La Esquina, Tapas restaurant
40 Oxford Street, Southampton, Hants SO14 3DP
Tel: 023 8022 5227
Me and Angela had been to Ikea in Southampton and seeign as we made the trip we might as well stay and have an early evening meal.
I had read about Oxford Street being some cosmopolitan and chic enclave of Southampton. Not entirely convinced although it seemed pretty OK with a couple of chains, a couple of upmarket restaurants and hotel there.
I wasn't in the mood for Pizza Express nor in the mood to spend £18 on a steak, so we decided on tapas.
The interior of La Esquina seems a bit basic and spartan but as a cafe type place it is fine. The owner, I assume the owner, was very enthusiastic, which is fine. Angela like the music being streamed in from Madrid radio or something.
The food was good too. The plate of serrano ham was great, tomato salad was pungent with garlic and olive oil, squid rings were OK and so too were the chicken livers. Aubergin and tomato gratin brought up the vegetable front. The mini breads with various toppings (aka canapes) was a bit of a disappointment for £3.20 - a bit like melba toast with pesto, cream cheese and the thinnest slice of pineapple chunk I have ever see, and something else as a set of three toppings on six pieces.
Overall we definitely enjoyed it and for once we stopped at 6 dishes.
