Xuntos

It’s easy to lose track of time at Xuntos, regardless of how many vermouth cocktails you’ve consumed. This Spanish restaurant from the Gasolina Cafe people serves what is arguably the best menu of tapas in Los Angeles, with delicious, sometimes elaborate plates that’ll make you want to order seconds or thirds. Such feelings are a tell-tale sign that you’ve stumbled upon a great tapas restaurant—a place where a night can drag on with wine and fried anchovies without you noticing. If you need a Santa Monica spot where an impromptu dinner can spill into an evening of drinks and chit-chat, few places can top this one.

Some restaurants love to use the term “tapas” on their menu as a synonym for small plates, but at Xuntos, it’s more than just small plates—it's a style of eating. Tacking on an extra order of pan con tomate between drinks isn’t excessive, but encouraged. Smaller dishes mostly fall under $10, while most of the shareable tapas float around $15 to $20, which makes it easy for a small group to explore most of the menu without breaking the bank.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

If you plan to graze like a pro here, the best move is to order a bottle of chilled albariño or a round of calimotxo and prepare to linger. Or at least that’s what most people do starting Thursday nights through the weekend when Xuntos comes alive. Dates and friends dressed for a night out fill up this two-story space, yet it never teeters on overwhelming. You can still hear yourself think, and the homey, mix-matched decor makes this restaurant look like an antique shop that morphs into a bar. In theory, drinks and a small bite would work fine here, but that’s a missed opportunity. A full meal is the way to go.

Spanish food in LA has come a long way over the past few years, and Xuntos is proof. The decently sized menu gets hyper-regional by differentiating tapas from pintxos (Basque-style bites closer to snacks than small plates). A meal can entail crumbly Galician tuna empanadas, Cantabrian anchovy toasts, and crema catalana for dessert. And, yes, the classics like ham croquettes and patatas bravas are also on there—they're solid, but they’re not where Xuntos hits the hardest. Better are less commonly seen dishes that sound like something you’d see on a José Andrés travel special: fatty, grilled seabass collars, baby squid balloons stuffed with minced shallots, and scallops on the half shell that are bathed in saffron butter until they glow bright yellow.

As much as we love a flaming onion volcano at Benihana, Downtown Santa Monica isn’t the first, second, or eighth place we’d send someone for a fun, off-the-cuff dinner. But that’s what Xuntos delivers. Though we’d never confuse Third Street Promenade for San Sebastián, we do appreciate that this spot is pushing Spanish food beyond sangria and paella, too. And if that means an excuse to hang out for another hour with more jámon and vermouth, we’re all for it.

Food Rundown

Cocktails

Xuntos’ drink menu speaks to sherry and vermouth lovers the same way Florida attracts East Coast retirees. The tart Sandra’s Cocktail is our favorite, with ginger and passion fruit balancing out the dry vermouth. If you’re looking for something sweeter (and dangerously easy to drink) get the calimotxo that mixes red wine and Coke.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Vieiras

Slurping these sweet scallops in little pools of saffron-infused butter is pure luxury. Each one is a plump bite of shellfish topped with a sprinkle of salt, though the the buttery saffron bath is more for color than taste.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Croquetas de Jamón

These tiny, two-bite jamón croquettes get the job done. That’s not a complaint, it’s a perfectly good croquette—crispy on the outside, gooey bechamel on the inside, and flecked with salty bits of cured ham.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Berenjena Frita

If you haven’t hit your five servings of vegetables today, order this fried eggplant salad. Probably not what your doctor had in mind, but it’s a must-order. Thin slices of eggplant are fried super crisp, then softened in a caramel-y sweet quince glaze. The sauce will probably get everywhere, making you feel like a kid with a drippy ice cream cone.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Costillas con Salsa Barbacoa

Pork ribs in barbecue sauce don’t scream Spanish, but that’s beside the point. These ribs are juicy and smoky like a quality Christmas ham, and the sauce is the right amount of sweet with a vinegary kick.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Pincho de Chipirones

The best dish on Xuntos’ menu. These baby squids absorb smoke from the grill and are stuffed with minced shallots and scallops, which is as delicious as it sounds. One round will not be enough.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Empanada Gallega

Here’s what’s consistent about these empanadas: the crust is always buttery and crumbly. The tuna–tomato-olive filling, however, can be hit or miss. Sometimes, it’s a bit dry and under seasoned, and other times, it’s moist and savory like any respectable tuna salad should be.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Tarta de Santiago

Even your friend who’s not a dessert person will like this. This soft almond cake, flavored with a big dose of orange blossom, is a prime example of “just sweet enough.” It’s a light treat that’s a perfect change of pace after who-knows-how-many rounds of salty tapas.