Kanela Flamenco Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Cuisine: Spanish

Location: 56 Johnston St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

Cost: $$$

J' Rate: ♥♥♥♥

Quiet and encased in the busy streets of friday night dining and night life, The Kanela Flamenco Tapas Bar and Restaurant along Johnston St has got to be one of the most vibrant yet reserved restaurant I have been to. Maybe it was my time and place that I had chose to visit but it's intimacy was something I will take back with me. Lit with dimmed lights, hanging lanterns with walls casted with art and posters, quotes engraved so slightly you could almost miss it if you didn't look hard enough and table setting on top with candles and flowers, how could you not love the interior. 

The waiters were friendly, well fitted for the spanish environment and speaking of which, they had a free Flamenco show at 10pm, truly embracing the spanish culture right there. Upon our arrival, we were offered our menus and with the show in mind, we took up their banquet offer, ready to indulge ourselves with a 3 hours sitting as we waited. The banquet came with our selection of mouth-watering tapas with complimentary basket of bread, a dish of paella and desserts of our choice. 

Our serving for the night:

Gambas al Ajillo: Traditional garlic prawns with a hint of chilli served 

sizzling in a clay pot. ($17.50)

Pollo Kanela: Chicken drumsticks in a homemade spicy tomato salsa ($8.50)

Chorizo Frito: Fresh Spanish sausage grilled to perfection ($8.50)

Calamares a la Plancha: Grilled calamari drizzled with lemon ($12.50)

The Tapas would have been my favourite, finger picking food, each cooked with care and plus, they came out pretty fast, hot and cooked with care. The only thing I could complain about was, the chorizo was heavily salted but maybe that's the spanish way, I wouldn't know. They were all delicious nonetheless. Continuing on, we ordered Paella de chorizo y pollo which contained chicken and chorizo with green beans, carrot, mushrooms and broccoli to share ($23.00 per person) and finishing, traditional spanish donuts served with hot rich chocolate and Flan Casero aka Cream Caramel, both divine. 

The night ended well with full stomachs, happy smiles and the Flamenco Performance, truly remarkable to see such talent I'd say. 

Would recommend