About Barlata Tapas Bar

In Spain, the word "tapas" is a verb. "It’s more than just eating," says Barlata Tapas Bar owner Vanessa Jerez. "It’s a way of life." And at Barlata Tapas Bar, which Jerez co-owns with her Catalin-born husband Daniel Olivella, they're bringing a little piece of that way of life to Austin. Here's how it works: diners gather together at a table and choose multiple small plates off the menu's classic array of Spanish appetizers. Dishes such as Gambas Ajillo—shrimp with garlic and adobo—or a quartet of chorizo sausages then arrive, and customers can feel free to dig into any dish that catches their eye, mixing and matching flavors from the appetizers until they've had their fill. And, just like a traditional Spanish dinner, a leisurely meal full of laughter and quality time is encouraged. “If you’ve been to Spain, we want you to have a memory from your time there,” says Jerez. “If you’ve never been, we want for you to really feel like you have."