If the Three Tenors had collaborated on a restaurant instead of “Nessun Dorma”, they could have founded the new and popular Tapas in Barbados.

Instead, three Italians well known in the Barbados restaurant scene collaborated to prepare a delicious meal together. Located on the new boardwalk on the south shore, Tapas occupies the two-level space that Aqua once held. It is one of the most impressive beachfront locations on the island.

Tapas offers a stylish space, quite classy and, on this island known for its expensive food, reasonable prices. Four of us will order every tapas dish we fancy (and then rack up our favorites when the waiter brings them) and still have spent less than $100 US for the table. Paired with a nice bottle of white wine, dinner is a true Barbadian bargain. (And trust me, paradise doesn’t come cheap.)

Barbados tapas restaurant owners

The trio of Italians behind Tapas is made up of Alfredo Giovine, from the wonderful Mama Mia; Franco Parisi, former executive chef at Lone Star; and, from Dolce Gelato, Franco Diamanti, who makes the best ice cream in the Caribbean, at least that’s what my finely tuned sweet tooth tells me.

I ran into Alfredo one night and asked him why, without any publicity, Tapas has done so well since opening in mid-August. As the music of Norah Jones mingled with the soft music of the waves in the background, Alfredo told me that he thinks Barbadians and tourists alike were hungry for something new and affordable and that word of mouth keeps the place packed almost every night. nights.

I’m pretty sure Franco, Franco and Alfredo were all born with the restaurant gene. The food is effortlessly good, which is rare for a restaurant that has just opened. The place also feels good; if you are a local it is a place “where everyone knows your name” and if you are a guest of our island you will quickly feel at home.

With his thick Italian accent, Alfredo told me: “The restaurant is my home. I feel that people come to my house. At 17 years old, I work receiving tourists at the port (in his hometown in southern Italy). I finish taking everyone home for a meal with my mother and father”.

tapas food

If you are into Tapas de tapas, you will start the evening with tapas and you will finish with tapas, without stopping until you are satisfied.

But you can also order from the full dinner menu for a more traditional dining experience. Entrees range from a light and hearty beef carpaccio on arugula salad ($11.50) to the adventurous panko-crusted panko-fried goat cheese (with pumpkin, delicious!) ($11) to a hearty Parmigiana. (layers of baked eggplant, tomato and Parmesan cheese) ($9.50US).

I haven’t had the New Zealand Rack of Lamp (with warm pepper and olive salad and spicy potato wedges), but friends who raved about it ($28 US). I’ve ordered the fish of the day, local fish like king fish, flying fish, snapper, mahi mahi (which we call dolphin here), pulled from the sea just a couple of hours before being blackened or grilled, like want. , and paired with mango sauce. Now, is that a tropical paradise meal to remember?

I don’t know about you, but it’s enough to make me burst into song.

If you go

Tapas: Hastings Main Road, Highway 7, Christ Church, Barbados. Phone: 246-228-0704. Call ahead to reserve a table by the sea. Otherwise, walk-ins are more than welcome. All major credit cards are accepted.