Sometimes when I am on the road, I need a break from the upscale restaurants we go to every night and just want to kick back, drink some wine, have a casual meal….and a bill that doesn’t break the bank.

Mas Tapas is just that kind of the neighborhood restaurant we all wish we had. Casual, laid back, a place to meet friends, to linger over a bottle of wine on the patio. Mas was conceived by Chef Tomas Rahal as an opportunity to feature slow cooked, organic, artisinal foods and wines, especially those from Spain.

The tapas here are just amazing and paired with a great selection of Spanish wines makes this a wonderful stop. Here’s a sampling; Yukon Gold potatoes roasted w/ a spicy rub, served w/ our own hand-made aioli, grilled pork terrine served w/ mango chutney, warm artichoke and goat cheese spread w/ brick-oven bread, jamon Serrano, Manchego cheese and aioli on wood-oven bread, roasted spicy chicken wings tossed in mojo verde w/ creamy blue cheese dressing, grilled, marinated chicken tenderloins w/ garlic-yogurt dressing, flatbread, Niman’s Ranch pork shank slow braised w/ sweet onions, juniper berries, and anise served w/ brick oven bread to name just a few.

Wonderful Spanish wine list. Order from the “Very Special Wines” list for the best of Spain, many only $50-$60. There’s a killer cheese plate and a great selection of vintage ports.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Not so high, but that’s not why you came here.