Eating in Seville is usually casual and laid back, delicious meals of charcuterie, cheese and tapas; it is rare to discover a fine dining opportunity. So I was intrigued when I heard of Oriza, a luxurious restaurant that often welcomes celebrities through its doors.
There are various dining options on offer at Oriza, a relaxed tapas bar, private conference areas and intimate dining rooms to suit every occasion. The spacious and smart main restaurant is the most attractive with light flooding in through the big window and swish white clothed tables. To accompany our fine Spanish Cava, we were treated to hot sizzling chorizo and fresh bread from the chef. A bottle of extra virgin olive oil is found on each table for dipping and drizzling.
We chose a variety of dishes from the a la carte menu, which is predominantly made up of fish options. White asparagus was unusually big and served cold, with a nice flavour but slightly odd. My truffle, mushroom and foie gras risotto was rich and delicious, an indulgent dish topped with Parmesan crisps… my only issue was the size of the portion, far far too big for me to finish.
For main course the sole was the star dish, an immaculately cooked and completely boneless fillet, served with wonderfully smooth mashed potato. The lamb was amazingly tender though needed more seasoning, served with potato and a crisp green salad. The sommelier perfectly matched my meat with a wonderful Spanish red wine, full bodied yet very easy to drink.
For dessert we tried the sorbets and the homemade almond and chocolate tart. Both were delicious, though after a large lunch the sorbet was a wiser choice. A strong shot of coffee completed this perfectly simple but stylish Spanish meal. When you feel like you need a break from tapas I’d recommend a trip to Oriza, where the food and ambience will not disappoint.
More information and book here.