Things To Do In Santa Monica | Enjoy Tapas And Sangria At Bar Pinxto

While taking a relaxing walk around Santa Monica Blvd and enjoying the wonderful weather and the scene in downtown Santa Monica (3rd Street Promenade and the new mall) one evening, I checked out Bar Pintxo, a tapas restaurant. You might want to do the same and lose yourself as you indulge in their hunger-satisfying menu.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you will feel a comfortable European ambiance in this wood-cabinet lined, high-ceiling spaced room. There’s a seated bar in front of the kitchen and modest high tables and chairs in the back. Soon enough, you will be feeling your stomach growl as the mouth-watering aroma from the kitchen wafts through the air, inspiring you to plough through their creative and appetizing menu, while enjoying the cool vibe and festive scene.

Flames fly from under pans being handled by three chefs preparing amazingly flavorful dishes while dutiful waiters pay special attention to diners as they serve the tables, bringing signature Spanish wines and Sangrias to customers who are all enjoying paellas and of course, a wide range of scrumptious yet affordable tapas.

Pronounced as “Pincho”, the word pinxto means “small bites”, and this is exactly what the specialty of the appropriately-named restaurant is. Some items on the menu that are all worth trying, all priced at $6: Piemas de Pollo, chicken drumette lollipops slow cooked in duck fat and served with an amazing barbecue sauce, lamb and pulled pork tacos, mini burgers and marinated mussels served on toast.  The house wine and Sangria is $4 a glass. The white Sangria is full of fruit and delicious.  A half pint of draft Stella Artois beer poured from a spigot on the bar is only $1.50.

On the regular menu, pintxos range in price from $3 – $6, There are legs of aged Serrano ham in shaving boxes on the bar, $9-$18 a serving, assorted cured meats ($15), cheese plate ($3 per ounce), different empanadas every day ($6 for two), braised ox tail in wine sauce, so tender the meat falls from the bone with a touch of the fork, and the marrow is a special treat ($10) and the crispy Sonoma duck served on lentils with applewood smoked bacon and Bilbao chorizo is an absolute must ($12).  Desserts are $5-$6. The wine list is also plentiful, all Spanish but well worth it. The attendants know a lot about wine and are willing to help match food with wine.

One of the best Happy Hours in town, from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Noon to 6:30 Saturday and Sunday, they serve a plate of six pintxos (little bites) for $6.  Don’t miss this place when you’re out for a stroll by the beach in Santa Monica!

Bar Pintxo, 109 Santa Monica Blvd., 310-458-2012, www.barpintxo.com. No reservations.

This article was originally posted in Things To Do In Santa Monica | Enjoy Tapas And Sangria At Bar Pinxto.

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