Dining Out: Flushing restaurant offers cuisine of Mexico and Spain

By Carol Brock

But it was really a dinner Espanol that hooked us.

This newly opened restaurant (a mere month and a half), Cafe Espanol, a block or two north of the LIE has a dark, shiny, jet black, wood interior up front by the old-fashioned bar. It looked so Spanish to me, but I learned that it had formerly been an Irish pub. Sebastian & Pepe kept the bar and the look.

The tables for four bar-side are delightful spots, and even the stools at one end of the bar are nice to sit on.

Sangria, red or white, was of course in order and we went with the white. It was very fruity, possibly a pear brandy was used and the orange and apple were just the right, bite size. We noted lots of salt rimmed margaritas being served in impressively large, handsome, coupes. If you like margaritas, that could be the way to go.

Crisp tortilla triangles were in a basket accompanied by a smooth, distinctive, un-salsa-like dip. It was on the hot side, judged by the first tortilla, but mellowed out delightfully after that. Not the usual