El Gato Negro reopening and launching new menu

Acclaimed Spanish tapas restaurant, El Gato Negro, is reopening its doors and getting into the festive spirit this Wednesday (December 2) with a new menu guaranteed to put a little fizz into Christmas.

Located in historic Walker House, the beautiful restaurant celebrated for its award-winning small plates and incredible cocktails, is the perfect space in which to dine at a stylish distance, thanks to its dramatic high ceilings and large open floor. 

A sprinkling of Christmas décor provides a welcome touch of seasonal magic, with an abundance of fairy lights creating a welcoming glow across Exchange Flags.

Returning just in time for the seasonal celebration, Tipsy Tapas invites guests to enjoy three small plates from the restaurant’s extensive award-winning menu and bottomless Prosecco, Bellini, house wine or beer for £35pp.

Available every Saturday from 12pm to 4pm, it’s the perfect menu for those looking to add a little extra sparkle to a family reunion or simply treat themselves after a hard day’s Christmas shopping, with a number of new dishes added.  Drinks are available for 90 minutes from the point of being seated.

For those that prefer a Sunday social, El Gato Negro has introduced some mouth-watering large plates to accompany its small, with a new Sunday roast served with a little Spanish flavour.

Just one glimpse of the menu is all it takes to make mouths water with five sections to tantalise taste buds – Para Picar (Spanish snacks), starters, main dishes, sides, and desserts, with two courses available for £22 (vegetarian/vegan £20) or three courses for £26 (vegetarian/vegan £24).

The Para Picar section provides your first taste of Spain with marinated olives (vg) (£4), El Gato Negro’s much-loved Padrón peppers with Halen Môn sea salt (vg) (£5), Catalan bread with olive oil, garlic and fresh tomato (£4) and a Charcuterie board, featuring Jamón serrano, salchichón ibérico, olive torta, aged Manchego cheese with orange blossom honey, Monte Enebro goats cheese and quince jelly (£13.50) all making an appearance.

A selection of six starters (included within the set menu) sees flavours continue to build.  Choose from Jamón Ibérico croquetas (4 units); crispy fried baby squid with lemon aioli; sweet and sticky crispy chicken wings;  field mushrooms with creamy mushroom sauce and homemade crisps (v); deep-fried cauliflower florets with romesco sauce (vg), and gambas al ajillo prawns with caramelised onions and red peppers in a garlic sauce (£2 supplement).

Expect plates to get a lot bigger as you move on to El Gato Negro’s selection of individual roasts with a roasted sirloin of beef (£17), slow-roasted pork belly (£16) and half a roasted chicken (£15) available.

For those with the heartiest of appetites, a roast platter for two is also on offer (£40).  All come served with roasted potatoes, root veg mash, braised cabbage, a Yorkshire pudding, and plenty of gravy.

Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for at the beautiful Exchange Flags restaurant with Spanish fish and chips – battered fish goujons with paprika chips, mushy peas and aioli (£13), and Mushroom Wellington (vg) (£13) also making the list of bigger plates.

A wide selection of additional sides is available for those with the appetite and include creamy mashed potato (£4.50); Manchego cauliflower cheese (£4.50); a Yorkshire pudding (v) (£1.50 each); Chorizo pigs in blankets (£6), and Valencian honey glazed chantenay carrots (V) (£4.50).

Providing the sweetest of sweet finishes is El Gato Negro’s Sunday dessert menu.  Including a warm chocolate brownie, with chocolate sauce and pistachio ice cream (V); sticky toffee pudding with homemade custard (v); almond tart, with salted caramel Chantilly cream (v), and baked vanilla cheesecake with Biscoff toffee sauce (V) it’s one you simply have to make room for.

El Gato Negro’s new Sunday menu is available now and served every Sunday from 13.30 to 19:00 (the last sitting is at 18:15).  The restaurant and bar close at 23.00.

A number of further new dishes have also been introduced to El Gato Negro’s main menu including glazed pork baby back ribs (£11); classic beef meatballs in tomato sauce with parmesan shavings (£7.50); braised ox cheeks with horseradish mash (£12); spicy chicken skewers with roasted peppers and onions (£7.50); salt cod fritters with tartare sauce (£7), and griddled stonebass with chickpeas in fritarda sauce and sourdough croutons (£10).

For the full menu, click here.

El Gato Negro reopens this Wednesday (Dec 2).  Hours of service are Monday to Sunday, 12:00 – 21:30 (food service) and 12:00 – 23:00 (general service).  A private dining room is available for those looking to celebrate special occasions or a little extra privacy.

El Gato Negro operates with the strictest safety measures in place including distanced seating, regular and enhanced deep cleaning, hand sanitising stations, contactless payment (where possible) and laminated menus which are cleaned after every use.  For further information please visit  https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/covid-19-safety/.

Reservations for El Gato Negro Exchange Flags can be made online at here or for those that require to speak to a member of the team, on 0151 236 1331.  Reservations are subject to government restrictions.