Meson Don Felipe

This has to be the WORST tapas resturant that I have ever been to. Whilst the service was good, sadly the food was not. We ordered the following: Chorizo, Deep fried Calamari, Pork Meatballs, Patas Bravas, prawns with garlic and chicken croquettes.

Chorizo - 3/5

Deep fried Calamari - 1/5. This wasn't in a light batter and nor was it home made. If I had wanted Deep fried calamari from a chip shop, that's where I would have gone

Pork Meatballs - 1/5. Served luke warm and tasteless

Prawns with garlic - 1/5 Way too much garlic. I didn't realise I needed to scare off any vampires!

chicken croquettes - 0/5. RANCID! The croquette tasted of reconstituted chicken and it actually looked like tuna.

We also ordered half a carafe of wine. The total cost of our bill £58.00. What an sbsolute waste of money. I WILL NEVER RETURN TO THAT RESTURANT AGAIN AND I WOULD URGE YOU NOT GO THERE.
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1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 06, 2011

I first went here about 5 years ago and the place had a great authentic Spanish feel to it. Nice bustling atmosphere Most of the staff are Spanish and at that time the food was great. Then I went back about two years ago and the although the place still had atmosphere, the food was appalling to say the least. The meat was chewy and the food just looked totally unfresh and dry like it had been standing for ages. Anything that had a sauce or gravy had a bit of a layer over the top where the liquid had dried up. Really really poor. SO we said to the waiter what had changed and that the food tasted like it had been microwaved. He said it had!!! He said that how else did we expect to be served so quickly with so many people. I was totally shocked. It really did explain why everything was so dried out.

It's a real shame how these places are going, packing in customers at the expense of quality food. Same thing has happened to La Tasca which was a fab restaurant before it went all chainy and the food went down the pan. If you want really good good tapas (although a little more pricey) head to La Brindisa at Borough market orBarrafine on Frith Street - the best you'll get in London.

Avoid Meson don Felipe at all cost unless you want to eat poor food but have a good atmosphere.
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Racy - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Thursday, September 15, 2011

Firstly, the service is relaxed, as opposed to being poor. The restaurant oozes Spanish calm, and I believe the slow natured pace and casual "not in your face" service adds to that atmosphere. I could imagine being sat in a restaurant in Spain meandering through a meal between 1800 and midnight. If tables are needed for reservations, obviously you will be given a time that the table must be vacated for, but this is the same as any restaurant.

Reviewers who have said the food is poor, will not understand food properly. Its fresh, basic, flavorsome food. It is cooked nicely, with broad beans being soft and peeled, mussels tender, meatballs spiced and seasoned, and peppers + tomatoes aubergines etc being juicy and engaging. I would suggest people who dislike this food maybe more at home at La Tasca.... argh.

Prices are roughly £5.50 for a dish, depending on what you go for. This is not expensive, nor is it cheap. Our group of four had multiple beers, breads, and 10 dishes for £70. All pleased, and all happy to go back.

Alternative restaurants are Brindisa (london bridge) but always too busy to get a table unless want to wait, or Barrafina (Soho). Both these options are more 'trendy', however I would say deliver less of an experience.
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John A
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Friday, March 18, 2011

The food was just about "OK" and the wine was excellent however the staff were awful. We went in after the theatre at 10.30 pm and while they confirmed they were still serving, they literally stood over us and eventually asked us to leave at 11.45 even though there was still food and wine on the table . I have since noted they say they close at 11pm but they ought to have told us this before accepting our custom. We will not be going back.
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2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I've lived around this area for years now and have had many visits to MDP. It was originally cheap and cheerful enough to be worth a late night visit after the pub. However after a very poor meal around a year ago I hadn't been back until my recent visit.

It's now nothing short of disgraceful. Not only is the food like something I'd expect from a school canteen (the Tuna croquetas were so poor they actually made me laugh out loud), the prices have been nudged up so high, you could actually go and eat at a decent tapas bar for similar money.

To be fair, the wine list is actually quite well priced and interesting. You can find many decent bottles for under £20. It's a shame that they have clearly lost all respect for their diners and believe that they can slop out any old rubbish while simultaneously hiking up the prices.

Not cheap, and definitely not cheerful.
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R Wade
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, January 05, 2011

This is a great little restaurant. Ok, so you're not going to get the overly-attentive service you would find in many other restaurants but the food is brilliant and this place has a level of authenticity that many other tapas restaurants struggle to replicate.

Perhaps the only downside of this restaurant is that it's a little bit of a tight squeeze, largely due to the enormous central bar (which you can also eat around) but that really is just me being ultra picky.

I would recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a nice, relaxed evening without pretention, just lots of tasty food and delicious sangria!
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SJP
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I've been to Meson Don Felipe about half a dozen times now, on a variety of evenings and I've always had a wonderful time.

It's not a fussy, pretentious restaurant, and you won't find a waiter hovering over your shoulder to pour you more wine, but if you like the bustle and the "authentic" tapas experience then this is definitely the place for you.

I've always been impressed with both the food (in particular the Jamon Iberico is wonderful) and the wine list which are both good quality and reasonably priced for a central London venue.
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SMJ - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 30, 2010

This restaurant is an absolute gem. The fact that it is always full is a sure sign that its delights are really appreciated. The service is very quick and always cheerful and helpful, the mezze list is quite extensive and everything on it ( we haven't worked our way throught the whole list yet) has been perfectly cooked and piping hot. The wine list is a revelation to those of us who are not experts on Spanish wine, and the staff are always happy to recommend a bottle.
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c.a. morgan
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 28, 2010

This tapas bar is average. It is very popular because of its location near theatres but the service is poor and the food is also not great. When I asked the barman for a glass of wine he told me to relax. The judias verdes dish is good as is the calamares, but beware the pimientos padron. I ate on the hottest chilli I have ever had - and the peppers in this dish are not supposed to be hot at all. Also it was outrageously expensive!!
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UJay
2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 03, 2009

Avoid. Came out of the brilliant Annie Get Your Gun matinee performance last Saturday - and this place killed the joyous mood of our party stone dead.

Went in at about 5pm to a virtual empty restaurant and was greeted by a stone-faced, middle-aged woman with a clipboard. Without so much as a welcome or even a hello, the first thing she said was: "You have to vacate the table by 7.30pm." We said that would be no problem.

She then proceeded to the worst table in the empty restaurant, behind the central bar, right next to the kitchen entrance. Sensing this was going to be thoroughly unpleasant experience, we turned on our heels and walked out.

My advice? Eat at the Young Vic restaurant instead.
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B111 - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 26, 2009