Top of the V

When Marriott took over the Radisson Blu Anaheim hotel, renaming it The Viv, its rooftop Blusky Restaurant became “Top of the V.” The basic premise of the restaurant – authentic Spanish tapas at premium prices – remained the same, so our continued passion for Spanish cuisine brought us in for a visit. On paper, it checks all the boxes: a menu with nearly all the tapas, entrees, and paella one might hope to see from Spain, strong service, a swank dining room, and the option to sit outside with drinks while watching Anaheim from 12 floors up. Compared with rooftop Spanish-style experiences in LA, the view isn’t actually all that compelling, but it’s different, and that counts for something.

While the service was great – friendly and attentive – the food was generally good, mirroring the looks of classic tapas without always nailing flavors or textures. Strongest were the Carrillera, a sous vide-soft beef cheek set in a slightly sweet piquillo pepper purée; sliced and skewered Txistorra mini sausages; and a deliciously garlic-hinted but lightly oiled Gambas al Ajillo. Each was presented beautifully, and would pass flavor and texture tests in either San Sebastián or the best U.S. tapas outposts.