Cigala

My girlfriend and I went here two weeks ago and for the the first time ever we ended up having to go to another restaurant after for dinner - having already spent more than £80 on a selection of the smallest and consisently poor tapas we have ever had. This place is shocking.
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Owain Griffiths
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Saturday, August 16, 2008

A group of 7 of us went there for dinner recently. After reading the reviews I was quite excited. The menu on paper looks great however walking out afterwards I felt cheated, hungry and disappointed overall. The portions were minimal and while some had flavour the rest were sub standard and the turrones were definately not worth the price paid. Service was ok but more effort could be made. Overall not the best value for money for Tapas.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Until recently I rated Cigala as one of my favourite London restaurants - the food is sometimes sensational. But I went for lunch today and the tapas was very disappointing - the portions are much smaller than they used to be (especially the pimentos de padron - which work out at about 50p each!) and the rest were quite tasteless - so different from previous visits. We were very disappointed as this had been such a favourite but it looks like the portions and slip in quality won't be drawing us back any time soon.
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Simon
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, May 22, 2008

Very pleasant environment. Good and attentive service even during busy times. Most importantly food was well prepared and absolutely delicious. Both the tapas and the ala carte menu are classic Spanish and well worth going back for. Paella takes 30 minutes though probably not the strongest dish on the menu. Wine list made up of very good selection Spanish wines.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I went to Cigala a few days after a tour of Catalonia and Barcelona's top nosheries. Was extremely impressed with Cigala's take on tapas. The Jabugo ham is better than any we had in Spain and the Pimientos del Padron (fried padron peppers) were so sweet and just a little bit sharp - i was grinning from ear to ear. Great chicken, thyme and butter bean stew - surprisingly delicate. Quail & morcilla was rich, and prawns good too. Even the patatas were inventive - seemed to have been stewed with smoked paprika and chicken stock rather than fried. Some pukka, obscure wines, sorted regionally (don't miss their desert wines...)

Only suggestion (rather than criticism) is they could use a sourdough bread for the pan con tomate and add some rabbit dishes to the menu. On balance, I think Cigala offers simply awesome food. Nice balance of modern dishes with authentic ingredients.
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stuzza
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I was excited to try this place, having read reviews including what good value it is. Not!! We went for the tapas and ordered 3 each. The portions were very small and not good value at all. For instance, 3 large prawns in a dish for £7.50. The grilled chorizo tasted good but come in a tiny dish. The service started off badly with a rude waiter, who then warmed up and was friendly and helpful by the end! However we were out of there in an hour at dinnertime, having spend about £50 (including a small jug of sangria, which i must say was good), feeling cheated and hungry.
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Sarah Carlson
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Saturday, July 21, 2007

I go to Cigala regularly and love Spanish food, travel to Madrid a lot, and think it really is the best Spanish food in town. Great, friendly service. You quickly get treated like a regular. I do not understand why there are so many negative reviews on this site. Fantastic wine menu. Spanish food is not only Tapas, and Cigala does the full offering very well. Love the atmosphere. A nice mix of people - some nauseating media types - but generally really relaxed and merry. I highly recommend it.
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Amy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

I have to agree with the negative reviews. Service started off ok when only I was at the table but as soon as the rest of my family arrived it went rapidly downhill and we spent most of the evening desperately trying to get our orders taken/food and drinks brought/the bill. We weren't alone as I saw another diner waving his hands in the air to get the maire d's attention! (Should have tried that ourselves!) The food was ok - some nice touches like the rosemary and honey ice cream, but the lousy service really ruined the evening and we were supposed to be celebrating my Dad's birthday not playing 'Get the staff's attention'.

Won't be going again!
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Esther
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Thursday, July 05, 2007

I have been to this place many times. It is on a lovely pedestrian street corner, and the atmosphere could range from quiet to very noisy, tightly packed with doctors and consultants vividly discussing their stuff. At times, the food was unbelievably good. I remember grilled squid (starter), paella, lamb, sea bass, of various makings and flavours. At times, it was a bit over the top: too much fried garlic, too hot a souce, too reach a granish. Their own bread could be fantastic or, at times, a bit flat. The staff sound pretty unfriendly at times, but this is just as in Madrid; in the end the are quite helpful. I will come back because this is a proper restaurant, with some unexpected taste combinations, never dull or plain. It is not cheap, unfortunately, but service is always included.
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Dmitri
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 28, 2007

MY PARTNER RECOMMENDED CIGALA AFTER HAVING A BUSINESS LUNCH THERE LAST YEAR. WHAT CAN I SAY? THE NICEST DINNER WE HAVE HAD IN MONTHS! STARTED WITH CHICKEN LIVERS AND A GREEN SALAD, PRETTY BORING, BUT BOTH WERE DIVINE- THE CHICKEN LIVERS SWEET AND SOFT AND PINK...SO GOOD. WE HAD THE DUCK TO SHARE- A LA 'ANCHOR AND HOPE'-BUT WITH MUCH MORE HOPE! IT REALLY WAS INCREDIBLE! WE'LL BE BACK! THE WINE LIST IS ADMIRABLE - BE WARNED THE SPANISH ONLY LIST MIGHT BE BEST LEFT IN THE HANDS OF EXPERTS (OR OUR WAITER WHO DIRECTED US IN JUST THE RIGHT DIRECTION) THE BEST NIGHT IN A LONG TIME...
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TIM
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, February 13, 2007