Bom Bolla - to Cava or Not to Cava

Today I met a friend at Bom Bolla - the new Spanish Cava bar/tapas restaurant in Wicker Park, although I'm not sure they brand themselves as a tapas restaurant.  They certainly have a few though. From the owners that brought you Pop Champagne bar in River North, new doors have open to another Mediterranean wonder...Spain.

Moving away from their French roots at Pop, the owners have opened a Spanish Cava bar with...an attempted Spanish tapas.  Don't get me wrong, the tapas are delicious.  My friend and I split two plates of cheese, a plate of lomo (cured meat), some eggplant roasted over charcoal (definitely not my favorite) and Potato and Onion croquettes (super yummy).  Along with 2 glasses of rosé cava, the bill was actually manageable compared to some other tapas restaurants I've been to.  It cost us about $35 a person.  I wasn't stuffed, but I was happily comfortable.

And while the rosé was delicious, I'll admit I had to head for the almost French rosé as opposed to the Spanish brand, although that wasn't for a lack of trying.  I ordered the cheapest Spanish brand and it was far too sweet and fruity for my taste.  My husband tells me my tastebuds are weird, but to me it was too close to sparkling apple juice to be enjoyable.  Give me a clean, crisp, dry rosé and I'm happy!

Again, the food was good, and it was absolutely like a Spanish bar: unassuming, relaxed, and with only a few 'bar food' items at your disposal.  A Spanish bar isn't a place for a meal, but rather a light nibbling to help you not get super drunk super fast.  However, I'm just not sure the Wicker Park neighborhood is going to gobble up this hoping-to-be gem.  While Pop Champagne finds a wonderfully welcoming home in the bustle, touristy, and professional River North, I feel the Spanish Bom Bolla may have found a better home in a similar neighborhood as well.  Although unassuming, it's definitely a little more pretentious than the neighboring Furious Spoon and Big Star.  However, it reminded me of my year spent living in Spain, and for that I thank it.

So good luck to you, Bom Bolla!  I hope you prove me wrong!