Spain Restaurant

76 West Powell Rd.
Lewis Center, OH 43035

www.spainrestcolumbus.com

You may remember the Spain Restaurant located in a Motel on 161 Road. It was a bar, a grill and that was about it. Forget that. There is a new, freestanding Spain Restaurant in Lewis Center just off State Route 23 on State Rout 750. As you are coming up 23 it can be difficult to see as it is tucked behind another larger building. You may miss it when you first look for it. Don't give up.

As you go in you will notice that it is open, spacious and quiet. It is handicapped accessible, even the bathrooms. There is nothing gimmicky. No bullfight posters or huge sombreros, you don't call your server by clacking Flamenco Castanets. It is clean, solid and comfortable. I have eaten there a couple of times with friends and have had an opportunity to sample a four or five of their offerings. They serve dinner only. They have a kid’s menu and serve all legal beverages.

OK, let us talk about the offerings. First, I have not had anything that I believed was poorly or inappropriately prepared nor was this a concern for any of my dining partners. All dishes ranged from very good to outstanding. I have tried the grilled asparagus, Spanish potatoes, saffron rice, and the lobster salad. All were very good. Preparing asparagus can be tricky. You not only have to be able to prepare the dish, but you have to be able to select the shoots that are ripe and ready, but not woody. It was very well orchestrated. The lobster salad, Salpicon de langosta, was also good. I have had lobster salad where the major ingredient is some form of filling. This was not the case at Spain. It has lobster, celery, onion parsley and I think some cilantro, mixed with sweet butter and a rich homemade mayonnaise. For central Ohio, it is quite good.

They have a cream of shrimp that is also tasty. I personally prefer a cream soup to be a bit thicker, but this was very flavorful. My dining companions had filet of sole, Lenguado a la Madrilena, and they reported it being good. But the reason I originally went to Spain was for the Cabrito a la Riojana. To come to the point this is roasted goat in a wine reduction sauce. It was outstanding. Since about ten years ago when I tried goat on a dare, I have loved it. Goat is not gamey, it does not have a strong taste like mutton and, above all, it is not tough or stringy. Properly prepared roasted goat will be rich, flavorful, with a sweeter taste than pork. It cuts like roasted pork but is not as fatty. This goat was superb and is probably the best I have ever eaten. I went to a restaurant in Oaxaca Mexico because they were known for their roasted goat. Spain's was better.

The service was personable and attentive without being cloying. Overall, this was a fun experience every time I have been here. Try it and if you have not experienced goat expand your gustatory horizons. Oh, and in case you are interested, they have flan.