Ele Spanse Spanish Tapas Restaurant @ Utrecht

I am pretty sure there are certain charms about Utrecht. I fall for the city not for once but for twice. The very first time was three years ago when I first visited the city. The feeling is even greater during my recent visit as the town simply has so much to offer. From top notch 5-stars hotel to distinctive museum complexes, to great gastronomical dining experience, Utrecht just has it all.

I always wanted an alfresco dining experience along the centuries old canal and it was a dream came through for me when I got the chance to do so in Utrecht.

I have actually not tasted Spanish cuisine before, hence this particular Ele Spanse Spanish Tapas Restaurant caught my eyes. Located in one of the many wharf cellars on the Oudegracht, Ele Spanse Spanish Tapas Restaurant offers a pleasant yet peaceful ambience for my first alfresco dining experience next to the old canal in Utrecht city.

Such a delight to find out that Tapas are served in small portion, almost the size of the normal appetizers. I like the concept as I could sample more food, just like the Chinese dim sum.

We ordered a bread basket with olive spread, fish croquette, shrimps in chili oil, frittata (baked omelet) and deep fried aubergine with honey.

The saltiness of the olive spread added the soul to the soft yet fluffy bread. They can be very addictive.

We wanted the grilled shrimps but ended up with this sinful shrimps in red chili oil. The shrimps were slightly soft but without fishy smell, hence an alright dish for me. I know this is sinful, to dip the bread into the red chili oil. But I just can't help it as the fluffy bread and the chili oil is simply a match made in heaven.

The fish croquette is perhaps a must order dish. Almost every table would have this signature dish served. Fried to golden brown, the fish croquette is just prefect to eat-it-on-its-own without any sauce as the minced fish filling itself is slightly salty in taste. Another sinful and addictive dish.

Spongy texture plus the slight crunch from the potato cubes, the frittata tasted absolutely heavenly. You will never go wrong with this frittata, filling and satisfying at the same time!

Unsure of what veggie dish to order, we went for the deep fried aubergine coated with honey sauce. Appealing dish indeed with a layer of shining honey glaze. Sweet in taste and could be a great hot dessert I think.

The meal is incomplete without the sinful dessert. Yes, it is indeed the sinful one. A huge slice of dark chocolate cake with whipped cream and the sinfully rich coconut ice-cream served in an empty coconut shell.

What a great treat! I really had a great time dinning at Ele Spanish Tapas Restaurant (even with few hundred grams of weight gain after the meal).

Oh ya … forgot to mention, there is also Flamingo dance performance at 9pm every night in the restaurant. Make sure you stay up for the spectacular performance if you could make it.

Ele Spanse Spanish Tapas Restaurant
Oudegracht aan de Werf 211, Utrecht

Operating hours
Tue - Sun   17:00 till 22:00
Close on Mon