La Feria - Detroit, MI

Tapas have hit Detroit!  With small plates being a new fad for the indecisive, La Feria brings you small bites for your palette.  La Feria has the feel of a tapas bar, but feels slightly institutionalized.  Some menu items are on display, but dried, old versions of what you could order.  There are flags hanging up and nice small tables and chairs outlining the place.  It's a small area and a fine atmosphere.  I imagine it would get loud and congested when busy, but I went during an off peak time.  

The red wine and sprite 3$ special was quite refreshing, giving you a simple sangria taste, but with no fruit.  The tapas were good, but having been to Spain and tasting tapas and montaditos, there really isn't any comparisons.  The tapas were ok. They didn't blow my mind.  I was a little disappointed at the size of the montaditos.  They use larger slices of bread, but the toppings were minimal for a montadito.  In Spain when you order a real montadito they give you a lot of bang for your buck.  It's a small mountain of deliciousness.  Here you will be lucky to a get a little hill.  

The ingredients relies heavily on garlic.  Even though I looooove garlic, it was a bit much when every dish tasted of strong garlic flavors.  Even the patatas bravas, had garlic swished around it.  They are definitely the best value you here.  For three dollars you get a plate of potatoes.  So, if you're hungry and looking to fill up - get the potatoes.  The Spanish omelette was good, but needed more salt and pepper. I would have liked it better if it were hot!   The shrimp I wouldn't get again.  They were good, but they tasted like a good solid shrimp scampi.  Nothing to write home about.  But I can get shrimp scampi at Red Lobster (and a lot more of it!).  Bacon wrapped dates were excellent, but the garlic, goat, and sheep cheese spread montadito was suuuuupppppperrrrr overpowering.  If you are on a date you will not want to get this one.  It lingers with you the whole night.

There are so many options to choose from and I liked the atmosphere during the non-week rush so I think I'll be back and give it another shot.  Paella night is Tuesdays!  Paella and tapas sound lovely.  I'll update this when I go for a second round.