Eating Nashville: A 'wonderland' of tapas? We find out at Iberian Pig

The Iberian Pig has big buzz. Eater Nashville called it a "wonderland" of Spanish tapas. More than 27,000 people follow the restaurant's Instagram page, keeping tabs on the tapas spot's Jamon Happy Hour, with its $5 sangrias and discounted charcuterie boards.

Popularity is not always a marker of greatness, however. And Nashville already has a few tapas restaurants, one or two of which are quite good and the others fair at best. We'll leave which ones we mean for a different review. For now, the big question is: Does this multi-level Gulch tapas spot live up to the hype?

Mack: I was excited for this spot as soon as I saw that it served one of my favorite pintxos: the Gilda, or a skewer of olives, pickled peppers and anchovies. At the same time, I also noticed some decidedly not-Spanish food, including risotto, tacos and big Wagyu burgers.

But when I walked in, and I hate to sound so old, all I noticed was the noise level. No joke ― this was one of the loudest restaurants I've ever been in. I've seen literally hundreds of concerts, so my hearing is already pretty compromised.

Brad: WHAT?? That place was insanely loud, a shrill din created solely by the throngs of enthusiastic diners. Best move of the night — when you, Mack, asked our server to move next to you when you ordered so he could hear you.

On the first-impressions front, though, I really liked the look of the place, traditional dark wood mixed with modern lighting.

Oh, and the charcuterie meats and cheeses you picked? Exquisita! I also loved the schmears of mustards and pureed apricot. The flavor-packed razor-thin slices of chorizo were my favorites. Did you tell me the source pigs were acorn-fed?

Mack: Yep, we had the lomo ibérico, the paleta ibérico de bellota and the chorizo ibérico de bellota. "Bellota" means acorn, which makes fat taste extra rich and nutty, proof that you are what you eat extends to pigs. I also ordered three cheeses: nutty idiazábal, funky blue valdeón and the majón.

I was super happy with the quality and the presentation of all of it, but I'll note that the $55 price stage might be prohibitively expensive for what amounted to six total ounces of meat and cheese. And we didn't stop there.

Brad: Yeah, I wasn't nearly as excited about the other tapas that came out. For me, the bacon-wrapped dates (cleverly called "BWD" on the menu) were clumps of super-sweet mush.

The other two dishes — basically a garlic-butter shrimp and a broiled octopus — looked awesome on the plates, but they lacked any pop in flavors. They were fine, but I probably wouldn't order them again.

Mack: The octopus was perfectly prepared but the potatoes rolling around on the side were boring; I was hoping for puree, which is how I'm used to this being served. It was fine! I'm feeling less forgiving about the gambas al ajillo (the shrimp you mentioned) because it's supposed to be garlic-forward, and here it was barely there. The patatas bravas, too! Not so bravas.

Brad: What I most definitely remember, fondly, is the Iberico mac n' cheese, served with an exciting blend of unique cheeses and amazing crispy bacon/ham bits on top. Decadent and delicious.

I can't decide whether that or the well-executed paella — a traditional Spanish rice-meats-veggies dish — is my fave. The rich flavors and the simplicity of the dish felt like such a comfort food for me.

Mack: I almost didn't want to mention the crispy ham-studded macaroni, which I ordered on a lark. It's in the same class as those tacos: just not Spanish. But lord if majón cheese doesn't make the most perfect mac. It seems a smart way to use ham butts, too.

That paella was almost perfect, though I would have preferred a different option besides chicken and a bit more oomph in general. More garlic! More flavor! Otherwise, the preparation was spot on, with a nice crispy socarrat on the bottom. Highlight of the night. Well, that and the gorgeous Basque-style cheesecake.

Brad: Ooooooooooo, the cheesecake! What a sweet finish. The "drunken berry compote" had just enough tartness to complement the smooth sweetness of the cheesecake. Fantastic.

Overall, I thought we had a really good meal, with a few plain plates along the way. If you order carefully, you can have an excellent meal. But man, the noise level is tough to get past (said the old man).

Mack: If you're looking for an intimate date night experience, this really isn't it, at least not after 7 p.m. Empty restaurants are quieter ― but much less fun. If you're looking for a spot to gather with friends to shout over food and a nice Spanish wine or craft cocktail, this is a good option in the Gulch.

If you go

What: The Iberian Pig

Where: 607 Overton St.

Of note: There's a gluten-free and vegetarian menu. The restaurant is open daily at 4 p.m., with Jamon Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m.

Have you been? Did you dig the Pig? Let us know — find Brad at brad@tennessean.com and Mackensy at mlunsford@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New Nashville restaurant: Iberian Pig's dishes either dazzle or flop