Spanish Tapas and Sangria Restaurant Now Open

A brand new Spanish restaurant has opened.Photo byAnnie SprattonUnsplash

Ask any two people their thoughts on Rio Nuevo in Tucson and you’re probably going to receive two different answers. Some might tell you they are fine with the group allocating tax dollars to invest in downtown businesses, while others might point out their issue with only pumping the tax revenue into restaurants (that are often owned by individuals who already operate and run restaurants in the city). Dive into any forum on Reddit or other posting website and you’ll stumble onto two (at least) very different points of view. Regardless, Rio Nuevo will continue funding restaurants, which includes an all-new Spanish tapas and sangria spot.

Have you ever visited a new city or destination and thought to yourself, “I’d love to open a restaurant based on the flavors and dishes served here?” If yes, than you know exactly what Freddy ElMesselmani felt after visiting the North of Spain. A region famous for its small tapas dishes and more comfortable summers (those southern Spain summers can be brutal), Freddy, who also owns Urban Pita, has officially opened Basqueria as a love letter to the food of Northeastern Spain.

Now, you’re not going to find the most traditional forms of paella, which hail from Valencia and often include rabbit (a rather gamey-tasting meat, if you haven’t had it before). However, don’t worry, if you are a lover of paella there are several options available, including paella verdura (saffron arborio rice and vegetables), paella del mar (with mussels, shrimp, cod, and calamari), and Basqueria (chicken thighs and chorizo).

The cold menu at Basqueria includes a cheese board, mixed board (two cheeses and two meats), meat board, tomato spread, and deviled eggs. The hot menu, on the other hand, features patatas bravas, shrimp pintxo, vegetable pintxo, sauteed chicken, potato croquette, and lamb chops. There is also a solid beverage menu, including sangria, which goes wonderfully with the higher end-of-summer temperatures here in Tucson.

It is important to point out that the meals at Basqueria don’t have a flat price point. Instead, you pay a per-person price. So, if you are enjoying a dinner for four, you will pay for four and the size of the meal will adjust accordingly.

If you want to check out Basqueria, it is located at 350 East Congress Street (Suite 150) and open Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 PM until 12 AM, on Thursday and Friday from 4 PM until 2 AM, on Saturday from 10 AM until 2 AM, and on Sunday from 10 AM until 12 AM. It is closed on Monday.