Bites Nearby: House of Spain

If you're in the mood for real Spanish food, head over to the House of Spain, which boasts a number of delectable delights.

Start off with one of the seafood inspired appetizers. Fan favorites include shrimp cocktail, a half dozen clams on the half shell and mussels in a garlic sauce. For something a little bit different, try spare ribs with fruit sauce, shrimp in a green sauce with garlic, parsley, onions and sherry wine or clams in a mild tomato sauce with onions and peppers, otherwise known as clams ala chilindron.

Perhaps an appetizer is not what you seek, but you still want a some flavorful bursts of tastes before your main course. Indulge in a warming bowl of soup. Choices include gazpacho (cold vegetable soup), galician soup (potatoes, beans and greens), garlic soup and chicken noodle soup, making the menu perfect for both the adventurous diner and the more tamed palette.

To call the entree menu extensive is an understatement, as dozens and dozens of meals grace the list. Feeling like having some seafood tonight? Try the mariscada diablo which is mixed seafood with hot tomato sauce, onions and peppers for an explosion of fiery flavor or the zarzuela de mariscos, a combination of mixed seafood and half of a lobster. Other choices include mixed seafood with saffron rice, a seafood, chicken, sauce and saffron rice combination and much more.

Stay on land you order one of the chicken, beef, pork or veal entrees. Chicken is available in a vast number of styles including dipped in bechamel sauce and deep fried, served in garlic sauce and wine and prepared with onions, peppers, sausages and mushrooms. Chomp into one of the delicious steaks such as the steak catalan with sauteed chorizos, onions and mushrooms or the steak ala extremena cooked with sauteed onions, peppers, sausage and mushrooms.

Veal and pork dishes take on similar notes to some of the aforementioned entrees, as well as styles of their own. Indulge in veal ala plancha grilled with garlic, wine and mushrooms, veal ala francesa sauteed in egg batter with lemon, butter and wine or pork chops ala Madrid with hot tomato sauce, onions, peppers and mushrooms.