What ' s on the menu
eat out
VIDA COMIDA Snacking on tapas with friends is one of the greatest and most simple joys of eating out .
Miriam Phillips heads to Swan Yard in Sherborne for a real taste of Spain
I t has been years since my last visit to the historic Swan Yard in Sherborne . Just off the main street , this pretty little part of the market town has oodles of charm , complete with cobblestones and surrounded by beautiful towering buildings . In what once was the busy Swan pub , owner Rob Davies has opened up popular Spanish restaurant Vida Comida , which translates as ‘ live to eat .’ The story of how the restaurant opened is certainly an interesting one – a former headteacher in Poole , Rob made a radical career shift , leaving behind the classroom to open his own restaurant . The food is authentic Spanish , one chef is from Tenerife and another from Valencia , and restaurant manager Albert Artigas is from Barcelona .
The restaurant
As soon as you walk in there is a friendly welcome and long rustic wooden tables – perfect for sharing – line the main restaurant . There ’ s a cosy seating area around the bar and more of a snug at the end of the restaurant . There ’ s also a courtyard for lazy afternoons drinking sangria .
The food
The menu is vast and has plenty of choices , featuring more than 29 tapas dishes . We decided to go for a selection and let the chef pick for us . First served was the Haloumi a la Plancha (£ 5.50 ), which is griddled haloumi seasoned with honey and thyme . As soon as I took my first bite I was transported back to a street market in Barcelona where I sampled a very similar dish . It was as heavenly and comforting as I remember and it is no wonder it is the restaurant ’ s best selling dish . The sweet dish was seasoned perfectly and the grilled cheese had been cooked equally well .
What ' s on the menu
“ Smooth and silky , with a strong taste of herbs ”
The second dish was the Ensalada Vida Comida (£ 5.95 ), which was a generous green salad served in crunchy lettuce cups complete with eggs , fresh anchovies , tomatoes , olives and tuna . The dressing packed a punch with its tangy lemon and the crunchy walnuts and pomegranates gave the dish a real variety of flavour and depth . We were heartily encouraged to try the Berenjenas Con Miel (£ 5.95 ), a fritter made with aubergine and courgette slices , coated in breadcrumbs and then lightly fried with a dusting of honey and thyme . Although the description does not do it justice , the dish was outstanding .
My partner ’ s favourite was the Tortilla de la Casa with Chorizo . It was smooth and silky , with a strong taste or herbs and the chorizo was cooked perfectly , so that it did not overpower the dish at all . Alongside the dishes we were served a very strong aïoli and a sweet pea purée that matched the dishes beautifully .
The specials board for desserts read like a dream , with the most popular being the churros with chocolate sauce . Judging by the restaurant ’ s Trip Advisor , we ’ re not alone in our love for these fried dough treats .
Menu ’ s Verdict
Fresh , delicous dishes served in a lively setting where the only thing stopping you trying new tastes is wanting your old favourites . This is what tapas is all about .
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Dishes range from £ 3.95 to £ 8.95 Mon to Fri 11am to 3pm it ’ s £ 10 for three tapas dishes Opening hours : Mon to Sat 11am to 11pm Sundays 11am to 3pm
Bookings : Vida Comida , Swan Yard , Cheap Street , Sherborne , Dorset , DT9 3AX www . facebook . com / VidaComidaAtTheSwan 01935 816116
www . menu-dorset . co . uk