Review: La Perla

We sent our Content Editor Emily Griffin along with Social Media Coordinator Jess Lepore for a taste of modern Spanish cooking at Bath's wonderful Le Perla restaurant. Here's how they got on..

Tapas is always one of my favourite ways to dine. I love the notion of sharing small plates of tasty food with friends and being able to sample dishes I wouldn’t normally choose.

Well known in Bath for offering truly delicious modern Spanish cuisine, La Perla has an impressive menu of tapas and authentic paella. Hidden at the bottom of a spiral staircase away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the restaurant is decorated is a chic and modern Spanish style; with white washed walls and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

We were taken to our table by the lovely Aggi, who sat us in a quiet corner, overlooking the other diners and their famous open kitchen.

We were given a glass each of the most wonderfully fruity Cava Sangria, which was a lovely sparkling drink with fresh fruit.  It was a shame I was driving as I could quite happily have drunk them all night!

We started our taste of Spain with a selection of freshly baked breads with olives, aioli and oils. The breads were flawlessly baked, still warm from the oven and flavoured with olives, herbs and sun-dried tomatoes. 

We were then presented with a selection of dishes, including ‘Cabello de Rape’ which was perfectly cooked fresh monkfish wrapped in a crispy kataifi pastry. We also sampled ‘Cocktail de Cangrejo’ which was deliciously seasoned white crab meat served with passion fruit chutney and a touch of caviar.  The crab meat was fresh and delicately flavoured, and worked wonderfully with the sweetness of the passion fruit. Both of these dishes were elegantly presented and tasted just as good as they looked!

The next dish we tried was something that I was intrigued to try; ‘Helado de Foie Gras’ which is Foie Gras ice cream dipped in a crunchy Iberico ham and muesli coating.  The plate was simple but beautifully executed. The mixture of temperatures and textures was unexpectedly moreish. The sweetness of the muesli and the saltiness of the ham really complimented the richness and creaminess of the Foie Gras ice cream. It’s the first time I’ve eaten a savoury ice cream, but I’ll definitely be trying them again!

My favourite dish of the night was the ‘Ensalada de Jamon de Pato’ which was a wonderful salad of cured duck breast served with a tangy goats cheese. The flavours on the plate were just faultless, the rich duck breast and the sweetness of the salad were balanced exquisitely.

We were also treated some mouth-watering Mini Chorizo Burgers served in homemade buns and wonderfully smoky Patatas Bravas. The burgers were the perfect blend of Spanish spice and burger-goodness in a soft freshly baked bun. Needless to say, there was nothing left on either of these plates!

After we had sampled our way through the delicious tapas taster menu, we started on the desserts. We had three to try, a creamy chocolate espresso mousse, a tangy mojito sorbet and an aromatic sangria poached pear. All three were absolutely to die for. The mousse was rich and would please any coffee or chocolate fan. The sorbet was fresh, minty and full of the flavours of the much loved cocktail. The pear dish was warm and tasted of spiced sangria. It was served with a fruity strawberry sorbet.  The desserts were the perfect end to a fantastic meal and wonderful evening.

It was lovely to dine on such a variety of Spanish cuisines that we might not otherwise have tried; each dish was carefully thought through and presented in a modern and stylish way.  If you are looking for somewhere to try an authentic taste of modern Spanish cooking, then we would highly recommend a visit to La Perla.