April 2010 Update: You can still read the review below and the comments about a variety of places, but early in 2010 Siroccos kicked the bucket. Their quaint spot on College Avenue is now occupied by Cena Restaurant, which looks like it has potential with a good menu.

Here's the original post about Sirocco's:

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Sirocco's is a breath of fresh Mediterranean air in the Fox Valley. Mediterranean tapas are its specialty. Tapas are the light and elegant appetizers of Spain which come in dozens of varieties. Sirocco's has extended the quintessentially Spanish concept to bring in delicious themes from throughout the Mediterranean (Spain, Italy, Greece, Lebanon, and Morocco), served tapas style. But if you think you already know Mediterranean cuisine because you've had a lot of pasta and pizza, think again. Sirocco's is not about loading you up with starchy calories. They focus on elegant and even stunning dishes that are small but so memorable and delicious.

Sirocco's is in the quaint spot formerly occupied by Peggy's on College Avenue (125 E. College Avenue 882-3813). We went on a cold Thursday night, arriving at about 8 pm. We were seated fairly quickly, but the place was packed. Since they are relatively new, just opening a couple months ago, it's a good sign to see such good business on a normally slow night. The word is out. The atmosphere was vibrant and filled with energy - people were having a great time.

Each dish I tried was a surprise and a delight. Fabulous flavors, unusual ingredients, attention to detail and appearance. Even in something simple like a salad there were surprises, such as the use of small delicately flavored champagne grapes.

Sirocco's is on the somewhat expensive side for the Fox Cities. Tapas range from $8 to $12 each, but you need about two per person for a meal since they are small and light (perhaps three if you're really hungry). They also offer seven main courses to choose from, ranging from $16 to $28.

Here are a few sample items:

Trio of Croustades. This is a cold tapas plate with six small pieces of toasted Italian bread with interesting ingredients on top. There are two each of three varieties. One has goat cheese with asparagus wrapped in smoked salmon, Kalamata olives and pine nuts. Amazing! Another variety had a light sauce made from roasted peppers and some feta cheese. Another had a Gorgonzola olive spread with some delicious peppered tenderloin, caramelized pears, and spiced walnuts. Surprising and so good. I'd go back for this alone.

Goat cheese, sun-dried tomato, and tarragon pesto in a torta with fig jam and pine nuts, with garlic-herb pita toast. Another cold tapas.

Empanadas are one of the hot tapas plates. They can be filled with your choice of three stuffings: (1) chorizo sausage, green chile, and manchego cheese (a goat cheese from Spain), (2) artichoke, roasted pepper, Kalamata olive and feta cheese, or (3) caramelized apple, fennel and Brie cheese with a sweet pepper syrup. We tried the artichoke variety and were pleased.

Another hot tapas we tried was spiced lamb skewers served with pita bread, a salad with tomatoes, olives, and red onion, and fresh tzatziki sauce.

A hot tapas plate that I'd like to try sometime is the king crab cake and shrimp la pancha served with a mango and avocado salad with apricot-chile vinaigrette.

Main courses looked great, but we didn't try any. I almost ordered the Black Angus filet mignon stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and served with portabello mushrooms, beans, onions, and mashed potatoes.

They also offer a vegetarian moussaka with layers of zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash and Yukon Goki potato and roasted red pepper served in a three-cheese chive bechamel sauce. Sounds great!

They get my award for bestMediterraneann food in the Fox Valley. Let me know if you disagree!