De La Vega’s array of tantalizing tapas takes you on a culinary journey through Latin America.

Mano De La Vega and his sister, Nora, moved to the United States from Mexico City to open their first eponymous restaurant in Deland about 15 years ago. According to the restaurant’s website, the siblings’ desire for creating Latin American inspired dishes further grew through marriage—Nora is married to a Costa Rican, while Mano’s spouse is Venezuelan—and the De La Vegas, with added panache, began to incorporate even more traditional Hispanic ingredients. A second location was introduced in Oviedo in early 2018, featuring the same menu as the original plus a few surprises.

My friend and I arrived at the Oviedo location on a Saturday around 6 p.m. The restaurant itself was located in a plaza attached to several other businesses in an area called Oviedo on the Park. Upon entering, we noticed that the inside of the building was completely open to the outside seating area as a garage-like door separated the two zones. With it open, the vibe was beach-y without nearing a beach whatsoever.

The cocktail and food menu was a booklet of shareable options, making it difficult for my friend and I to decide. Fortunately, our knowledgeable waiter had some drink suggestions. For me, the Frida Mia ($9), a citrus and fruity concoction of 1800 Silver Tequila, watermelon and lime juice, basil syrup and chia seeds topped with a basil garnish. I loved every sip and each taste was accompanied by an invigorating aroma.

As for my friend, he chose favorite of the staff, the Old Kompass ($8), another citrusy mix of Matusalem Clasico Rum, lime juice, hibiscus syrup, aqua fava and kombucha. Served with a hibiscus flower on top, this beverage of choice knocked mine way into left field. A layer of foam settled on top that tasted delightfully sweet, not at all what my friend was excepting from the froth.

For starters, we ordered Avocado Rellenos ($15.95). It had fresh avocados filled with lime-infused shrimp and red onion and was covered in a delicate citrus glaze and topped with fresh cilantro. If you’re indifferent to avocados, I suggest picking an alternative option, but if you love them, you will consequently love this dish.

We love shrimp and avocados so much that we settled on another small plate with both, the Taquiza del Mar ($16.95). Presented with a thick melted layer of cheese on top, this plate came out with fresh grilled shrimp on a bed of sautéed onions, bell peppers and pineapple. It was      served with corn tortillas and guacamole on the side. While flavorsome and juicy, the cheese was, for me, overwhelming. However, my friend thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although all the items on the menu are small, shareable portions, we ordered what we considered “entrées,” or tapas that had slightly larger helpings for our main course. For me, the Chipotle Glazed Salmon ($18.95) was a no-brainer. The grilled salmon was set atop of yellow silky rice in a succulent chipotle glaze with mango chutney, all garnished with fresh cilantro and crispy onions. This absolutely hit the spot and the glaze was flawless in its balance of sweet and savory.

My friend decided on the Banderillas ($14.95), which was recommended by our server. Named for the barbed darts used during a bullfight, this plate arrived with upright skewers piercing through beef pieces, zucchini squash, roasted peppers and toasted bread infused with mango vinaigrette. It also had a side of rice. This killer presentation revealed plenty of piquant flavor to go around.

For dessert, there were three options. I couldn’t resist the Mano’s Flan ($6), a creamy, rum-infused custard that was a nice ending to our hearty meal. We also decided on the Hibiscus-Chocolate Tart ($7), which was filled with fresh hibiscus marmalade and homemade chocolate cake and then topped with a creamy hibiscus mousse. The image on the menu for this dish looked slightly different and, in my opinion, a poor depiction to the real deal that was a fruity and refreshing.

If you’re looking to taste test a range of exciting Latin American flavors, you’ll want to start here at De La Vega. Created by a dynamic duo of two passionate siblings, the restaurant offers an inviting atmosphere and tapas that need to be shared.

In these uncertain times, we all look forward to the day when we can get back to our favorite restaurants to share good food and good company with family and friends. De La Vega should be one of the spots you line up a reservation for.

De La Vega
945 City Plaza Way, Suite #1001 | Oviedo
407-900-9882 | DeLaVegaBar.com

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s May 2020 issue.