Located between Sophia Street and the Rappahannock River, Tapa Rio, a fusion of Latin American and Italian cuisine, boasts one of the best happy hours, and best views, of any restaurant in Fredericksburg. The beer, wine, and cocktails of Tapa Rio are all first-rate and delicious. But a trip to Tapa Rio is complete not only with drinks, but with their extraordinary small plates and pizzas.
My girlfriend, Marissa, and I were accompanied by our friend Brandon, an excellent local chef whose pallet has high standards. We began our trip to Tapa Rio by ordering some drinks. I stuck to the Hazy Citrus IPA, while Marissa and Brandon tried the Tapa Rio itself, which is a flute of moscato topped with raspberry liqueur. Enjoying our drinks immensely, it did not take us long to begin sampling some wonderful dishes.
The three of us ordered the Patatas Bravas, Datilles con Tocino, Pequillos con Atun, Gambas a la Plancha, and two pizzas: Burrata and Funghi. The food was fantastic, and paired perfectly with such amazing drinks. I was particularly impressed by the Gambas a la Plancha, which consisted of grilled and marinated shrimp topped with garlic aioli and aleppo spice. The perfect flavors of the shrimp, combined with my IPA, made the night absolutely perfect.
Our server at Tapa Rio was efficient and personable, which contributed to such a wonderful experience. The food was truly delicious, and our drinks were top notch. Oh, and let us not forget the unbelievable view of the Rappahannock, seen from the patio and windows of the restaurant. I cannot recommend Tapa Rio enough, and will be sure to return for more soon.
Tapa Rio is located at 1101 Sophia Street. Follow them on Facebook.