Thank you, Yelp app and fellow Yelpers for directing me to this little tapas restaurant on Eversholt Street. It's a little unassuming family run restaurant but with serious intent from the kitchen. I was offered a table in the main dining room or the garden when I walked in - as we are in the middle of 'Wimbledon week showers', I chose to dine indoors. The menu was written in impressively authentic sounding terms but closer inspection revealed some fusion going on - lemongrass, tumeric and enoki mushrooms being amongst the ingredients on show. I'm up for a bit of fusion as long as it doesn't end in con-fusion! Having confirmed that I was hungry, the helpful waiter suggested getting 3 dishes. I couldn't help myself and went for the fusion sounding dishes. Panceta con cidra was pork belly, rolled and marinated with garlic, black pepper and dill, braised in Asturian cider. I zoom in pork belly whenever I see it and this version has been slowly cooked to melting tenderness with the dill coming through strongly - it didn't need the wedge of lemon which came with it and I enjoyed it as it arrived. Pollo a la plancha del Parador were a pair of chicken thighs marinated in lemon grass, turmeric, garlic & coriander and cooked on the plancha (grill). I prefer dark meat as it remains moist and the oriental kick wasn't too overwhelming. When the waiter said the Higadillos Salteados (chicken livers with Iberico Jamon, enoki mushrooms, shallots, black pepper and butter) would be served pink inside, I smiled - nice to see a restaurant willing to serve food as it should be cooked and not pander to squeamish guests. These were a delight and to get some Iberico ham from acorn-fed pigs was a bonus. This is tapas of the highest order, given a little twist. A little Yelp gem which deserves its high star rating. read more

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This is a really pretty and quaint, family run Spanish Restaurant... I grant this place 5 stars due to its divine food and admorible hospitality. Situated on quite a quiet street, it is well worth taking a visit. With a choice of over 40 tapas, all very well priced and utterly delicious. Your choice of dish will flirt wildly with all senses and deliver all promises. I am always very happy to find a restaurant which has a diverse yet experienced selection of fish. El Parador specialises in scallops, Halibut, and crab... although they were many others still left to be tried. The interior Decor, to me seemed rather french with little white table clothes and a smart yet gentle ambience. The wine list was impressive to say the least, with over 30 bottles of wine, in the price range of £13-30, with over 15 available by glass. The lunchtime menu has a special offer of 3 tapas for the price of two. read more

El Parador - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

They don't take reservations for groups of 2 but told me we could probably get a seat if we came around 7pm even on Friday.So we rushed there before 7. Upstairs was all booked we were taken to downstairs which was a little bit dingy. The food was all amazing and reasonably priced.This is Spanish tapas so all dishes were small in quantity though. You could share many small dishes in groups! I liked Iberico which was quite rich! also baby squid marinated with garlic,chili and coriander!!! There were many dishes seasoned with coriander and chili in their menu.I don't like coriander so bit worried but the baby squid was ok for me. I rated 4 star since one staff of them was not agreeable and less attentive. He forgot our order twice and didn't look sorry. But the food was amazing with reasonable price! It's a more than 10 min walk from Euston station but I would maybe come again : ) read more

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I had a wonderful meal here over the weekend and although sadly I didn't have the wonderful 3 for 2 offer, I can really see what everyone is raving about. The seafood was to die for. We had scallops, octopus and squid as well as some salad and some duck goujons. The duck was pleasant but I really found myself lusting more over the seafood. Everything was cooked beautifully and had a really lovely balance of sweet, smoky and spicy seasoning as well as big punchy flavors. I don't feel that visiting once has done the place justice and this is my new top place for tapas. I will definitely be going though when it is 3 for 2 for greed rather than thrift. read more

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What an incredible little spot!! It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was outstanding. The menu is quite large with a ton of vegetarian options and a plethora of meat and fish dishes. At lunch they offer a wonderful special: buy two tapas, get one free. There were a few specials written on a chalk board, and I opted for the tortilla. A Spanish omelette with potatoes, it was crispy on the outside and filled with spinach, pine nuts and goat cheese. Chicken thighs were so flavorful and tender! Marinated with coriander and garlic and bone free, with a perfectly crispy skin. Eggplant was sweet and spicy. Butternut squash with spinach, garlic and goat cheese was tender with a flavorful char. Octopus with thyme and rosemary was shockingly tender. Service was friendly and efficient. If in the area, this is a must go! read more

The reviews are true, the food here is amazing and I'll definitely be returning. Ordered 3 things each with a group of 4 of us, and every single dish was great. Went for the lunch deal which is buy 2 get 1 free, would've been a tad expensive otherwise but worth it for the quality. Freshest chorizo ive ever tasted! The service was a tad slow, but okay considering it was full and run by a family! Will definitely go back and do recommend to anyone wanting some tapas. read more

W-I-N-N-E-R!!! If you don't like it here you must be some sort of freak... or a vegan! While they do actually cater very well for vegetarians (certainly better than they do in Spain!) it's all about the meat! Solomillo, Jamon, Codero del Horno.... I shant spoil it for you, they have something on the menu for everybody. Their prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is great for a restaurant; cosy and intimate without being cramped. It's also just outside the bustle of Camden/Crescent so you feel like you're the only one who knows about it, which is preposterous cause they'd've gone out of business by now! read more

El Parador, Spanish for the Inn, and not to be confused with Beck's mid-nineties hit where he sings 'soy, un perdedor (I'm a loser)', is a deliciousness Spanish Tapas establishment right behind Mornington Crescent station. Now, I've been to this area A LOT. Largely due to Koko's being right there. But this was my first attempt at going to El Parador. We didn't make a reservation, but were able to be accommodated in a matter of minutes, which was great. They have a good selection of Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Veggies & Seafood. Although due to lack of desire and potential of death respectively, I abstained from the last two. However, the winner of the night clearly was the SALTEADO de SOLOMILLO; which is fillet steak marinated w/ thyme, garlic & cracked blk pepper with caramelised leeks, butter & Ruby Port. OH EMM GEE, delicious! Followed not too far behind was the ALBONDIGAS or pork meatballs. The pricing is incredibly reasonable, the food and service is exceptional, and the overall vibe and proximity to nightlife is great! I highly recommend this place and will hopefully return there soon. read more

Really great lunch! As it's been noted, they have a lunch deal during the week- 3 tapas for the price of 2. And if you're wondering, yes, you should each get 3 (versus splitting 3 with a pal). They wouldn't take a reservation, but we got there at 1 and were seated right away. They also have a really sunny garden, but my friend deemed it too cold to sit out in the sun- next time! We had, ranked from best to mediocre... 1. Chorizo- couldn't get enough of the spicy, greasy goodness 2. Venison marinated in red wine, topped with beetroot (a daily special that was melt in your mouth tender) 3. Grilled artichokes 4. Jamon 5. spinach and cheese empanadas 6. Oyster mushrooms (just a little bland) And our bill was only £15 pp! I'll def be back, but probably just for lunch. read more

I've never been a fan of Tapas, partly because you have to share your food and I hate that. A bit like Joey from Friends. Since my work is about 3 minutes away, El Parador is a popular lunch spot, especially for Team lunches. 6 of us recently went for a birthday lunch and I have to admit, I was surprised. The portions were generous (meaning I didn't have to get elbows out), as well as tasting pretty damn good. We even ordered two portions of fried calamari, it was so good! Favourites were pork belly (really filling, totally fatty, but melts in your mouth), spanish omelette was chunky and filling, a very delicate seabass, succulent pimiento peppers and the chorizo - salty, strong and delicious. Between 6 of us, we ordered 12 dishes and took advantage of the 3 for 2 lunch deal. My one concern was that we were placed underground, in a room that was dark and freezing. This meant we sometimes felt neglected by the staff and missed out on the general buzz in the area. However, if there had been more people dining downstairs, there would have been no problem whatsoever. read more

I've been living in London for over a year, and El Parador is by far my favorite tapas place, and likely restauarant overall. The tapas (especially the lunch special 3 for 2) are reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. The restaurant is intimate, without being cramped. The staff are helpful without being overwhelming. During the summer the outside garden is a lovely place to sit outside with some friends and a pitcher of superb sangria. 5 stars no question. read more

Last night I was searching for food late (10:45) after leaving an RSC event at the Round House, and behold, Yelp led me here. I was not disappointed. Very nice wines in the £15-20 range, and generous portions of home-style tapas. The filet with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, calimari, and pork belly are all top-flight, and the extensive menu would probably have something to please nearly anyone. Nice service, quiet atmosphere. Friendly, certainly not a stuffy place. Enjoy! read more

I have deemed this the best restaurant in London! I know I sound like a typical American snob but I think London is full of disgusting places to eat, but this place absolutely does not disappoint and is so worth a visit! I've come here 3 times with my friend, the lovely Christina B, but since she is moving back to the US, we gave El Parador another visit. There doesn't exist a bad plate! We've mainly gone because of the lunch special, which is buy 2, get the third free. And we usually order 6 things. Tonight I visited for dinner, sans the lunch special, but they are still amazing. I've had the calamari, the octopus (AMAZING and I usually dont like it!), steak, spinach empanada, artichokes, chorizo (also great!), prawns, and maybe more. The cheesecake dessert is also a must if you have the room. The service is also friendly and attentive in a perfect but not overbearing way. The wine list is also good. Tonight I brought my own wine, a sparkling red from Italy, and I let the waiter have a taste so I am hoping to GOD that they bring this wine on board too! Would be pretty nice! Anyways, I may have to visit again. I just don't get sick of the food. It is a symphony of robust flavors and I am thrilled to moving nearby! read more

I went on the recommendations of Yelp reviewers, and found an unassuming little restaurant, with seemingly just two people running the place - someone in the kitchen and a lady up front. I have absolutely no idea, then, how such incredible food made it out of the kitchen! We (my son and I) ordered broadly from the menu - artichoke hearts, belly pork, hake, octopus, chicken livers - early on a Sunday evening, and it was easily as good as any tapas I have had anywhere... My previous high water mark was Casa Mono in NYC, but that has declined below El Parador's level. Where the restaurant misses out, perhaps, is in the service - with only one out front, we had to ask for more drinks, water was not offered, etc. But that is reflected in the bill - £75 between us, considering we'd gorged, was good value... read more

3 dishes for the price of two tapas. Ingenious. A fat glutton trap. And like the fly to the pitcher plant, I buzz brightly into this place only to leave on my hands and knees begging for mercy and in need of 40,000 winks. Three dishes is easily enough for a normal person when it comes to Tapas. But if your eyes are bigger than your tummy (I have the eyes of a Tarsier) four is safer. And because it's three for two here, you may as well round that up to the six innit? Clever. Evil. Especially when the cooking is this honest and decent. The menu is laden with what I would call earthy, authentic fare. I'm not Spanish so don't quote me on that but with things like octopus and squid stew, pan baked salt cod, chicken livers with char grilled piquillo peppers, fennel hearts with garlic oil and honey and plenty more to choose from AND all in Spanish with the English underneath, that's authentic enough for me. We ordered tiger prawns with confit garlic and roasted courgettes, grilled sardines, calamari, grilled octopus, steak with sumac and garlic, chicken thighs marinated with harissa and oregano, tortilla, the fennel hearts and potatoes with harissa and caramelised leeks. The prawns were nothing to write home about (are they ever unless they are cooked for the briefest of time? These felt like so many other similar dishes where the prawns have become a little too nugget-like) and I prefer my sardine skins burnished and burned. But these two dishes were still perfectly edible and tastily seasoned. Everything else was properly delicious. The sort of tapas that you just can't be polite about and leave the last mouthful to someone else. It's everyone for themselves and I'm taking no prisoners. The highlights were the fennel which had been braised to perfection. Lovely and tender and carrying all the flavours they had been cooked in. And the chicken thigh pieces which were juicy and again had all the flavour of the marinade. This restaurant isn't smart in a shushy or blingy way. It's at the top end of shitty Somerstown before you hit Camden. And the place itself is small and depending on what frame of mind you're in either 'charming and cosy' or 'grotty'. Deffo charming and cosy for me. But you don't come here to be seen. You come here to eat. And the food is hearty, it's packed full of flavour, it's mediterranean to the bone, it has no airs or graces and at three dishes for the price of two it's an absolute steal. The service is charming. It's obvious they love producing this stuff and serving it to appreciative locals who are in the know. Nine dishes, two and a half hungry people, one forklift truck to winch us out. Top place for some great home made Spanish tucker. read more

I've been coming to El Parador off and on since it first opened in the late eighties. Back around then I worked around the corner at Greater London House and this was a favourite lunch time haunt. Many, many "business" lunches were conducted here. The staff are friendly and will always suggest their favourite specials. My Alioli made at home is based on their recipe they taught me one afternoon. Addictive stuff! I highly recommend their Gambas Salteada, and Rosario Chorizon both superbly cooked, and excellent when accompanied by their Patatas Harra. The Boquerones are sinful and I make no apologies that I could eat these all afternoon. Lastly the Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelet) is a must. Thanks El Parador for all those years of enjoyable dishes, I miss you greatly and always try to drop in on my trips to London. If Yelp was going back then I would have around 200 check-ins :-) read more

I'm lazy tonight so I'll make this short... A.) Very fair prices (and apparently 3 for 2 during lunch) B.) The octopus ruled, the zanahorias negras (black carrots) were tasty, but a bit overcooked, and the tortilla was light and fluffly. Overall I really enjoyed the food. The octopus had the texture of halloumi..so good! C.) Service was le sigh. Really not attentive at all. D.) Dessert was a bit bland and a let down, especially after the high quality of the savories. Would love to go here for lunch! read more

El Parador is highly rated on Yelp and had a load of vegetarian tapas options so I was excited to check it out but I was left feeling slightly disappointed. It's a minute's walk from Mornington Crescent station and we got there about 7pm, and were seated straight away, which was good. However, we were put downstairs, where it was slightly dingy. The service was great and all the staff were friendly and unobtrusive, but the tapas left quite a lot to be desired. One dish came warm rather than hot, the Tortilla Española was OK, and the rest were essentially fried/grilled vegetables. I don't feel like the price was justified - if things were slightly cheaper I would've accepted things for what they were, but at £6+ each for a vegetarian tapas dish, I expected a little more class. I rounded things off with an almond tart which came with whipped cream on top. Again, decent, but overpriced. Nice little joint and maybe the meat tapas are sensational - I can only speak for the vegetarian options. My friend had some meat options and was more enthusiastic than me, so there you go! read more

They celebrate their 20th anniversary on the 19th of December this year and that kind of longevity can only come about by being really rather good. Been here a couple of times and I really enjoyed the food on both occasions. They do all the usual tapas you'd expect to see but also some stuff I've never seen anywhere else to date. I recommend the monkfish. The decor is nothing to write home about in my opinion but the food more than makes up for it, and the service is friendly and very efficient. It does feel a bit cramped to be honest, I like to stretch out a fair bit when ordering lots of tapas dishes but the silver lining was that it meant I didn't over-order. I also haven't seen the function room downstairs or the garden terrace, yet. This place is good value for money, especially during weekday lunchtimes as they are offering three tapas dishes for the price of two at the moment. read more

Lovely little tapas restaurant with a fantastic selection of dishes. Service is speedy and friendly and the food is certainly not your bog-standard tapas fare. I've shaved a star off for the high prices - most dishes are around the £7 mark - but if I could give it 4.5 stars I would. They do a 3 for 2 offer on weekday lunchtimes. read more

A lovely restaurant where you can feel the love and although the staff have to run around a bit they are genuinly nice. One of those genuine places with real good food and decor. If you are looking for over the top fekeness this is not for you, but if you have sincere discernment for good ingredients and real recipes then this is for you. The same goes for the interior decor and garden which are genuinely lovely and real. It is mid to higher priced at just over 50 pounds for a full meal for two with deserts and a nice spanish beer each excluding service. We will definitely be going back. read more

Came here after having a few drinks in Camden and searching on Yelp / Time Out for somewhere to grab a late meal. As promised, it offered straightforward service and good no-nonsense food that helped satisfy slightly a couple of slightly drunk people overdue a meal. The portobello mushrooms were well cooked so that they were tender and meaty without going soggy as they can do if they're over done. They had a dark, rich tasting mushroom juice that was soaked up by the great addition of scattered pine nuts which contributed texture and heartiness to the dish. The pork belly came as two big coiled strips of meat which was boiled until meltingly tender, the fat and skin adding to the flavour. Herbs held between each layer of the coil also gave more interest to the pork, which can sometimes be a bit bland tasting. A scattering of rocket leaves was a nice addition. Meatballs tasted earthy and homemade with a fairly delicate hint of herbs. I would have preferred something a bit stronger tasting and had to keep dipping them in the rich tomato sauce they came in to add flavour. Still, they were fairly satisfying. Scallops though nothing fancy, plump and fresh tasted and went well with the slices of black olive that accompanied them. Like all the other dishes except perhaps the meatballs, this was a good sized portion for just over five pounds. This is definitely somewhere I'd return to when I'm next in Camden. I might even forgo the pre-dinner drinks and couple a few of their tapas with a bottle of wine. read more

The combination of 3 for 2 on tapas dishes and a garden terrace out the back makes this a great choice for summer lunches. The selection was really good and portions surprisingly filling - we ordered 3 dishes: fish, meat and vegetable and a generous basket of bread and had more food than we could manage. The bill for 2 ended up coming to £13 which was fantastic given the amount of food we had. Nothing pretentious, but solid food and a great place to go with friends and choose a few dishes to share. read more

1 and half stars. The restaurant busy, so it seemed like a good choice. We ordered five dishes, too bad only one of them was good. We didn't get that authentic spanish feeling nor taste while visiting El Parador. Sangria was watery. read more

Fantastic food, very friendly staff, family owned, reasonable prices -- what could be better? Have room downstairs for parties -- very nice. One of my favourites. Enjoy. read more

Amazingly good tapas for decent prices. Duck livers, and grey mulllet from the specials menu were delicious, well spiced aubergine and tomatoes, chiperones and grilled padron peppers were to die for. Reasonably priced wine and the rice pudding with nutmeg rounded off a great evening. The table in the garden was cosy and waiting staff were really attentive. Good work guys, long may it continue. read more

Lunch tapas 3 for 2. Food: amazing selection of vegetarian, fish, meat, and seafood. My favorites are the blackened prawns and spinach empanadillas. Jug of sangria for 9 gbl is great. Sweet and fruity. Service: Nice waitress. She forgot our second order of sangria and put it on the bill. Very apologetic when we pointed it out. Price: lunch deal! Last word: great lunch spot for groups. Try and get a garden reservation. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place. It's lively and cheap and the tapas is delicious, but I have been ill after every trip. I'm pretty sure this is because I always eat just a bit too much of their fantastic pork belly though. How much fat can one body really take? Will have to go back a fourth time and see... read more

Well we managed to gain access to the pretty outside part at the back. No rain and was undercover anyhow. The Spanish tapas food although small in quantity and a little London in prices. The food was fresh and excellent . Sweet fennel, fresh anchovies, fresh Spanish meats and a nice bottle of malbec to wash it down . I cannot complain and I will be back read more

Behind a very simple look hides a delicious and diverse meal. Additionally, the service was very warm and efficient. Would truly recommend.

Actually, I was a bit disappointed when I was there. The food is not bad, but I think it is not as good as most people write here. I had much better tapas in London before ... read more

Come for the tapas, stay because you'll want to order more! This cozy outpost in Camden may not look like much from the outside, but you'll be satisfied when the food's on your inside. Among the highlights: great conversation, fried calamari, iberico ham, pork belly, the spinach and cheese puffs (good god you must get these), the tortilla española (one of the best I've ever tried, and I've tried a few!), and the peppers. As is the motto of my other favorite restaurant, "come hungry, leave happy!" read more

Great litle tapas bar. Food was delectable!

Surely the best tapas restaurant in London, tucked away by Mornington Crescent tube. Friendly staff, a lovely atmosphere - very simple, nothing fancy - and most importantly fantastic selections with big flavours. For carnivores, I have to recommend the outstanding morcillas de burgos (blood sausage) and higadillos salteados (chicken livers). Chuck in some patatas bravas and some plonk and you've got a fantastic evening. Not especially cheap, which is a shame since youl'l want to keep ordering more until you can hardly breathe, but it's well worth the price for a big meal. read more

Nice and cosy place with a huge variety of really good tapas. We've been there 3 times already and still haven't tried everything. The prices are reasonable and you won't stay hungry afterwards. The staff is very nice as well. Just make sure you book in advance because the restaurant there are not many tables. read more

I made a last-minute birthday reservation for 10 people in the garden, which the staff kindly accommodated. My group LOVED El Parador! Every single dish we ordered was cooked to perfection. (I especially recommend the octopus and the salmon.) The service was good, the atmosphere fun, and it was overall a lovely experience. The only thing we didn't love was that the sangria tasted like it was juice and had no alcohol. Would definitely recommend this place for casual dinner, or group events. read more

Great restaurant - fairly small, with friendly staff and a great selection of reasonably prices (for London) tapas, even a good selection of vegetarian / vegetable options, which is good to see. One of my very favourite London restaurants. Also really love sitting outside in the courtyard garden in the summer - but book in advance as it can get busy. read more

One of my girlfriends brought me to El Parador last night and I can't stop raving about how perfect this place is. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting and the staff are so kind and welcoming. We got a tasty bottle of wine and ordered two plates of the baby squid, two of the grilled artichoke, one special rice dish and an amazing grilled lamb dish. Every single bite was perfection! It was a symphony of groans and sighs throughout the meal. As a general rule, my friends and I usually spend forever getting through a meal because we talk so much but last night we silently savored every little morsel, and then we chatted away over boozy coffees to finish off the meal. I really can't say it enough- El Parador is a brilliant spot and well worth the journey from whatever part of town you call home. It's perfect for a date or for a night with friends. It's fairly small and not the ideal place for a really large group, but rather for a more intimate night out. And the icing on the cake? It's very well priced! Please please give this place a try! read more

We loved this place. The food and service were both outstanding and prices were quite reasonable. They also had a good wine list and our waiter, who is the owner's nephew, was extremely friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable about the menu. All of the dishes were delicious, but I think the ROMANESCO de ALMENDRAS y PIPAS tostadas * was my absolute favorite. They also had lamb sausages as a special the night we were there which we loved. read more

Good, solid food! There are some really interesting dishes on the menu, the flavours are great and authentic, good wine list. Not quite as upper end as e.g. Barrafina, but relatively good value. However, I want to shake the waiting staff by the neck, because the service is below par. One of the guys has serious attitude, and there's just a generally slow languid feel about proceedings, e.g. the bar has always been overflowing with dirty glasses, while the waiting staff chat near the hatch. It's a waiting no-no, and things like this really peeve me no idle time, and lots of regular eye contact around the dining room, please! It's not hard read more