When Uri Heilik and Rogelio Herrera opened Alloy on 42nd Avenue S.E. near Timber Town in 2007, a lot of people shook their heads at the unusual location. But now, almost five years later, Alloy’s food, service, ambience, easy access off Macleod Trail and ample parking have made Alloy a standard in the restaurant scene. And its whiteand-walnut decor has made it a go-to place for weddings.

The partners have now decided to open a second place – Candela – this time in a more predictable restaurant location at 1919 4th Street S.W. (403-719-0049).

Candela – which means flame in Spanish – is in the oddly named Aberdeen Market building that formerly housed a Great Canadian Bagel Co., a UPS shop and Busy B Cleaners. Designed by McKinley Burkhart Design Group, Candela is a long, rectangular room, lit by an immense skylight over a central tapas bar.

Candela’s food concept is what the owners call global small plates. But the opening menu of ceviche, paella, papas brava, calamari and chicharron reads as close to a traditional tapas bar as we’ve seen around these parts. (As a plus, many of them are under $10 with the most expensive a scallop-avocado ceviche at $14.)