Just when you though LA couldn’t fit another tapas restaurant, Tinto, opened by the Sola family from Barcelona , has entered the bullring.

Lit by flickering candles and crystal chandeliers, Tinto’s gothic dining room beckons sophisticated diners with black leather banquettes, and arching exposed brick walls reminiscent of a Segovian aqueduct.

The tapas menu includes such  traditional Spanish mainstays as tortilla, a kind of potato omelette; albondigas, small Spanish meatballs; and prawns sautéed in garlic. For diners with more Hungry-Man appetites, Tinto also offers a more traditional menu with dinner salads like the mellow marinated quail and garden vegetables, or the smoked fish salad with salmon, trout and white fish served on greens.

For an entrée, the lamb chops with roasted potatoes and aioli, or the sea bass cooked in olive oil and garlic and vinegar are simple but delectable. There are also a traditional paella with chicken, and a seafood paella to choose from (each is made for two people to share) for diners who aren’t afraid to include a few starches in their diet. One of the most distinctive features at Tinto is the Spanish-only wine menu with bottles from all of ’s well-known regions as well as a few more obscure appellations, all reasonably priced between $24-80. Or try a pitcher of sangria mixed by Juan Sola Sr. himself, the owner and patriarch of the family. Though the prices are a little high for the paltry portions, the quality of the food is consistently excellent.

-- Eric Rosen for LA.com