Can Cava Pintxos & Wine - CLOSED

Overview

Bondi newcomer Can Cava is introducing Sydneysiders to tapas' lesser-known sister snack: pintxos. The Can Cava team — who've come straight from Barcelona — is turning out some seriously tasty versions of these northern Spanish bar eats in an effort to bring some more authentic small-plate eating to the Aussie palate.

After opening at the start of 2017, the cosy corner bar is already bustling with patrons on a daily basis. The open walls provide a seamless indoor-outdoor space, adding to the laidback vibe that suits its Bondi location well. The venue is a smooth balance between restaurant and bar and this atmosphere complements the menu well — the dishes can easily act as bar snacks or as a full-on meal. Either way, the staff will happily guide your group in the right direction, and don't push for over-ordering. As is the case with many a tapas restaurant, the bill can add up quickly if you order up big on the pintxos.

The menu caters to its Bondi clientele, and is friendly for every dietary requirement, specifically vegetarians. The goats' cheese croquette ($4 each) is, in our opinion, the best dish on the menu — the cheese is whipped into an impossible melt-in-your-mouth level of creaminess and is topped with that unbeatable salty-sweet combo of honey and rosemary salt.

The tuna tartare ($8 each) is another must-try pintxo — the high-quality fish features in a pico de gallo-like salsa with capers and scooped over a crunchy, just-baked tortilla chip. For meat lovers, the crispy lamb rib and juicy pork belly ($7 each) are not to be missed. In each, the meat is well seasoned and cooked just right; the lamb manages to be fall-off-the-bone juicy while still maintaining a crispy skin, and the pork belly is sauced with an apple cider bechamel that well complements the fatty meat.

For regulars, Can Cava is keeping the menu fresh by serving up daily rotating pintxos alongside their permanent menu. Locals do clearly seem to love the place, with the restaurant packed out by 7.30pm. And we can see where the loyalty comes from — the restaurant is an ideal spot to catch up with a few friends and just let the food and drinks keep rolling in.