Ocho

"Bourdain passed on the consistently packed patio, opting instead for a seat at the bar at this candlelit Ballard establishment. He gave it his seal of approval, complimenting Ocho’s “generous drinks and Spanish-style tapas.”" - Dylan Joffe

"Tapas Lab is a Spanish-Asian wine bar where graduated cylinders double as beer glasses - and are luckily as far as they go with the “lab” theme. You pay at the counter here, so grab a glass of cava and/or some delicious snacks (like chorizo-stuffed meatballs and bulgogi pinchos), and let friends come and go as the evening progresses." - aimee rizzo

"Tapas Lab is a fast-casual, Asian-Spanish-fusion tapas spot and wine bar, and it’s the kind of place that will make you realize you’ve always needed bulgogi pinchos (topped with parmesan cheese and garlic aioli) in your life. The counter-service situation works perfectly for when you want to do a weeknight dinner with friends who might come and go (like Bill, who leaves early to walk the dog every time), but don’t want to sacrifice food quality just so you can eat somewhere easy. Even though a truffled steak is only $14 and the spicy chorizo-stuffed meatballs are only $6, these dishes are on the fancier side for the low price. Grab a glass of cava or a graduated cylinder full of beer (it is a “Lab,” after all) to pair with the excellent small plates." - aimee rizzo

"This is a fast-casual wine bar where everyone orders and pays for themselves at the counter. So if one person wants to go wild and order every shared plate on the menu, you won’t necessarily pay the price. The Asian-leaning tapas menu is great across the board, and most of the food items only cost about $5 each. Make sure bulgogi pinchos, chorizo-stuffed meatballs, and chicken teriyaki skewers hit the table." - aimee rizzo

"OK, Tapas Lab is a counter-service wine bar. But it’s actually a nice space to hang out with other adults and their younger dining companions. The tapas plates here are delicious - we like the chicken teriyaki skewers, bulgogi pinchos with parmesan cheese, and chorizo-stuffed meatballs, but there’s really something here for everyone. Best of luck setting a positive example for the kids by being a good sharer." - aimee rizzo