Two things I would never normally order at a restaurant: gazpacho and carrots.—My two favorite things off the menu at El Five, the Mediterranean tapas bar by the group that brought us Root Down and Linger? Green Gazpacho and Ash Roasted Carrots.
What can I say? Chef-owner Justin Cucci knows how to make people eat their vegetables.
El Five, which opens May 3, isn’t just about veggies, though. The tapas menu features meat-centric dishes like Shawarma Lamb Ribs (with a really great pickled mango amba) and the meatball-esque Chicken Kofta. The Matzah Ball Soup Dumplings are particularly interesting, and bigger appetites will appreciate the trio of paellas on the menu (seafood, vegetarian and rabbit/sausage).
“At the end of the day we want (the food) to be craveable and full of flavor,” Cucci said.
Desserts were also pleasantly surprising. I’m not a flan fan, but El Five’s — closer to a cr—me caramel — was a sweet, creamy little mound of goodness that I could eat all day.
Warning for when you inevitably try to find this place: It’s perched high up in the building behind Sushi Ronin. It’s kind of confusing, but Cucci’s got mega fans, so I’m sure people will make the effort.
El Five: 2930 Umatilla St., Fifth Floor. 303-333-3256, .