Tapas: a delectable treat. They can be large, they can be small, but most certainly they are always delicious. Searching for tapas in Charlottesville led me to Mas. As its name implies, Mas is a traditional Spanish style tapas bar/restaurant and is located in the heart of Belmont at 501 Monticello Rd.
Tapas are, like most cuisines, an invention of necessity that turned into fine culinary dining. Some centuries ago in Spain. where dinner is generally eaten much later than in America, people began gathering after work with friends at bistro/bar-style establishments to socialize and relax over a few drinks. During this time there was no air-conditioning, so most people sat outside where they were pestered by flies. Bar establishments decided that to protect patrons' beverages, small pieces of bread or other food should be placed on top of the drinks to keep out the flies, giving birth to what we now know as tapas.
As Mas Tapas demonstrates, tapas have evolved into much more sophisticated cuisine, for which every eater should be thankful. Whether sophisticated or simple, though, the basic idea of getting small portions of food along with good drinks and good company has proven to be a time-tested combination.
Mas, as its employees will adamantly tell you if you call -- and I found out the hard way -- does not take reservations. There is ample seating, however, and I did not have to wait at all. When I arrived, I chose a table outside because the volume of the music inside was too loud if the main purpose of your visit was eating, as mine was. The décor of Mas is fitting for its food; it is minimalist yet still comfortable, and most tables contain plenty of room for several plates. I felt somewhat out of place in the faux Manhattan chic environment as I wasn't wearing black jeans and a tight shirt, but overall Mas is inviting to anyone.
After being seated I was given a complimentary selection of assorted olives. No other food besides the olive encompasses the entirety of Mediterranean food so well, and these did not disappoint. The selection included small, medium and large olives, most of which had been prepared with traditional brine; there were, however, a few dark salt-cured olives that were equally tasty. Following this, I was presented with a wine and drink menu that was helpful and complete without being overbearing. The list included ample descriptions of its diverse selection of wines, as well as several other drink options.
From here, I proceeded to review the menu, which was vast in both food offerings and price ranges. Mas offers tapas in $3, $4, $6, $8, $10 and $15 categories. From these offerings I selected five tapas, ordering for two. The first was a $4 "Nueces picantes," which Mas describes as "lightly roasted Marcona almonds and walnuts with smoked paprika, cinnamon, and olive oil." The nuts were perfectly roasted -- not too firm and not too soft -- and had a great smoky flavor heightened by the paprika. My second order, a $6 "Queso con alcachofa" was advertised as "hot artichoke and goat cheese spread with our brick oven bread." The creaminess of goat cheese cut perfectly through the bite of the artichoke, and the bread had a wonderfully crusty exterior while still maintaining a soft interior. The textures were nearly perfect. My third order was a $6 "Bocadillo de jamón" -- "jamon serrano, Manchego cheese and alioli on our delicious wood-oven bread." The serrano (similar to a prosciutto, only milder and not as salty) played perfectly with the spicy Manchego and was a perfect example of how a minimal number of quality ingredients can be far superior to an overly complex combination of ingredients. My fourth order was an $8 "Brochetta de atún" -- "yellowfin tuna grilled rare only, served with hot-smoked tomato alioli." The tuna was cooked to perfection; however, the alioli was a bit underseasoned. Finally, I ordered the $15 "Solomillo de 'Kob" -- "Wagyu strip loin served very rare only, sliced paper-thin over baby arugula w/ white truffle-infused olive oil." This dish was my personal favorite; it was close to perfection. The richness of the Wagyu was cut perfectly by the spicy bitterness of the arugula, and the white truffle olive oil added an unparalleled flavor that only truffles can supply.
Overall, Mas is a great restaurant for a medium-priced dinner, social gathering among friends or evening with a significant other. The beauty of tapas is that you can make it as much or as little of a meal as you want. Furthermore, because of Mas' vast offerings across many different price ranges, you can taste many flavors and make your outing as inexpensive or expensive as you want. Personally, for the service (which was very good), the setting (which is in a wonderful part of Charlottesville that few students ever take advantage of), the pedigree of ingredients (such as serrano, Manchengo and Wagyu) and the diversity of menu options, I think one would be hard pressed to find more "bang for the buck."
Happy eating.
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