The doorways of a Spanish tapas restaurant sometimes don’t look like much.
You’ll wind your way down a narrow staircase towards the echo of chatter in a stone-walled cellar where people drink wine and choose from a broad range of small dishes.
It wouldn’t be quite right to compare Hop Space in Springwood to towns where hundreds of years of history feed into a cultural experience.
However, there are some similarities. There’s a small sign on the end of a service road, pointing to the restaurant amid office space.
Inside, the decor lights up with black-painted walls splashed with quirky adaptations of European art. The bar complements the lengthy cocktail list and extensive choice of boutique beers.
It’s the type of place the City of Logan needs more of.
Importantly, you know you’re here to relax. Food, although a universal mix rather than Spanish, is to share and taps into fresh ingredients to create a diversity of flavours.
Mexican features strongly in the form of empanadas and chimichangas, Asian takes centre stage with a variety of bao, Korean and Chinese inspired.
Japan, Turkey and Cameroon all rate a mention, and Spain is not forgotten, meatballs flavoured with manchego and romesco.
The menu cleverly captures tastes from most continents, yet is not overwhelming.
Try grilled garlic and fennel seed prawns with mojo verde, a green spicy sauce. The smokey, sweet and sour sizzling fried chicken is a class distinctly above most versions you’ll find in a Chinese bain marie.
Schezuan peppercorn fried squid, Turkish cigari borek with cheese and Arabic herbs, and fried fish taquitos with salsa and mojo verde aioli are all served with a twist that differentiates this experience from others.
The most popular dish is a crispy fried masterstock pork belly with anise chilli caramel.
What seems like a humble office block from the outside, comes alive on the inside and it’s the food that carries the experience.
It’s clear some people have made this their local. Be sure to book for the better tables.
