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Carmen is picturesque; the simple style makes guests feel at home. The guitarists or weekend jazz bands bring this tapas villa to life, a perfect spot to eat, drink and be merry.

Carlos Chordi, recently opened Carmen, a quaint Spanish tapas bar and restaurant. Located right across the street from his luncheonette Bocata, you can find this lively eatery in the Nali mini-mall next to the 3.3 shopping center.

Carmen is picturesque; the simple style makes guests feel at home. The guitarists or weekend jazz bands bring this tapas villa to life, a perfect spot to eat, drink and be merry. A variety of Spanish delicacies are offered including hot and cold tapas ranging from vegetarian, meat and seafood, as well as Spanish paella rice dishes.

We began with a delectable tapas sampler platter. The Russian Potato Salad is light and tasty, baked into a small appetizing bite. The Egg, Tuna and Anchovy Mini-skewer give a unique taste and texture. Poached egg white cleverly wrapped around fresh tuna fish and anchovy laid on top a piece of firm toast, brings an eclectic combination of flavors to your tongue. The Mackerel, Gherkin, Pepper and Olive Mini-skewer is up to standard, with a piece of fresh fish, pickled cucumber, pepper and olive, ending with a giant fresh cherry tomato.

Next we tasted an assortment of hot croquette tapas. The Ham and Cheese croquette has very creamy cheese that oozes out with every bite, with small cut up pieces of meat. The Chicken, Ham and Cheese croquettes developed a more balanced liking with a good blend of all three ingredients baked into a little potato roll. The squid croquette is preferred, giving off a light and tasty combination. There is a little bit of spice but the squid gives the most flavor and even the fried potato roll included more spices for a delicious flavorful crunch.

Bite into the Iberian Ham from Fodder-Fed Pigs for a savory snack. The thinly sliced meat is of top quality placed on top a long piece of fresh, lightly toasted bread. Iberian ham might be a bit salty for some but it brings a savory brackishness to this treat. The Prawns Sizzled in Garlic and Olive Oil is a mouth-watering meal to sink your teeth into. A boiling melting pot of garlic, olive oil and a dash of spice with shrimp mixed in is the perfect unification of pleasure for the taste buds. Scoop up the mixture and place it atop a piece of firm toast and relish this herby blend of delightfulness.

Embrace your inner sweet tooth with either the Cheese Cake or Crème Toast. The Cheese Cake has a raspberry jelly top with matching syrup and a scoop of light whip cream sprinkled on the plate. The texture is soft and the taste is luscious for a charming after dinner dessert. The Crème Toast is a hot sugary oasis with a little cinnamon kick. Take a bite of scrumptiousness with whip cream and this warm bliss will melt in your mouth.

Pair your favorite tapas and dishes with a high range of drinks from Carmen’s fully stocked bar. With over 48 Spanish red and white wines, there are plenty of options for vino lovers. The Sangria is the best blend, with your choice of white or red wine bleeding with fresh fruit.

Carmen is a fun and lively tapas bar and restaurant for a night out with good people, food, drinks and live music. Every aspect of this place is amusing. Expect to spend a decent amount of money but for high quality cuisine and beverages. Come here when your taste buds crave diversity and deliciousness.

--by Sarah Ting Ting Hou

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