Love British Food

Don Diego – Tapas bar

5 Manor Road, Sutton Coldfield

Don Diego is a ray of Spanish sunshine, a welcome addition to Sutton Coldfield town centre.

I was very excited to learn that my next review would be the new tapas bar, Don Diego in Sutton Coldfield.

We have holidayed endless times in Andalusia and so my family and I are well accustomed to the informal style of tapas dining. As tapas are served as an accompliment to those partaking in a sociable drink, they are served in small portions as of when they are ready, how many you devour depends on your appetite or on your length of stay at the bar. In Spain one should not and does not drink without eating! Because of their smallness in size tapas have to be perfect. The ingredients should be of the highest quality and whenever possible regionally sourced. They should be prepared freshly and their presentation should be simple yet immaculate!

The service of a tapas bar is a huge undertaking and has very high standards to live up to; so my expectations of Don Diego were exceptionally high, I would be looking for supreme quality, prestigious presentation and service second to none.

My Experience

John and I arrived at 7.30 on a Friday evening in April, the restaurant already had a number of diners, some seated at tables others on high stools at the bar. We were greeted warmly by the Spanish waiting staff, who were all well presented dressed smartly in black.

Emma who co owns the bar with her Spanish husband introduced herself and kindly showed us to a table for two. Upon meeting her it was obvious her passion for this Spanish custom of tapas. Her knowledge of the dishes was outstanding and I wasn't surprised to learn they already have two other restaurants one in Bridge north the other in Shrewsbury.

The tapas

We were swiftly served some lovely crusty bread which was accompanied with homemade alioli [ garlic mayonnaise ], roasted corn kernels and juicy green olives – which were served at room temperature and so full of flavour.

The menu

The menu is very helpfully laid out into sections, the recommendation is to choose 2 – 3 tapas per person depending how hungry or adventurous you are. These are appetizers and cold tapas, hot fish and meat, hot vegetables and a wonderful selection of specially selected Iberian cured meats.

We opted for :

Jamon Iberico de bellata

Chorizo Iberico and

Lomo Iberico

To accompany this I had a small glass of chilled dry sherry and John opted for a cold Spanish beer.

We ate the meats with our fingers in true tapas style, the warmth of the hands melts the fats inside the meat which intensify the flavour of the cured pork, each one was typically distinctive in taste. A real foodies treat, we loved them.

The interior

Whilst leisurely enjoying our first tapas my eyes scanned the restaurant, its design is typical of a Spanish tavern. A long bar with high stools runs along one wall. The wooden tables and chairs add a rustic, informal air as does the terracotta tiled floor.

The traditional yellow and blue ceramic tiles run the length of the dining room and there are hanpainted authentic ceramics hung upon the wall and sitting on windowsills and random shelving. There are also a selection of pictures showcasing aspects of Spanish life. All this combined creates an ambiance of an informal, relaxed, cosy dining room.

To accompany the rest of our tapas we ordered a bottle of Vino Ardanzi – Reserva special Rioja. The wine list is very impressive and I would urge any diner to match the quality of the food with one of these specially selected Spanish wines.

Our waiter decanted the bottle so that we could fully appreciate its quality. We were then served the remainder of our tapas.

Cazon Adobado – Dogfish marinated in mint and then deep fried

This dish was cooked to perfection, delicately flavoured with hints of citrus and mint the fish was firm and the coating crispy.

Fritura de Calamari – deep fried Squid

Soft rings and the tentacles of Squid encased in a light crunchy batter.

Once again this was cooked well and care was taken in the presentation. The homemade Alioli goes exceptionally well with this tapas.

Al Bondigas – Pork and beef meatballs served with a secret recipe tomato sauce

These were walnut sized, close textured meatballs. They were well seasoned and the thick, rich tomato sauce was a perfect partner.

Whilst enjoying these dishes I couldn’t help but notice that the restaurant was steadily filling up. The table of four sat to the left of us were happily deciding which tapas to choose, they were in a state of euphoria! Caught up in the pleasure of the informal setting and the charm of the many different type of tapas on offer. This type of dining goes hand in hand with the pleasant company of friends and family.

Next to host our table was;

Pimentos Rellenois de Queso de Cabra – stuffed peppers

These were served on Emma’s recommendation, the sweetness of the pepper married beautifully with the acidity of the goats cheese and the inclusion of chopped nut just gave the dish another dimension. This tapas was by far my favourite.

Rinones al Jerez – lamb kidneys cooked in Spanish sherry

I have to profess that I am a bit of an expert at cooking lambs kidneys and I frequently serve these to my guests at dinner parties or we have them as a light snack for lunch and even breakfast as a special treat. (Check out my recipe)

Although I did enjoy the dish and it was cooked well, in comparison to my English version dare I say we could teach the Spanish a thing or two!

Our final savory tapas was

Patatas Mixtas – crispy fried potato

These potatoes were served with a spicy red pepper sauce and a cooling fresh garlic and lemon sour cream. Simply divine, this dish is a weight watchers nightmare but a food lovers dream. Heaven in a dish!

It is worth noting that due to the informal nature of tapas, the dishes are served fresh and so are delivered to your table as soon as they are prepared; so you may end up with a number of tapas arriving all at once ! When you dine tapas style forget the formalities of starter, main and desert!

To Finish

The selection of sweet tapas change on a daily basis and so the waiter will show you the choices on a blackboard.

Chocolate Con Churros

I could not review a Spanish restaurant without trying Don Diego's version of the Churners, which I describe as the Spanish alternative to the English donut; sheer indulgence! Dough is piped into hot oil in the shape of a horseshoe and then deep fried, to produce a lovely hot, crunchy yet light biscuit. This is served with a rich chocolate sauce to dip into – a very moreish dish.

Torta de Santiago

A delicately flavoured homemade almond tart, this was delightful with a crisp sweet pastry and light almond sponge it was served warm with ice cream.

In summary

Don Diego has seduced me ! I succumbed to their tasty morsels of tapas and the charm of the intimate, social dining experience that they offer.

The ingredients that they use are specially selected and of superior quality . A lot of Spanish pride and passion is obviously put into the preparation and presentation of the tapas, whilst remaining true to traditional recipes and tradition.

John and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety and experience of Don Diego. I would certainly recommend this restaurant and urge you to embrace this wonderful Spanish experience of Tapas.

Don Diego is certainly a ray of Spanish sunshine and a very welcome addition to the rapidly becoming culinary destination of Sutton Coldfield This restaurant is certainly one to watch,I'm sure anyone who dines here will agree. Don Diego therefore earns the highest accolade and only the second restaurant to be given it since I have been food editor for Streets ahead; as a must dine destination!

Well done Don Diego!

Regards penny Zako www.pennyzako.co.uk