Cafe Espana

Cafe España certainly has a lot to live up to. But by placing expectations too high, it's easy to be disappointed.

One of my favourite dishes is paella, but it's extremely difficult to find a good one in London. What they sell under that name in all supermarkets, M&S included, is only a nasty risotto with a Spanish twist. So I was looking forward to trying out Cafe España's cooked-on-demand paella. Waiting 30 minutes is not an issue if that guarantees the quality and the freshness.

Unfortunately, the one we were served was a far cry from the real thing: the rice was way overcooked and mushy while the chicken was still quite hard and could have done with more cooking. I imagine that, busy as the place is, the dishes are prepared in advance and stored in the fridge, then thrown on the stove when required, while the traditional way requires adding the different elements one after the other according to their cooking times.

At around £20 for one dish, it remains outstanding value for money though, as you could easily feed 6 or 8 persons on just one of those. Better still, if that's too much for one meal, the staff will happily put the remainder in plastic containers so you can take it back home, like most customers do.

To kill time while your paella's gently simmering, give the tapas a try. Although I wouldn't describe them as unforgetable, they managed to make me realise that spinach can be delicious if prepared like their sautéed "spinacas".

As for the place itself, you'll have to love it or loathe it... Some will find it exotic and deliciously authentic, while for the same reasons, some others will see it as unassuming and maybe a bit rundown. That depends on what you expect, but in any case, the kind and friendly staff will make up for it, assuming they find some time in their busy schedule to take care of you.

All in all, an overall good venue for a meal on the cheap, but a mixed bag in the detail...
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Jay
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Saturday, May 17, 2008

I'm afraid I cannot agree with the other reviewers raving about this restaurant. I was taken there by a friend last night and ate from the tapas menu. Whilst it is true that the prices are great, the food was very disappointing.

The first thing that worried me was the butter with the bread came in those little foil packets - sorry, but I think that in a restaurant this is just lazy and cheap. Then the food arrived (all of it!) within about five minutes of being ordered, which for how busy the place was gives an indication that it must be all made beforehand and just re-heated.

As for the food itself: The worst patatas bravas I've ever had were soggy slices of potato in a sauce that was nowhere near spicy enough. The mejillones (mussles) were unimaginiative and insipid. The gambas al ajillo, one of my favourites, and which usually comes as large prawns presented in a teraccotta dish of sizzling olive oil with garlic and chilli, was just presented in a small amount of garlicy sauce. The Corizo al Vino was fine though, and the calamari was ok.

All in all though, I cannot understand the wonderful reviews of this place - I have been to so much better tapas restaurants in London, and this place wouldn't last a week in Spain.
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Tony
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 7
Thursday, April 17, 2008

This is for me the best Spanish restaurant in London. The quality of food is not MIchelin star standard, but it is delicious, and I agree with one of the reviews, saying it's very similar to that in a local bar in Spain. It's very home made, nothing fancy, no designer presentation and experimental combination of ingredients... Just normal food, the one you would have every day if you lived in Spain.

As of certain comments on staff, they are all lovely, friendly, and very busy. Most of them are Spanish, and I'm afraid to say, in Spain, luckily, we value more our food and company than the impeccable manners of the waiting staff. They just need to be correct, not our butlers, as many people would expect in England.

And bread is eaten very differently in Spain. You wouldn't normally get it with butter before your meal, but rather DURING your meal. If you want it before that, I don't think it's a big deal if you have to ask. When I go to a restaurant in London I don;t have any bread before I start my meal, therefore the waiter always takes it away after my starter, and I have to tell them I'd like to keep it for my main. But I wuoldn't make a fuss, because I know that's just the way things are done over here.

Price is fantastic, dishes are simple and tasty, place is absolutely Spanish, from the table cloths, to the staff, the music, the atmosphere, the hordes of Spaniards eating there, the chairs, the paintings of the walls, the price, EVEN THE BREAD!!!!! (a bit worse than Spanish bread, but not bad).

I love this place. I would always recommend it. If you want Spanish restaurant standards in London then you wold have to go somewhere else and pay almost as much as a return flight to Madrid, where you could have the same food, only better and cheaper. This place is true genuine every day Spanish food (think lunch break in Spain and you get the picture).
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Carlos Crespo
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 01, 2008

A cheap and cheerful option. The tapas dishes are good value and generally of good quality. The wine is fine and, again, is pretty cheap. This isn't a destination for a romantic meal or special occasion, as the decor is quite shabby and the tables are protected with cheap paper cloths, but would suit a group looking for a quick, cheap feed. The staff were friendly and prompt, and very understanding with chaotic, drunken customers seeking a late supper!
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 24, 2008

I am spanish and I like my food ,,, I do go to Cafe Espana once/twice a month and it is definitely good value ,,,

Best spanish food I ever had it certainly isn't but then again it is decent enough , their tapas is a bit hit and miss , some are very nice ( green beans with ham are lovely ) some others are not so good ,, having been a few times I tend to stick to the ones I like ... and on a good day their paella is lovely.
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sergio aragon
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, February 22, 2008

I saw some negative critic and I felt compelled to express my opinion. In few words, this place is superb! I have been eating at this place every now and then for the past 10 years. The place and food might not be perfect but it is very good quality for money. Let's just say that you can have dinner for £20 or less so, of course, it cannot be a luxurious or fancy restaurant, do not fool ourself. The wine is particularly good, they always have some nice rioja reserva for the same money you usually pay for some cheap table wine elsewhere. The staff is always very friendly. Being Spanish and very fussy with my food, I can say that, for the standard of Spanish restaurants in London, Cafe España is one of the best.
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Juan Araque
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 14, 2007

I saw some negative critic and I felt compelled to express my opinion. In few words, this place is superb! I have been eating at this place every now and then for the past 10 years. The place and food might not be perfect but it is very good quality for money. Let's just say that you can have dinner for £20 or less so, of course, it cannot be a luxurious or fancy restaurant, do not fool ourself. The wine is particularly good, they always have some nice rioja reserva for the same money you usually pay for some cheap table wine elsewhere. The staff is always very friendly. Being Spanish and very fussy with my food, I can say that, for the standard of Spanish restaurants in London, Cafe España is one of the best.
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Juan Araque
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 14, 2007

Fantastic food and service. The best deal in Soho!
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Edmar Evangelista
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

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