Ah, Ibiza!

On a recent trip to Houston, Texas, I was eager to try out Chef Charles Clark's restaurant, Ibiza. I had seen a repeat episode of Iron Chef America (I'm a die-hard fan, but do prefer the Japanese original), where Chef Clark battled the master, Iron Chef Mario Batali - the food looked amazing (even though Chef Clark lost), so I logged it into my memory for my next visit to the great state of Texas.

We decided on a late lunch following a lazy morning and some errands about town. After some misguided GPS directions, we finally came upon the restaurant, which is located on the end of a small strip mall in downtown Houston.

The interior was simple yet inviting. The colors were dark, earthy and tables were strategically placed from front to back. They definitely maximize the small space, but you don't feel like you're sitting on top of the person next to you, so kudos to the owners for the smart layout.

The far end of the restaurant is a nearly floor-to-ceiling wine storage/cabinet with a rolling ladder. Those of you who know me know my love for good wine, so this was welcome sight as we entered the restaurant. There was no bar, which I found a bit odd; instead there was a long counter facing into the restaurant where you could catch a glimpse of the master at work.

We started with a lovely bottle of Spring Mountain, Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley ($34) and decided on a few appetizers. We had grilled shrimp with crabmeat cornbread and a Tasso cream. The crabmeat cornbread was probably the most memorable thing about that dish - although all was tasty and just fine, there wasn't anything spectacular about the dish and, after all, I was looking for and expecting spectacular!

After the shrimp, we had one of the pizzas, as recommended by our waiter. The goat cheese, portobello, oven-dried tomato and apple-smoked bacon was delicious! The creaminess of the goat cheese was remarkable. The flavors blended perfectly without overpowering each other - sometimes rare when dealing with bacon and even goat cheese. We devoured the pizza with no problem and were then faced with a decision: do we try more small plates (which is what Ibiza is known for, after all!) or, do we dive into entrees?

We chose the path of tasting as much of the menu as possible, so more appetizers it was!

Our next choice was the octopus. Now, generally, I'm not into the tentacles and suckers, but the preparation was too enticing ("a la plancha" with sorrel oil and chorizo). We found out that the Chef quickly blanched the octopus first, then grilled (a la plancha) it to perfection. The result was a dark brown, slightly crunchy finish with incredibly juicy and tender meat. The sorrel oil was the perfect accent - not too strong, but full of flavor - and the chorizo gave it a little kick. Truly probably the tastiest octopus I've ever had (and that includes many a dish on the Italian Riveria, south of France and even Portuguese coast!). So, bravo, Chef!

We wanted more, but the portions were sizable, so by this time, we were stuffed! Plus, the wine didn't hurt either ;-)

Service was attentive, informative and gracious - always a HUGE plus with me. There was an expansive wine list - offering everything from California's best (white and red varietals) to whites and reds from all over the globe (France, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Argentina, Austria, Italy, Australia, South Africa). The list was impressive, to say the least! Bottles ranged in price from around $30 to nearly $500! Something for everyone, no doubt!

Food was moderately priced as well, with lunch ranging from $6 to $13 for appetizers; $5 to $10 for soups and sandwiches; pizzas at $10; and, $10 to $17 for entrees. Dinner prices were similar - $6 to $17 for appetizers; $5 to $10 for salads/soups; and entrees from $17 to $34.

So, put Ibiza on your list for your next visit to Houston. You won't be disappointed!


Ibiza Food and Wine Bar
2450 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77006
713.524.0004
http://www.ibizafoodandwinebar.com/