Cafe Malaga is one of my favorite places to eat around DFW. It is just off the square in downtown McKinney, at 111 W. Virginia Street.

Cafe Malaga is one of those places where you plan to just go have a little something, yet you end up having a lot of little somethings. That's because it is a tapas restaurant, where typically one orders several small plates to share. And then, of course, there's that wine list.

It is a small restaurant, and reservations are suggested for Friday and Saturday evenings. It is so small, that we frequently find ourselves chatting with the people at the next table. It is just that type of place, and so often we have the good fortune to sit next to, or between (!) parties who have never been to Cafe Malaga before. Last time, we were between two parties who inquired about what we had ordered, and they followed suit.

My personal favorite is the wood grilled hanger steak over fried potatoes in paprika bleu cheese vinaigrette, but how can I not have the mojete, or the delicious potatoes with garlic aioli? And then how can we not have some wine, perhaps an Argentinian Malbec, and a San Pellegrino to go with that?

The menu has so much variety, there is truly something for everyone. And I love the tapas style. I would much rather select a few quality small dishes than have one overwhelmingly large bulk food entree.

I hate to say it, but the service has been spotty at times. Our last visit was for my birthday dinner, and the waiter had to be reminded to bring several things, including my San Pellegrino, our cheese plate, and a few other items. Of course the dinner was still delicious, and the evening wonderful. And, I was glad that the two adjoining tables of new patrons were chatting with us so that I could mention that the service was usually much better.

It is worth scheduling dinner when they have live music. It's great when they clear some room in this already small restaurant to add a few guitar players, or the second Saturday of the month when they feature the E-Flat Porch Band.