TAPAS is one of my favourite ways of eating - lots of small portions with different tastes.

Before visiting the new Tapas bar at Chapters, in Stokesley, I had only ever eaten at two others, a Spanish tapas where the locals ate in Nerje, Spain, and one back home in Holmfirth.

Chapters Tapas Bar is based on those found in Spain's most fashionable area. Owners Alan and Catherine Thompson travelled to Barcelona and other towns to get an authentic flavour for their new bar.

"We have drawn on the influence of the 'new wave' being produced by Spain's top chefs with slightly increased portion sizes and top quality produce," said Alan.

Was Stokesley ready for this new style of eating -sitting at a bar watching the food being cooked, and would the small but perfectly presented portions be large enough for a traditionally big Yorkshire appetite?

"Well, so far so good," said Alan. "We took a huge gamble in down-sizing the popular restaurant to make room for Tapas eaters alongside the bar and the feedback we have had so far is very encouraging."

How does it work?

All of the original bar is now for dining only, but you can sit in the bar, relax, have a bottle or glass of wine and enjoy just one plate of tapas or the larger plates.

The central "kitchen area" (all stainless steel), is the only area which can be reserved - for couples enjoying the gourmet meal - the dishes of which are a surprise on the night.

The "wall bar" is for those just wishing to have a drink or a small tapas.

There is also a section of seating at which tapas and larger plates of food can be ordered.

Got that?

We opted for seats at a table at the far end of the bar so that we could people watch.

To sit at the kitchen bar area on high stools and watch the chef cook, we would have had to book the Gourmet £44-per-couple tapas.

The long bar has been given a make-over to look Spanish with tri-colour blinds, high bar stools, metal tables and grey marble bartop and flagged floors. It is quite atmospheric - and very trendy.

We started out with a shared portion of bread and olives (£3) and delicious they were, several kinds with different sumptuous flavours.

After having some of the more exotic items on the menu explained, I ordered a plate of Spanish meats (£5) which included different salami, sausages and ham slices (£4.50); grilled prawns (my favourite) £5, and artisan chorizo and mixed beans. The strong taste of the chorizo sausage was perfectly complemented by the mild but tasty variety of beans, some of which I hadn't tried before.

I have to say that there are more fish dishes than anything else on the menu, and as my guest didn't like fish or "fatty" sausage she opted for the larger plate - Aberdeen Angus fillet (£15.95) with roast vegetables and home-made fries. Having said that she was so intrigued by my tapas choices that she did try a portion of each - which meant I was allowed to taste a small portion of her fillet steak.

It was like butter, the tenderest and tastiest piece of fillet I have ever had. It came sliced on top of the roast vegetables-one carrot slice, one onion slice, one courgette slice, and a small portion of aubergine. The nine fat chips were presented stacked three on three on a separate plate.

Doesn't sound much, but any more would have spoilt it said my guest, who agreed it was the best steak she had eaten.

For dessert I chose creme brulee (£2.50) which matched the standard of rest of the meal and my guest chose the fruit platter (£3.50)which she declared "superb" and contained mango as well as the usual fruits.

All this was washed down with a decent bottle of claret (£16.50), all served by young, attentive waiters and waitresses handling very well the new idea in dining.

It's definitely a different if not cheap eating out experience which seems to have hit the spot for jaded diners looking for something classy and different although it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.

To get a taste of the tapas on offer, you might like to try Friday lunchtime from 12-2.30pm when smaller dishes at cheaper prices are served. This means you can try more dishes for less money.

Our total bill for one shared starter, two aperitifs, one larger plate, three tapas dishes, two sweets and a bottle of wine came to £63.40.