Cafe Sevilla
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By Sue Prelozni
Nestled just below the interstate off Carlsbad Village Road you
will find a Spanish style, 3-tiered adobe structure called Café
Sevilla. As you enter the restaurant, the warmth of the décor
bestows a cozy feeling. The decorations are original murals, objetos
del arte, and designs by one of the owners, Janet Lorimer de Huidobro.
There are dining areas on each level. The first floor
is the main dining room much like a Spanish bodega with clay tile
floors and wood beam ceilings. The lower level is the stage for
Flamenco and Tango dance shows hosted on weekends.
Upstairs is a large bar with live music, this night
two incredible flamenco guitarists playing Spanish love songs, surrounded
by a sizable dance floor.
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Café Sevilla offers such an elaborate menu, we decided to
have the chef choose our fair. There are 22 hot tapas, 9 cold tapas,
4 kinds of paella, and an enticing choice of traditional and original
Spanish entrees.
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If you are not familiar with tapas, they are
a Spanish tradition of small portions of a variety of foods,
giving your palette the opportunity to taste many flavors
in one dining, usually accompanied by a glass of wine. At
Café Sevilla, it is a full-bodied sangria that boasts
a lethal blend of wine and undisclosed liquors – a trade
secret.
Not surprisingly, the most popular dish this night
has been the Pollo al Ajillo, garlic chicken, according to
Chef Luiz Rodriguez. This was my favorite tapa, as well. The
chicken was melt-in-your-mouth moist and tender and prepared
in a white wine and garlic sauce that was this side of addictive.
It also happens to be one of Luiz’s creations.
My dining companion preferred the Albondigas
al Jerez or sautéed meatballs. The sauce, a sherry
garlic blend, is what made this dish so tasty. In fact, I
caught myself dipping my bread in it for an extra nibble.
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Another tapa we tried was the pork skewers or Pinchos
Morunos. Were it not for the spicy marinade, I would be remiss to
recommend this over the other tapas, solely due to the fact that
the meat tasted a bit well done. Second to none was the paella tapa.
With just the right balance of saffron and the spice of chorizo,
an abundance of shellfish, and a bit of chicken, this savory rice
dish is a mainstay of Café Sevilla.
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I could have made this my entire meal, but then
would have missed the wonderful tapas experience. Each tapa
had its own distinct, delicious flavor.
In fact, I had so many flavors going in my mouth
that my taste buds felt over-stimulated. It was the perfect
excuse for drinking more sangria to clear my palette
Our main entrée was grilled salmon served
with a seemingly authentic onion, potato and egg Tortilla
Espanola. Accompanied by a Kalamata olive sauce, the saltiness
compliments the mild flavors of the tortilla, and is a strong
companion for the salmon.
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To top off our satiating dining experience, Luiz
chose two desserts for us: a flan, which, according to eating
companion was the best he ever tasted, and a warm apple cobbler
that was so exceptional, I wanted to take some home for breakfast.
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Many of the menu items are actually prepared
by Chef Christian Vignes at a central kitchen in La Jolla.
“This offers consistency in food choice as well as quality
at all our locations,” says general manager Richard Morrill.
In addition, Sevilla has a growing catering business for banquets
and special events
Café Sevilla has three locations: Carlsbad,
the original location in downtown San Diego, and Riverside.
“We are opening a fourth later this year in Long Beach,”
Richard adds.
Richard is quite a compliment to Sevilla and
his life is almost as colorful and varied as the menu.
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From dancing in off-Broadway musicals to managing
the famous Oak Bar in New York City to now managing this restaurant.
Saying he “got tired of being in a tuxedo everyday,”
Richard seems like he has transitioned with ease into the laidback
Southern California lifestyle.Although all menu items are reasonably
priced, Café Sevilla offers a seasonal Prix Fixe menu
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which takes you on a culinary tour through different regions of Spain.
In Spring, it is a selection from Catalonia; summer, Andalusia; fall,
Basque Country, and winter, Galicia. To highlight each of these would
be another story. I rather recommend you go experiment for yourself.
Now in its eighteenth year in San Diego, Café Sevilla seems to
have discovered the secret of surviving in the extremely competitive restaurant
business. Owners Rogelio Huidobro Moy and his wife, Janet, had a longing
for something Spanish and from an evening of music, dance and cooking
tapas with friends, evolved their dream.
The combination of traditional and original Spanish flare
with the highly acclaimed Flamenco and Tango dinner shows, underlined
by courteous and expeditious service, gives new meaning to the word success.
Details:
3050 Pio Pico Drive
Carlsbad
760-630-7558
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 4:30 – 10 pm; Fri., Sat
4:30 – 11 pm; Sun. 4:30 – 10pm. Closed Mondays.
Dance Dinner shows on Fri., Sat., Sun.
Payment accepted: Credit cards, cash.
Indoor dining accommodations
Pricing: Tapas range from $4.75 – 9.95, soups $3.75 – 7.50;
salads $3.95 (house) – 10.95; Paella $11.95 – 18.95; paella
for 2 is $19.95 – 33.50; entrees $12.50 – 19.50.
Prix Fixe menu available every night
Parking: Complimentary Valet parking
Photos
by John Leonffu
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