Lovely little spot in the CBD with good food and reasonable prices. We had 4 dishes to share, the mushrooms and pan Catalan were spectacular but the octopus was way too oily. While staff were nice they were on the phone a lot of the time, which was very noticeable considering we were sitting at the bar.
I love my Spanish tapas. This was a hark back to all my visits to Barcelona and Madrid. The food isn't the issue here. It's authentic enough and hits the mark (albeit 4 small pieces of prawns for $17 is dubious. Bill racks up quite quickly if you're starving). What was most unfortunate was the service, which was lack lustre and only showing the bare minimum of attentiveness. The host spent more time chatting with her friends rather than prioritising serving hot dishes off the pass or refilling water. The other waiter seemed overwhelmed, tired and stunned like a mullet. Overall, still a delightful experience, but it could be so much more. The delicious burnt cheesecake nearly made up for it.
When I think of Bar Topa, I think of the lovely smell of chilli oil, garlic, and parsley. As a tapas bar they've done a lot of things right, but I'm always happy to go back just for the food alone (say a quick lunch). It is true that the food can be a bit salty at times, but hey, I'd just ask for more bread.
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