MECHECHE SNACK BAR: TAPAS DELIGHT IN BRATISLAVA’S OLD TOWN
The Cost - $50 per person
The Atmosphere – Mecheche Snack Bar is located in the heart of Bratislava’s charming Old Town, right next to a very cool umbrella art installation that is viewable from the restaurant’s outdoor seating. The restaurant’s name in Slovak is a slang word for “fun” or “party” and its modern, lively, interior certainly represents that. While the interior is great, the outdoor seating is really perfect for a spring or summer evening. Mecheche is a great setting for a casual dinner, a business group, or for a nice night out. Reservations and credit cards are accepted.
With a focus on Spanish-inspired tapas and its Josper charcoal grill, Mecheche Snack Bar stands out amongst the restaurants in Bratislava, Slovakia. The eatery, which opened in 2016, is known for its steaks, but it also offers a wide range of meat, fish, charcuterie. and vegetarian options, many of which are served as small plates. Chef Yurii Nehrych and team take inspiration from all over Europe to come up with the menu and they take ingredient sourcing seriously. For those with food allergies or restrictions, they do an excellent job of listing and handling allergens.
The Order – Carne y Queso, Chicharron, Ensalada con Quinoa, Striploin Dry Aged Steak, and Diablo Del Mar, .
The Great – The Carne y Queso was an excellent way to begin the meal. A long charcuterie board filled with a delightful selection of meats and cheeses, featuring jamón crudo, fuet, and chorizo alongside manchego, melusine, and castellano cheeses. The standout was the castellano, a sheep’s milk cheese, but all of the meats and cheeses brought joy to my taste buds. Served with pecans and two unique jellies—one fruity and one sweet and spicy—it was a lovely appetizer that was easily shared by three people.
The Striploin Dry Aged Steak was another highlight. Dry-aged for seven weeks and priced by weight, the 400g portion I ordered was shared by two people. It came beautifully prepared as requested with a chimichurri sauce and a spoonful of coarse Maldon salt to enhance the flavor. The meat was nice and fatty and had great flavor from the charcoal grill. It was a nice piece of meat that I would recommend trying; though because of the long dry-aging process and the high quality meat, it is not inexpensive.
The last of the three Great dishes was the Chicharrón which consisted of three crispy cubes of baked pork belly with some chipotle mayo, some greens, and a few tortilla chips., Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, the textures and flavors of the pork belly were excellent. The accompanying sauces were a pleasant surprise, adding flavors I didn’t expect to pair so well with the pork. While I definitely would have removed the tortilla chips from the dish, it was one of the best of the evening.
The Good – The two dishes that were ordered off the restaurant’s seasonal summer menu both earned a Good rating. The Diablo Del Mar featured monkfish, which was not incredibly exciting, but the creamy sauce it came in, made with Reisling and chives, was an absolute delight. The sauce was delicious with both the fish and the dish’s grilled broccoli, and it is the part of this dish that I will remember.
The Ensalada con Quinoa was light, yet filling, packed with fresh fruit (orange, pomegranate seeds, and green apple), mixed greens, cucumber, and quinoa. Topped with a mix of peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, it was a refreshing and satisfying salad which balanced out some of the meal’s heavier meat dishes.
The Verdict – Mecheche Snack Bar is a great spot to have solid Spanish-style tapas in an absolutely excellent location in Bratislava’s historic Old Town. The restaurant’s diverse menu provides options for every diner and I really enjoyed the meats that were prepared on the charcoal grill as well as the wonderful charcuterie.