I was astonished at how unassuming and unfussy this place was for such a big name chef, tucked away in a corner of Spitalfields market. I wasn't too sure what to expect from Portuguese tapas but what we got was lots of small plates with (as Gregg Wallace from Masterchef would say) big flavours! We went for variety when ordering. Not all the dishes were five stars but there were some definite highlights - for me it was the 24-month-aged St Jorge cow's cheese which did somersaults on my tastebuds, whilst my guy really liked their beef sandwich. We found the runner bean fritter a bit of a waste but both dived for the last mussel which was served in a small tin and beautifully seasoned. The custard tart which you have to reserve a slice of early as they only make one a night, was actually a bit disappointing - I found it a little too gooey for my liking. Every dish feels very thoughtfully prepared, and it was so nice to feel that thought and care extend to the service here, with a lovely welcome from the front of house who made sure we were happy sitting in the front 'outside but inside' area. Our waiter also took very good care of us, happily advising on dishes and in my case the wines too, as I hadn't heard of many of the grape varieties. So the 5th star is for their charm. A good feed if you're in the area with a very relaxed, rustic feel, but be warned the prices stack up quickly with this type of food! I could easily be persuaded to return though, as I already know which dishes I'd ditch and which new ones I'd order next time... ;) read more

Taberna do Mercado - say cheese! (and eat it) - Tapas Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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I had high expectations for the Taberna do Mercado since the ratings were quite high and I am a Portuguese food lover. I have to admit that our diner at the Taberna was flawless. We sat at the bar to watch the cooks and see how they handled the food. They put so much enthusiasm in their food: resting the meat properly, seasoning, checking texture, tossing away what they weren't happy with. Even though we had some favorites (hear me here: Heaven bites), all dishes were great. The tinned fish, served with pickles and fresh sourdough toasted bread brushed with olive oil, are definitely a must have. The green beans fritters are served with an acidic sauce that makes it a perfectly balanced dish. The cod is fresh and cooked as it should be. The egg yolk pork fat desert in a port wine sauce is worth trying. The staff was really friendly and the cooks would always take the time to answer our questions. The selection of wine is good for all ranges of price. We had a bottle of wine and about 7 dishes and a dessert to share for 115£ (which isn't bad for London price.) I left the place thinking I'd love to come back for a sandwich for lunch or a whole suckling pig with friends. Well done for a restaurant to fill your appetite while making you want to come back straight away. Definitely a place I would put on my list of London's best restaurants, along Hawksmoor, Ceviche, Dishoom and Franco Manca! read more

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REALLY GOOD. Tucked inside spitalfield market, this Portuguese restaurant makes me think differently about Portuguese food for sure. The tins, obviously their signature is a must try. Clams (part of daily special) was so so good. Monkfish and scallops were marinated really well too. They had a fish collar, part of their specials, was cooked to perfection with sides of refreshing salad toppings. Also just perfect. Very good list of wine selection. Their dessert do not disappoint. Didn't try their olive cake (which everyone else got), but their fennel sweet was subtle and light and just ended the meal in the fluffiest and most satisfying way. Overall: REAL good read more

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I was lucky enough to go to their soft opening and it's great that a Portuguese restaurant has opened because there's not many choices with this cuisine here in London. The place itself is really nice but with an intimate feel, so felt really comfortable there the minute I walked in. We ordered all types dishes, our favourites were definitely the cured meat and fish choices, and their desserts were phenomenal. I wasn't a fan of their kimchi cabbage one though. Overall we loved the food but the prices are pretty steep, more than 30 a person with already half-price off the food. So definitely not a place to have a full stomach, which is unfortunate because when I was in Portugal the food is not only super cheap but filling. read more

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This is a hard one to judge. The restaurant has two parts, the restaurant part that doesn't look out to the market is really nice, minimal, clean, modern, high ceiling and wooden floor. Service is good, we had every special explained to us and found our waiter to be quite informative. He described the dishes in a simple but appealing way. Once the food started arriving, things took an interesting change, service turned sketchy, perhaps because they got busier? Food came out at a random pace, 3 in 3 minutes and then none for 15, strange. Prawn risoli was excellent, flavourful and tasty. The mussels were truly lovely and their in-house sourdough is delightful. The mackerel was nothing special and had big slices of fatty pork belly ontop, hard to eat and offered nothing to the dish. The octopus was tiny, tiny and there wasn't much taste. The cuttlefish was fine, in a weird oily vinegar, the chicken was half of a tiny chicken and nothing exceptional. The pork was the best dish by far. The green fritter was yummy with an interesting sauce, the cod was OK and the 2 cured meats were rubbish. The pigs ears were poorly executed. The custard tarts were excellent. Overall, inconsistency was the downfall, ideas and style were good but execution wasn't quite there. The foundations are there though, there's skill and care coming from the kitchen, plus quality ingredients. Not sure I'd come back any time soon though. read more

Small plates but big flavor... Great Portuguese tapas restaurant by chef Nuno Mendes. The waiter gives very good recommendations. Good price too. We love the wine. The location is a bit of surprise though -- thought it should be in a more "tucked away" place rather than spitalfields market. Will definitely go back! 18-06-2016 I went back today with friends and it was equally amazing. The pig ear with blood orange is a must try and so is the ox tongue. read more

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I had dinner there with my flatmate. We chose 4 tapas to share (2-3 per person recommended). Some of the dishes on the menu look very audacious and unusual, but every one that we chose were phenomenal. They have an excellent wine list as well and very friendly service read more

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I came here with two friends for a weeknight dinner, having wanted to come for ages but unaware that they had started taking reservations, which was not the case when they first opened last year. In the evening, Spitalfields Market was largely empty, with only a handful of restaurants along the perimeter like Taberna and Blixen were still happening. It was hard to find the restaurant given Spitalfields is so big, but luckily I turned on my Google Maps and that managed to get me to the right place. Getting the right door, however, is even trickier, as the more obvious door is not in use and they opt to use a door from the side facing the market. Our reservation was for 6:45 PM and when we arrived, the restaurant was pretty empty, but was nearly packed by when we left and there was another reservation for our table at 9 PM. I suppose the Portuguese are well known for liking to dine later. We were recommended to get 2 dishes per person, and our waiter steered us away from the cheese and cured meats, explaining that those were simply bought and resold, whereas the other dishes are prepared in-house. My favourite dishes were the runner bean fritters with clam and coriander juice; a cuttlefish and pork trotter stew that was simply amazing, and so good we got two; and the beef sandwich that was served with mustard and chili oil. We also had prawn rissoles, a monkfish special, and a tinned cod that was cooked sous vide and served with bread. For dessert we had their custard tart, which is so popular that you have to pre-order at the beginning of your meal and it is only available after 7:30 PM. I really liked its light dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg. Overall I thought the food was excellent, all relatively light with tons of fresh herbs, and the menu seems to change often and is supplemented by outstanding specials. I could definitely see myself coming back again, and often. read more

I would give 5000 stars for their pastel de nata if I could. The chewy and flaky pastry then comes the gooey custard filling. I have to say this is the best pastel de nata I have ever had. Sure after this time I will be very critical on pastry haha. Seriously if you are in the area pop in and get yourself one read more

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One of the best meals I've had in 5 years, and I've had a lot. Sat at the chefs table and we had an amazing time. The Chefs behind the grill were good enough to give us an Omakase and we tried a bunch of different things. The prawns were out of sight!!! Next time I'm in London, I'll be back. read more

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Really helpful staff :) they are so welcoming and smiling, it is really nice compared to other places in Spita. Their coffee is really good even if the cups are quite small... But the spot is cool, right in the middle of the market and with heating lamps which is quite useful taking the weather at the moment ! Will come back for their lattes. read more

If you had extra stars I would have awarded them. Fabulous informed service. Incredibly inventive food and a relaxed atmosphere. If you like bold flavors, a fun wine list with a great sommelier and a casual relaxed evening, this one is definitely for you. read more

Came here with 5 friends including 2 Portuguese and we basically ate the entire menu. SOO GOOD.

We came here for drinks and ordered two glasses of wine and some water. The person who appeared to be the restaurant manager was unfriendly and appeared to be doing us a favour by allowing us in. The wine was mediocre, and the service terrible. We were charged £16.40, including £3 for the water. I will not be returning here. P. read more

Great food with an ever changing menu, and fair (London fair) prices. Excellent service - recommend sitting at the chefs table and chatting with them upstairs. House wine is more than adequate. Props to Nuno for this casual and mellow Spitalfields joint. read more

Very tasty Portuguese neighbourhood restaurant, with such an eclectic range of dishes. We had Green bean fritters, bulhao pato, Octopus pepper salad, Tinned fish, served with pickles and fresh sourdough toasted bread and Cuttlefish and pork trotter stew. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared and we missed the massive pastel de nata. Next time! read more

The cooking from Taberna do Merado was indeed sensational, I really enjoyed the simplistic, rustic approach that delivered us plates after plates of well executed dishes. There wasn't one bad dish on the night, if Barrafina has a Michelin star, there is no reason why Taberna doesn't deserve one. Service was also humble and informal to make this an excellent venue for a casual meet-up with friends. There isn't another restaurant in London that does anything similar right now, with such an unique and flavoursome approach. Will I return? Totally. read more

Went there with a friend but I wasn't impressed with the expensive tapas. I would rather go to Lisbon with the money I spent there.

I haven't yet sat down properly and dined here. But I did pass and get one of the delightful Pastel De Nata's. It's sinfully fresh and moreish. read more

Two of us went here on a late-ish Sunday evening. The menu was original (but took quite a lot of cross-checking against the provided glossary, and Q&A with the waiter, who was patient with us). Some unusual selections, we settled on a cuttlefish dish, an artichoke dish, some roasted pork, mussels. Really unusual tastes, and all were excellent. Wine recommendation was solid. There were only two dessert choices, on which we passed. Will be visiting again... but not when we're really hungry. It's tapas so we could obviously have ordered more, but at £10+ per dish didn't feel like it. Thanks guys! read more

I came across this Portuguese restaurant in Spitafields Market, and oh what a surprise! This is one of the few restaurants I have found where the waitstaff is eager to recommend items on the menu. I had the House Tinned Monkfish Cheeks, which were incredible. Among other great dishes, I had the Olive oil & soft egg sponge dessert. This is a must try as, it not only taste wonderful, it is something truly unique. I definitely recommend this place! Chat up the waitstaff, put yourself in their hands, and you will not be disappointed! P.S. the Portuguese wine selection is wonderful as well. read more

Brought by Portuguese friends here, food is so good, such a great place to try a very new experience. Modern interpretation of classic cuisine, don't miss the dessert, save some space. read more

Been here a few times. The latest was with work and so got the chance to try the majority of the menu. The restaurant is Portuguese tapas. The wine we had was exquisite - Quinta de Saes Reserva Tinto 2012. Definitely order an assortment of the cured meats and cheese to start off. The pig ears were delicious (very similar to chicharones) as was the octopus. The tart for dessert is highly recommended by the staff. It isn't like a traditional pastel de nata, but delightful nonetheless. The location is good for people watching as well if you go earlier in the day as it is located in Spitafields market. read more

I have been wanting to try this place for a while, a lot of that to do with all the rave reviews. Ah, how people are blinded by a celebrity chef's name. Maybe it was good when it opened but the food has definitely suffered at the hands of rave reviews. Our lunchtime visit today started with being 'greeted' at the door by a server literally stepping out of the door, blocking our entry and bluntly asking if we had reserved a table. Sorry no, didn't realise this was an invite only exclusive event. But hey, we all love to be sneered at in the latest hip restaurant by the staff, just the appetiser all us gullible Londoners crave right?! We're not worthy, we're not worthy! Anyway, I digress. We came for the food. So let's talk about the food. The first dish started well, nice light tempura beans with a zingy sauce and onion-y hints. Lovely. Then came the chicory, the flavour was mostly ....'orange'. And not the fruit mind, just the colour. The chicory was covered in something orange, that had no flavour so... I'll call it 'orange'. A nasturtium on top made it "fancy". There was a weird potato and kale bowl of mush, which again lacked any distinct highs and lows of flavour, mostly just potato-y mush with the occasional surprise tooth-cracker (loads of random nuts). The cheese was so forgettable that I wouldn't mention it except IT COST £10. For a dollop of fresh cheese and some toast. But, the piece de resistance: the red mullet. One tiny (I mean TINY) fillet, of my favourite fish, swimming in an unctuous beef broth, dressed in something limp and green and sprinkled with some greasy, fried, unidentifiable and hard to crack (and I think stale) pseudo-croutons. Not sure what that was. But it cost £15! The price and the nasty flavour left me feeling queasy. Oh, and Nuno was sitting next to us. I nearly went over and shook my finger at him and said "for shame". That chef has sold out. Nasty expensive food. And the people who eat there are sheep. read more