Cafe Espana

Absolutely awful. The place looks tatty, with carpet frayed and coming away from the walls. The waitress who served us the majority of the time claimed she couldn't speak English so we had to speak to her in Spanish. Yet she still managed to be rude in English when demanding we hand over our plates. The other gentleman was very nice, but the young woman needs an attitude check if she wants to work in the service industry.

The food was abismal. I had chicken in a watery tomato and pepper sauce, accompanied by roast potatoes and over-cooked mushy carrots, cabbage, peas and cauliflower. Certainly didn't seem Spanish to me.

My friends who ordered some tapas were confronted with calamari that literally stretched like an elastic band, and very greasy chorizo.

The seating was also terrible.

No redeemable features, I'm afraid.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Monday, July 16, 2007

This is the fourth year we have visted cafe espana on our week ends in London

and as always it was superb both for value for money and food.

We find the staff very courteous and friendly. we have tried the paella and the tapas and enjoyed both equally well. we have also recommended this restaurant to our daughter and son in law who also found it gorgeous.

The restaurant may not be plush but the food is and thats what counts in our book
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Bridie Mcnally
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 10, 2007

Cafe España is a good place to enjoy a bit of some typical Spanish food in a very Spanish atmosphere, busy and sometimes loud, making you feel like you are in a popular restaurant somewhere in Madrid.

The quality of the food offered would equal the one in "bares de barrio" (local bars) in Spain. It is not up to the standard expected in a Spanish restaurant. But said that, this lack of top quality products will only be percieved by a Spanish native or someone used to quality Spanish foods.

Excellent for locals to get an idea of what Spanish "grandma's" food could taste like, and to enjoy some good wine. If you like red wine order "Marques de Caceres". This is quite a renouned Rioja wine which is very reasonably priced as most of the items in the menu at Cafe España.

Cafe España is a must if you want to enjoy a good time, with good company, acceptable Spanish cooking and at a reasonable price.
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Ernesto J Forner
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 28, 2007

What!? I don't agree with the negative reviews on here. I often go to this restaurant at least a few times each month - the reason I return is because the quality of food is good; the value for money is phenominal. Also, I have never experienced having to wait long for food - usually they are very fast at serving up the food. The only thing is that it's very popular and if you get there towards the end of the week, around 7pm you have to be prepared to wait in a queue on the pavement - but, hey, that's a small price to pay for what you get. The waitors are ery friendly and remember repeated visitors. My partner and I usually have a lovely feast of tapas and bottle of sangria which usually comes to around £20. THere's not a lot of quality places in soho where you can pay that! Highly recommended - try it out!! YUMMY
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Mr Martin
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 11, 2007

I have visited this restaurant probably every four-five months over the last three years. I am afraid to say the standards have substantially slipped and it is quite obvious to see why. Originally a 'Well kept secret', but now everyone seems to be going there. It is not surprising to wait a long time for food, for waiters to forget what you ordered, and bring the wrong wine. My most recent visit saw the waiter forget the starter 3 times, argue with us over what wine we ordered - when we reminded him we didn't really care about the difference of £4, he still argued before he eventually offered us a consolation liquor. The vegetables were cold, overly garlicked (and I like garlic but should every vegetable only taste of garlic?), and even items that were on the menu weren't in the food served up. While this was going on, two women were left waiting without even being offered a drink for 30 minutes. The woman complained bitterly and was eventually dealt with. The reason for this drop in standards is because it has got more popular - hence busier, meaning the staff are overworked (possibly rushed off their feet more), and the quality has dropped. I don't know what the solution is but I hope it can sort things out because this used to be a good restaurant.
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Zak Willis
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Went there last night with a friend who enjoyed the food there some time ago. But overall it was dissapointing and the service verging on the shambolic. No bread put on the table (had to ask), olives arrived very late after the third time of asking. One starter had peas included instead of artichoke (no explanation offered) although the fresh anchovies were great - no cooking is required. With the mains - the veal was floating in an olive oil soup, vegtables cold and the steak had to much fat and seemed of a low quality. The bill came with the wrong wine listed that we asked for. It seems that the kitchen can't cope with a full house in terms of the quality of some dishes and the time it takes to get them to the table. Complementary drinks were offered - perhaps out of embarrassment. Based on this we would not return soon if at all.
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C Z
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Monday, February 19, 2007

I'm afraid I have to agree with the more recent reviews. I went there on a recommendation and was very disappointed with the food. most of it was average, 'grilled' calamari was very greasy with burnt bits but the albondigas (meatballs) were shockingly out of a tin!(i was brought up on these so would recognise them anywhere). Not wanting to unfairly accuse them i did check with the waiter and he said that was the only thing not homemade. He offered to take them off the bill, which then disappeared so we are not actually sure what we paid for. I'm not quite sure why people queue to get in but they must order something we didn't.
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Julie
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, January 03, 2007

After reading all the good reviews - we were really excited about going there. I booked a table for 7.00pm, only to be told at the door, that we had to come back in half an hour because our table wasn't ready. So at 7.30 we returned to be told to wait on the stairs as they were just clearing the table. another 35 mins later - we were finally seated so over an hour after our booked time! The The tapas were great but I think i could cook a better Paella at home and I'm not a chef or Spanish! They promised a bottle of wine on the house for making us wait but alas, when the bill came - quess what we had to pay for? That bottle of wine! If you decide to go to Cafe Espana - be prepared to wait forever for your table and very slow service unless you are Spanish!
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 9
Thursday, October 26, 2006

Oh dear. We went to Cafe Espana last night, encouraged by the reviews on london-eating. I phoned up beforehand, and they told me we couldn't book. Which would have been fine, if we hadn't then had to wait 15 minutes for a table, during which different waiters twice tried to push us back out on to the street on the coldest night of the year so far. We saw another, much larger, group give up after 45 mins, but not before we had endured a lengthy period with their backsides stuck in our faces as we sat at our little table by the door. We ordered tapas, and they got our order wrong - I ordered manchego cheese, twice, on neither occasion did it come, but half an hour later a waiter did come over and apologise and say, sorry, we don't have any cheese. Would have been nice if they'd said that to begin with. The house red was metallic. The food itself seemed at the time just very average - you can certainly get better tapas in London, e.g. La Rueda, though probably worse as well - but let itself down somewhat later on when, without going into the details, my wife and I spent much of the night running to the toilet. Fair to say we won't be returning.
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CDL
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, October 08, 2006

Cafe Espana must be oneof Soho's best little surprises! Every time I visit I have such a good time. Yes, it's cramped, and the decor is cheap and cheerful, but for value for money and authentic, great tasting food it can't be beat. Luis and Jose make you so welcome and the only downside I can think of is that Paco's departure has left a whole downstairs!!!
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david
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, October 06, 2006