España (Downtown Benson) - CLOSED

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:08 pm

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.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:11 pm

Tappas are so awesome. I've gotten really into tappas since living here. They're great drunk food, especially if you're in a large group.

Harpoon · Post by **Harpoon** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:16 pm

Yeah, not a bad place. They did a nice job taking over the old Sprigs space.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:20 pm

In a Kobe 'shrimp catch' like spirit ... they brought around a carafe (Porrón) of Spanish wine to tables and challenged patrons to drink from it...

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:21 pm

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

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:21 pm

How pricey is it? I may want to try it out.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:26 pm

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.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:28 pm

I saw this and immediatly started laughing. I guess I'm not so far from being a teenager yet.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:30 pm

Funny, my wife got a kick out of that picture as well. Thought I had something else on my mind.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:37 pm

I was at an establishment in Benson last week and they were talking this place up big time. If I remember correctly they said there was live music (Flamingo/Jazz?) on a certain evening.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:22 am

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.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:45 am

A three years old link on OWH? Now that's a first.

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

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:57 am

(I guess I didn't look hard enough for that link, thanks Mark!)

Nice! 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

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:13 am

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.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:29 am

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.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:06 am

Dangit! And I was all looking forward to the Flamingo music! ;)

-Big E

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:01 pm

I have been there 2 or 3 times. It is truly an awesome night out.

The #1 comment I have heard from people when they go there is (and everyone here is going to love this one

) "You forget you are still in Omaha!!"

In other words it is a truly unique restaurant in Omaha.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:31 pm

Jeff you are more a pervert than even me… good man.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:09 pm

I have never heard anything but EXCELENT reviews!

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:16 pm

Jake, I'm not sure what you're saying... but I think it's good.

jjjjhskr · Post by **jjjjhskr** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:46 pm

I ate there during the CWS last year on the recommendation of a friend of Omaha Cowboy (after last years forum meeet) and have been back 3 times since. The food is always good and you order as much or as little as you like.
Favorite dish is the mussels

- and lots of sangria

psl25201 · Post by **psl25201** » Mon May 01, 2006 5:24 pm

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!

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:01 pm

For the record, this isn't a brilliant idea that Espana cooked up. This is a brilliant idea that someone FINALLY brought to Omaha. It's been all over the country for years.

Maybe it was the same people who brought the downtown condo and mass transportation ideas? ;)

-Big E

psl25201 · Post by **psl25201** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:43 pm

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!

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon May 01, 2006 7:32 pm

Does cervecerias translate to beer stores?

-Big E

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon May 01, 2006 7:36 pm

Relax Big E... I don't think anyone was suggesting that Omaha some how invented the tapas bar. And add to the record... España is not new, it has been open in Benson for almost 3 years now. It just happened, I personally 'discovered' it for the first time.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:53 pm

I wasn't ruffled or anything... just making a clarification. I think you can tell by now when I get my knickers in a twist.

I know no one was suggesting it, I just didn't want anyone infering it.

-Big E

psl25201 · Post by **psl25201** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:48 am

Big E wrote:Does cervecerias translate to beer stores?

-Big E

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.

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.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:43 pm

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

Post by **Brad** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:28 am

New owners, same tapas

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.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:46 am

I sure hope the new owners keep it going in the right direction.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:03 am

Review: A Spanish escape

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.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:22 am

I love that place. I haven't been in a long while. Every time I've been I've never got out for under $300.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 2:24 pm

Espana Benson location is closing in October.

JDJase · Post by **JDJase** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:01 pm

Linkin5 wrote:Espana Benson location is closing in October.

The owner (Carlos Mendez) and chef Benjamin Maides will be opening a "fresh culinary concept" in its place. Little Espana will remain open.

http://www.espanaomaha.com/event/bye-by ... bye-omaha/

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 7:47 pm

Was España not doing a lot of business?

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:42 pm

daveoma wrote:Was España not doing a lot of business?

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.

JDJase · Post by **JDJase** » Sun Oct 02, 2016 2:21 pm

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.

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