Bocata, simply meaning sandwich and derived from the word ‘boca’ (mouth) in Spanish brings a new set of flavours to nearby Danks Street, Waterloo.

Sitting alongside Fratelli Fresh and its hidden treasure Cafe Sopra as well as Danks Street Depot, this Senorita makes a big impression with full seats, plenty of foot traffic and lots of satisfied faces. The staff are all Spanish – well, some are Argentinean and Mexican – but they speak in their native tongue. It’s always nice to eat at a cafe where the people making the food hail from where the food does.

The venue offering an assortment of bocatas, available in their pure and simple form of two fillings – jamon y queso (ham and cheese)– as well as a range of empanadas, including beef or tuna, accompanied by a grilled capsicum salad.

Owner Miguel Cajias's philosophy is simple. “In Spain, bocata is a slang word for sandwich. Here it is a great artisan sandwich. We make bocatas from scratch using the best locally produced cured meats and the best imported cheeses combined with our in-house baked bread.”

Adding to the list on offer are ‘pintxos’ (pronounced ‘pinchos’) for $1 each. Pintxos, meaning ‘spike’, are a typical snack of the Basque country and consist of small slices of bread upon which an ingredient or mixture of ingredients is placed and fastened with a toothpick.

This Spanish treasure trove also operates as a deli, offering up an assortment of imported produce ranging from ‘conservas’ (tinned products) to sauces, cheeses, beans, breads and plenty more Spanish alimentos to fill your pantry.

Bocata comes with extremely reasonable prices in this thriving gastronomic neighbourhood. Boasting a timber theme throughout, the atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and unpretentious, and although the menu is still relatively compact, Cajias has plenty more planned for his new business.