Bossa Nova
Category: Under £20
If your looking for a really good night out Bossa Nova is a must, its one of those places that you can go and enjoy authentic Mediterranean food and listen to really good music, not traditional music however the music here is right up my street, without going in to detail I am 41 so I don’t like 'jiggy jiggy' music. Easy listening is more my thing, you know; Frank Sinatra, Oasis, Black Eyed Peas etc.
We dined on a Saturday night arriving about 8:15pm. The restaurant was about 75% full, but brimming with atmosphere. Bossa Nova has recently undergone massive renovation, moving the kitchens upstairs; making room for a new bar downstairs, (Saltaire really needed a good wine bar). All this added to the powerful atmosphere, it felt like Tapas area in Barcelona, very cosmopolitan but not affected by the shallow BMW and Porche brigade. My partner & my kids were soon laughing and really enjoying the evening.
You are instantly greeted by a large imposing bar area with distressed pictures adorning the walls & twinkly lights on the ceiling. The service is swift & efficient, Thanos, who owns & works a very hands on venue is busy overseeing all that he purveys. Thanos is not typically Greek; he is very calm with a fabulous temperament, who very obviously is passionate about everything that his restaurant has to offer.
This venue is a place to go and spend the whole evening, take the kids, have a romantic night, or just an evening meal. If you’re looking for fine dining in plush surroundings this is not that, however the food I really very good but it is not the Box tree, nor are the prices.
The menu is really two menus in one. The first section is starters, mains etc (I understand a new first section menu is out now). The second section is tapas with several types of paella. This is the section we opted for. Tapas is fab when you have kids, as they can pick and pike at all the different options.
The tapas section was strong with a really good vegetarian section, not that that interests me in the slightest. We ordered a good selection:
Hummus, aubergine caviar & tzatziki with grilled pitta £3.00
Baked chorizo with red wine, new potatoes & bay leaf £3.75
Falafel, served with tzatziki £3.50
Patatas bravas £2.50
Hand cut chips with coarse sea salt £2.50
Moroccan lamb kebabs with mint raita £3.95
Chicken souvlaki (mini skewers) with tzatziki £3.95
Pan-fried butterfly tiger prawns with mango mayo (10) £7.95
Paella, with tiger prawns, chicken calamari, crevettes, etc £12.95
FOOD TOTAL FOR 4 PEOPLE £44.05
The food was fantastic, in fact my son (age 9) said, “I am so full, but I can’t stop eating, this food is so nice". As far as tapas goes it was the best I have had in the UK. At £44.05 for four people, £10.00 per head the value is bordering on laughable, & to say we left about 10 to 15%. We were full. & I have to say a little tipsy, I cannot remember what the wine was, however my first order was vetoed for a really nice on offer special wine £18:95 per bottle. The kids had the usual coke & lemonade.
We retired to the bar area for even more alcohol, where we were greeted by Linda, Thane’s wife, who made my kids feel really special by making them non-alcoholic cocktails.
We were the last to leave the restaurant, there was no hint of us feeling uncomfortable, you know that feeling ... WERE CLOSING NOW. In fact, they seemed sorry to see us leave. It was one of the best nights out we have all had out for a long time.
I review many restaurants & to be honest enjoy a night in more than going out now; however, I am really looking forward to going back and trying the other part of the menu. Honestly if you want a good night out with great food & a lively atmosphere, you will struggle to top Bossa Nova.
Reviewed by Neil Saville
Review Summary
Atmosphere ♦♦♦♦♦
Food ♦♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦♦
Value ♦♦♦♦♦
Contact Details
Bossa Nova
48 Saltaire Road
Shipley
BD18 3HN
Tel: 01274 589000
www.bossanovarestaurant.com
