Great tapas spot! We came for a post Pilates bite and got a few dishes to share, followed by a…read moreglass of sangria before leaving. The bruschetta specifically stood out. The tomatoes were so decadent and the bread so fresh and soft. We also really enjoyed the arancini for something a bit more savory. The tortilla was also great and a bit heavier of a dish for those who are hungrier. The staff seemed a bit uncoordinated but overall friendly. It's a very modern vibe and I loved the open concept kitchen.

This tapas takes me back to Spain. I love all the locations. Food is consistently good across them…read moreall. Excellent and fresh ingredients. The flavors boom. The drinks are vast and complement the food so well. I always make a stop here during my visits to London, which are a few times a year!

I'm sorry I don't understand the hype…read more We waited 15min in the rain to be seated only to be given a 1.5hour dinning time. Hey initially brought a drinks menu to us when we are waiting in the queue but they didn't come to take our order until we got our table so I don't see the point. We ordered a wine and a beer. Wine tasted worse than most wine we have in other restaurants and the beer is with a thick foam and small glass.. The food is alright but with the service and portion, I didn't think we get our money's worth.

Bermondsey Street was a main thoroughfare for us. It may not have always been the most direct route…read morebut when you don't know where you're going, it's good to go where you know as you figure it out. I will say that the app - City Mapper - is worth installing on your phone. Oh, but when you're travelling out of the US, you don't want to pay the high roaming charges. Then I say, go to the "airalo" website and see if what they offer might meet your needs, and if it does, install it too. Most newer phones allow you to install electronic SIMs. If you follow the instructions very carefully, you can set your phone up to use this second line for local data access and that will allow City Mapper to run for you while you roam around. I know that I'm sounding like a commercial but that's how much I liked using the app. While I didn't always know which direction I was facing, by watching the app as I moved, I could see if I was heading toward or away from my target. Okay, back to Jose. We walked by this place several times, both during the day and at night. They always had guests, especially at night when the crowd seemed to spill out of the restaurant to the outside tables and surrounding area. People looked happy as they indulged in their food and wine. We stopped once and read the menu. It's quite small and written on a chalkboard. It looks like every now and then, they erase something and write something else up. Having been to Barcelona, we weren't particularly impressed with the menu and didn't plan on dining there. Until I read the reviews. And looked at their website and learned about Jose Pizzaro, chef, owner of six restaurants in London and one in Abu Dhabi, author of six cookbooks, a regular on BBC cooking shows AND that the Tapas Bar Jose is mentioned as a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. Service was wonderful. It was cool watching Chef prepare our food. The Pan con Tomate was so simple and yet so delicious. A slice of bread, toasted, rubbed with garlic, rubbed roughly with a ripe tomato, slightly salted and drizzled with olive oil. I could eat that every single day and LOSE WEIGHT. The Bermondsey Bomba was like a giant Porto Bakery (forgive me Jose) Potato Ball with more meat in a spicy sauce placed on top of a bed of aioli with a dollop of seasoned tomato paste on top. I could eat these every single day and GAIN WEIGHT. The Boquerones were heavenly. The Clams with Garlic and Parsley, devine. And the Patatas Bravas...come on man, they're just potatoes! Crispy on the outside, soft and warming on the inside. Once again, the aioli and seasoned tomato paste just brings it all together. Service was warm and friendly. They were kind enough to let us order in rounds so we could gauge how much to order. Honestly, we had five dishes and were stuffed. Pictures to follow.

We had dinner here tonight at the last seating of the evening (9pm) on a Friday. We were promptly…read moreseated and were soon greeted by a server. The atmosphere was lovely and the menu offered an array of tapas options. The portion sizes were definitely on the smaller tapas side. The food was good, but some of the plates lacked depth of flavor. The olives and croquettes were nice, but the papas bravas and shrimp were bland. Unfortunately they were out of a number of items (no peppers, bread (!), or espresso (?)). The service was respectful but distant/inattentive. We were often waiting longer than we would have preferred to order food or for plates to arrive. Don't plan on a quick meal! The churros and chocolate cake were both lovely.

It is always with great happiness that I visit iberica. It is a fabulous Spanish restaurant if you…read moreare in London and want a genuine Spanish tapas experience the. This is the place to go! Food is amazing and a good wine list. Staff are very friendly and helpful! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

After eating so many heavy meals on our trip to London, my husband and I decided to get tapas on…read moreour last night. We found Condesa online and were able to snag a last minute reservation. The restaurant was a little small but it was cozy and the atmosphere was perfect for a girls or date night. My favorite was the tuna tartar tostada and hummus and pumpkin tostada. The cheese plate was also great for the price. Everything was light and refreshing.

While in London, met up with family for dinner at Condesa before catching a show. We were able to…read morewalk in and be seated right away without a reservation. This was probably my favorite restaurant while visiting. My absolute favorite tapa was the tuna tartar tostadas. We also got the lamb, albondigas, and sliders. We didn't leave a crumb! My sister and her husband also ordered the hummus tostadas, roasted cauliflower, and grilled carrots. She's not the biggest tapas fan so I was so glad she enjoyed the food as well. We got a pitcher of red sangria to add to the experience and ended dinner with the Pan de Elote, which was quite the crowd pleaser. The restaurant is definitely in the "it" part of the city, lots of foot traffic and so many things going on around the place. The setup is real cool too. We sat at the bar, which is right in front of the kitchen so you get to watch as the cooks prepare the dishes. The service was real fast too. It is a bit on the pricey side, but if you don't mind splurging a bit, it's definitely worth trying!

It was only average. Went here for drinks and dinner with a business colleague. Had a variety of…read moretapas and two mains. Pan con tomate was not very good, a disappointment really. Jamon was not bad. I felt the tuna was too salty and the fried veal was really bland. Not very impressed with the service either which started out good but then got very rushed. I felt like they wanted us out of there. With so many great restaurants in London best to try somewhere else.

Great food and wine here. Quality of the ingredients is great and the service is attentive and…read morepersonable. Really nicely set out and good vibe. My only tip is that the food is bigger than traditional tapas! We over ordered against the recommendation of the waitress - but it all sounded so good we wanted to try more! Oh and get the arroz negro! Delicious!

This review is for the Camino in Farringdon at 89 Turnmill Street…read more A friend suggested we meet here for dinner before a show, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. I'm a big fan of tapas, and Camino did not disappoint. There are several locations across London, and this one is large, lively, and full of great energy -- the kind of place that immediately puts you in a good mood. We started with calamari and Iberico ham croquetas, both absolute perfection -- crisp on the outside and creamy inside. The patatas bravas were outstanding as well, with just the right balance of spice and crunch. We also shared the rib-eye steak, dry-aged for 21 days and seasoned with rosemary and pepper, served alongside confit piquillo peppers and a fresh salad. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and bursting with flavor. The service was excellent -- friendly, efficient, and perfectly timed -- and the food arrived at a relaxed, steady pace. If you're looking for vibrant Spanish food in London, Camino is a terrific choice. With several locations around the city, there's probably one not far from you.

"Life without tapas, is like a heart without love." --B.K.S. Iyengar…read more Now, I have to say that I'm taking that quote completely out of context as he is referring to a Yoga terminology meaning "essential energy." In any case, I think the quote still works perfectly when referring to Camino's creations. Camino had some smash hits, some items that were just "ok", and service that left a bit to be desired, but wasn't horrible. The service: We asked our server many questions about the menu and he didn't have an answer for any of them. He didn't seem to have much knowledge about the items, nor about how they were prepared or how they tasted. He was attentive, but mostly just for clearing plates and keeping our water carafe filled. We ended up just ordering things and hoping for the best. Our favorite menu items: --Presa Iberica £11.75 - "Our signature shoulder of Ibérico pig served medium rare, with creamy Ibérico rice." The rice was creamy and luxurious. The pork was savory and juicy. This plate is a winner! --Escalivada £6.75 - "Grilled sourdough bread with roasted aubergine, red pepper and onion." We were so nicely surprised by these veggie toasts! They were extremely flavorful and unique! --Baby Squid £7.50 - "Crispy squid with alioli and lemon." These fried morsels weren't greasy at all, and the alioli was a perfect sauce to compliment it's flavor. We also had: --Payoyo £5.75 - "Cured goats' cheese with fig and almond slice." --Charcuteria Platter £6.75 - "Selection of premium Spanish sliced cured sausages." --Olives (comlimentary) - "marinated in lemon and rosemary." Don't miss: Maeloc 4% £4.80 - "Galician strawberry cider. Gluten-free and a dry finish." --This was so crisp and delicious!! Definitely worth a stop during a busy day of sightseeing. It's also fairly near Shakespeare's Globe!

My favorite restaurant in London. The tapas style dishes are simple, yet intensely flavorful…read more Last night I came with my family and we devoured fresh bread dipped in beetroot borani, thick sliced jamon iberico (served with little tiny bread pebbles for crunch), a toasted onion salad with pomegranates, crunchy chickpeas with tahini and an onion tart with fresh made garlicky aioli that was the highlight of the meal. The only thing that fell short was the lamb chops that did not quite hit the mark.

I guess I'm on of the few Londoners who hasn't experienced the Moro empire yet. Moro, the original…read moreSpanish restaurant on Exmouth Market has had a baby: Morito. I spent a lovely summer evening with a friend here. We sat outside and it was fun to see all the folks strolling up and down Exmouth Market. The food was delicious - especially the harissa dip with the bread was just so good! Also, octopus was excellent. It's such a cute place. I'll be back!

Visiting London on business and was looking for an alternative to pub food. Came here with a…read morecolleague and was very impressed by the flavors - we had the braised shrimp and chorizo tapas and the seafood paella. The paella was excellent, though the socaratt could have been a bit more crusty. The tapas were very nicely done. Our waitress recommended the ice cream whiskey sponge desert which was a very nice ending. Finally, I'm now a fan of Pancharan (Patxaran) based cocktails! Lovely ambience, great service and excellent food. Definitely recommend

RESTAURANT - Cigala - Spanish - Bloomsbury​…read more  Date of Visit: 15.11.17 Time: 3.30pm   Review:    I have never tried Spanish cuisine so I was looking forward to my visit to Cigala. T​he idea of having authentic Spanish food and tapas​ sounded​ perfect.​ I​ love food, so being able to try multiple dishes is like heaven to me. ​I ​arrived by cab and since Cigala is in Bloomsbury it was only a short trip from my Regent Street​ office. ​M​y friend joined me arriving via public transport. The restaurant is located near to Holborn and Russell Square tube stations so it is an easy place to get to.​ ​ The entrance to Cigala ​can be found on the corner of Lamb's Conduit S​treet and Rugby Street. The area ​has a delightful village feel. Lamb's Conduit Street is partially pedestrianised with fascinating shops and cafes.​ ​ ​Cigala is popular with the legal profession, media and many celebrities have made it their haunt. It is about conviviality and not really about​ fine dining. ​My review will reflect this in that I don't expect the same criteria.    The main dining area on street level has a large floor area and open kitchen and a lot of covers. There is also outside space with tables and chairs where huge pans of paella are served during the summer months. There are space heaters so no one gets cold.   Inside the lighting is not too bright or dim but just right and I​ noted an AC unit by the kitchen,​ so for those who may want to visit during the summer period you get the best of both worlds I​ would say.    Another feature I noted which you don't see much of are the number of coat hooks dotted around which makes​ life a little easier.  ​Cigala also has a private room downstairs which is at the moment being re​decorated and should be completed​ by the time you read this in time for the festive season and those office Christmas parties.  ​ But the main purpose of the review is the food, so take a look further down to see what we had and our thoughts. I ​visited with a friend who is a Pesca​tarian. As I don't eat much fish.​ I​ thought it would be a good idea to take someone along who does.    Location: 54 Lamb's Conduit St, London WC1N 3LW, UK   Parking: I arrived by cab and my friend via tube but noticed there was some parking outside. I understand that you can get parked relatively easily in the vicinity after 6pm.​   Decor & Lighting: ​Stripped down because chef proprietor Jake Hodges believes the food should do the talking​. Cigala offers basic comforts and pleasant lighting.   Ambience & Acoustics:  The location is quiet and there's no background music. As we attended​ during the setup time I​ cannot really comment on the noise levels during a normal lunch or dinner setting.    We had the following:    Food:    Croquetas de setas (Mushroom Croquettes) - We both felt the croquettes were a bit mushy though the batter is light. You do get three pieces however. I​ recently had cod croquettes in a private members club in Piccadilly so maybe I was​ a bit spoilt due to that.    Pinchito de pollo (Grilled marinated chicken kebab)- The chicken was moist and very well-seasoned and s​erved with a fresh salad. The ​dish was ​cooked well and very well marinated. I would definitely have had two of these easily as you are served just one skewer.    Chorizo al la brasa (Homemade Chorizo with fried breadcrumb base) - Two small sausage shaped Chorizo had a strong meaty and spicy flavour but I was happy with this as the base of breadcrumbs really comple​mented the heavier meaty and spicy taste very well and I would recommend this along with the Chicken kebab.    Gambas al ajillo (Prawns in olive oil and garlic) - My friend had this dish which arrived in​ a lot of oil and ​the flavour of garlic was overpowering which did not appeal to her.​   Sardinas a la plancha (Grilled Sardines with Garlic and Parsley) - Another dish my friend had and she mentioned it was nicely cooked and tender, but very salty.   Patatas bravas (Deep fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce) -  The potatoes themselves were cooked well with a crispy and crunchy outside and soft centre. With a nice tomato sauce, the only thing ​I ​would say is to include more sauce and less salt.  Dessert:   Tarta de Santiago (Almond Tarte with Ice Cream)-  The texture was a little confusing as it tasted like a dense and dry muffin. It was served with a custard rather than the advertised ice cream. It was not too rich but had a hard crust which made it slightly difficult to cut.    Arroz con leche (Rice Pudding) - My friend had this dish and her thoughts were that the rice was over cooked or perhaps due to the temperature of the dish (cold) it tasted very hard. However I understand this is how it is served in Spain.   Bill / Cost: In this case we were invited by the restaurant owners to come along and enjoy a meal on them and they covered the bill. Typically, however without alcohol we would have had to pay around £30 per head with soft drinks but they also have an express lu

We really loved Moro. The food was excellent and the service superb and professional. We liked…read moresitting outside--the street and Exmouth Market has outstanding energy!--and the inside looked inviting too.

Amazing food. Lovely people. One of the most interesting menus I've read in a long while. And…read moreevery dish astounding. This place is incredible. You will love it so much you'll be thinking of your meal for days. Weeks. And you'll just want to go back as soon as you can.

Food was prepared very well, with thoughtfulness and lots of flavor. The hamachi special was…read moreamazing. And the waiter picked out the perfect wine for us. Food comes out quickly. The tuna tartare was perfect with this amazing avocado mousse. It was busy when we arrived but were able to sit at the bar within 10 min. Seating is kind of tight but felt cozy vs. crowded.

First day in London and we wanted a lighter meal to account for the time difference. We came to…read moreBarrafina and it is terrific! The interior is mostly bar and small hightop seating, but it manages to create close and intimate sining areas for 2 very nicely. The food seems authentic. Mostly done tappas-style but much better than in the states. We got the Olives, Oxtail slider, Rice with seafod, Langustines, potatoes, cauliflower and Pluma Iberica. All were very good and the Oxtail, rice/seafood, and pluma Iberica were hauntingly scrumptious. Service was genuine, accommodating, caring and prompt. The best example of that was the timing and staging of dishes so we never got more than 2 at once and could enjoy each before the next plates arrived. Best service I have ever had at a tappas or small plates restaurant! If you are in London, you gotta go!!