Other than the long wait to get in, the food here is awesome. I would highly recommend the pan con tomate. read more

Barrafina - Pan con tomate - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

Food 4.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0 Value 3.0/5.0 Decor 4.0/5.0 Overall 4.5/5.0 Super good food. Bar seating, but there are small tables outside. No reservations--you arrive and wait by the back counter (where you can only have a drink) until a table or bar seats open up. Would absolutely go back. read more

Cozy and inviting eatery.....make sure to make a reservation it's small but a very popular restaurant. The staff works beautifully together even with the limited space in their cooking area. It was like watching surgeons work together.....bravo to them all for providing such wonderful service and making each dish a standout. Open air kitchen where the grilling is done counter side. Fresh fish galore (it's on ice within eye view) the fish is selected and grilled based on order. This tapas hot spot should be top on your list of places to eat. Sharing plates is all the lure of these dishes. I have never been a fan of peppers but these grilled padron peppers with oil and sea salt were superb. The ribeye cap was bought to use with a large serving spoon it was beyond tender (yes the spoon was adequate to cut this succulent meat). It took barely any effort to chew since it was so perfectly prepared. The grilled octopus with paprika was the phenomenal. We should have ordered a second serving, it was a real palette teaser. The prawns were a lot of work and extremely hot, they were bought straight out the skillet to table so pack on the patience removing the shell. The mini meatballs along with the grilled squid with ink sauce is a must try when selecting items from the menu. Don't leave without ordering the flan, it was probably the best I ever tasted. Thank you for a memorable birthday dinner, Barrafina gets a 10 out of 10 from me. read more

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The best dining experience and food I've ever had. I won't pretend like I've eaten across the world and ate at the finest restaurants. That being said, I have done some traveling and eaten some very good food. I'm hard pressed right now to find a spot that goes against Barrafina. At the time, this was rated 1 star so I made sure to get my group there early as they did not take reservations. We showed up about 10 minutes early and were first in line. By the time we were seated right at the L shaped counter (we were at the right angle part which gave a great look at all of the cooking going on), about 3/4 of the place was full. This is a tapas restaurant, so we ordered a bunch of food. I'll do my best to remember them all. We started with some appetizers including croquettes, squash blossoms, and tortilla. There was a meat croquette and a veggie one. Both were spectacular. Fried to crispy perfection and generously stuffed with fillings. The squash blossoms were perhaps my favorite bite. Stuffed with cheese, they were packed with flavor and we ended up ordering more as it was that good. Finally, the tortilla is like a thick quiche. It was good, but the other two were better. For mains, we got some larger dishes and split them including some chicken, pluma iberica (pork), and shrimp. The chicken and shrimp were good, but the pork was the star of the show. Incredibly juicy and well-seasoned, this was the best pork dosh I've ever had. The service was fantastic throughout the meal and I'm still thinking of those squash blossoms. I also think being able to see all of the cooking added so much to the experience and personally acknowledging the chef at the end of the meal was pretty sweet. All in all, an excellent meal. read more

Barrafina Dean St - Ham croquetas - Fried Squid / calamari (chiporones) - Charcuterie iberica - Shrimp (gambas Rojas) - Shishito peppers (pimientos de padron) - Scallop crudo - Flower vegetable special (courgette) - Pork rib with rice special - Grilled chorizo Absolutely loved and can't wait to be back! read more

Barrafina - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

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I am genuinely shocked that this restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide. Our experience was profoundly disappointing from start to finish and felt completely undeserving of the reputation or the prices charged. The food was outright poor. The "entrecôte" was nothing more than a cheap cut of sirloin masquerading under a more refined name--tough, uninspired, and misleading. The bream was an exercise in lazy cooking: bones everywhere, skin left on, and drowned in an excessive pool of oil that rendered it unpleasant to eat. The cauliflower was equally inedible, so saturated in oil that it completely overwhelmed any flavor or texture. For an expensive meal, this was one of the worst dining experiences we've had. There was no finesse, no balance, and certainly no justification for the cost. Service did nothing to redeem the evening, mediocre at best, indifferent at worst. Overall, this was a deeply disappointing experience. Given the quality of both food and service, we will absolutely not be returning, and I cannot understand how this restaurant continues to be associated with the Michelin Guide. read more

Traveled across London to go to the Michelin Barrafina-- worth the trip. Note: no tables, only bar seating, but the vibes are 10/10. Went back to host a work event after having gone on my own a few months back. We ordered a number of tapas, one bottle of wine. All in all, everything was spectacular. The chefs were amazingly accommodating of my vegetarianism, and recommended dishes that did not disappoint. The oysters were fantastically fresh, but the highlight of the night was the desserts! the mango ice cream and of course... the divine Spanish panna cotta. Will be back! read more

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After a long day of being a tourist, I came here for dinner. This place is a small local chain, and interestingly, this is the one location that has a Michelin Star. Spanish tapas and a Michelin Star? Sign me up. The place doesn't take reservations, and they say there's a line out the door all night long, so I decided to show up Right as they opened their doors. Lucky I did that! We got seated right away, and there indeed was a line out the door, literally all night. It was wild. Another interesting thing was that that line came into the door, too. It wound around a standing-room-only bar on the outer wall of the restaurant, and the people there actually got a small amount of service while they were waiting for a seat! Really cool. The main service we around one, central bar with a great view of all the chefs doing their things. I grabbed my seat, and buckled up for the ride. Looking at all the hustling and bustling, seeing the fresh seafood chillin' on ice, I checked out the menu. I started out with a classic, Pan con Tomate. Go look at that picture. Talk about a Hunk of pan, and a Slathering of Tomate. Dang. It was impressive, and it was amazing. Very crunchy bread, very deep tomato flavor, with various Spanish spices. Delicious. I got one of their daily specials, which looks like a thinly sliced chorizo. Very good. One of the simple joys of life. While I was waiting for my next round of tapas, I watched a cook filet a fish. Really neat! Super fresh stuff, apparently. Then I tried the Cured Monkfish. This blew my mind. It was like an oil-based monkfish ceviche. And it was amazing. My favorite dish of the night. Super thin slices, dripping with olive oil, and many dot of sauces/purees that accented the slightly sweet flavor of the monkfish. Very luxurious tasting. Definitely recommend this. I got another special, a fried, stuffed squash blossom. I've never had anything like this before. I forgot what it was stuffed with, but the whole thing was very delicate and crisp and slathered in a honey sauce of some sort. Very glad I ordered this. Then I got the most eye catching dish of the night, the Gambas Rojas. Perfectly cooked shrimp, sitting in a pool of olive oil. Bright, beautiful red. And fried slices of garlic that add a surprising pop of garlic to each and every bite. A beautiful dish, and good practice for anyone who doesn't know how to pop the head off a shrimp. I finished my meal with a dessert, the Spanish Cheeses. I ordered Spanish cheeses, and I got a giant board of awesomeness. I got the cheeses, which were definitely top-tier. And some walnuts, and some raisins, still on the vine. Very cool. And it was served with Finally an adequate amount of hearty, crunchy bread. You don't find boards with this amount of bread in America. So this was very appreciated. Overall, wow, this was an easy five stars. I will come here every single time I come to London. I don't usually drone on like this review did, but every thing was so unique and delicious. Man. read more

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There are multiple locations but this one in particular is walk in only. We arrived around 6PM on a Friday for a party of 4 and waited about 30 minutes. we noticed as the night went on, the line would get longer and longer. I recommend coming earlier to avoid long waits. The waiting begins inside and continues outside. The layout is similar to a diner with seats around the main island. Then there are two outdoor tables with heat lamps. We were seated outdoors. There were so many good dishes that we ordered, unfortunately I don't remember the names of any of them but they were all delicious! The service was overall was great! However due to how busy it was, the whole dinner took about 2.5 hours for us. read more

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are incredibly rude. Arriving a couple of minutes early could see we was at the door but chose to ignore us. When they did open no warm welcome, they looked almost annoyed to have customers. Sadly this continued throughout the meal. Will not be returning. read more

my goodness, it's been a week or two, i've left london for the east coast, and i still dream about this place. we chose the soho location which apparently is the only one with a michelin star. the concept is novel, situated part ways between omakase, cocktail bar, and classy restaurant, with guests sitting around a glittering central bar. the menu is extensively seafood-forward, as evident from a box of ice and freshly-caught shellfish and whole filets arrayed, spilling over themselves, in the center of the restaurant, behind the chefs. gorgeous ambience, glowing! not pretentious but still classy. the plates are small, as expected from tapas. a little pricey but completely worth the pretty penny. the shrimp was the most groundbreaking dish for me. i have never had shrimp so sweet and tender and chewy and fresh in all the right places, sitting prettily atop a bed of savory, flavorful rice. everything was so perfectly flavored and spiced. i love the spanish and their smoked paprika. the chicken thigh was similarly mindblowing, with hazelnutted EVOO and a tender, juicy bite. the carpaccio was wonderful as well. i think barrafina has somehow managed to find the perfect balance of oil and sweetness in dishes that could be easily become drenched and greasy but somehow are not. and oh -- the flower bulb! (courgette flower). wonderfully creative, bursting with crispness on the outside and perfectly creamy filling on the inside. we loved everything here. one of my best meals of 2024. dreaming about flying back to london so we can visit again. read more

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--The Down Low-- Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Quality vs. Price: 5/5 Vibe: 5/5 I came here on a Sunday evening around 5pm, right when they opened for evening service, and got seated immediately. I ordered a banderilla, the octopus a fiera, a chorizo with potato, and finished with a scoop of blood peach sorbet. I also got a Fevertree Lemonade to drink. Everything was made to order, delicious, and filling! As a note, given that it is seafood-centric, the menu is a bit slim for vegetarians and vegans. The servers were also helpful, attentive, and professional. It was a perfect place to experience a Michelin star restaurant for a great price. The total cost came to just under 53 GBP (90 CAD), so I would consider that affordable for a restaurant of its calibre in the Soho area. Would highly recommend! The restaurant fills up fast, and they don't take reservations at the Dean Street location. Definitely try to arrive within 30 minutes of opening for dinner service to increase the chance of getting a seat. read more

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Lovely outdoor seating area, classic tapas, great vibe. Lovely way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon just enjoying some good food. Everything was delightful and I particularly enjoyed the grill on the table where you can cook your own skewers. Recommended! read more

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I popped in around 1:30p on a weekday and was able to get seated right away at the bar. It was a wonderful experience. I had the octopus and baby gem salad. They had a good wine list. The octopus had a unique kick and was fantastic. Service was excellent and the food came out fast. Highly recommend! read more

Barrafina - Baby gem salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

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Fun vibe and excellent service!!!! Foods came in a good size and tasty ... we ordered 6 dishes for 2 persons read more

Barrafina - So good - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

Super small place, be ready to wait for a seat! It's totally worth the wait! Seating is at a bar like counter where you can see your food being made, super cool! To me this was a very authentic tapas experience, the food was delicious, the place was lively and the staff was very attentive. One of the most fresh and flavorful shrimp I ever ate! Let's talk Manchego Cheesecake: no words can describe!! read more

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Spanish tapa chain that earned a Michelin star (Dean street location specifically). The gamba roja was amazing. The tortilla tasted plain (maybe it's supposed to, I'm not too familiar with Spanish cuisine), and the octopus was a bit too salty. Maybe I should have ordered something starchy to go with it. Service was great though and the gamba roja alone made it worth it. read more

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Cool energetic atmosphere upstairs. Much quieter downstairs. The service is friendly and attentive. Nice wine list. We ordered Marinated Olives 5/5, 8 Ham Croquetas 4.5/5, Pimientos de Padrón 3/5, 15 Chipirones 4.5/5, Txistorra 3/5, Chicken Thigh and Romesco 5/5. read more

Barrafina is my fav in the world. That's right - the WHOLE WORLD. There's not a visit to London that goes by now without me stopping in. I've been lucky to only have had to queue for a table just once, but food is served on the small side shelving even while you wait. The fav dish at my fav resto is the Octopus with Capers. Nowhere have I had Octopus so perfectly and consistently soft, with the right balance of olive oil and cayenne and capers. I was struck dumb with my first taste of this divinely inspired dish that I had to tell my colleague to stop talking during my appreciation of this dish. This experience has been reproduced with every subsequent visit. On top of that are other great spanish tapas and lots of daily specials. They also have a great selection of interesting dry sherries to pair. I somewhat regret writing this review because sharing my insight can only make the place busier, but then again I see that they are increasing in locations and that is only a good thing. read more

Treated my friend and myself there on one of the last nights I was in London. Service and food were fantastic, pricey for what they offer but I guess you are paying for the Michelin prestige. We had the scallop ceviche, courgette flowers, the pimentos and steak. They were all delicious. My faves are the pimentos. It was like a game of Russian roulette, you didn't know which one would be the spicy one. The scallop ceviche was very fresh. We finished up with a nice sherry for dessert. The waiter and the chefs were so easily to talk to and it was so fun watching him cook in front of us. We learned a bit and asked him about the parsley sauce they put on a lot their dishes and they were happy to divulge. I definitely want to go back to one of their other branches to try next time! read more

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Great food. The ham croquettes is unbelievable. The pepper is good. The sole we got was okay, but very tender. Wish it was a bit more flavorful. Appointment is needed. Very busy restaurant (a bit noisy, but overall a decent ambiance) read more

the food is very good, quality is excellent and well prepared. A great place for Tapas prepared right in front of you. The executive chef at this location was really on top of it. They have outside seating and limited inside seating but it's very nice and well appointed. They have a nice wine selection. Everyone was working quite hard. They seemed to be at their capacity so at peak times i can see them having some challenges but overall, food, service and ambiance was first class read more

Despite all the rave reviews, Barrafina never really caught my eye, and if not for my friend suggesting it, I probably would have never gone. Which would have been such a shame since I had one of my favorite meals in London there. It was a lovely mixture of delicious food and fun bar vibes, perfect for 2, probably wouldn't want to go with a larger group. We somehow managed to get seated in less than 5 min despite being quoted a 1 hour wait. We got: Pimientos de pardon - Essentially like shishito peppers, they were quite nicely cooked (though also quite oily) and my friend's favorite dish of the night. Ham croquetas- Fine but nothing special and wouldn't reorder. Pluma Iberica, confit potatoes - My favorite dish - the pork was crazy juicy and delicious (seared to medium rare) and the confit potatoes were full of flavor. Truly not sure I've ever had pork that tender and juicy. Octopus with capers - Left me with mixed feelings. It was unevenly seasoned / salted so my first piece of octopus was too salty while my next was fine. But even then I didn't love the octopus flavor / consistency. It just felt too... rubbery without the contrast of a crispy outside? Can't really place it. I think my favorite part was watching the chefs cooks in front of you. What really impressed me was that I didn't see any one dish dominate the kitchen - they were making different dishes all night. Which means they're not a one trick pony and there are probably many other gems on the menu I didn't get a chance to try. read more

Simply Amazing. Best food we ate in London. Very authentic Spanish tapas. The flavors were out of this world. If I could give 10 stars, I would. read more

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Loved our experience here. They don't take reservations but the queue is inside and they serve you drinks while you wait which I think is brilliant. My husband & I waited for about 45 minutes but it was peak time (7:30). Great Spanish tapas - everything we had was delicious. We will definitely go back when we are in London again. read more

Bareafina was the find of our holiday. They do not take reservations, but the wait is well worth it! We ordered several tapas and each was amazing in its own rite, and prepared with attention to detail. We always start off with pimentos de pardon which are delicately laced with salt flakes. Yummy. On the vegetable home front, the ham and cheese tortilla is delicious, cooked runny and and bursting with flavour. Stuffed croquettes we fully and delicately stuffed were a great choice. Fish choices included fried anchovies which were prepared in a very light batter, razor clams which were the best we've had in London in my opinion. The Octopus was so tender and juicy it had you drooling for more. For dessert we chose a zucchini stuffed blossom drizzles in honey, a perfect way to finish the meal. Some of the items listed above were specials presented in a little blackboard. Be sure to check them or as they change daily depending on what is fresh. They also have a great wine selection at reasonable prices. This restaurant along with its sister restaurant on Drury Lane get high praises from us. We can't wait to return. read more

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The que was long when we arrived - however, you are able to wait against the wall and order drinks and bites. The shrimp tempura and tomato toast was delicious. But my favorite was the chicken thigh with romesco sauce! The service was also great! read more

Liked the atmosphere, very Spanish in the sense that you sit around the counter. The place was packed but since it is well organized, it moves quickly. Very friendly staff. The food was good! The octopus was a tiny bit too undercooked for my taste (weird coz it is usually the opposite problem one encounters with octopus). But I ate all the rest with gusto. I just think that it is ridiculously overpriced... especially the wine... read more

Elegant tapas with a creative, ever-changing menu, wonderful wine selection, and one Michelin star, Barrafina is absolutely of the best restaurants in London. My boyfriend and I came here on Valentine's Day, and had a wonderful experience. They do not accept reservations, but have an efficient queue system that compliments the sleek L-shaped bar only seating layout. Early arrival is recommended, as certain ingredients and specials are only available in limited quantities. Making excellent use of their relatively small space, every seat offers a nice view of the open kitchen, and beautiful displays of fresh ingredients. I have dined at the Covent Garden Barrafina location before (which was also fantastic), but I like this conveniently located SoHo spot even better. The staff were enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable of the menu and specials board, which offers a wide variety of unique dishes every day. Several choices on both menus were already vegan with no modifications. Two of my favorite Barrafina staples are their Padron Peppers and Pan Con Tomate-do not skip these. Otherwise, go for the specials. On the day we visited, the vegetarian options included a Tempura Broccoli with Romesco, and Mushroom Croquetas. The croquetas were amongst the most delicious dish I have ever consumed. Lightly breaded, the delicate interior was creamy and packed with rich cremini mushroom flavor. The balsamic sauce served alongside further enhanced the multidimensional tapa. The Tempura Broccolini was also fantastic, but the star of the plate was the intensely spiced nut-based Romesco sauce, which they execute impeccably. I recommend trying any menu item which incorporates their romesco. The food paired perfectly with the Hart Bros Tinto 2015. Dinner for two (with a bottle of wine) will set you back around £150-£200, which will seem like a bargain in relation to the quality of food and service. I look forward to returning to every time I am in London. read more

Barrafina - Mushroom Croquetas. Incredible. Special 2/14/18! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

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I love the Octopus so much that we ordered a second portion! The other seafood dishes are nice too, quite fresh and tasty. The place is quite noisy, the staff are friendly and we chatted a lot. We waited for 40min to get served as they do not take reservations. So if you want a intimate, romantic place for dinner, it's not that ideal. read more

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Always been a favourite of mine! Constant in flavours and the service is excellent. It is flavorful and fresh plates are served promptly. Just try to order 4-5 tapas to have a good meal and come at the opening 5pm for an early dinner and less wait read more

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I really enjoyed this place. I came right around opening, and this didn't have to wait to be seated when they opened. I really appreciated the fact that the seats are all at the bar facing the kitchen. I was able to watch them make my meal, which was really cool! Also, it made for good conversation with the staff. As for food, I ordered the chicken with romesco sauce and prawn croquetas (daily special). Both were amazing! I would highly recommend the croquetas if available. They're very moist and topped with an amazing sauce. The chicken is also very good! It's a lot more filling than it looks. The sauce is hefty and it's topped with nuts, so I couldn't finish it. One thing they really should note is the fact that the chicken is topped with nuts. A lot of people are allergic to bits, and adding that to the menu is important (my apologies if I missed a note indicating this). Overall, good restaurant with decent prices. Really good for the experience; not a great place to have a serious conversation or 1-on-1 time with someone. read more

Perhaps I caught them on an off night. But nothing about the food here seemed exceptional, certainly not considering the hype or the price. I came alone and was seated right away, which was a great chance to dodge the queues. The first thing I ordered was Pan Con Tomate, which was under-seasoned and a little oily. Turns out that was the theme of what I ordered. The Baby Gem salad was drenched in olive oil and came topped with thin streaky bacon instead of pancetta. My prawns came similarly overly oiled, except they suffered from being over cooked. The highlight was the blood sausage with eggs, which was full of flavor and sitting in a lovely bed of a rich and savory sauce. I decided to try dessert, which was somehow the highlight of the meal. I got the special, a cheese flan with a mixed berry sorbet, which was all perfectly sweet-but-not-too-sweet. Overall, I paid £70 including wine and a service charge. read more

Honestly the worst tapas I've ever had in my life. Everything is extremely salty!! They put sea salt on everything before serving them on the table. The shrimps are very soggy. Service is not great either. I don't understand the high rating on yelp. read more

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I loved stumbling onto Barrafina after spending some time in the British Museum. Stumbling into Barrafina and then being entertained by the Pride Parade was unexpected and fun. The space is efficient. I sat at the brightly lit bar. I liked the buzz and being able to watch the food preparation. The service was nicely paced. The food: - The prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla is probably why this place received only 4 stars. It just wasn't that good. Too much tortilla with not enough flavor to make it pop - The octopus with capers on the other hand was delicious. Tender, perfectly cooked. The paprika along with the capers made for a great dish I thought I was going to eat more, but I was stuffed. I'll definitely be back to try more. read more

I am unsure if it was the alcohol talking but this is probably the best Spanish Tapas establishment I have eaten in the UK. Very freshly cooked with care and attention. The food does come out slightly slow but they do take their time to cook it right. There is a 1 michelin star attached to this establishment. They used to be in their old home in Frith Street which is just 1 street perpendicular along and it is a smaller establishment. This new place is slightly larger. You need to either come here early or be prepared to queue. There is also a long table along side the wall for those in the queue so you can order while you wait to be seated. Definitely try the octopus and squid ink risotto. read more

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We ordered octopus, rabbit shoulder and lamb, which were really delicious. But the croquetas was a little salty. 'Tomato on the bread' was good but not that impressive. Staff was friendly and helpful. Highly recommend！ read more

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Dammit, shoulda gone to their other location. Five stars for the service. TMI warning before you read on if you're easily grossed out, skip to the next section of the review marked by asterisks. I had a grass pollen attack while visiting in early July and my server kept on picking up my snot-soaked tissues, like 5 times! He just played it like he was picking up anything else. I had to start hiding them like contraband because I was so embarrassed by how attentive he was--and how grossed out I would've been. Yup, that's how attentive and professional the service was here. *** The prob? But the food, it was hit or miss. Must tries: The oxtail croquettas (out of this world. Remember chocolate molten lava cakes? Yup, this is like that but ten times better); the rabbit shoulder; and the Pluma Iberica (the pork was seriously tender and good); and while we didn't have it because we had ordered to much food, our foodie neighbor (yup, it's easy to chat up your neighbors at this joint, which was pretty awesome) raved about the prawns. The can skips; the clams, the fennel salad (the Brindisa Morada in Chinatown does it better), and the papas bravas. In all, I'd def come back for the service and try other dishes. read more

My wife and I were touring around London and wanted to go to a cool place in Soho for dinner. This place was bustling at 6 pm so we went in. They queue everyone along the counter and offer drinks and small tapas while you wait for a spot. Once we sat down for dinner the tapas started flowing. Everything was delicious. We had the chickpea ropa vieja, the olives, the shishito peppers, and chorizo croquetas that were all excellent. The star of the show though was their tuna tartar. My wife are big fans of tuna tartar and order it pretty much any time it's on a menu and this one was the best we have ever had! The tuna was well marinated and the avocado mousse was a perfect compliment. The last bonus was we were seated outside facing the street and it was great people watching! read more

A lovely spot with authentic tapas and a diverse Spanish wine selection. The service is on point from the time you walk through the door. All the food here is delicious and cooked across the bar from you in a very clean and organized kitchen. For a quick snack, I highly recommend the ham croquetas - crispy perfection on the outside and a creamy cheese flavored filling sprinkled with savory ham chunks on the inside. read more