Cava

Reservations are recommended at this oft-packed restaurant, where the setting is charming, the service team is cheerful and the food is mostly commendable.

Tapas are the highlight here; Cava's braised oxtail is as good as it gets _ less bony and more succulent and flavorsome than many versions elsewhere.

Bacalao with tomatoes, kalamata olive salad & lemon coriander dressing. Works well as a light, refreshing starter, but there seems to be very little salt-dried cod mixed in this.

Lamb boulette, with a minty pepper sauce to counter a smidgen of gaminess.

Paella. Not bad; packed with mixed chorizo, lamb marquez sausages, broccoli & wild mushrooms, but more saffron might help.

Aussie 1824 rib-eye. Meaty and rich in flavor, though a tad too tough.

Freixenet Carta Nevada Semi Seco Cava. Bubbly, bubbly, no toil or trouble.

A long list of sangria is laced with delicious ingredients. The honeyed red wine comes with drambuie, orange juice & sweet-&-sour; the white wine one with gin, honeydew & lime juice.

Cava,

Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar.