Las Ramblas

Executive chef Blake Hartwick has a lot of fun in the kitchen here, and you can watch him work from the counter seating. He and his staff turn out loads of tasty tapas, including an ethereal scallops dish with a secret ingredient and excellent flat bread pizzas. The wine list, put together by Spanish-wine expert and importer extraordinaire Eric Solomon, is one of the best values in town. And the décor is just fun. It all adds up to one of the best dining experiences in the city.

Las Ramblas on the Cheap
This Dilworth eatery makes dining (well) on a budget easy. Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., find half-price bar tapas, which range from $4 to $16, including two of the restaurant's signature items, the hanger steak (normally $11), the scallops (normally $14), or the customer fave Queso de Cabra Frita, a fired goat cheese with roasted garlic and olives served with a quince honey (normally $9). Plus, time your visit for a Wednesday, when you can pair your small plates with half-price bottles of wines.

2400 Park Rd., 704-335-8444, lasramblascafe.com