My first experience was about 20 years ago when the concept of small portions of lots of different things was just starting to take off.

I didn't get it and was left feeling ready for fish and chips.
In the interim I've been to all the chains and been put off by their formulaic offerings.

On cold Easter Bank Holiday weekend with a brother up from the big smoke plus an eight year old to be entertained, I headed for Ripponden's El Gato Negro.

Working on the premise of continental therefore child friendly, I assumed correctly we would be safe.

We arrived early doors to an empty restaurant – thank goodness – although it didn't stay that way long. And Luke's best attem-pts at restaurant clearance failed.

Throwing water over the table only brought out the best in the staff, who by the end of our meal deserved a medal as well as a generous tip.

El Gato Negro has created a very continental ambience that lures families in to relax.

Chris Williams and Simon Shaw, head waiter and chef respectively, came to Calderdale and tapas by accident.

Determined to offer something good and different they tried the starched white tablecloths and formal service but realised customers wanted the tapas they were serving as nibbles.

To keep the theme fresh Simon regularly heads to the Iberian Peninsula with an empty case to bring back new flavours to try.

It means that well known favourites such as tortilla rub shoulders with acorn fed jamon Iberico from Barcelona.

Comfort foodies can find familiarity while the more adventurous can be more daring.

They obviously work hard at the relaxed atmosphere they have created and customers, who seem a fairly loyal bunch, buy into it. A bottle of wine was left on a fireplace for diners to help themselves to with plenty of water delivered by attentive but not intrusive staff.

Choosing four or five dishes per couple over a bottle of Tempranilla soothed away the stresses of a busy week while Luke had the chance of drawing his own version of a lucky black cat on the paper tablemat as dinner was freshly prepared.

Daily specials enhance the regular menu, which I suspect changes seasonally.

We ordered anchovy fillets on crostini and scallops to satiate our need for something different and added a selection of Spanish meats, baby roast chicken with lemon garlic and paprika and mini Catalan chorizo in Aspel cider for safety.

Sour dough bread, tortilla and roasted parsnips with wild rosemary honey and cumin were excellent accompaniments.

The food was delivered as it was ready so we picked and talked and drew more cats.

Almost full, but not quite, we asked for the dessert menu.

What I can never work out about pudding is that it's an after thought to most restaurants.

Please can you all pay attention, for some of us, it's the most important part of dinner.

Expecting to be disappointed I ignored the sticky toffee pudding and headed for the authentic sounding Santiago tart.

A mix of cake and crushed almond with a hint of lemon it was delicious and my brother nicked some on the proviso that I got to try some of his poached figs served with ice cream.

Luke obviously had the chocolate ice cream. The meal for three of us came out at £81 including wine and drinks.

Ratings
Name: El Gato Negro Tapas

Address: Oldham Road, Ripponden,
HX6 4DN

Phone: 01422 823070

Food 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Service 4/5
Value 4/5