The Hispanist
Hull, East Yorkshire
Entry
‘We’re so lucky to have this restaurant in our city,’ exclaimed one Hull local, adding that ‘we enjoy sitting in the Paragon Arcade, dining on the large barrel tables with our dogs’. Inside, the place is painted black with a narrow staircase leading up to the main dining room. It’s a welcoming local treat if ever there was one, with a laid-back vibe, ‘magnificent mezcal-based cocktails’, exclusively Spanish wines and a line-up of original tapas. Owner Nick Hill is a highly talented chef capable of delivering food that is ‘next-level tasty’: his roast chicken skin butter (served with a sourdough country roll) is ‘divine’, but that’s just the start. Croquetas and charcuterie are all present and correct but it’s worth seeking out the more innovative ideas strewn through the menu – perhaps spiced sashimi-grade tuna accompanied by potato pavé and purple shiso or skewers of BBQ lamb breast slathered in pomegranate molasses, alongside the fresh, zingy notes of ewe’s milk tzatziki, cucumber and mint. Otherwise, the coffee-brined beef bavette with white carrot and pickled mustard seeds sounds like a winner. There are usually a couple of desserts, perhaps milhojas (a posh strawberry millefeuille) or tarta de albaricoque (apricot, hazelnut and walnut frangipane tart with rosemary, honey and crème brûlée ice cream). Fixed-price lunchtime deals are ‘incredible value’ – and a perfect addition to the Hispanist’s brilliant offer if you don’t want to go the whole hog. In short, ‘a very special little gem’.
Dining Information:
Family friendly, Deposit required
Unit 11, Paragon Arcade, Carr Lane, Hull, East Yorkshire HU1 3RF
01482 328805
