Small plates that pack a big punch

The appetite for small plates with Spanish flavours or a global twist is huge.

- LYNETTE PINCHESS looks

TAPAS has come a long way since the days of La Tasca, Nottingham’s Spanish-themed restaurant in Weekday Cross that served patatas bravas, paella and sangria in a rich yellow-ochre setting with bullfighting pictures.

For readers who weren't around in 1999, La Tasca was a 250-seater tapas bar located in the building that’s now The Blind Rabbit.

More than quarter of a century later, the idea of eating small plates of food, brought out at random times rather than all together, has exploded. But this casual, sociable way to eat isn’t just confined to Spanish flavours. There’s now a global influence, with trendy Korean flavours such as gochujang sneaking their way into the dishes.

We can still linger over authentic gambas pil pil (prawns with garlic and chilli) and albondigas (meatballs) with a glass of wine, beer or a cocktail, but there’s a wide array of spots with unexpected flavours and imaginative takes on the tradition.

Even though the plates are small, they're big on punchy flavours. It doesn’t have to cost the earth either as you can pick two dishes or 12... nobody is judging you.

And if you're eating during the day, rather than in the evening, some serve a menú del día, which is particularly good value. The set menu usually consists of three dishes.

If you want the full authentic Spanish experience, this is the place for you. This rustic underground restaurant in the heart of the Lace Market transports you to Barcelona's Gothic Quarter where the tiny back street bars wow locals and tourists alike with incredible fresh flavours.

Tapas, in the true sense of the word, include gambas al ajillo (tiger prawns with garlic and white wine), padron peppers, paella and crisp and creamy croquetas with Serrano ham and chicken.

Location: Plumptre Street, Nottingham NG11LX

Another hidden gem, in the Lace Market, but this time with a global twist in a stunning Moorish-style vaulted setting.