New Eatery La Boqueria Takes Over Parktown North

Parktown North foodies will be happy to know there is a new restaurant in town that will entice with delicious market-style food.

La Boqueria, an all-day eatery in Jozi, has just opened its doors, taking over from the old Wombles restaurant space on 3rd Avenue. This tapas style eatery takes its inspiration from iconic food markets, such as London’s Borough Market and Barcelona’s La Boqueria on Las Ramblas, and was launched by the team that brought us Frankie IIII Fingers beer and local favourite, The Foundry, found just up the road.

La Boqueria offers Spanish style tapas and small plates

The menu is mostly Spanish, but darts from one corner of the globe to another to encompass street-style food; all of the dishes are about sharing and feasting. The focus is on traditional styles of cooking, (using skillets, wood ovens and live-fires) for a real food experience.

The lunch and dinner menu runs the gauntlet from healthy (Peruvian ceviche) to fried (street food style finger food such as Samosas, Bhajhias and Patatas Bravas) and more. The Paellas are slow- cooked, in a traditional hearth for a rich, smoky flavour.

La Boqueria fried olives or Spanish ham and cheese croquettas — La Boqueria’s fried olives and Spanish ham and cheese croquettas

Some of the highlights off the Coals menu are the 500g rib-eye on the bone and the Whole Fish Talay, but the firm favourite is definitely the Kebabs – lamb, chicken, beef or pork belly – skewered, marinated overnight and grilled on the coals for maximum flavour. For dessert, take your pick from Churros, Poached Cinnamon Toffee Apple or the Whoopie Pie.

As for the décor? The restaurant takes inspiration from the mid-century with a warm colour palette and a mix of wooden furniture. The über-cool décor features are met by Lady Boqueria, a 6 meter high mural of a Spanish torero, who watches over the whole space.

Lady Boqueria watches over the space in La Boqueria — Lady Boqueria watches over the space inside the restaurant

You can choose from tables and booths, a dedicated bar area or the upstairs where you can hide from the crowd below or host a private function. The floor-to-ceiling windows makes the restaurant sun-drenched for most of the day and still gives you the feeling of sidewalk eating into the evening. The outside veranda features a gazebo and fireplace, perfect for those lazy nights out.

The bar stocks some of SA’s best boutique wines with an ever-changing weekly wine list, but there are other aperitifs and cocktails that are sure to please diners.