España not doing a lot of business?
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Re: España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED
Went to the final night of Espana in Benson last night. Espana's entire menu will be transferred over to Little Espana (at the moment the menus were a bit different). All I could find out about the new restaurant going into the old Espana space is that it will be a locally-sourced "European" restaurant.